Guide to playing 7 Card Stud Poker

Let us understand the format of 7 Card Stud Poker and how it is played on an UK online poker site.
In a typical seven Card Stud Casino Poker, there are total four betting rounds plus the final showdown.

• Playing move 1: Before cards are dealt, all poker players - in a 7 Card Stud Poker - need to ante, a small bet, generally a small fraction of lower limit on poker table. The ante size depends largely on limits of the playing table.

Now, let us try to understand the next moves of 7 Card Stud Poker.

• Playing move 2: The betting round begins with "forced bet". Each player gets three cards - one at a time. Two are face down, called hole cards and the remaining one - face up, termed up card or door card. The player who shows the lowest upcard needs to 'bring-in' 1st round of betting. The lowest card is decided by value, in case of a tie - the lowest suit. It`s the only time when suits are employed in poker. The bring-in bet is basically a tiny bet - a bit higher than the ante. It is again determined by the playing table limit. It`s generally half the lower limit.

• Playing move 3: A normal round of betting then follows. Each player has the option to fold, raise or call to a full bet. Each raise is below the lower limit.

In each round, there`s a max 1 bet and total 3 raises. The limit for the bets is the lower limit for the 1st two rounds and the higher one for the subsequent rounds. An exception is made if a poker player displays a pair on the 2nd round. Then the player can jump directly to the higher limit.

• Playing move 4: the final showdown: After the first round of 7 Card Stud Poker is over, the second round of betting follows! After all poker players have bet exactly the same amount (betting has equalized), each of them is dealt a fresh card face up. The one with the highest two cards (face up) begins the round of betting. If the highest two face up cards happen to be a pair, they have an option for betting at either the lower or the higher limit. If two poker players happen to be tied then the one with the highest suit begins the betting. Players can choose to fold, raise or call. Provided that none has bet, they may even check (i.e. bet nothing), letting them to find out who else bets.
• Playing move 5: If all poker players check then the play carries on to the next round. Again, each player gets a new card - face up - in the fifth street. Betting begins the same way as in the previous round though all bets are now at the higher limit.
• Playing move 6: Sixth Street is similar to Fifth Street. The player showing highest hand begins the betting.

• Playing move 7: In 7th Street, also termed The River, each poker player gets the last card, which is face down. The player, who began the betting in 6th Street, begins the betting. Once the betting is over, the player who has made the last strong bet or raise reveals the five card poker hand.

The best five card hand gets to win the pot.