Learn how to play Stud

7-Card Stud is one of poker’s most enduring and challenging variants, offering a completely different experience from the community card games that dominate modern poker rooms. Unlike Texas Hold’em, where players share community cards, 7-Card Stud gives each player their own unique set of seven cards throughout the hand. This creates a game of memory, observation, and strategic thinking that has captivated poker players for over a century.

The objective in 7-Card Stud is identical to most poker games: make the best five-card poker hand possible from your seven cards to win the pot. However, the path to achieving this goal differs dramatically from Hold’em. Instead of making quick decisions based on flop, turn, and river cards, 7-Card Stud unfolds slowly over five betting rounds, with each player receiving cards at different stages and in different ways.

What sets 7-Card Stud apart from Texas Hold’em is the absence of community cards and the presence of exposed cards that all players can see. This creates an information-rich environment where skilled players can track which cards have been dealt, calculate odds more precisely, and make informed decisions based on their opponents’ visible holdings. The game rewards patience, memory, and the ability to read both cards and opponents over multiple betting rounds.

7-Card Stud Basic Rules

7-Card Stud begins with each player posting an ante, a small forced bet that ensures there’s money in the pot from the start. The ante is typically one-fifth of the small bet in limit games. Once all players have posted their antes, the dealer distributes three cards to each player: two face down (hole cards) and one face up (door card).

The player with the lowest door card must post the bring-in bet, which is usually half the size of the small bet. If two players have the same low card, suit ranking determines who brings it in, with clubs being lowest, followed by diamonds, hearts, and spades. The bring-in player can either post the minimum bring-in amount or complete the bet to a full small bet.

Example: Opening Deal
In a $5/$10 7-Card Stud game with a $1 ante:
(hole cards in brackets, door card visible)

• Player A receives: [A♠ K♠] 4♣
• Player B receives: [7♦️ 7♥️] 2♠
• Player C receives: [Q♣ J♣] 8♥️

Player B has the lowest door card (2♠) and must post the bring-in of $2 or complete to $5.

After the bring-in, action continues clockwise with each player having the option to fold, call, or raise. The betting structure follows the same pattern as other limit poker games, with small bets used in the early rounds and big bets in the later rounds.

Fourth Street brings another face-up card to each remaining player. The player with the highest showing hand acts first in this and all subsequent betting rounds. If a player shows a pair on fourth street, the betting limits typically double, allowing for larger bets and raises.

On Fifth Street the big bet kicks in (2x the small bet). On both Fifth and Sixth Streets each player receives another face-up card and the high hand acts first. By sixth street, each player has six cards: two face down and four face up.

The final card, Seventh Street or “the river,” is dealt face down to each remaining player. This gives everyone exactly seven cards: three face down and four face up. A final betting round occurs, followed by the showdown where remaining players reveal their hole cards and the best five-card hand wins the pot.

7-Card Stud Betting Rules

7-Card Stud typically uses a fixed-limit betting structure. In the early streets (third and fourth), players use the smaller betting increment. On fifth, sixth, and seventh streets, the betting doubles to the larger increment. However, there’s an important exception: if any player shows a pair on fourth street, betting immediately jumps to the higher limit.

The maximum number of raises per betting round is typically capped at three or four, depending on the house rules. When only two players remain in a hand, this cap is often removed, allowing for unlimited raising.

Example: Betting Limits
In a $5/$10 game:

• Third and Fourth Street: $5 bets and raises
• Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh Street: $10 bets and raises
• Exception: If a pair shows on Fourth Street, betting increases to $10

7-Card Stud Gameplay Flow

A complete hand of 7-Card Stud follows this sequence: antes are posted, three cards are dealt (two down, one up), bring-in is posted by the low card, and betting occurs. Fourth street deals one up card, high hand acts first, and betting occurs with possible limit increase if a pair shows.

Fifth street deals one up card, high hand acts first, and betting occurs at the higher limit. Sixth street deals one up card, high hand acts first, and betting occurs at the higher limit. Seventh street deals one down card, high hand acts first based on showing cards, final betting occurs, and showdown determines the winner.

The key to understanding 7-Card Stud gameplay is recognizing that information accumulates throughout the hand. Unlike Hold’em where community cards affect everyone equally, each new card in Stud provides unique information about individual players’ holdings and potential hands.

