Seven-card stud deals every player their own seven cards, four of them face up. There is no board, no blinds and no button. Instead each player antes, the first betting round is opened by the lowest exposed card, and from then on the best exposed hand acts first.
It was the standard game in American card rooms for decades, and it remains part of most mixed-game rotations. The skill it rewards is memory: the cards folded by other players are information that cannot be recovered later.
The Streets
Stud is counted by the number of cards a player holds, which is why its rounds are called third street through seventh street.
- AntesEvery player posts a small forced bet before the deal.
- Third streetTwo cards down and one up to each player. The lowest exposed card must open with the bring-in, or raise to a full bet.
- Fourth streetOne more card face up. From here the best exposed hand acts first on every round.
- Fifth streetAnother card face up. In fixed-limit games the bet size doubles here.
- Sixth streetA fourth card face up, with betting at the larger size.
- Seventh streetThe final card is dealt face down, followed by the last betting round.
- ShowdownThe best five of each player's seven cards wins the pot.
The Bring-In
The bring-in replaces the blinds. The player showing the lowest card on third street must either post it or open for a full bet. Ties are broken by suit, using the only ranking of suits that standard poker recognises: clubs lowest, then diamonds, hearts and spades.
That suit order never decides a pot. It is a procedural rule used to assign the bring-in and, in some rooms, to award an odd chip.
Reading Exposed Cards
The exposed cards are the game. A player drawing to a flush must count how many of their suit are already visible, and a player holding a pair must know whether the matching cards are still live.
- Count the cards of your suit showing elsewhere. Three gone turns a flush draw from strong into marginal.
- Note the ranks that would complete a straight. Dead cards reduce the number of outs that remain.
- Watch which cards pair the board of a player who is betting; a visible pair with aggression usually means trips.
- Remember folded upcards, not only the ones still on the table. This is the hardest habit to build and the most valuable.
Starting Hands
| Three cards | Name | How it plays |
|---|---|---|
| Three of a kind | Rolled-up trips | The strongest start; played for raises from any seat. |
| A large pair | Big pair | Strong when the matching cards are live and the kicker is high. |
| Three to a flush | Three-flush | Playable when few cards of the suit are showing. |
| Three connected cards | Three-straight | Weaker than a three-flush; needs live cards and a cheap entry. |
| A small pair with a high kicker | Split pair | Marginal; the kicker provides most of the value. |
Fixed-limit betting means pots are won by small edges repeated often, so discipline on third street matters more than any later decision. The structure page explains why limit games reward tight starting requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does the lowest card open the betting?
The bring-in is a forced bet designed to create action, and assigning it to the weakest visible card ensures the player with the least promising hand is the one obliged to pay.
Are suits ever used to decide a pot?
No. Suit order settles the bring-in and sometimes an odd chip, but two hands of equal rank always split the pot.
How is this different from razz?
Razz uses the same deal and betting structure, but the lowest hand wins and straights and flushes are ignored.