77-Card Stud.

  In this section we will discuss 7-card stud how to play, how to help you read a hand, and also how to bet. Almost every major casino now has a poker parlor, why because they are finding out almost everyone plays poker. From the weekly poker game with your friends to kids in college dorms. From professionals who play for a living to retires who get together at the clubhouse. Poker also isn't just for the male gender, Ladies now days are giving men a real run for their money. Why ? simple its a game that not only includes luck but skill and learning how at times to simply psych-out your opponent by making them believe you have more of a hand than you really do. So with all this plus the comradery that goes along with a good game no wonder poker is a very popular game.

  Unlike most casino games where players are going against the house, in poker the players are actually going against each other. The object of poker is to win the pot by either having the best hand or by having the best bluff! The best bluff? YES making your opponents THINK you have the best hand and they fold. If they all fold then they will never know what you had because you don't have to reveal your cards.

7-card stud is played with a standard 52 card deck. The highest ranking card is a Ace then from there it goes K, Q, J, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, . The Ace can also be used as a 1 when needed to complete a straight  A, 2, 3, 4, 5 . In this game you are dealt 2 cards down then 4 up ( showing ) then 1 down. As you will see its very important to read your opponents hand using the 4 up cards s0 that you can get an idea as to what type of hand your opponent holds. All hands are ranked according to a standard poker hierarchy. The chart below will show this hierarchy from highest hand to lowest. All hands in 7 card consist of 5 of the 7 cards dealt to you

  If two players during the showdown ( end of game when those still in show their hands ) have a tie hand. Example both players have a flush then the winner will be decided by the highest ranking of the cards in the hand. If both players were to have lets say a K as high ranking card then it will move to the next highest ranking card and so forth down the line till a winner is determined. In the event that both players have identical hands then the pot is split. Below you will find a chart showing exactly how ties are broken with certain hands. A sixth card is NEVER used in determining a tie breaker. This Chart is for 7-Card stud not being played using common cards. The use of Common cards will alter this chart somewhat due to the fact that players could have for example trips of equal value.

  Playing poker in iB or for that matter in a casino is slightly different from playing at your buddies house in the kitchen. In iB and casino's you have a dealer who runs the game, deals cards and makes sure that the pot is correct. Also in iB there is a timer so when its your turn to bet make sure you bet in time or you will be automatically folded. Also when the hand is over and it ask if you want to continue make sure you answer before the timer runs out or you will be on the outside looking in. In a casino a important thing to remember is to have enough chips for the game. If you run out of chips in the middle of the game you will still be allowed to play your hand. But you will not be allowed to continue betting. Those still playing and betting then will start a side pot and at the end if you were to win you would only get the original pot. The side pot would go to the winner of those who contributed to that side pot NOT YOU.    

Betting rules strictly govern betting order. In iB the player who has the lowest first upcard starts the betting. it then proceeds in a clockwise rotation from there. The player who bets first does have a disadvantage of showing others how is hand is by the way or amount he bets. The player who bets last has a advantage of knowing how everyone has bet and what they feel their hands are worth, that is provided that no one is bluffing. In 7- card stud there are 5 betting rounds and with the second up card the betting now switches to the highest hand showing. During betting if you are the first to bet you have the option of betting, checking, or folding. If a bet is made then those that follow must call the bet (match the bet) or raise or fold. If a raise is made then the following players must also call the bet or raise or fold. There is usually a limit set on the number of raises that will be allowed during a round and also on the maximum amount that can be raised at any one time.

  Some basic strategy for playing 7-card stud is to always watch the other players up cards. See what the others are showing and pay attention to betting. Also compare your hand or what you need to what's on the table. Example you have 4 hearts with your 2 down cards and 3 up cards dealt and lets say there are 6 of you playing. You know that there have been dealt 30 cards and if the other hands only show 3 other hearts in their up cards, then its possible that in the remaining 22 cards that there are 5 hearts. Not bad odds for you getting one of possible remaining 5 hearts. Same can hold true of your opponents hands see what they might have and what might be left that they might need. In this way you can make a better decision on how you should bet, or if you should raise ,or perhaps get out and fold, and save some money.

  That's it for 7-card stud, its a game that requires luck, skill, and thinking and that with practice you can improve your chances of winning. Just remember to pay attention to all the cards showing and to how the players are betting. It just might mean the difference between you winning or you donating you money to someone else.