Seven Card Stud Hi/Lo is an exciting form of poker, known the world over. It is played with up to eight players. What makes this game so interesting is the fact that at the end of each hand, the pot is split between the player with the “highest hand” and the player with the lowest eligible “low hand.”

The basic rules and terminology to Seven Card Stud Hi/Lo: In Seven Card Stud Hi/Lo each player is dealt 7 cards. The player with the best combination of 5 cards wins.

The First Round: Before any cards are dealt, each player at the table must post an “ante,” a predetermined amount, into pot. This amount is based on the betting size of each game.

Once all players have posted an “ante,” each player is dealt three cards. Two of these cards are dealt face down, and one card is face up. This face up card is called the “third street,” or the “door card.”

The player with the lowest “door card” must start the betting. If two or more players have the same card, the low card is determined by the suit rank. Suit rank from highest to lowest is: spades, hearts, diamonds, clubs.

Each player can bet once and raise a maximum of three times per round.

The Second Round: Once betting on the first round is completed, the dealer deals a fourth card face-up. This is known as “fourth street.” From this round forward, the highest hand showing initiates the round by checking or betting.

Important to note: if a player is showing a pair, this player has the option of making a “double bet.” If a player makes a double bet, other players can call, raise, or fold. However, if they raise, they must raise the amount of the double bet. For instance, if a single bet is $5 and a double bet is $10, then when a player raises a double bet, he/she must bet $20 ($10 plus $10).

The Third Round: Once betting in the second round is completed, a fifth card is dealt face up to all remaining players. This card is referred to as “fifth street.”

Betting stakes double for this round.

The Fourth Round: Once betting in the third round is completed, a sixth card is dealt face up, known as “sixth street.” The betting remains the same as the third round.

The Fifth Round: A final seventh card is dealt to each player face down. This card is known as the “river card.” Players now have their final round of betting.

Conclusion of hand: If at some point all players, but one, fold, then the remaining player wins the pot. If two or more players remain after all rounds of betting are complete, then the highest hand wins. If two or more players have the same hand, then the pot is split among those player.

Otherwise, the pot is split between the high and low hand. If there is no qualifying low hand, then the high hand wins the entire pot.

Qualifying for low hand: To qualify for a low hand, a player must have a combination of 5 cards, numbered 8 or lower. The lowest high card wins.

For example: an Ace, 2, 3, 4, 5, would be an Ace, 2, 3, 4, 6.

If the highest low cards are equal, then the second highest cards in the series are compared, and the lowest of these high cards wins.

For example: an Ace, 2,4,5,7, would beat an Ace, 2, 4, 6, 7.

If need be, the third, fourth, or fifth cards will be considered to determine the lowest hand.

Keep in mind that it is the lowest HIGH card of the five cards that determines the low hand winner.

For example a 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, beats an Ace, 2, 3, 5, 8.

Additional rules and terms:

“Table Stakes”
All Online poker games are table stakes games. This means that only the chips which players started the hand with can be bet during that hand. Additional chips cannot be added or bet, once the hand has already begun.

“All In”
At any time during rounds of betting, when a player goes “all in,” this means that the player is betting the remainder of his/her chips. If that player does not have enough chips to match the current bet or raise or their are bets and raises after the “all in,” that player will remain active until the conclusion of the hand. However, the “all in” player will only be eligible to win the amount of chips that he/she could afford to bet against.

Any bets after the “all in” will be put in a side pot and only players betting into that side pot will be eligible to win those chips.

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