How To Play 7-Card Stud

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In Stud Poker each player is dealt a hand with some cards face-down ("in-the-hole") and some face-up that other players can see. Typical 7-card stud begins with 2 cards dealt face-down and 1 face-up before the first betting round. This is followed by 3 more face-up cards, each followed by a round of betting, and one last face-down card and a final betting round. Players use 5 of their 7 cards to make their final hand.

Usually all players are required to contribute an ante before any cards are dealt. In a limit game, the first two rounds of betting are at the lower level and the betting after the 5th, 6th and 7th cards is at a higher level.

The first round of betting starts with a forced bet by the player with the lowest face-up card (taking suits into account). This bet is called the "bring-in", and the player who places it may bet either the minimum bring-in (half the lower betting limit) or the limit for that round. If the initial action was a bet of half the lower betting limit and another play "completes the bet" by betting the full amount, the second bet does not constitute a raise.

On subsequent betting rounds, the player with the highest hand showing initiates the betting. In the event of a tie, the high-hand player sitting closest to the dealer’s left will initiate the action. If a pair is showing after the second upcard (4th street) is dealt, any player may bet either the lower or upper limit. For example, in a $10/$20 game, a player with a pair showing has the option of betting $10 or $20. If that player bets $10, subsequent players may call $10, raise $10 or raise $20. If a raise of $20 is made, all other raises must be in $20 increments. If the original player checks, the other players have the same options.