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While not currently as popular as
Texas Hold’em, Seven card stud is a very exciting game that has been widely played
for generations. The basic premise of seven card stud is to make the best 5 card
hand of the 7 cards you are dealt. Of these 7 cards, 3 are delivered face down
as hole cards, and 4 are delivered face up for the tables viewing, however
these are not community cards as in Texas Hold’em. Hands are ranked in the
standard Poker way, and any 5 of the 7 cards may be used, and kickers and
split pots operate exactly the same as in Hold’em. Aces play both high and low
for the purposes of a straight.
The game starts with each player placing an
ante, and there are no blinds as there are in Hold’em. After the antes have
been placed, each player is dealt two hole cards face down and one card face
up. The betting action then begins with the player showing the lowest up card,
and action proceeds clockwise. The first player to act must place a bet known
as a “bring-in”, this is a forced bet, but not a blind one. The player has the
option of folding or placing the bring-in, which is usually a very small
amount. This first round is known as Third Street.
Upon completion of Third Street, another card is dealt to each player face
up. This is called Fourth Street, and another round of betting begins, this
time starting with the player showing the highest board (their two face up
cards). All subsequent betting rounds will begin with the player showing the
highest board. When all bets have been settled, another card is dealt face up
to each player still in the hand- this is Fifth Street; once again, a round of
betting ensues beginning with the player showing the highest board.
After this round of betting is complete, it’s time for Sixth Street, and
again every player is dealt a card face up followed by a round of betting.
When this round of betting is complete, it’s time for Seventh Street (also
known as The River), where every remaining active player is dealt a final card
face down. A final round of betting occurs, again beginning with the player
showing the strongest board, and after all bets are settled, hole cards are
revealed, and player hands are compared to determine the winner. The winner is
the player who forms the best 5 card poker hand using any of the 7 cards in
front of them.
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