Raise the Stakes Poker

Now, as in pretty much every other poker game, although it may be called by a different name, you begin 7 Card Stud by paying up the ante. In other words, the players put a set amount into the pot. 7 Card Stud has six stages. They are called: third street; fourth street; fifth street; sixth street; the river; and, finally, the showdown. Following the ante, every player receives two cards face down, known as the hole cards, and one card face up. This is the third street.

Whichever player has the highest face up card starts the betting. He or she either checks or bets. Following that move, the rest of the players either call, raise, or fold. After this, the fourth, fifth, and sixth streets follow, which each player being dealt one more face up card for each street.

The river is marked by the seventh card, and it is face down as well. After it is dealt, the last betting round occurs, making for the showdown.

7 Card Stud is a much loved variation of poker. The problem is that it is also notoriously popular in movies and television shows, and that is where a lot of people “learn” how to play it. Needless to say, the lessons there are not entirely correct, so hopefully the next couple of posts will be able to clear up some things.

First of all, knowing how to play 7 Card Stud makes a great basis for learning other variations of poker, like Texas Hold ‘Em and Omaha. The ranking order for hands and cards is the same as it is in most other versions of poker.

A Royal Flush, for example, is the highest hand you can get, followed by: a Straight Flush; four of a kind; a Full House; a Flush; a Straight; three of a kind; two pair; one pair; and a high card. It is harder to be dealt a high hand in this version, because there aren’t any community cards.