Seven Card Stud Hi Guide

Seven Card Stud Hi is considered the default game of a version of poker, also known as Seven Card Stud. Another version, Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo, is played almost identically, although it has slightly different rules regarding the showdown stage. The game is one of the most traditional played in casinos today.

Objective

The objective of Seven Card Stud Hi is to make the best possible high five-card poker hand out of the seven cards dealt during the game.

Betting Structure

There are no blinds in Seven Card Stud Hi. Some versions of this game require that each player drop a token bet called the ante into the pot before the first round. The ‘bring in’ is the bet used in this version that calls for the player holding the smallest up card to make an initial small bet. The value of this bet is traditionally half the minimum table limit of the game.

Seven Card Stud Hi Game Rules

Seven Card Stud Hi is made up of several rounds of betting:

Third Street

• 1. When applicable, all players post an ante.
• 2. Each player around the table is dealt three cards – two face down, and one face up (known as the ‘door’).
• 3. The player with the lowest door card posts the ‘bring in’.
• 4. Players to the left of him then have the option of folding, calling or raising this bet.

Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Street

These rounds in Seven Card Stud Hi are played out in an almost identical manner.

• 1. Each player is dealt another card face up.
• 2. The high hand showing determines where the betting starts in these rounds.
• 3. Low betting table limits apply to third and fourth streets, although they jump to high table limit betting in the fifth, sixth and seventh streets.

Seventh Street

• 4. The dealer deals a seventh and final card to each player face down.
• 5. The total number of cards dealt at this stage is now three face down, and four face up to each player.
• 6. The face up cards are known as the player’s ‘porch’.
• 7. A betting round begins after the seventh card is dealt, beginning with the player with the highest ranking ‘porch’.

The Showdown

• 1. If there is more than one player left at this stage of the game, a showdown occurs.
• 2. The winner of the game is the player who has the best five card hand, created out of the seven cards dealt, and takes the pot.

Tips and Strategies

• 1. Know which three cards make up an extra strong starting hand so that you can wager accordingly. Remember though, that if you bet too aggressively in the beginning, you may scare other players out the game.
• 2. Read “The Waiting Game” by George Percy, considered the beginner’s bible for learning Seven Card Stud Hi.
• 3. If you start with a mediocre hand that becomes strong by the fifth card, play aggressively.
• 4. Keep track of the cards that are out, at the very least. Although calculating odds and probabilities are not for everybody, you should be able to understand the concept of this.
• 5. Try to analyze all the players in the game to get an understanding of who you are playing against and what type of game style they play.

Conclusion

Although Seven Card Stud Hi has been supplanted by Texas Holdem as the number one game at casinos today, it is still enjoyed by millions of players around the world, who are attracted to its skill elements and top rewards if played correctly.