Limit Seven Card Stud is an absolutely great game to play. It requires a great deal of strategy, skill and memory to develop a strong game and many hours of play to improve and become a winner. The following information will be helpful in helping you to understand about how to play Seven Card Stud.

The Ante

In Limit Seven Card Stud, the ante, which is a token bet required before the start of the hand, is mandatory. The amount is determined by the betting limits of the game. All players are required to ante prior to the cards being dealt. For example, if the game is $10-$20 Seven Card Stud and the ante is $1. The ante is usually 10% of the small bet, but not always.

The Deal

Starting with the player to the left of the dealer, the cards will be dealt in a clockwise fashion one at a time until each player has two pocket cards which are sometimes referred to as hole cards or down cards. These cards are dealt face down. A third card is dealt to each player face up. Face up cards are also called up cards or open cards.

In poker lingo, each up card is called a street as it is dealt. This up card is referred to as the door card or 3rd street.

Once these 3 cards have been dealt to each player, the game will begin. The dealer will indicate which player must open for a bet by identifying the lowest door card. There could be a tie for the lowest door card. This issue is resolved by the first lowest card in the clockwise rotation.

Betting on Third Street (3rd card of 7)

The player holding the lowest door card will be required to "bring it in" by opening the betting with a bet twice the size of the ante, which in this example would be $2. The player that begins each round of betting is sometimes called 'the opener'.

The player to the left of the "bring in" player (clockwise) will be the next to act.

When involved in a hand, there are several actions a player can take. The player may CALL the bet by matching the amount of the first bet. In the example, that would be $2.

The player may RAISE the bet by matching the amount of the first bet and adding the amount of the lower bet, which would be $10 in this $10 - $20 game.

The player may FOLD. When a player folds, the action taken is one of passing and the player does not wish to enter the hand by placing any money in the pot.

The first round of betting is complete after every player at the table has acted and placed the same amount in the pot or folded. As stated before, this is a limit, structured game of seven card stud. The first round will require each player to call the $2 "bring in", bet $10, raise $10 or fold.

In the example, Seat 1 must come in for a bet of $2. Thats because he has the lowest card showing. Seat 2 calls. Seats 3 and 4 fold. Seat 5 calls. Seat 6 raises $8 making it $10 to go. Seat 7 calls the $10. Seat 8 folds. Seat 1 folds. Seat 2 calls the $8 raise and so does Seat 5.

Betting On Fourth Street (4th card of 7)

After the first round has been completed, each player is dealt another up card. The dealer will not burn a card as he does in "flop" games. This card is referred to as 4th street. The opener on 4th street and the subsequent streets is different than the opener on 3rd street.

The opener now becomes the highest hand determined by the up cards or open cards. The person holding the highest hand may CHECK, (pass the bet to the next player) or bet.

The bet is at the low limit. In our example, it will be $10. The second round of betting is complete after every player at the table has acted and placed the same amount in the pot or folded.

In our example, Seat 6 has the higest hand with the AT and bets $10. Seat 7 folds. Seat 2 calls. Seat 5 raises $10. Seat 6 calls and seat 2 calls.

Betting On Fifth Street (5th card of 7)

After the second round is complete, each player is dealt another up card and the high hand opens the betting. The third round of betting, fifth street, is now at the higher limit of $20. The third round of betting is complete after every player at the table has acted and placed the same amount in the pot or folded.

In our example, Seat 6 is still high with a pair of tens showing. He bets $20. Seat 2 and 5 call.

Betting on Sixth Street (6th card of 7)

After the third round is complete, each player is dealt another up card and the high hand opens the betting. The betting is at the higher limit of $20. The fourth round of betting is complete after every player at the table has acted and placed the same amount in the pot or folded.

In our example, Seat 6 fires in $20. Seat 2 raises $20. Seat 5 folds. Seat 6 calls.

Betting on Seventh Street (7th card of 7)

The last card (7th street) is another pocket or hole card dealt face down to each player. Once again, the betting is at the higher limit of $20.

In our example, Seat 6 checks to seat 2. Seat 2 bets $20. Seat 6 calls.

Showdown

After all bets and raises are complete and all players have acted and placed the same amount in the pot or folded, the remaining players enter the Showdown.

The opener first shows his pocket cards. If a player thinks he has the openers hand beaten, the player must reveal his or her pocket cards or fold by mucking them in the discards.

In our example, Seat 6 has 2 pair (aces over tens). Seat 2 reveals a Queen high flush making him the winner of this hand in limit seven card stud. The dealer shoves the pot of $290 to Seat 2.