7 Card Stud is another classic game that is played in many online casinos. Land based variants of the game are more popular, but online versions are becoming increasingly popular due to the variety of offerings available.
The premise of the game is to earn a hand with a value closer to 9 than the banker’s hand. Players can bet a variety of options including a one-time flat bet, a five-card draw, or a full house of seven cards. If the banker gets a hand with a value closer to 9, the banker is obligated to stand on 17 or higher.
The value of the cards dealt is the basis for determining hand values. For example, a hand of 5-4-3-2-1 is considered to be two hands because the cards in that hand are the best at 4 and 3, but the banker’s hand is 5 and 3.
The following have been ranked according to their importance in a game of 7 card stud.
- Five-of-a-Kind
These are the highest ranked cards and have the greatest possibility of completing a hand. They include Queen, King, Jack, Ace, and King.
- Four of a Kind
These are four cards of the same rank. They have the same ability to beat a hand other than Ace. They include Queen, King, Jack, Ace, and King.
- Full House
These are three cards of the same rank and two cards of another rank. They include Queen, King, Jack, Ace, and King.
- Flush
These are five cards of the same suit. They do not necessarily have to be in order. In fact, consult the table below to decipher whether a hand is flushes or not.
- Straight
These are five cards in the same sequence, but not of the same suit. They include Queen, King, Jack, Ace, and King.
- Three of a Kind
These are three cards of the same rank. They include Queen, King, Jack, Ace, and King.
- Two Pair
These are two sets of cards of the same rank. They include Queen, King, Jack, Ace, and King.
- One Pair
A pair consists of two cards of the same rank. They are usually two of the same rank or two cards of the same rank.
- High Card
If you do not have pockets 2, 3, 4, or 5, you will be choosing a card that is higher than any of the cards on the table. The player with the highest card wins. If you are satisfied with your hand, you will normally throw away the first card. But if you want to be a bit risky, you can keep these cards and add a bet on the banker.
- An acquaintance of mine holds 9, 10, J, Q, K, A of spades. I hold 6, 5, 9, 8, 7, 6. The banker has 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. I think I have the best hand so I raise. Everyone else folds, except the first player who has a 4, 5. I am risking $10 to win $19, so I am betting the banker. He thinks for a moment, erm, what beats what, and decides to go along with his cards. Four times his money, er, gamble.
After everyone who has bet has declared, the dealer gives everyone their cards back and the game starts again with new cards.
Variants of 7 Card Stud
European 7 Card Stud One common variant of 7 Card Stud is the European variant. In this game, players bet in rounds, rather than in the established fashion of 7 Card Stud.
In other words, there are no blinds, as in the case of the American version. Blinds are always placed before the cards are dealt. The scoring clockwise starts with the player to the left of the big blind, unless the big blind went in before the last round. In any other case, the clock is stopped and the cards are given face down. In this way, the players will not know who has paid off who.
Once the cards are dealt, the first round starts with the player to the left of the big blind, unless the big blind went in before the last player (in which case it should be the player to the left of the MPO500). In any other case, the first round is held with the player to the left of the dealer, unless the dealer went in before the last player (in which case it should be the first player).
