Seven Card Stud, Eight or Better

Seven Card Stud, Eight or Better

In Seven Card Stud 8 poker like the high version, each player gets 7 cards; 3 down cards, and 4 up cards visible to everyone at the table. The winner is the last player in the pot, if everyone else folds, or after all 7 cards are dealt and bets called: The highest hand wins half the pot. A low hand, that qualifies, 5 unpaired cards 8 and lower, wins the other half of the pot. (Straights and flushes are ignored for the low hand.) The high hand and the low hand are not required to use the same cards. Like Omaha 8, the lowest possible hand is A-3-4-5, a wheel. If no low hand qualifies, 8 Low or better, the high hand wins all of the pot. Ties seldom occur in Stud 8, but when a tie occurs the appropriate halves of the pot are divided between the players entitled to that specific, high or low, half of the pot.

The mechanics of the game are handled by the Online Site’s Poker Client. This software prompts the players for the antes, deals the cards and then prompts each player to Fold, Check, Call, Bet, or Raise as appropriate, with the proper amounts. Then at the showdown, evaluates the hands for the winner. There may be computer or internet crashes but the software cannot make a mistake. If you think it did, check the Hand Histories which are available on every poker site.

In Seven Card Stud 8 or Better, the player that acts first on each betting round is based on the up cards. On the first round of betting most online poker rooms require the lowest card to make a small “bring-in” bet to start the action. On subsequent rounds the action begins with the player whose exposed cards make the best poker hand. Since the initial “action” may move through out the hand, there is no reason to pass the deal from player to player like Hold'em, or other variations. Online, some sites rotate the deal, but on most it is not passed and the same player gets the first card every deal. (In mixed games like HORSE or HOSE when blinds are used, the deal will be rotated to pass the blinds appropriately. The “E” in both of these formats is Seven Card Stud Eight or Better)

Quick Summary

Each player posts their Ante. Three cards are dealt to each player, 2 down, and one up. A betting round occurs started by the player with the lowest card. A 4th card is dealt up. A 2nd betting round occurs with action started by the player with best hand showing. The player with the best hand showing at the beginning of the betting round will act first on all of the remaining betting rounds. A 5th card is dealt up to each player. A 3rd betting round occurs. The bet size is DOUBLED for this round and every round of betting after that. A 6th card is dealt up to each remaining player. A 4th betting round occurs. The 7th and final card is dealt down to each player. A final betting round occurs. The cards are exposed, a showdown, and the best 5 card poker hand and the best qualifying low hand, is determined. Half the pot is awarded to the best qualifying Low Hand, and half to the best high hand. If no low hand qualifies, the high hand wins all of the pot.

The Hand

In Seven Card Stud 8 the hand begins when each player posts their Ante. The amount of the ante is usually a fraction of the bet. Players that do not post the Ante will be dealt out of the hand.

The Beginning: Each player is dealt 2 cards down, and 1 card up, their door card. On most online poker sites the lowest card makes a bring-in bet of half or even one quarter of the bet size.

Ties for the lowest card are broken by the suit of the cards. Clubs are lower than Diamonds are lower than Hearts are lower than Spades. (Note that it is in alphabetical order.) So the 2c is the lowest card in the deck. This is the only time that the Suit enters into play in a poker hand.

After the bring-in bet the action moves to the bettors left, clockwise, around the table to each active player in turn. Each player has the option to Fold, Call, or Raise. On most sites this initial raise is limited to completing the bring-in bet to a full bet. On some sites the raiser may be allowed to make a full sized raise. Each player has the same options unless the maximum number, usually 3, of raises have been made. The round continues until every player has either folded or called every bet and raise. If, on any betting round, all of the players have folded but one, the remaining player has won the hand and is awarded the pot.

4th Street: A 2nd up card is dealt to each player remaining in the hand, and a 2nd round of betting occurs. The player with the best exposed hand starts the action. A pair would be best on this round. If there is no pair, the player with highest card or highest two cards, acts first. If there is a tie, the first player to the left of the dealer usually acts first. The player with the high hand has the first option to Check, (Pass the action without betting.) or Bet. If he Checks, the action moves to his left, clockwise, to the next active player who has the same options, Check or Bet. If all active players check, the 4th street betting round is over, but when a player opts to Bet, the next player must Fold, Call the bet or Raise. Each player has the option to Raise until the maximum number of raises have been reached. The round of betting is ended when every player has folded or called all bets and raises.

5th street: A 3rd up card is dealt to the remaining active players, and the 3rd round of betting occurs. The bet size DOUBLES for the rest of the hand. The player with the highest hand acts first and has the option to Check or Bet. The action moves to the subsequent player to the left. Each player may Check if there are no previous Bets. If there is a bet the remaining players must Fold, Call the bet, or Raise. The betting round ends when all players have either folded or called the appropriate bets and raises.

6th street: A 4th up card is dealt to the active players. The player with best poker hand acts first. The betting round occurs exactly like 5th street with the larger bet size.

7th street, “the River:” A 7th card is dealt down to the active players. Each player now has all 7 cards and will get no more cards. The action, for the final betting round, starts with the player having the highest hand showing and continues in a similar manner as on earlier streets.

The Showdown occurs after this betting round ends. Each player shows his hand. The best possible low hand is the wheel. Half the pot is awarded to the best qualifying Low Hand, and half to the best high hand. The high hand and the low hand are not required to use the same cards. If no low hand qualifies, the high hand wins all of the pot. Ties occur occasionally and the appropriate portion, high or low, is divided between the winning players.

The cards are collected.

Ante up for the next hand.

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