How to play Seven-Card Stud: the rules
Lost chips online and not sure why? Seven-Card Stud builds the read-and-remember skills — who's strong, which cards are gone — that quietly win money in every poker game, Hold'em included. There are no shared cards in the middle of the table: each player gets seven cards of their own and makes the best five-card hand. Here's how a hand runs, step by step.
Every player builds their own seven cards
There are no cards shared in the middle of the table. Each player is dealt seven cards of their own — some face-down (hidden from everyone) and some face-up (visible to the whole table) — and makes the best five-card hand from those seven. Tables run 2 to 8 players. (Coming from Texas Hold'em? That means there's no flop and no rotating dealer button here.)
The deal starts: two down, one up
After everyone antes (an ante is a small forced chip every player puts in before the deal), the dealer gives each player two face-down hole cards and one face-up 'door' card. That opening round is 'third street' — you now hold three cards.
You've just been dealt your first three cards on third street: two face-down, one face-up. Which one is your 'door card' — the single card the whole table can see?
Who acts first flips every street
On third street the LOWEST door card is forced to bet first (this forced bet is called the 'bring-in'). From fourth street on, the player showing the strongest face-up cards acts first instead. So who has to act first can change every street as the up-cards change — there's no fixed turn order.
It's now fifth street. On third street the LOWEST card was forced to bet first. Two players remain. Whose turn is it to act first now?
Fixed-limit: small bet, then big bet
In a $5/$10 game: $5 bets on third and fourth street, $10 on fifth, sixth and seventh. Each round caps at one bet plus three raises.
Why Stud is a memory game
Up to four of every rival's cards are shown during the hand. Track the 'dead' cards — the ones folded or showing face-up — because your outs (the exact cards still in the deck that would complete your hand) may already be gone. That edge is the heart of Stud.
- 7 cards each — 3 down, 4 up — make the best five-card HIGH hand.
- Third street: lowest door card brings in; after that the strongest board acts first.
- Fixed-limit: small bet on 3rd/4th, big bet on 5th/6th/7th; open pair on 4th lets you pick.
- Seventh street is dealt face-down (or one shared card if the deck runs short 8-handed).
- No community cards or button — watch and remember every exposed and folded card.
Test yourself
Answer them all — 20/24 to pass. Every answer gets an explanation.
How many cards does each player receive in total over a full hand of Seven-Card Stud?
Every player is dealt seven cards across the five streets and makes the best five-card hand from them.
On third street, how are a player's first three cards dealt?
Third street gives two hidden hole cards and one exposed door card.
Who is required to start the action on third street?
The lowest exposed door card must post the forced bring-in bet.
From fourth street onward, who acts first in each betting round?
From fourth street on, the strongest visible board acts first and chooses to check or bet.
How many face-up cards does each player end up with in a completed hand?
One up-card on third street plus up-cards on fourth, fifth, and sixth make four exposed cards.
How is the seventh-street (final) card dealt?
The river card on seventh street is dealt face down, giving each player a hidden third hole card.
On which streets is the big bet used in a $5/$10 game?
The big bet ($10) applies from fifth street through seventh street.
How many community cards are normally used in Seven-Card Stud?
Stud is a non-flop game with no shared cards (except the rare eight-handed community river).
What special betting option appears if a player shows an open pair on fourth street?
An open pair on fourth street lets players choose the small or big bet for that round.
The 'door card' refers to which card?
The door card is your one exposed card on third street.
What is another common name for seventh street?
Seventh street, the final card, is commonly called the river.
How many betting rounds are there in a full hand of Seven-Card Stud?
Betting occurs on third, fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh street — five rounds.
If two players have the same lowest door-card rank, how is the bring-in decided?
Suit order (spades, hearts, diamonds, clubs high to low) breaks a low-card tie, so clubs is lowest and brings in.
What does the ante do in Seven-Card Stud?
Every player antes before the deal to seed the pot; Stud uses antes rather than blinds.
Best five cards from Ks, Kh, Kd, 9h, 7d, 4s, 2c — what is the hand?
Three Kings plus the 9 and 7 kickers is trip Kings — the best five of the seven.
Why is tracking 'dead cards' important in Stud but not in Hold'em?
Up to four of each opponent's cards are shown, so you can count which of your outs are already gone.
What happens on seventh street if a full 8-handed table runs out of cards?
If cards run short, a single face-up community card is shared as everyone's seventh card.
Which statement about position in Seven-Card Stud is correct?
There is no button; the strongest visible board acts first from fourth street on, so order can shift.
How many hole (face-down) cards does a player have at showdown?
Two hole cards from third street plus the seventh-street down-card make three hidden cards.
