Mixed games have risen in popularity and Seven-Card Stud and Stud Hi/Lo are staples in games like HORSE, HOSE, and 8-Game Mix. Stud (high only) is known as the “S” in mixed games such as HOSE and HORSE. Stud Hi/Lo is known as the “E” as in “Eight or Better” for mixed games like HOSE and HORSE.

The most common form of Seven-card Stud you will find is Limit Stud. Pot-limit and No-limit Stud games are impossible to find and rarely played.

Although Texas Hold'em is the primary game in the film Rounders, there are several scenes involving Seven-card Stud hands.

The goal is to make the best possible five-card high hand. In Stud Hi/Lo, although it is a split pot game, your main goal is to scoop the entire pot and win both the high and the low.

In Stud, the first two cards are dealt down in the hole and the third card, known as Third Street, is exposed. The fourth, fifth, and sixth cards are dealt up, while the seventh and final river card is dealt down. Overall, three cards are dealt down (the first two and the last) and four cards are dealt up.

Stud is a game that requires excellent memory because after an opponent folds their hand, you have to remember what cards were thrown into the muck when determining potential outs.

The game is Seven-card Stud (high only). The stakes are $10/$20 with a $1 ante. The bring-in is $5.

Ante: everyone pays an ante of $1 and then the cards are dealt – the first two are down and the third is exposed.

Your hand: as of Third Street, you start with a pair of Queens, but your opponent can only see the 9 of spades:

Your hand

Bring in: There are no blinds in Stud, however, the lowest card in Third Street has to pay the “bring in”, which is usually half of the small bet. If multiple players are tied with the lowest card, then the bring in is determined according to suit rankings (from lowest to highest): Clubs, Diamonds, Hearts, and Spades. So if four players are dealt threes, the player with the 3 of clubs will have the bring-in. If two players have the 2c and the 2h, then the deuce of clubs will be the bring in. Whoever has the bring-in must bet the minimum, in this case $5, or they have the option to complete the bet to $10.

Betting continues clockwise, with the bring-in player have the last option to act.

After the player with the lowest card pays the bring in, the betting round begins. Players have the option to fold, call, or raise. They can call the bring-in bet of $5, or double the bet with a raise to $10. Action proceeds clockwise. If everyone folds to an uncalled raise, then that original raiser wins the pot.

When the betting round is complete, the next card is dealt.

The fourth card is dealt up so everyone can see two exposed cards. Our hand now improved to two pair – Queens and Nines.

The player with the best possible hand showing starts the betting. They have the option to check or bet $10. Action proceeds clockwise. If a player is facing a raise, they must call, fold, or re-raise. The player with the best hand is the last to act. If the pot is not raised and other opponents have only called, the initial player has the option of checking or raising. If the best hand checks, then the next card is dealt. If the initial player raises, then betting continues until the action returns back to them. If no one calls a raise, the last person to raise wins the pot without revealing their hole cards.

Once all remaining bets and raises have been called, the dealer puts out the next card.

Please note, that is a player has a pair showing on fourth street, then they have the option to double the minimum bet. In this case, you have the option to bet the minimum of $10 or bump it up to $20.

The fifth card is dealt up, so now two cards are down and three are exposed. Your hand is still two pair – Queens and nines.

The player with the best hand showing starts the action. The minimum bet is $20. They must call or check. Action proceeds clockwise. If a player is facing a raise, they must call, fold, or re-raise. The player with the best hand is the last to act. If the pot is not raised and other opponents have only called, the initial player has the option of checking or raising. If the best hand checks, then the next card is dealt. If the initial player raises, then betting continues until the action returns back to them. If no one calls a raise, the last person to raise wins the pot without revealing their hole cards.

Once all remaining bets and raises have been called, the dealer puts out the next card.

The sixth card is dealt up. This is the fourth and final card that is exposed. You still only have two pair – Queens and Nines.

The player with the best hand showing starts the action. They must call $20 or check. Action proceeds clockwise. If a player is facing a raise, they must call, fold, or re-raise. The player with the best hand is the last to act. If the pot is not raised and other opponents have only called, the initial player has the option of checking or raising. If the best hand checks, then the next card is dealt. If the initial player raises, then betting continues until the action returns back to them. If no one calls a raise, the last person to raise wins the pot without revealing their hole cards.

Once all remaining bets and raises have been called, the dealer puts out the final card.

The seventh and final card is dealt down. That completes your third hole card with four cards exposed. You still have two pair – Queens and Nines – but with a Jack-kicker.

The player with the best hand showing starts the action. They must call $20 or check. Action proceeds clockwise. If a player is facing a raise, they must call, fold, or re-raise. The player with the best hand is the last to act. If the pot is not raised and other opponents have only called, the initial player has the option of checking or raising. If the best hand checks, then the next card is dealt. If the initial player raises, then betting continues until the action returns back to them. If no one calls a raise, the last person to raise wins the pot without revealing their hole cards.

Once all remaining bets and raises have been called, then the players reveal their hands.