Introduction to H.O.R.S.E Part 4 - Seven Card Stud

The fourth game of the H.O.R.S.E rotation is an old classic, Seven Card Stud.  Seven Card Stud is a very simple game to learn.  Each player that’s stays to the completion of the hand will receive 7 cards, 4 cards up and 3 down, and the player with the best 5 card hand wins the pot.

To start, each player puts up an ante and is dealt 3 cards, two down and 1 up.  Then a round of betting occurs.  The player with the lowest up card showing makes a bring-in bet.  The bring-in is typically twice the size of the ante.  In the case that 2 cards have the lowest card, the player with the lowest suit is the bring in.  Suit ranks are alphabetical from worst to best.  (Clubs, Diamonds, Hearts, and Spades)  A player that brings in the bet also has the option to complete a bet to the full bet amount.  In a $5-$10 Stud game with a $1 ante, the bring in would be $2 and a completion would be $5.  A completion does not count as a raise.  If a bet is completed, then normal limit betting rules apply.

Fourth Street through Sixth Street is dealt face up.  Each round of betting after Third Street is began by the person with the highest hand showing.  In the event that 2 hands are the same rank, then the person with the best position is the first to bet.  Position is determined by starting with seat one and moving around the table.

The final card, also known as Seventh Street, is dealt face down.  A final round of betting occurs and the remaining players show their cards.  The person with the best hand takes the pot.  Many players, especially on the East Coat, grew up playing this classic card game.  You can still find Stud spread in many card rooms throughout the country and online.  My final article in this introductory series will cover my personal favorite game, Stud 8 or better.