Seven Card Stud is an interesting game. Its almost like a slow motion version of holdem, with lots of drawing hands out there each playing with their own cards.

Because 7 stud is a high only game, the bigger your cards, the better your chances. Starting hands with medium to small pairs, or 3 flush cards that are low generally do not do well. Think paint, paint, paint. 3 cards 10 or higher to a straight or a flush wins much more often then 3 lower cards to a flush or a straight. Also, because this is a game of exposed cards, you can get a feel for your opponent by the cards he is showing, and can actually do a lot of great math when determining whether to chase your draws. For example, if you are dealt 3 hearts, but notice 4 of the 8 up-cards are hearts, you know your odds are greatly diminished for making a flush with all of those hearts exposed.

Deal:
7 Card stud high is an ante game, with all players paying a small amount to play each game. There is no dealer button used. Each player is dealt two down cards (that only they can see) and one up card, often called a door card. The player with the lowest up card must 'bring it in', or start the betting with either a small bet or a large one. Other players in turn then can either call or raise the first players bet.

4th street:
The dealer then deals each player another up card. Play begins with the player with the strongest HIGH HAND, and again other players in turn then can either call or raise the first players bet.

5th street:
The dealer then deals each player another up card. Play begins with the player with the strongest HIGH HAND, and again other players in turn then can either call or raise the first players bet. BETS DOUBLE ON THIS STREET, and remain double sized for the duration of the game.

6th street:
Again, the dealer then deals each player another up card. Play begins with the player with the strongest HIGH HAND, and again other players in turn then can either call or raise the first players bet.

7th Street:
A final card is dealt face down, and again the player with the highest starts the action. Once all bets are finished, players open up their hands to determine teh winner of the high, and (if applicable) the winner of the low. Remember that there will ALWAYS be a high hand winner, but not always be a low hand winner.

The best five-card poker hand wins, using 5 of the 7 cards of that player.

The best five-card low poker hand wins 1/2 the pot, using 5 of the 7 cards of that player.

That is the essence of 7 Card Stud High, but there are a number of other important points to understand.

More stategy:
Seven Card Stud is a HIGH card game. More winning hands are decided by the highest pair of two pair or just the highest pair, than by straights, flushes and other big hands. So if you start with a straight or flush draw, it should have at least two high cards or at least one card that is higher than anything up on the board. These draw hands and low pair starting hands need to improve or turn a high pair quickly to justify continued play. Any time your high hand is beaten on the board, fold, unless you think you still have the best draw hand. Fast play early high hands ( that could win without improvement) to thin out the competition. Slow play draw hands to keep other players in to increase the pot odds in case you hit. A few more 7 card Stud High- Strategy points:

• Stragith and flush draws should always be as high as possible, so if you miss and back into pairs, they will be high pairs.
• For the most part, bet as your hand looks to your opponent. If your hand looks strong, bet strong, if it doesn't don't.
• There are many times when your opponent catches bad and you can bluff them if you catch good, even if if doesn't help your hand.

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