When it comes to Poker games, Draw Poker is old school, 5-Card Stud is too rare to speak of, but 7-Card Stud is alive and well. Stud demands strategy and skill and it takes a lot of play to develop the winner's edge. Top caliber players are few and far between but they have one thing in common with the rookies: every player of the game is still learning, even the masters.
Stud games are defined by their betting limits. The low stakes online games are usually $2 or $4 while the higher games are typically $8 or $16 or $10 or $20.
The game's betting limits tell the Stud player pretty much everything they need to know about the nature of the game, the expectations of the players, and the size of the bankroll you should have before you sit in. Your minimum Stud Buy-In is typically ten times the low limit, or $20 for a $2-$4 game. Anything below the $10-$20 level is generally considered a beginner's game. The skill and strategy levels required in the higher games are substantial and such games generally do not provide a friendly environment for the Stud player still learning their way around.
The dealer deals clockwise starting on their immediate left. They deal one card at a time around the table until each player has two pocket cards (face down) and a single up (the "door" card).At this point the dealer indicates which player will open the betting, determined by the lowest door card. If there is a tie for low door, suit resolves it: spades over hearts, followed by diamonds, and finally clubs is the lowest.
The player holding the lowest door card must "bring it in" by opening with a bet equal to twice the ante ($2 in this example). If the low door player does not make this bet, they're forced to Fold and the opener passes to the player on their left. The next player clockwise from the opener can call by matching the opener, Raise by betting the low betting limit ($10) or Fold. Throughout 3rd street all bets and raises are fixed at the low betting limit ($10).
The dealer gives each player another open (up) card. Unlike 3rd street, the opener in the fourth and remaining streets is the high hand as determined by the open cards. They may Check or Bet. If they bet at the low limit ($10) and that fixes all raises in this round to the same. If the high hand is an open pair, the opener can bet at the upper limit ($20) and this fixes all Raises in the round to the same. Again, the card is dealt up and high hand opens. All Bets and Raises are at the upper limit ($20). The last card, called the "river", is another pocket card (face down). All bets and raises are at the high limit ($20).
After the Bets and Raises have been resolved, the remaining players enter the Showdown. The opener reveals his pocket cards. If a player wishes to compete with this hand they too reveal their pocket cards, or they can yield and Fold. It is any player's right to request to see any final hand that has been mucked, though this is primarily intended for casino play.
It is true with all the poker games, but never truer than with 7-Card Stud: the rules are barely the beginning. It is the strategy and gaming skills that make the game.
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