How to Play
7 Card Stud is one of the easiest games to learn.  The purpose of the game is to finish with the best poker hand and win the pot.  Players place an ante on the table. The ante is set by the card room, and is not applicable in games where increments are $0.50/$1.00.  3rd Street - three cards are dealt - two “hole” cards, and one visible “door card”.  At this point, the player with the lowest card must bring-in the betting.  First round of betting - options are to check, fold, bet, or raise.  4th Street - the fourth card is dealt - face-up.  Betting round - options are to check, fold, bet, or raise.  5th Street - the fifth card is dealt - face-up.  Betting round - options are to check, fold, bet, or raise.  6th Street - the sixth card is dealt - face-up.  Betting round - options are to check, fold, bet, or raise.  River Card /7th Street- the final card is dealt - facedown.  Final round of betting follows.  If two or more players are still vying for the pot when the betting concludes, the hands at the table are turned face-up.  All remaining players create the best possible poker hand using five out of the seven cards.  The highest hand wins the pot.

7 Card Stud Poker Rules
As per normal poker rules - playing and betting proceeds in a clockwise direction.  All Players must first ante before they receive their initial cards, except the $0.50/$1 game which has no ante.  There are five betting rounds in a complete game of 7 Card Stud, not including the ante.  On the first round of betting, the player with the lowest value door card “brings-in” and starts the betting - equal to at least half the minimum bet for the game. In proceeding rounds, the player with the highest hand initiates the betting. If hands tie, the player to the left of the dealer acts first.  Betting increments in the game determine the bets. In a game of $2 and $4 betting increments, the first two rounds of betting and raising are set at the lower level of $2, the other three rounds of betting and raising are set at the higher level of $4.  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.  The maximum allowable number of bets per player during any betting round is four. This includes a (1) bet, (2) raise, (3) re-raise, and (4) cap. The term cap is used to describe the 3rd raise in a round since betting is then capped and can’t be raised further. Once capped, players will have only the option of calling or folding.  In betting rounds where players have folded, the first active player left of the dealer is first to act.

7 Card Stud Poker Strategy
* If the cards you need to help improve your hand are visible in your opponents hands, consider them dead to you
* There are 13 cards in a suit. You need five of them to make a flush, if the cards you need happen to be in your opponents’ hand you have no chance of them being dealt to you, however, if you can’t see them, it means that it is still possible to receive those cards
* A “big pair” is worth betting on, unless another player is betting aggressively on what seems to be a very good hand
* Fifth Street is a make or break point. As the bet amount doubles each round, ensure your hand can produce a win at the end of the game. This will minimize your loss
* It is advisable to fold if another player’s exposed cards beat your entire hand
* If you are trying to compete a straight, check to see if another player displays the cards you need. You can then adjust your strategy accordingly
* Fold when necessary.  7 Card Stud poker is a game of patience; so do not bet all you money on losing hands 

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