Popular Stud Variations

While standard 7-Card Stud remains the most common version, several popular variations add unique twists to the classic format. Each variation maintains the basic structure of 7-Card Stud but changes either the winning criteria or the dealing pattern to create different strategic challenges.

5-Card Stud

5-Card Stud is the simpler predecessor to 7-Card Stud and follows a more streamlined format. Each player receives five cards total: one hole card dealt face down and four cards dealt face up over four betting rounds. The game begins with each player receiving one down card and one up card, with the low card bringing in the action.

The major difference from 7-Card Stud is the reduced number of cards and betting rounds. With only one hole card, players have less hidden information, making the game more straightforward but also more dependent on the strength of visible cards. Bluffing becomes more difficult since opponents can see four-fifths of your hand.

Strategy in 5-Card Stud focuses heavily on starting hand selection and reading opponents’ visible cards. Since players only receive five cards total, drawing to hands becomes less viable, and players must often play their initial strong holdings more aggressively. The game rewards tight, aggressive play and careful observation of opponents’ up cards.

Stud 8

Stud 8, also known as Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo Eight or Better, splits the pot between the best high hand and the best qualifying low hand. A qualifying low hand must contain five cards of eight or lower with no pairs counting against the low. Straights and flushes do not negate a low hand. The ace plays as both high and low, making A-2-3-4-5 the best possible low hand.

The dealing and betting structure remains identical to regular 7-Card Stud, but players must now consider both high and low possibilities when evaluating their hands. This creates complex strategic situations where players might be drawing to both high and low hands simultaneously, or may need to abandon one direction to focus on the other.

Starting hand selection becomes crucial in Stud 8, as hands that can win both high and low (called “scooping”) provide the best profit potential. Hands like (A-A) with a low card up, or three low cards including an ace, offer multiple ways to win and should be played more aggressively than in regular Stud.

Example: Stud 8 Showdown
Player A: (A♠ 2♥️) 3♣ 4♦️ 5♠ 6♥️ (8♣) – makes 5-4-3-2-A low and 6-high straight
Player B: (K♠ K♦️) K♣ 7♦️ Q♠ Q♥️ (2♣) – makes Kings full of Queens (high only)
Player A wins the low half with A-5 low, Player B wins the high half with the full house.

Razz

Razz is the lowball version of 7-Card Stud where the objective is to make the worst possible five-card poker hand. The lowest hand wins the entire pot, with straights and flushes not counting against you. The best possible Razz hand is A-2-3-4-5, called “the wheel” or “the bicycle.”

The dealing structure mirrors 7-Card Stud exactly, but the bring-in is posted by the player with the highest door card instead of the lowest. Aces are always low in Razz, and the highest acting hand in each betting round is actually the lowest showing hand. This creates an interesting dynamic where strong Razz hands want to bet and raise, while weak hands should fold quickly.

Starting hand selection in Razz is relatively straightforward: you want three cards eight or lower, with no pairs. The ideal starting hand would be A-2-3, giving you the best possible start toward the nuts. Hands with nines or higher, or multiple paired cards, should typically be folded immediately.

Strategy in Razz involves careful attention to opponents’ up cards and folded cards. Since you’re drawing to low hands, seeing high cards in opponents’ boards and in the muck helps your drawing odds significantly. Players must also learn to recognize when they’re drawing dead or nearly dead to opponents’ superior low draws.

7-Card Stud Basic Strategy

Successful 7-Card Stud strategy begins with understanding that this is fundamentally a game of information and memory. Unlike Hold’em where community cards are shared, every card you see in Stud belongs to a specific player or is permanently out of play. This creates opportunities for skilled players to gain significant advantages through careful observation and card tracking.

Starting hand selection forms the foundation of winning Stud play. Premium starting hands include big pairs (Aces through Tens), three cards to a straight flush, and three suited cards. These hands have multiple ways to improve and can often win without improvement. Medium pairs and three cards to a flush or straight offer decent playability but require more caution, especially if key cards become visible in opponents’ hands.

The concept of “live cards” is crucial in 7-Card Stud. Your cards are considered live if none (or very few) of the cards you need have appeared in opponents’ up cards or folded hands. For example, if you hold (7♠ 8♠) 9♠ for a straight flush draw, but you can see the 6♠, 5♠, T♠, and J♠ in opponents’ hands, your draw becomes significantly weakened. Conversely, if none of your needed cards are visible, your draw becomes more valuable.

