In this lesson, we’ll look at the much-underrated Seven-Card Stud. Sometimes overlooked in favor of faster games, Seven-Card Stud is still the epitome of classic poker—a challenging mix of skill, patience and endurance, but with simple game rules.

Betting in Seven-Card Stud consists of an initial ante, followed by five betting rounds. Throughout the game each player receives three face-down cards and four face-up cards. Each player then creates his or her highest-valued hand, using any combination of five from the total of seven cards.

In Seven-Card Stud, it’s a distinct advantage to be able to watch other players’ hands develop. This helps when considering strategy. For example, watch for “dead” cards. You may have two aces in the hole after an initial deal, and you’d normally consider betting aggressively, but NOT if you can see those other two aces sitting face up in the other players’ hands.

Another thing to remember is that the first three cards are more important in Seven-Card Stud than in Five-Card Stud. Most players, even some good ones, believe that they should enter the betting round with a lower-ranking hand than they would in Five-Card Stud on the basis that they have four more cards with which to improve their hand. But this applies to other players too and the betting hasn’t started yet!

It must also be remembered that Seven-Card Stud is generally a high-card game (10 through ace), meaning that most games are decided on a high pair or the best of two high pairs. Therefore, it’s better to fold early if you don’t have at least two high cards (10 through ace) or at least one card that is higher than anything showing on the board in your starting hand, unless you are playing a “draw” hand (a high straight, high flush or a straight flush).

Remember: let them beat you, don’t try to beat them!