Multi Player 7 Card Stud & 7 Hi/Lo Rules

For years the most popular poker game anywhere. In private homes, it is still the "King" of all poker games.

Playing Seven Card Stud
Description and Sequence of Events for 7 Card Stud

1. All players ante

2. Players are dealt two cards face-down (hole cards), one card face-up (door card)

3. First betting round

4. Each player is dealt one card face-up (4th street)

5. Second betting round

6. Each player is dealt another card face-up (5th street)

7. Third betting round

8. Each player is dealt another card face-up (6th street)

9. Fourth betting round

10. Each player is dealt a last card face-down (river)

11. Final betting round

12. ShowdownAt the Showdown, players may use any five of the seven cards in their hand to make the best possible poker hand.

7 Card Stud Antes

Betting
All players must first ante before they receive their initial cards. There are five betting rounds in a complete game of 7 Card Stud, not including the ante.

On the first round of betting, the low card by suit is required to initiate action with a bet equal to half the lower limit (bring-in). Suits are ranked: spades (highest), hearts, diamonds and clubs. On subsequent rounds, the high hand on board initiates betting action. If hands are tied, the player to the left of the dealer acts first. In all cases, the dealer will inform the players as to who acts first.

Each bet and raise during the first two rounds of betting is set at the lower limit of the stakes structure. For example in a $4/$8 game, all bets and raises are $4 for the first two rounds. The exception to this rule is if any player displays a pair with their 2 face-up cards on 4th Street. In this circumstance, all players have the option to bet either the lower limit or the higher limit. If a player bets the higher limit, then all subsequent raises must be made at the higher limit.

Each bet and raise during the last three rounds of betting is set at the higher limit of the stakes structure. For example in a $4/$8 game, all bets and raises are $8 for the last three rounds (5th street, 6th street and the river).

The maximum allowable number of bets per player during any particular betting round is four. This would consist of (1) a bet, (2) a raise, (3) a re-raise, and (4) a cap. The term "cap" is used to describe the 3rd raise in a round since betting is then capped and cannot be raised again. Once the pot is capped, players will have only the option of calling or folding.
 

Hand Rankings
Here are the hand rankings, in descending order from the highest (royal flush) to the lowest (high card). If two or more hands are equal in ranking, the winner is the one having the higher cards.

For example, a Straight with a Queen high will beat a Straight with a nine high.

If the hands are still tied, then the highest card not held in common (the kicker), determines the winner of the hand.

If the hands are absolutely identical in ranking, then the pot is split evenly between the winning players. In Seven Card Stud, the odd chips will go to the high card by suit, with the suits ranked in descending order of precedence, spades, hearts, diamonds, clubs.

The hands below are ranked in the order of highest to lowest:

1. Royal Flush	2. Straight Flush	3. Four-of-a-Kind
4. Full House	5. Flush	6. Straight
7. Three-of-a-Kind	8. Two Pair	9. One Pair
	10. High Card

All decisions made by Multi-Player Poker regarding the ranking of hands are FINAL

All-Ins
There are two types of All Ins; the first is if a player has let his funds slip to the point where he cannot call the first bet. In this case the player can continue to play the hand by paying their remaining balance at the table and being deemed "All In".

The difference between this amount and the amount the current bet amount is used to form a side pot, with players who matched the amount called. There is no limitation on the number of side pots.

At the end of the hand, if the player who went All In has the best hand at the table, they will win the main pot and the second best hand will win the side pot, unless another player has a better hand, then they will win both pots.

The second type of All In occurs if your computer becomes disconnected or you have not acted in the time allotted. If this happens, you will be considered All In and will have the ability to win the pot to the level that you have contributed.

At the end of the hand, if the player who went All In has the best hand at the table they will win the main pot and the second best hand will win the side pot, unless another player has a better hand, then they will win both pots.

You will be granted two "All-Ins" (this is subject to change) during each 24-hour period. If you have already used your two allocated "All-Ins" within a 24-hour period, your hand will be folded when you next reach the point where an All-In would otherwise be the result, as stipulated above. This will be in effect for the remainder of the 24-hour period (EST), after which your allowable All-Ins will be reset.

*Please note that players must exercise caution when they have used their two All Ins. If these resulted from disconnections, it probably means that your Internet connection is performing poorly. We recommend you stop playing at this point, and wait until your Internet connection improves, as you will be considered to be 100% responsible if you become disconnected.

Rake
Low limit tables of $0.50/$1 and $1/$2

7 Card Stud Hi/Lo (8 or better)
Seven Card Stud Hi/Lo is a technically demanding game where the best poker hands for high and low split the pot at showdown. Players are dealt seven cards throughout the course of the hand, but only the best five-card hand possible for each player is used to determine the winner. Hi/Lo uses the same hand ranking as regular 7 card stud.. Note that Seven Card Stud Hi/Lo is played with an "8 or better" qualifier, which means that a hand must be, at worst, an 8 for low to be eligible to win the low portion of the pot.

Before a game of Seven Card Stud Hi/Lo starts, all players must ante. Each player is dealt two hidden hole cards and one exposed card. The player with the lowest exposed card is the "bring-in", and is forced to make a wager of either a half a small bet or a full small bet (for example, either $1 or $2 in a $2/$4 game). Action continues clockwise around the table until betting is complete for the round.

Note: For the purposes of determining the bring-in, ties in card rank are broken by suit, with the order being spades, hearts, diamonds and clubs (in descending order).

Each player now receives an exposed card, called "Fourth Street". The first player to act is the individual whose exposed cards have the highest poker value. This player may either check or bet. If no player shows a pair amongst his or her exposed cards, the bet will be a small bet ($2 in a $2/$4 game). If any player shows a pair, the betting can be opened for a big bet ($4 in a $2/$4 game).

Each player now receives another exposed card, called "Fifth Street". Again, the first player to act is the individual whose exposed cards have the highest poker value.

Each player now receives another exposed card, called "Sixth Street". Again, the first player to act is the individual whose exposed cards have the highest poker value.

Each player now receives a seventh and final card, which is dealt face down and known only to the player to whom the card is dealt. The first player to act is the individual whose exposed cards have the highest poker value.

If there is more than one remaining player when the final betting round is complete, the last bettor or raiser shows his or her cards. If there was no bet on the final round, the player whose exposed cards have the highest poker value shows his or her cards first. The player with the best five-card hand for high wins half the pot, and the player with the best hand for low wins the other half. In the event that no hand qualifies for low, the best hand(s) for high wins the pot.

After the pot is awarded, a new game of Seven Card Stud Hi/Lo is ready to begin.