Seven-card stud requires an ante—a bet before receiving cards. The amout can vary, but it's usually something less than the minimum bet. The dealer will collect the ante, then shuffle the cards and begin the hand.
Cards are dealt clockwise starting on the dealer's left. Each player receives three cards for the first round known as third street. Two cards are face down and one is face up. Players carefully lift the cards that are face down and look at them, then put them back on the table. The person with the lowest upcard is now required to make an opening bet. If two people have matching low cards, the suits of the cards determine who bets first. They're ranked alphabetically: clubs is highest, then diamonds, hearts, and spades. So a five of spades would bet before a five of diamonds.
The opening bet is called the bring-in. The required size of the bet can be the table minimum or something less, depending on the game. The player to the left of the bring-in now has the following options:
Here's how it works:
John is the bring-in bet of $1. Tom sits to John's left, so Tom must fold, call $1, or raise at least $1. If Tom raises $1 then Margaret must fold, call the entire $2, or raise $2 or more. The betting continues clockwise around the table and returns to John. If one or more players have raised, the John must call the most recent amount (minus his original bet), fold, or raise. If John raises, the betting continues around for a second time. Most games permit at least three raises per round, so it's possible to raise, call and later fold in the same round.
When all bets have been called the game proceeds to fourth street. One card is dealt face-up to each player who is still in the hand. The person showing the highest hand (of the two cards that are exposed) bets or checks first. If it's a check, the next player may either check or bet. The next player could also fold, but this would be foolish because a check will cost nothing. If someone bets, the rest of the players must either fold, call, or raise. Fifth, sixth, and seventh street follow with betting at each round. The fifth and sixth card are dealt face up and the seventh is face down. The person showing the highest hand always opens in the later rounds.
The hand ends in one of two ways: Either all the players fold somewhere on the way to seventh street leaving one player with the pot, or two or more players make it to seventh street. When all the bets have been called, the players reveal their cards and the highest hand wins.
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