|
|
For most of the 20th Century, 7-card stud was the most popular card game in the world. It dominated casinos, home games and bars and pubs around the world. The emergence of Texas Hold Em changed all that. Hold Em took over as the dominant form of poker in the 1990s and has not looked back.
But stud has a rich and impressive history, and remains a popular game with pros. It is relatively simple to play. While there are many variations, we will focus on the most common version, seven card stud.
Seven-card stud has a strong presence because of its extra round of wagering. Unlike Texas Hold Em, there are five opportunities to wager instead of four. While the betting patterns vary, in most games, the first two rounds are at one level, and the amounts double after that. Stud is an ante game, meaning players must put money into the pot each hand. It is usually one-tenth of the small blind.
Here is how it is played:
Two cards are dealt face down to each player, one card dealt face up to each player. There is a round of betting. From this three-card starting hand, the lowest card showing has to make a bring-in bet, which is a small wager, often double the ante. Action continues from there.
Next, a face-up card dealt to each player, followed by a round of betting (a.k.a. fourth street).
Now the wagers will double, and a face-up card dealt to each player, followed by a round of betting (a.k.a. fifth street).
Again, a face-up card dealt to each player, followed by a round of betting (a.k.a. sixth street or turn).
Finally, a face-down card dealt to each player followed by a round of betting (the river).
The winner is the best five-card hand made from the seven cards.
As with all forms of poker, traditional hand values are used to determine the winner. Players make the best hand possible from their seven cards to form the best five-card poker hand.
The best hand possible is a royal flush. This is five consecutive cards of the same suit, 10 through ace. For instance, 10s, Js, Qs, Ks, As. This is also considered a straight flush, which is the top ranked had. You can have a straight flush that is not a royal flush example 2s-3s-4s-5s-6s.
Four of a kind is the second best hand that is all four of the cards in a deck (example: Js, Jc, Jd, Jh).
This is followed by a full house, which is three of one cards and two of an another (example: Js, Jd, Jh, 2h, 2s).
Next is a flush, which is five cards of the same suit, non-consecutive.
After a flush comes a straight five consecutive cards of different suits.
After that is three of a kind, followed by two pair, followed by a high card.
Seven-card stud might not be as popular as Hold Em, but without it, Hold Em would not exist. It is a fun game to play and one that requires skill. It is probably most comparable to limit hold em in terms of how to play your wagers.
As with most forms of poker, you can play 7-card stud online and for free, which is a good way to develop ones skills before trying the game for real.
|
|
|