Position in 7-Card Stud differs from Hold’em because it changes each betting round based on the strength of showing hands. However, acting last still provides advantages in gathering information and controlling pot size. Players should pay careful attention to who will act first on future streets and plan their strategy accordingly.

Reading opponents’ hands becomes progressively easier as more cards are exposed. Strong Stud players develop the ability to put opponents on hand ranges based on their up cards, betting patterns, and the cards that have been folded. This skill improves with experience and careful attention to the game flow.

Tournament vs Cash Game Strategy

Tournament and cash game strategy in 7-Card Stud require different approaches due to varying blind structures, stack sizes, and overall objectives. Cash game strategy focuses on long-term profit maximization, while tournament strategy must account for survival and chip accumulation within the tournament structure.

In cash games, players can afford to be more selective with starting hands and play a patient, optimal strategy. The ability to rebuy removes the pressure of chip preservation, allowing for more aggressive play with strong hands and proper fold discipline with marginal holdings. Cash game players should focus on exploiting opponents’ weaknesses and maximizing value from premium hands.

Tournament play requires more adaptability and situational awareness. As blinds and antes increase relative to stack sizes, players must loosen their starting hand requirements and become more aggressive with marginal holdings. The concept of chip preservation becomes important in the early stages, while chip accumulation takes priority as the tournament progresses.

Stack size considerations play a larger role in tournaments. Short-stacked players may need to commit with hands they would fold in cash games, while big stacks can apply pressure and play more speculative hands. The bubble and final table dynamics create additional strategic considerations that don’t exist in cash games.

5-Card Stud Strategy

5-Card Stud strategy differs significantly from 7-Card Stud due to the reduced number of cards and limited hidden information. With only one hole card, opponents can see 80% of your hand, making deception more difficult and straightforward play more profitable. Starting hand selection becomes even more critical since you have fewer cards to improve your holding.

Premium starting hands in 5-Card Stud include any pocket pair and ace-high combinations. These hands can often win without improvement and should be played aggressively when the board texture supports their strength. Suited connectors and medium-high cards have some value but require favorable boards to continue past the early streets.

Board reading skills become paramount in 5-Card Stud. Since most of each player’s hand is visible, you can often determine with high accuracy whether you’re ahead or behind in the hand. This makes pot odds calculations more straightforward and reduces the guesswork involved in decision-making.

Bluffing opportunities are limited in 5-Card Stud due to the visible nature of most cards. However, certain board textures do allow for effective bluffs, particularly when your up cards tell a coherent story about a strong hand. The key is ensuring your bluff makes sense given what opponents can see of your hand.

Stud 8 Strategy

Stud 8 strategy revolves around the fundamental concept of “scooping” – winning both the high and low halves of the pot. Hands that can compete for both sides offer the best profit potential and should be played more aggressively than in regular Stud. Starting hands like (A-A) with a low card up, or three low cards including an ace, exemplify this dual-direction potential.

Low hand draws require careful attention to opponents’ up cards and board texture. If multiple opponents are showing low cards, the value of your low draw decreases significantly due to competition. Conversely, if you’re the only player pursuing the low, even a marginal low draw gains value since you’ll win half the pot uncontested.

High-only hands face unique challenges in Stud 8 because they’re competing for only half the pot against potentially multiple opponents. Strong high hands like trips or big two pair retain value, but medium-strength high hands become less playable when low hands are likely to qualify. Players must adjust their hand values accordingly.

The concept of “getting quartered” is crucial in Stud 8. This occurs when you tie for either the high or low half of the pot with another player, resulting in winning only 25% of the total pot. Avoiding quarters while putting opponents in quartering situations represents advanced Stud 8 strategy.

Razz Strategy

Razz strategy focuses on starting hand selection and careful attention to opponents’ up cards and folded cards. Since you’re drawing to the lowest possible hand, seeing high cards removed from play significantly improves your drawing odds. The ideal starting hand contains three cards eight or lower with no pairs and no duplicated ranks.

Drawing decisions in Razz depend heavily on the number of opponents and their visible cards. Against multiple opponents showing low cards, even strong draws lose value due to increased competition. However, against opponents showing high cards or pairs, even marginal low draws can become profitable pursuits.

