7 Card Stud Poker Rules: All You Need to Know
Before Texas Hold’em, 7 Card Stud poker was the most popular poker variant played across the United States. This game also goes by the names “Down The River” or “Seven Toes Pete.” This poker game online is a fan favourite that every player should know.
Poker Rooms with 7 Card Stud
Supplies You Need to Play
If you want to play at home, all you need is some chips, a dealer and a deck of cards. If you want to play virtually, you just need a mobile device or computer/laptop with a connection to the internet and you can play as much as you’d like!
How to Play the Game
Each player is dealt two cards face down and one card face up. This is when the first round of betting will begin. Next, another three cards are dealt face up and the second round of betting begins. The last card is dealt face down and the last betting round takes place. The best poker hand wins the pot. If you’re playing for real money online poker, you could win big once you’re a pro!
Variants of the Game
There are many variants of 7 Card Stud and while only some can be found at casinos or online, it’s fun to play at home, too.
| Mississippi
|
Like 7 Card Stud, but the fourth and fifth community cards are dealt at the same time, which takes away one round of betting. |
| High Low Stud
|
This actually has to do more with betting than it does the rules of the game.
In this game, the players with the highest hand and the lowest hand split the pot evenly, however, the low hand cannot have a card higher than an 8, and straights and flushes do not count when they’re low hands. |
| Baseball
|
In this variation, the cards are dealt normally, however 3s and 9s are wild cards and any time a player is dealt a 4 face up, that person gets an extra card. |
| Low Card Wild
|
The lowest card in each player’s hand is now a wild card. |
| Pass the Trash
|
Players are dealt all 7 cards face down, then a round of betting takes place. Players than can choose any 3 cards in their hand, still without looking.
They are to pass these 3 cards to the left and then the last round of betting will happen. |
| No Peek (or) You’re Up
|
All 7 cards are dealt face down. The player to the left of the dealer turns over their first card and places a bet. The next player will turn cards until a card higher than what the previous player turned, shows up and then that player will bet.
When a player turns all their cards and cannot beat the previous hand, they are out. This continues until someone wins. |
Hand Rankings
| Ranking | Hand | Description | Example Hand |
| #1 | Royal Flush | A straight from 10 to Ace, all the same suit. |  |
| #2 | Straight Flush | Any cards in consecutive order that are all the same suit. |  |
| #3 | Four of a Kind | Four of the same card. |  |
| #4 | Full House | One pair and three of the same card. |  |
| #5 | Flush | All cards are the same suit. |  |
| #6 | Straight | Cards are in consecutive order. |  |
| #7 | Three of a Kind | Three of the same card. |  |
| #8 | Two Pairs | One pair of one card and one pair of another card. |  |
| #9 | Pair | Two of the same card. |  |
| #10 | High Card | None of the hands above, relying on the highest card in your hand. |  |
Strategies and Things to Remember
7 card stud is a high card game where most of the winning hands hold the highest pair or two pair. That being said, strategy in 7 card stud begins by being very selective about your starting hands:
- If a player has an Ace, King or pair in their first three cards, they should be playing aggressively.
- If the first three cards have the same suit or a sequence, it’s the player’s best bet to stick around for the fourth and fifth card to come around.
Some basis strategies to the game also include:
- Any time that your hand is beaten on the table, fold.
- Raise any premium hands to eliminate opposition early.
- Be aggressive on Third, Fourth and Fifth Street to follow through with earlier betting and protect your hand.
- Don’t do things like calling an opponent who raises with a King while you’re holding 3-3-2.
The best way to figure out the winning strategy that’s best for you is to get online and play. Once you’re a pro, you can play for real money online.
Community Terms
Sixth Street: The sixth community card dealt.
Seventh Street: The seventh card dealt face down to the table.
The World’s Second Most Popular Poker Game
7 card stud is a bit of a longer poker game, but with no less excitement. Like most things, practice always makes perfect, so practice on some free sites before playing for the big bucks! Good luck!
Become an All-Around Pro
You can now consider yourself a professional 7-card stud player, but what’s next? There are many other variants to master and become an all-around poker professional!
Texas Hold’em – 3 Card Poker – 5 Card Draw – Stud Poker – 5 Card Stud – Mississippi Stud – Caribbean Stud – HORSE Poker – Omaha Poker – Omaha Hi-Lo
Frequently Asked Questions
You can play 7 card stud online and live at casinos. You can also play at home with friends and family! You only need chips, a dealer and a deck of cards.
Practicing always increases your chances of winning. The goal of 7 card stud is to make the best five card hand possible.