Until the last few years when Texas Hold’em took its crown as the most popular poker game, 7-card stud was the best known and most popular. The staple of most weekly games between friends, part of its appeal is due to the flexibility of the different forms the game can take by designating wild cards in a hand. It’s easy to understand and unlike Hold’em and Omaha, there are no community cards. In 7-card stud your cards are yours and yours alone. On line and in casino ring games, wild cards are not allowed, so it’s a straightforward, easy to understand game which makes it appealing to beginners. It’s readily available on line in ring games and single table sit and go formats, but finding a multi-table tournament can be a bit tough but not impossible. If one is out there, rest assured you’ll find it at Pokerschedule.com

The Ante
To get the pot started, all players must post an “ante”, which is like buying admission into the hand. All players post an equal amount regardless of their position. It is usually a small amount, about half or one-third of the single bet limit. Once the antes are posted it’s time for:

The Deal
Three cards are dealt to each player. The first two are fact down and known as “hole” cards. The third is face up and is know as the “door” card. Now we move onto:

The Bring In and the First Round of Betting
Whichever player has the lowest value card showing now has to post another bet, usually twice the ante, called the “bring-in”, which is mandatory. If two players tie with the lowest card, the player who “brings in” is decided by suit in alphabetical order. So it’s clubs, ...