Playing Guide

The game of 7 Card Stud Hi Lo is a variation of 7 Card Stud; the two games vary in a very similar way to how Omaha and Omaha Hi Lo differ. Simply, the pot is divided in two at a showdown: between the best Hi hand and the best Lo Hand.

This guide provides an overview of 7 Card Stud Hi Lo, identifying the strategic considerations that are peculiar to the game. This begins with a description of the order of play and certain specific rules.

Playing 7 Card Stud Hi Lo

Played by between two and eight players, the game has a limit betting structure. Open a 7 Card Stud Hi Lo table in the poker lobby and the following information is displayed in the top bar, from left to right: your Nickname, the table name, the game type and the table limit. Regarding the table limit, the amount on the left is referred to as the small bet and the amount on the right is referred to as the big bet. A full hand of 7 Card Stud Hi Lo takes place as follows.

1. Prior to cards being dealt, all participating players contribute an ante to the pot.
2. Three cards are dealt to each player, two face down and one face up.
3. A betting round takes place; this stage of the hand is known as Third Street. First to act is the player with the face up card of the lowest rank. This player must place either the bring-in or a small bet.
4. After the betting round, a face up card is dealt to all active players.
5. A betting round takes place; this stage of the hand is known as Fourth Street. First to act in this and all subsequent betting rounds is the player with the strongest exposed Hi hand; in case of a tie, the first tied player in a clockwise direction from the dealer is first to act.
6. After the betting round, a face up card is dealt to all active players.
7. A betting round takes place; this stage of the hand is known as Fifth Street.
8. After the betting round, a face up card is dealt to all active players.
9. A betting round takes place; this stage of the hand is known as Sixth Street.
10. After the betting round, a face down card is dealt to all active players.
11. A betting round takes place; this stage of the hand is known as Seventh Street or the River.
12. If more than one active player remains, there is a showdown to determine the winner(s) of the hand. First to show their cards is the last bettor or raiser; or if there was no bet in the final betting round, the first player in a clockwise direction from the dealer. Continuing in a clockwise direction, all players who wish to contest the pot then show their cards.
13. The pot is awarded as follows: half to the best Hi hand and half to the best Lo hand. The same player can win both halves of the pot. If there is no qualifying Lo hand, the whole pot is awarded to the best Hi Hand. If there is a tie for either the best Hi or Lo hand, the relevant share of the pot is divided accordingly.

Showdown

Of the seven cards available to them, a player uses any five to form their best Hi hand and any five to form their best Lo hand. Any number of cards may be used as part of both the Hi hand and the Lo Hand.

Ante And Bring-in

The ante is a forced bet which all players place blind before any cards are dealt. This ensures there are some chips in the pot before any betting occurs.

The bring-in is a forced bet, the purpose of which is to start the action in the first betting round. On Third Street, the player with the face up card of the lowest rank must place the bring-in; they also have the option to instead make a full-sized small bet. If two or more players are tied for the lowest-ranking face up card, the player with the card of the lowest suit must place the bring-in. For this purpose, the suits are ranked as follows from high to low: Spades, Hearts, Diamonds and Clubs.

The size of both the ante and the bring-in is determined by the relevant table limit. Typically the bring-in is approximately half the size of a small bet and the ante is approximately a quarter of the size of a small bet.

Betting Structure

On Third Street and Fourth Street, betting takes place in small bet increments. On Fifth Street, Sixth Street and Seventh Street, betting takes place in big bet increments.

As 7 Card Stud Hi Lo can be played by up to eight players, it is possible for every card in the deck to be dealt without all players receiving a complete hand. If it is apparent that this situation will occur following the Sixth Street betting round, a single card is dealt face up in the middle of the table. All players use this card as their seventh card.