Rules and Betting Order for 7 Card Stud HI LO, 8 or Better to Qualify for low Hand

A low hand must be five un-paired cards (with the highest card no greater than an 8).

A, 2, 3, 4, 5 is the best low hand (as straights and flushes do not apply to low hands).

In order to win the low hand, players must have 5 un-paired cards with the highest card of eight or below. The winning low hand (8 or better) is first decided by the player with the lowest high card. Upon a tie with the high card, the hand goes to the player with the next lowest high card. If two highest cards are tied, then you move on to the third highest card etc. Any hand of 5 cards that contains card values of 9 or higher CANNOT qualify as a low hand.

If there is no qualifying hand, low hand then the high hand wins the entire pot.

At the showing of hands (showdown),each player can use any five of their cards for their high hand and any five of their cards for their low hand.

The best low hand is A, 2, 3, 4, 5. This will also count as a straight for high. Aces can be used for both high and low.

Straights and flushes are not considered when evaluating a low hand.

A player can "scoop" (win the entire pot) by showing the highest and lowest hands.

Betting Structure

All players must Ante before they receive their initial cards. There are 5 betting rounds in a complete game of Seven Card Stud Poker, not including Ante.

The action is started by forcing the lowest up card by rank and suit to bet the amount that corresponds to the bring-in for each limit. The action then rotates clockwise and players must either call the minimum bet forced by the low card, or make the first raise, which only completes the bet to the lower value of the limit structure. Raises thereafter are of the exact amounts of the fixed limits for each betting round.

On the first round of betting, the low card by suit is required to initiates action with a minimum small bring-in bet. Suits are Spades (highest), Hearts, Diamonds, and Clubs. On subsequent rounds, the high hand on board initiates betting action. If hands are tied, the player to the left of the dealer acts first. In all cases, the action prompts will inform the players as to who acts first.

How to Play 7 Card Stud HI LO

When players show their hands (the showdown), they may use 5 cards of their 7 cards to make their best possible poker hand.

It is possible to run out of cards in Seven Card Stud Poker if all eight players stay until the last card is dealt. If this situation does occur (as rare as it may be), the dealer will turn one board card face-up and it will be used as a community card.

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