Poker School

7 Card Stud

Before Hold em became one of the most popular poker game, Stud Hi (also called Seven-Card stud), was what you played when poker night came around. One part skill, one part memory, one part strategy, no parts boring.

Before the initial deal of the cards, each player must place the blind bets.

Each player is dealt three cards, two face-down ("hole cards or private cards") and one face-up called the ("up card or door card").

The first betting round will start with the player with the lowest card by value and suit. This is known as the "force" or "bring-in" bet. This is the only time suits will play a role in the game.

Now each player is dealt another card face-up called the "Fourth Street".

The second betting round will start with the player with the highest two-card value. This is known as "having the action".

If there is a hand tie between players then the player with the highest valued hand and sitting closest to the left of the dealer will have the action.

Each player is again dealt another card face-up called the "Fifth Street". The third betting round will start with the player with the highest three-card value.

Each player is again dealt another card face-up called the "Sixth Street". The fourth betting round will start with the player with the highest four-card value.

Now the seventh and final card called the "River" will be dealt face-down to all the players and the fifth and the final betting round starts with the player with the highest valued hand.

Occasionally if there are not enough cards left to give each player their final seventh card, the river. In this case one community card will be placed, face-up, in the center of the table and will be shared by all the players.

After the final and fifth round of betting it's time for showdown and the player with the highest hand using any combination of five of their seven total cards wins the pot. The dealer button moves to the next player to play the next hand.

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