Seven cards stud poker is played with the fixed-limit betting structure where 3 hole cards and 4 faced-up cards are dealt to each player. The pot is awarded to the player having the best five-card poker hand. Before the game starts, each player bet a nominal amount which is usually ¼ of the full bet. In the first round of seven card stud poker, 2 hole cards and 1 faced-up are dealt to each player and the player having the lowest faced-up card place a forced bring-in bet (usually the size of the full small bet), followed by the first betting round.

Now the second faced-up card or “Fourth Street” is dealt to each player followed by the second betting round starting from the player having the highest poker value. After the second betting round, third faced-up card of “Fifth Street” is dealt to all the players, followed by the third betting round starting from the player having the highest ranking faced-up cards.  When the third betting round is completed, fourth faced-up card or the “Sixth Street” is dealt to each player and the fourth betting round starts from the player having the highest ranking up-card hand.  

Once the fourth betting is over, the third hole card (faced-down) is dealt to each player and the last betting round starts, followed by the showdown, if required. At the showdown time, all the remaining active players will show their hands and the pot is awarded to the player having the highest five-card poker hand. In case of identical poker hands, the pot will be equally divided between the players having the best five-card poker hands. Once the pot is awarded, a new game of seven card stud poker begins.