7 card stud Hi\Lo

7 card poker used to be the most popular version of the game, but it has been recently replaced by Texas hold 'em. Stud poker is very different from Texas hold 'em and Omaha, and it demands much more patience. Nevertheless, it is a very fascinating game and it is worthy of attention.

Before the deal all players put ante — a fixed mandatory bet. There are no common cards in stud poker. Instead of that, players are dealt three cards each. First two cards are dealt face down and the third one — face up.

The game includes five betting rounds, which are going clockwise.

Hi\Lo version of 7 card stud is very like the original one, except for the pot gets split between the strongest hand (High), which is defined the same way as in 7 card stud, and the weakest one (Low). A hand can win as a low hand, if there are 5 unpaired cards with their rank 8 or lower (you don't count straight or flush in low hands). If two or more players have low hands, the one whose highest card is lower wins (Ace can be both: the highest and the lowest).

Betting begins

Player with the lowest card starts the game and makes the first bet. If two or more players' cards have the same rank, which is the lowest at the table, then betting goes according to the suit in alphabetical order: clubs, diamonds, hearts, spades.

Third street

After the bet is made, every player can call, fold, or raise it to the limit.

Fourth street

Players are dealt one more card face up. Player, whose face up cards make the strongest hand, starts the betting round. In this round a player can double the bet, if he has a face up pair.

Fifth street

Another face up card is dealt to each player. Owner of the strongest face up hand starts betting.

Sixth street

Players are dealt one more card face up. Owner of the strongest hand starts.

Seventh street or River

The last seventh card is dealt face down to each player. Bets start from the same player as in previous round.

Showdown

If more than one player left in game, players show their cards and after that high hand winner splits the pot with low hand winner. It is possible that the same player has both high and low hands. If there are no low hands, high hand winner takes the whole pot.