The player showing the lowest card on third street can either post the bring-in or do what?
The bring-in player may post the forced amount or complete up to a full small bet.
What is the maximum practical number of players in a standard single-deck Stud game?
Because each player can take seven cards, eight players is the practical single-deck maximum.
In a $5/$10 fixed-limit Stud game, what is the bet size on third and fourth street?
Third and fourth street use the small bet; $5 in a $5/$10 structure.
In standard high Seven-Card Stud, who wins at showdown?
Standard Stud is a high game — the best five-card hand takes the pot.
In fixed-limit Stud, how many raises are typically allowed per betting round?
Fixed-limit rounds are usually capped at one bet plus three raises.
Review — all 24 questions & answers tap to expand
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How many cards does each player receive in total over a full hand of Seven-Card Stud?
Answer Seven
Every player is dealt seven cards across the five streets and makes the best five-card hand from them.
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On third street, how are a player's first three cards dealt?
Answer Two face down, one face up
Third street gives two hidden hole cards and one exposed door card.
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Who is required to start the action on third street?
Answer The player showing the lowest up-card (the bring-in)
The lowest exposed door card must post the forced bring-in bet.
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From fourth street onward, who acts first in each betting round?
Answer The player with the best exposed (up-card) hand
From fourth street on, the strongest visible board acts first and chooses to check or bet.
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How many face-up cards does each player end up with in a completed hand?
Answer Four
One up-card on third street plus up-cards on fourth, fifth, and sixth make four exposed cards.
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How is the seventh-street (final) card dealt?
Answer Face down, private to each player
The river card on seventh street is dealt face down, giving each player a hidden third hole card.
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On which streets is the big bet used in a $5/$10 game?
Answer Fifth, sixth, and seventh
The big bet ($10) applies from fifth street through seventh street.
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How many community cards are normally used in Seven-Card Stud?
Answer None
Stud is a non-flop game with no shared cards (except the rare eight-handed community river).
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What special betting option appears if a player shows an open pair on fourth street?
Answer Players may bet either the small or the big bet
An open pair on fourth street lets players choose the small or big bet for that round.
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The 'door card' refers to which card?
Answer The single face-up card dealt on third street
The door card is your one exposed card on third street.
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What is another common name for seventh street?
Answer The river
Seventh street, the final card, is commonly called the river.
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How many betting rounds are there in a full hand of Seven-Card Stud?
Answer Five
Betting occurs on third, fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh street — five rounds.
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If two players have the same lowest door-card rank, how is the bring-in decided?
Answer By the lowest-ranking suit (clubs is lowest)
Suit order (spades, hearts, diamonds, clubs high to low) breaks a low-card tie, so clubs is lowest and brings in.
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What does the ante do in Seven-Card Stud?
Answer It is a forced contribution from every player before cards are dealt
Every player antes before the deal to seed the pot; Stud uses antes rather than blinds.
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Best five cards from Ks, Kh, Kd, 9h, 7d, 4s, 2c — what is the hand?
Answer Three of a kind, Kings
Three Kings plus the 9 and 7 kickers is trip Kings — the best five of the seven.
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Why is tracking 'dead cards' important in Stud but not in Hold'em?
Answer Because many opponents' cards are exposed and folded cards are visible
Up to four of each opponent's cards are shown, so you can count which of your outs are already gone.
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What happens on seventh street if a full 8-handed table runs out of cards?
Answer One community card is turned face up for all remaining players
If cards run short, a single face-up community card is shared as everyone's seventh card.
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Which statement about position in Seven-Card Stud is correct?
Answer Who acts first can change street to street based on the exposed boards
There is no button; the strongest visible board acts first from fourth street on, so order can shift.
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How many hole (face-down) cards does a player have at showdown?
Answer Three
Two hole cards from third street plus the seventh-street down-card make three hidden cards.
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The player showing the lowest card on third street can either post the bring-in or do what?
Answer Complete the bet to a full small bet
The bring-in player may post the forced amount or complete up to a full small bet.
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What is the maximum practical number of players in a standard single-deck Stud game?
Answer Eight
Because each player can take seven cards, eight players is the practical single-deck maximum.
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In a $5/$10 fixed-limit Stud game, what is the bet size on third and fourth street?
Answer $5 (the small bet)
Third and fourth street use the small bet; $5 in a $5/$10 structure.
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In standard high Seven-Card Stud, who wins at showdown?
Answer The highest-ranking five-card hand
Standard Stud is a high game — the best five-card hand takes the pot.
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In fixed-limit Stud, how many raises are typically allowed per betting round?
Answer One bet and three raises (a cap)
Fixed-limit rounds are usually capped at one bet plus three raises.