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Seven Card Stud 8 or Better is a
popular poker game for online players.
In Seven-card stud 8 or better, poker players receive seven cards,
three "down" cards and four "up" cards.
After the antes have been placed each player is dealt three cards
(two "down" cards and one "up" card). The "up" card is also known
as the "door card" or "Third Street." The lowest "up" card must
initiate the action with a "Bring-In" bet. (If two or more players
have the same lowest card, the person who brings it in is determined
by suit order progressing from clubs, diamonds, hearts, and spades.)
Each player is allowed one bet and three raises in each betting
round. To continue to play, players must take an action from what
is displayed to them on each "street" or betting round (unless they
are all-in).
The Second Round: After the
first round of betting another card is dealt face-up to each player
that still remains in the pot (those who didn't fold on "third street").
This is "Fourth Street" (the second round of betting). From "Fourth
Street" on, the highest hand showing begins the action by checking
or betting. If a player makes a single bet, the other players may
call, raise the single bet or fold.
The Third Round:
Upon completion of the betting on "fourth street", another
card is dealt face-up to those who remain in the pot. This is called
"Fifth Street" (the third round of betting - which doubles (the
value of each bet is double of what was available in the first two
rounds) - and continues at this amount for the remaining betting
rounds). The highest hand showing again starts the action by checking
or betting.
The Fourth Round: Upon the completion
of betting on "fifth street", another card is dealt face-up. This
is "Sixth Street" (fourth betting round).
The Fifth Round: The final card
is dealt down. The last card is also known as the "River Card" or
"Seventh Street" (final round of betting).
Some Standard Rules
A maximum of four bets, which includes one bet, and three raises
are allowed for each betting round per player. To continue to play,
players must take an action from what is displayed to them on each
"street" or betting round (unless they are all-in). The term cap
is used to describe the final raise in a round since betting is
then capped and no one can make another raise. Once capped, players
will have the option of calling or folding only. Folding can be
done at any stage of the game. The action of folding basically shows
the player cards being moved to the dealer. The player from then
on would not be considered as part of the game. He/she would not
have any rights over any pots created on the table.
Poker is typically played "table stakes", meaning only the chips
in play at the beginning of each hand may be used throughout the
hand. This means that the player cannot get additional funds from
the cashier while he is in the midst of a game. The table stakes
rule has an application called the "All-In" rule, which states that
a player cannot be forced to forfeit a hand because the player does
not have enough chips to call a bet.
Exceptions to the Value of Betting in Each
Round:
A player who does not have enough chips to call a bet is declared
All-In. The player is eligible for the portion of the pot to the
point of his final wager. All further action involving other players
takes place in a "side pot", which is unavailable to the player
who has already gone All-In. When a player goes All-in, the pot
currently at the center of the table, which has contributions from
him/her as well, is treated as the main pot, over which the All-in
player has rights. After the player goes all-in, all the new bets
are placed in a side pot, over which only the contributing players
have rights. The All-in player does not have any rights over the
side pot. The side pot is then given to the next winning combination.
Upon completion of the final round of betting, the best hand wins
the pot. (The pot may also be won by someone who bets without being
called at any time during the hand.). Your "hand" is determined
by using the best five of seven cards. A combination of the following
may be used - Ø Five cards from the seven dealt to you Ø One board
(community) card and four of the cards dealt to you. There is no
qualifying on the "High" side - the best hand automatically wins
half the pot and could win the whole pot. To win the "Low" side,
however, you have to qualify (which is why the game is called Seven
Card Stud "8 or Better").
To qualify for Low: It takes a five-card hand with different numerical
values from Ace through eight (with the Ace being the lowest value)
to qualify for the "Low" half of the pot. The best "Low" hand is
A,2,3,4,5 (also known as the "wheel" or "bicycle"). The winning
"Low" hand is the one with the lowest high card in it. If two or
more players qualify for "Low" but have the same highest card, the
second lowest high card (and if necessary progressing down to the
third, fourth, or fifth lowest high card) would be the winning hand.
For example, a 2,3,4,6,8 would be a better "Low" hand than an A,2,4,7,8.
On the final round of betting, the player who bets first (or checks
first if no one else bets) is required to show their cards first
at the showdown. If they have the best hand, the remaining players
may/may not show their cards as they wish. The aggressors’ hand
is only turned over first if he was the last to initiate action
on the river.
Split Pot:
Any leftover odd chip goes to the "High" hand. If two or
more players tie for the "High" side of the pot and there is an
odd chip, the player with the highest card in their hand is awarded
the odd chip. (If they have the same high valued card, the suit
takes preference going from Spades, Hearts, Diamonds, and Clubs.)
If two or more players "tie" for the "Low" side of the pot and there
is an odd chip, that chip is awarded to the player with the lowest
card in their hand. (If they have the same lowest card, the suit
takes preference in the order of Clubs, Diamonds, Hearts, and Spades.)
Some Things to Remember:
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Straights and flushes do NOT count
against you on the "Low" side.
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You may use any combination of
cards for the "High" hand or the "Low" hand or you may use the
same cards for both the "High" and "Low" sides.
If two or more hands are the
same ranking, the winner is the one having the higher cards. For
example, a Flush with an Ace high beats a Flush with a King high.
If the poker hands remain tied, then the highest card not being
held in common (the kicker) determines the winner.
The suit order of the cards is not taken into account while deciding
on the winning cards. Should poker hands be absolutely identical
in ranking, the pot distribution will be split evenly between the
two or more winning players. If there is an odd chip, the player
with the highest card in their hand is awarded the odd chip. (If
they have the same high valued card, the suit takes preference going
from Spades, Hearts, Diamonds, and Clubs.)
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