Home » Online Poker » Seven Card Stud

Seven Card Stud Guide for New Players

Seven-card stud is one of the most popular poker games. It was made popular worldwide by American soldiers during the world wars. The game can be played with two to eight players.

In this group, one would have to be the dealer. When playing online, there is no need for one of the players to be the dealer. The computer or online site you play at deals the cards.

Players new to the game will find that 7-card stud follows the same basic principles as any other poker game. There are hole cards and the customary exposed card.

The marked difference between 7-card stud and other poker games is that there are no community cards. Each player has to make an ante bet. This easy-to-follow guide will go into the finer details of how to play the game.

In addition to outlining the steps to play seven-card stud poker, we have listed the top US casino sites with popular poker games, including seven-card stud.

Accepts players from: United States

Updated: 18th April, 2025

Ranking of the Best Seven Card Stud Poker Sites

Affiliate Disclosure: By accessing and depositing through our provided links, we may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Learn More

Play Real Money Seven Card Stud Online

#1 US TRUSTED
1
Players from US allowed Exclusive New Vegas Aces 250% Bonus up to US$5,000 200 Free Spins
Copied
Min deposit US$10 Wager 10x B+D Payout 99% Date Added 6 Feb 2025

Terms & Conditions

2
Players from US allowed Exclusive Wild Casino 350% Bonus up to US$3,500
Copied
Min deposit US$25 Wager 40x B+D Payout 99% Date Added 11 March 2025
3
Players from US allowed Exclusive Sun Palace Casino US$10 000 Match Bonus
Copied
Min deposit US$25 Wager 45x B+D Payout 98% Date Added 6 Sep 2023
4
Players from US allowed Exclusive New Las Vegas 50 Free Spins on Slots
Copied
Min deposit Free Wager 40x B Payout 98% Date Added 31 Jan 2025
5
Players from US allowed Exclusive Lucky Hippo Casino 300% Bonus up to US$3,000 on Cash Bandits 3
Copied
Min deposit US$25 Wager 30x B+D Payout 98% Date Added 6 Sep 2023
6
Players from US allowed High Country 500% Bonus up to US$2,500 on Cash Bandits 2
Copied
Min deposit US$20 Wager 30x B+D Payout 97% Date Added 6 Sep 2023
Seven Card Stud Guide

How to Play Seven Card Stud

7 Card stud poker is quite a unique variant of poker because there are no community cards. Players have hole cards, but there are no shared community cards. There are exposed cards, but these belong to individual players and cannot be used by another player to form a hand.

Cards are dealt intermittently, and between each round of dealing, there is a round of betting. In the end, each player who makes it to the end of the game will have seven cards.

However, they will only use five of those cards to form the winning hand. The game begins with a preliminary ante bet before the cards are even dealt. After the ante, there are seven steps to a full game of 7-card stud poker. If you want to learn how to play poker in the 7-card stud style, follow the easy steps below.

7 Steps to Playing Seven Card Stud

  1. After the ante, each player is dealt three cards first: two hole cards that are face down and one that is exposed, known as the door card.
  2. The second round of betting is initiated by the player with the lowest-value exposed card*. The betting moves clockwise from the player’s left.
  3. A fourth exposed card is dealt to each player, and the one with the highest value card initiates this round of betting. Betting moves clockwise from this player’s left.
  4. A fifth exposed card is dealt, and again, the player with the highest-value card initiates the betting round, which moves clockwise from the player’s left.
  5. The sixth card is dealt, and again the highest card initiates the round of betting.
  6. The seventh and final card is dealt with, and the highest value cardholder initiates the final round of betting.
  7. Finally, each player who is still in the game reveals the hidden hole cards. The player with the best five-card poker hand wins the game.

Rules for Betting

  • Ante – The initial bet made before the cards are dealt.
  • Bring in – The opening bet after the cards are dealt. This is the bet made by the player with the lowest value card after the third value card.
  • Betting is only initiated by the lowest-value card holder in the first round after cards are dealt. Thereafter, the player with the highest card always starts the betting round after each card is dealt.
  • Players can raise, check, or fold after each round of cards is dealt. Since the majority of the cards are exposed, it is easy to see how well or poorly you are doing against the other players.
Lara Johns

About Lara Johns

Lara Johnson is a seasoned casino reviewer at CasinoUS.com with over ten years of experience in the online gambling industry. She’s known for her detailed, easy-to-understand reviews that help players find the best casinos. Lara covers everything from game variety to customer service, ensuring players have all the info they need. Passionate about responsible gambling, she also writes guides to help players stay safe. Lara’s dedication makes her a trusted voice in the industry.