Seven Card Stud Rules — How to Play Stud Poker

Seven Card Stud Basics

Seven Card Stud is typically played as a fixed-limit game with 2 to 8 players. There are no community cards — each player builds their hand from their own seven cards. By showdown, each player has three face-down cards and four face-up cards, selecting their best five-card poker hand.

Antes and the Bring-In

Instead of blinds, every player posts an ante before the hand begins. The ante is typically 10–20% of the small bet. After antes are posted and each player receives their initial three cards (two down, one up), the player with the lowest exposed card — called the door card — must post the bring-in. The bring-in is a forced bet, usually half the small bet. If two players share the lowest rank, the bring-in is determined by suit (alphabetical: clubs, diamonds, hearts, spades — clubs is lowest).

How Betting Streets Work

After the bring-in, action proceeds clockwise. There are five betting rounds total, named by the number of cards each player holds: 3rd street, 4th street, 5th street, 6th street, and 7th street. From 4th street onward, the player with the highest exposed hand acts first. Bet sizes are fixed: the small bet applies on 3rd and 4th streets, and the big bet (double the small bet) applies from 5th street through 7th street.

The 4th Street Exception

On 4th street, if any player shows an open pair, that player (and subsequent players) may choose to bet the big bet instead of the small bet. This is called "the open pair rule" and is standard in most Stud games.

7th Street and Showdown

The final card (7th street) is dealt face-down. After the last betting round, remaining players reveal their hands. The best five-card poker hand wins the pot using standard high hand rankings. If the deck runs short (rare, possible with eight players), a single community card is dealt face-up for all remaining players.

Starting Hands in Seven Card Stud

On 3rd street you have three cards — two hidden and one exposed. Your starting hand decision should consider both the strength of your three cards and the information from every other player's door card.

Premium Starting Hands

1. Rolled-up trips (three of a kind on 3rd street) — The best possible start. Disguised and extremely powerful.
2. High pairs (A-A, K-K, Q-Q) with one card hidden — A concealed pair is much stronger than a split pair (one card up).
3. High suited connectors (e.g., J-T-9 suited) — Straight and flush potential with live cards.
4. Medium pairs (J-J through 9-9) with a strong kicker — Playable if your pair cards are live.

Hands to Fold on 3rd Street

• Low pairs (2-2 through 5-5) with dead cards — If you see your pair cards in opponents' door cards, fold immediately.
• Three unconnected, unsuited low cards — No straight, flush, or high-pair potential.
• Any three cards with two or more key cards already dead — Dead cards kill your drawing potential.

Door Card Strategy

The door card is the single most important piece of visible information in Stud. Pay attention to:

1. What door cards your opponents show. If you have a pair of Kings and another player shows a King, your hand is weakened significantly because you cannot improve to trips or Kings full.
2. Which cards have been folded face-up. As players fold on 3rd or 4th street, their up-cards become dead. Track these cards mentally — they directly affect your odds of hitting draws.
3. Your own door card's deceptive value. Showing an Ace when you hold a pair of 9s in the hole can steal pots. Conversely, showing a low card with a concealed big pair disguises your strength.

Common Mistakes in Stud

1. Not tracking dead cards. This is the most costly mistake in Stud. If you need a heart for your flush draw and you can see four hearts already folded across the table, your draw is nearly dead. Pay attention every hand, even when you fold.
2. Chasing with dead draws. Starting with three to a straight means nothing if two of your needed cards are visible in opponents' hands.
3. Playing too many starting hands. Unlike Hold'em where community cards give everyone shared outs, in Stud you are on your own. Be disciplined on 3rd street.
4. Ignoring position changes. In Stud, position changes on every street based on exposed cards. You might act first on 4th street and last on 5th street. Stay aware of where you stand.
5. Forgetting the bring-in rules. Misunderstanding when you must post the bring-in, or misreading suit rankings for tied low cards, can be costly in live games.