What you should have in mind when playing 7card stud is that at the end you need to have the best five cards hand. To make the best possible combination you have at your disposal seven cards three of which are dealt face down and four are dealt face up. In this game there are no „community cards”. Based on what they see on the table, players can make an ideea on what combination you may have.

Ante

An „ante” is a mandatory amount that each player must post before each hand. This „ante” is also used in some final phases of texas hold’em tournaments.

Bring-in

Is the amount payed in the first betting round by the player having the lowest up card. This forced bet may be replaced by an ordinary one that is twice this bring-in, in case the respective player wants to do so.

Betting Round

During a betting round, each players acts when it’s his turn, at least one time, clockwise. There are a few actions you may choose from. When no bet has been made on the respective round you may pass on without raising the stake (check) or you may make a bet (bet). When someone before you has bet, you may give up and quit the game (fold), pay the same amount (the same bet) for going on (call) or you may increase the amount bet (raise).
There are five phases in a 7 Stud hand, each of them being followed by a betting round.

Third Street

The game starts after each player posts the ante. Each player receives two face down cards and one up card. When all players have these three cards, the player with the lowest up card must start the betting round. He or she may choose from posting the bring-in or betting twice this amount. After this, the clockwise betting continues. When the betting round ends they pass on to the Fourth street.

Fourth Street

Each player left in the game receives another up card. This time the player having the best combination of two up cards starts the betting round (a pair of Aces is considered to be the best possible combination). After this round of betting they pass on to the Fifth Street.

Fifth Street

Each player left in the game receives another up card. The player having the best combination of three up cards starts the betting round. After this round, the players pass on to the Sixth Street.

Sixth Street

Once again, each player left in the game receives an up card. The player having the best combination of four up cards starts the betting round. After this round, the players pass on to the Seventh Street.

Seventh Street

The final card is dealt to all players left in the game, and this time is down card. In case there are eight players left in the game at the end there would not be enough cards, so a community card will be dealt to the center of the table to be used by all players. The same player who started the previous round starts the betting.

The Showdown

Now all players show their cards to determine the winner or the winners of the big pot. This player has made the most valuable combination of five cards by using any of the seven cards he was dealt. Attention! Only the players left in the game show their cards. A 7 Stud hand may come to an end during each of the betting rounds, when all players except one give up to their cards.

In this case, the only player left in the game wins the pot no matter what cards he has. Also, he may choose whether he shows his card or not. When two or more players have the same combinations (with the same value) the pot is split evenly.