Seven Cards Stud Poker

This is the most common form of Stud Poker. It is played with 2 to 8 players. There is no flop (community cards to all players) like in classic poker ; in fact, each participant receives their own cards.

The aim of Stud Poker

The aim is to have the best hand. The minimum bet and maximum bet are fixed in advance. Each player must pay the "ante" (fifth of the small initial bet) to receive their cards. It is the beginning of the pot but does not count for the next betting round.

The course of the game

The game unfolds as follows :

• In the first round of distribution called "3rd Street", players receive three cards: face up and two face down (called street cards).Whoever has the lowest card value must place half of the small initial bet, the "bring in" (if there is a tie, it will be the colour that makes the difference. In descending order: spades, hearts, diamonds, clubs). Then the player to his left puts the minimum bet. It is counted as the first betting round, so long as nobody else raises, it is not necessary to put money into the pot to see the next card.
• In the second betting round called "4th street", a fourth card is given face up to the players. Whoever has the highest up card speaks first. He may choose to raise, not call or fold. They speak in a clockwise motion as before. If a player has a pair at this stage, he and other players can open at an upper limit if they wish. Or, the betting in this second round should all be equal to the lower limit.
• The third betting round called "5th street", a fifth card is given face up to players. The speech takes place as in the previous betting round, the best hand speaks first. The betting round must be equal to the upper limit.
• In the fourth betting round called "6th street, a sixth card is given face up. The speech runs as in the previous round of betting. The bets of this round are obviously equal to the upper limit.
• In the fifth round called "7th Street", the seventh and final card is given face down. Bets are equal to the upper limit. In rare cases where eight players are still in the game, there are not enough cards for everyone. The dealer takes out a card face up and shows everyone. This is the seventh card from the hand of each and it is common to all players. Players who have not folded after the last betting round must now compare their hands to determine the winner of the pot. The person who opened last must show his hand first, then the next clockwise, each player choosing to turn his hand to show or discarding it without showing.

Poker hands

• Highest Card: If a combination has been achieved, the highest card wins. If two hands have the same high card, then the highest cards remaining wins.
• The Pair: Two cards of the same rank. If two hands have the same pair, then the highest cards remaining wins.
• Three of a kind: Three cards of same rank with two different cards.
• Straight: Five cards of sequential rank .Aces may be high (near King) or low (next to 2).
• Flush: Five cards of the same colour which are not consecutive.
• Full House: three of kind and a pair.
• Quads: Four cards of equal rank and a different card.
• Straight Flush: Five cards of the same suit in consecutive order.
• The Royal Flush: strongest five cards of the same colour (10, Jack, Queen, King, and Ace).

Stud Poker Game