7-Card Stud

Overview

Before Hold'em took over the world, 7-Card Stud was the poker game. No community cards, no blinds — just seven cards dealt to each player across five betting rounds, and the best five-card hand wins. Three cards are hidden; four are shown face-up for everyone to see. Reading the board — meaning your opponents' up-cards — is the whole game.

The Deal

1. Every player posts an ante (small forced bet).
2. Third street: each player receives two hole cards face down and one card face up. The player with the lowest up-card must post the bring-in (a forced opening bet). Betting goes around the table from there.
3. Fourth street: a second up-card to each remaining player. From here on, the highest exposed hand acts first.
4. Betting round at the small bet.
5. Fifth street: a third up-card. Bets now double to the big bet.
6. Betting round at the big bet.
7. Sixth street: a fourth up-card.
8. Betting round.
9. Seventh street ("the river"): a seventh card dealt face down.
10. Final betting round.
11. Showdown — best 5 of 7 cards wins.

How to Read a Hand

Each player ends with 3 down + 4 up = 7 cards. Make the best possible five-card hand from any combination of those seven. Standard high-hand rankings apply — a flush beats a straight, a full house beats a flush, etc.

Betting Structure

USAPOKER.LIVE serves 7-Card Stud at fixed-limit. On third and fourth street you bet the small bet. On fifth, sixth, and seventh streets the bet size doubles. Maximum of a bet plus three raises per round (cap). The exception: on fourth street, if any player shows an open pair, bets may be made at either the small or big bet.

What's Different From Hold'em

• No position as you know it. The player who acts first changes every street based on which exposed hand is highest.
• You see 60% of each opponent's hand by seventh street. Pay attention — folded players reveal information too.
• No community cards means no one shares a flush draw with you. Your outs are purely in the deck minus what's dead on the board.
• Dead-card tracking is critical. If three of your flush suit are already visible among opponents, your draw is drawing live only against the deck.

Starting-Hand Tips

• Rolled-up trips (three of a kind on third street) — rare and gold. Play fast.
• Big pairs: A-A, K-K, Q-Q in the hole are strong, especially with a live kicker.
• Three to a flush or three to a straight are drawing hands — fine for cheap, bad for raising wars.
• Watch for live cards: a hand is only worth as much as the cards it needs that are still in the deck.

Hand Rankings

1. Royal Flush
2. Straight Flush
3. Four of a Kind
4. Full House
5. Flush
6. Straight
7. Three of a Kind
8. Two Pair
9. One Pair
10. High Card

7-Card Stud is coming soon to USAPOKER.LIVE. Try Double Board Omaha or Texas Hold'em while you wait.