7 Card Stud Hi-Lo
This online poker game is played with the same cards as 7 Card Stud and follows the same format. You must use five of your seven cards in your final hand. The difference is that 7 Card Stud Hi-Lo is played with the possibility of two winning hands: Hi hand and Lo hand.
The winning hands for Hi and Lo split the pot. If there is not a winner for Lo hand, then Hi hand wins the whole pot. Hi hand follows the standard hand rankings. Lo hand cannot contain any pairs or cards higher than 8. The Lo hand with the lowest ranking card wins.
How To Play 7 Card Stud
The only difference between 7 Card Stud and 7 Card Stud Hi-Lo is that which is stated above. Below you will find a progression of how these two stud games actually work.
Cards
You play 7 Card Stud with a standard 52 card deck. You will receive seven cards throughout the progression of the game. Four cards will be exposed for all players to see and three will not be exposed.
Betting Structure
7 Card Stud is only played with one betting structure: Limit. In a Limit betting structure, only one bet and three raises are allowed per round. All bets and raises are subject to table limits. For example: $3/$6 table means the lower limit of the table is $3 and the upper limit of the table is $6. All bets and raises in rounds one and two must be made in $3 increments. All bets and raises in rounds three, four and five must be made in $6 increments.
Ante
An ante from all players is required before the game begins. Table limits determine the amount of the ante. Generally, an ante is 10% of the lower limit of the table. In our $3/$6 example, each player would pay an ante of $0.30 to the pot. Tournament antes may vary.
Bring-In
A bring-in must be posted after the first three cards are dealt. The lowest exposed card on the table determines which player must post the bring-in. In the case of a tie for the lowest card, suits will determine who posts the bring-in. The order of the suits in 7 Card Stud from lowest to highest is Clubs, Diamonds, Hearts and Spades. Table limits determine the amount of the bring-in. It is typically half the lower limit of the table or the whole lower limit of the table. This is up to the player to decide. In our $3/$6 example, the bring-in would be either $1.50 or $3. Tournament bring-ins may vary.
Betting Rounds
7 Card Stud is played in five rounds: Third Street, Fourth Street, Fifth Street, Sixth Street and Seventh Street. Cards will continue to be added as the game progresses.
Third Street (Round One)
All players must post the ante before the cards are dealt. Each player will receive three cards: two down cards and one up card. The player with the lowest exposed card posts the bring-in. This counts towards their first bet. Action continues clockwise around the table allowing each player the option to call, raise or fold on their turn.
Fourth Street (Round Two)
Each active player is dealt one card face-up. Beginning in this round and continuing in all future rounds, the player with the highest hand shown will act first. Players can check, bet, call, raise or fold on their turn. This round is subject to the lower limit of the table unless a player has a pair showing. In this case, all players have the option to bet either the lower or upper limit of the table.
Fifth Street (Round Three)
Each active player is dealt one card face-up. Beginning in this round and in all future rounds, all bets and raises are subject to the upper limit of the table.
Sixth Street (Round Four)
Each player receives one card face-up.
Seventh Street (Round Five)
Each player receives their final card face-down. If all 8 players are still in the game at this point, there will not be enough cards in the deck for each player to receive a final card. In this case, one final card will be dealt face-up on the table for all players to use. After the final bet, the last player to place a bet will show their hand. All players moving clockwise around the table will either show their hand or muck it. You can muck your hand (not show your cards) if you are sure you are not going to win the pot and you do not want the other players to see your cards.
Winner(S)
The best five card hand(s) wins the game. If there is a tie hand, the next highest card in a players hand will determine the winner. If a winner still cannot be determined, the two players will split the pot. In 7 Card Stud Hi-Lo, there are generally two winners: Hi hand and Lo hand.