Aggressive play with strong Razz hands is essential for maximum profit. When you hold a strong low draw or made low hand, betting and raising helps build pots and eliminates opponents who might outdraw you. The nuts or near-nuts should be played fast to extract maximum value from weaker low hands.

Reading opponents’ hands becomes relatively straightforward in Razz since most cards are visible and the objective is clear. Players showing multiple high cards or pairs have little chance of winning and can often be bet out of pots. Conversely, opponents with strong low boards should be respected and played cautiously against.

Stud Position-Based Strategy

Position in Stud is dynamic and changes each betting round based on the strength of players’ showing hands. Unlike Hold’em where position is fixed, Stud players must constantly adapt their strategy based on their relative position for each street. Understanding how position affects play on each street is crucial for optimal strategy.

Early position players (those acting first) must be more cautious with marginal hands since they face potential raises from multiple opponents behind them. However, early position also provides opportunities to control pot size with strong hands through betting and to represent strength with strategic bluffs when appropriate.

Late position offers significant advantages in Stud, allowing players to see opponents’ actions before making decisions. This information advantage enables better pot odds calculations, more accurate hand reading, and superior bluffing opportunities. Late position players can also control pot size more effectively and extract maximum value from strong hands.

The bring-in position on third street is unique since it’s determined by the lowest door card rather than seat position. Players in the bring-in position should generally complete the bet with strong hands and strong draws, while folding weak holdings rather than limping for the minimum. This aggressive approach helps disguise hand strength and builds bigger pots with premium holdings.

Middle position requires a balanced approach, adapting to both early position actions and potential late position raises. Players in middle position should be selective with marginal hands but aggressive with premium holdings. The ability to see some opponents’ actions while maintaining some control over later opponents provides moderate strategic advantages.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between 7-Card Stud and Texas Hold’em?

The main difference is that 7-Card Stud has no community cards – each player receives their own seven cards throughout the hand. In Hold’em, players share five community cards and receive only two hole cards. This makes 7-Card Stud more about individual hand development and memory skills, while Hold’em focuses more on quick decision-making and position play.

How many players can play 7-Card Stud?

7-Card Stud can accommodate 2-8 players at a single table. With eight players, the game uses 56 cards (7 cards × 8 players). If all 8 players stay in until the end, there won’t be enough cards for everyone to receive a final seventh card face down. In that case a Community Card Option is typically employed where a single card is dealt face-up in the center of the table for everyone to use as their final card. This creates an interesting dynamic where card removal becomes very significant in full games.

What is the bring-in in 7-Card Stud?

The bring-in is a forced bet made by the player with the lowest door card on third street. It’s typically half the size of the small bet and ensures action begins on every hand. The bring-in player can either post the minimum amount or “complete” the bet to a full small bet. If players tie for the lowest card, suit ranking determines who brings it in.

Can you fold the bring-in in 7-Card Stud?

No, the player with the lowest door card must post the bring-in – they cannot fold before making this forced bet. However, after posting the bring-in, they can fold to any subsequent raises just like any other player. The bring-in ensures there’s always money in the pot and action on every hand.

What are the best starting hands in 7-Card Stud?

The best starting hands are rolled-up trips (three of a kind), big pairs (AA-TT), three cards to a straight flush, and three high suited cards. These hands have multiple ways to improve and often win without further improvement. Medium pairs and suited connectors are also playable but require more caution and favorable board textures.

How do you track cards in 7-Card Stud?

Card tracking involves remembering which cards have been folded and which are visible in opponents’ hands. This information helps calculate odds more accurately and determine if your draws are “live” (the cards you need haven’t been seen). Many players use mental techniques like grouping cards by suit or rank to make tracking easier.

What does it mean for cards to be live in 7-Card Stud?

Live cards are those you need to improve your hand that haven’t been visible in opponents’ up cards or folded hands. For example, if you’re drawing to a flush and none of your suit have been seen, your cards are completely live. If several cards of your suit are visible, your draw becomes less valuable because fewer cards can help you.

Is 7-Card Stud harder than Texas Hold’em?

Many players consider 7-Card Stud more challenging due to the memory requirements, complex hand reading, and multiple betting rounds. The game demands greater attention to detail and card tracking skills. However, some players find Hold’em more difficult due to its faster pace and post-flop complexity. Both games require different skill sets to master effectively.