How To Play Seven Card Stud

The Buy-in
As you sit down at your chosen table, you must first buy-in a minimum amount of chips. The minimum amount is ten times the lower bet limit of the game. For example on a $1/$2 table the minimum buy-in is $10.

Sit Down
Up to 8 players are seated around a table.

Ante
All players must pay ante before any cards are dealt. The amount of the ante is based on the table limits. $1/$2 tables have an ante of $0.25, and $10/$20 tables have a $1 ante.

Betting
All players are dealt two down cards (or “Hole” cards) and one up card. The player showing the lowest card by suit (highest to lowest: spades, hearts, diamonds, clubs) must start the first round of betting with a forced bet of half the lower limit.

After the initial bet, three more up cards are dealt (with a round of betting after each card), then a final down card and a final round of betting. Tables should have betting limits determined by the stakes being offered, e.g. at a $1-$2 table, the limit on any bet is $1 on the first two betting rounds and $2 on the final three betting rounds.

Some poker rooms will allow one bet and three raises. The final raise is capped and the only options are to call or fold at this point. The action of the first two rounds is set at the lower limit of the table structure. The exception to this rule is when a player shows a pair after the 4th street, and the bet is double the lower limit.

All players have the option to bet the higher limit for the second round of betting. If a player does bet the higher limit, subsequent bets must also be at the higher limit.

The Showdown
Any five of your seven cards can be used to make up your best poker hand. The best poker hand wins the pot. (See Hand Rankings) Should multiple hands tie, the pot is split with any odd amount going to the player immediately to the left of the dealer.

If all eight players are still in the hand on the river, the total number of cards needed for all the players to receive their own card would not be available in a standard deck of 52 cards. Therefore under these circumstances, the river card will be dealt as a “community card”, meaning it will be face-up and can be used by all players to make up their poker hand.

Start Again
After a hand is completed and the pot has been won, the dealer button is moved one seat clockwise and the next hand begins.

- How to play Texas Hold 'em Poker
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