Limit Seven Card Stud is very strategic game, involving a great deal of skill and discipline, and requires that players are able to balance many concepts simultaneously. It is even harder to analyze than Hold'em because it has five betting rounds compared to four.

As in all forms of poker there are exceptions to the rules and the concepts addressed in this tutorial should be understood as general guidelines. In order to be a successful player, you must be able to make exceptions and use judgment in order to determine the best possible play. It is impossible to give clear-cut advice that applies to all situations.

This tutorial aims to help beginner players improve their Limit Seven Card Stud game by playing in a solid, tight and aggressive style. It advocates balancing bluffs and semi-bluffs with mostly solid play, and focuses on Third Street play because this betting round is the most important. If you play correctly on Third Street you will face less difficult situations in subsequent betting rounds, since the game quickly becomes very complex and hard to analyze as it progresses.

Seven Card Stud Game Play

1. All players receive two cards dealt face-down (hole cards) and one card dealt face-up (upcard). The cards are dealt one at a time.
   
   
2. The player with the lowest upcard has to make a bring-in bet.
   
   
3. The betting continues clockwise with the player to the left of the bring-in bet.
   
   
4. A fourth card is dealt face-up. The action begins with the player holding the best upcards and continues clockwise.
   
   
5. A fifth card is dealt face-up. The action begins with the player holding the best upcards and continues clockwise.
   
   
6. A sixth card is dealt face-up. The action begins with the player holding the best upcards and continues clockwise.
   
   
7. A seventh card is dealt face-down. The action begins with the player holding the best upcards and continues clockwise.
   
   
8. All remaining players make out the best possible 5-card poker hand.
   

Skills Needed for Seven Card Stud

1. Strict hand selection (patience/discipline)
   
   
2. Discipline (the ability to wait for a good hand and not chase with second-best hands)
   
   
3. Good table selection (very important in all poker games)
   
   
4. Paying attention to and remembering the other players' upcards
   
   
5. Reading opponents
   
   
6. Courage to bet/raise/call down (aggressive with draws or perceived best hands)
   
   
7. Not vulnerable to go on tilt