This poker game is played with a maximum of 8 players (plus the virtual dealer). The most important difference between this and the other games is that when you play 7 Card Stud, there are no "community" cards. Each player has his own individual hand, and in fixed limit games, there are two bet limits.

The first two cards (hole cards) are dealt face down, and the other players can't see them. The next cards are called Streets (3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th Street), and they are dealt face up. The last card, the River, is dealt face down.

At the start of the round, the players must place Antes. The Ante is a fraction of the low bet limit and serves the same purpose as the Blinds in Hold'em games.

After the 3rd Street has been dealt, the player with the lowest face-up card starts the betting. (If two players are showing cards of the same value, the order is determined according to their suits. The suit order is, in descending rank: Spades, Hearts, Diamonds, and Clubs.)

Seven Stud Poker7 Stud Poker

The starting player can either place a complete bet, or place a Bring-In. This is smaller than the complete bet, and again like the Blinds in other varieties, the player only needs to add the difference if the bet is completed and he decides to call. The other players can call, complete the bet, or raise.

Once the bets have been placed, the 4th Street is dealt. This time the player with the highest card or combination shown starts the betting, and there is no Bring-In. At this stage, any player can bet at the high limit, which will be applied to all subsequent bets.

The same cycle is used for the 5th and 6th Streets, and the River, except that the high limit is now applied regardless of whether it was used for the 4 th Street or not. After the River bets are placed, the highest five-card poker hand is formed from each player's cards. The highest ranking hand wins.

Seven Card Stud poker Glossary

Ante: The chips that are placed in the pot before the game. In Hold'em games these are called "blinds". The ante ensures the pot for the player with the winning hand.

Hole Cards: The first two cards that are placed face-down when dealt in the beginning of a stud game. The remaining cards are dealt face up and are called "streets" (see below).

Bring-in: The bring-in is a forced bet that is made by a single player at the beginning of a game - usually the one that is holding the lowest face up cards. This amount is typically less than the minimum stake amount.

3rd Street: The first betting round when all the players in the game have been dealt three cards. In Seven Card Stud, whoever is holding the card is responsible for the bring-in bet (see above).

4th Street: The second round of betting, with each player holding a total of four cards. At this stage of the game, players can choose to check, raise, call or fold. The next round of betting usually begins with the player who has the best hand.

5th Street: The third round of betting, with all the remaining players holding a total of five cards. Bet limits reach their highest point during this stage, with limits being set by the card room. Once again, the next round of betting begins with the player who holds the highest-ranking hand.

6th Street: This phrase is only relevant in Seven Card Stud and refers to the fourth betting round. All remaining players now hold six cards and the final betting round is started by the player with the highest ranking hand.

7th Street: This phrase is also relevant only in Seven Card Stud and refers to the fifth and final round of bets.