7 Card Stud Hi/Lo
The variation of 7-card Stud Hi/Lo has the same basic game play as a standard game of 7-card stud. However, the difference in the games is in how the winner is determined. In a Hi/Lo game, the pot will be split between the highest and lowest hands at the table. As in all stud games, there are no community cards, so the best or worst hand must be made from the cards that you are dealt.
Starting play is the same as in 7-card stud, with an ante being bet from each player. As in the standard variation, players will receive 2 pocket cards, dealt face down and 1 door card, dealt face up. Once the deal has been completed, betting will begin, and continue through five rounds before reaching the showdown.
Opening The Betting
Once the first cards have been dealt, the “bring in” must be determined. As in a standard stud game, the player with the lowest door card begins the betting for this round. If two players have the same value card, the opening bet is placed by the player with the lowest suit, alphabetically. From here, betting continues clockwise around the table.
Fourth Street
Once the initial bets have been placed, another door card will be dealt. From this point in the game forward, the highest door cards will determine which player will start the bet. Double bets on a door pair are allowed exclusively in this round. Bets continue clockwise around the table, as before.
Fifth Street
Once betting is completed, players receive another door card. Then player with the best door card combination will start the bets for this round. Should someone have a pair within their door cards, betting should start with a big bet. If no pairs are displayed, betting should begin with a small bet.
Sixth Street
In this round, the last door card will be dealt to each player. The player with new current high combination will have the first bet for the remainder of the hand. Betting will continue in a clockwise rotation around the table.
The River
Players who have stayed in the game to this point will be dealt a final pocket card. The first bet will be placed by the player who started the last round, and continue around the table, as previous. Players who remain standing after the final bets are placed go on to the showdown.
The Showdown
Once the final round of betting is complete, players will reveal their cards. The player with the highest and lowest hands split the pot. With an eights or better rule, a low hand cannot contain any card higher than an 8. By these rules, there may not be a low hand, so the full pot would go to the high hand. In the case that a player holds both the high and low combination, they would receive the entire pot, as well.