7 card stud poker as a game originated in New Orleans in 1829. It was played with 20 cards 4 each of 10s, Kings, Queens and Jacks. The winning hand was the one with the five cards of the highest cards. The game is reported to have become popular in boats passing through the river Mississippi in those days. Con artists made use of 52 cards to fleece unsuspecting travelers. The money that these travelers bought along specifically for gambling was known as "pokes."

Stud poker was introduced during the Civil War and the earliest version was 5 stud poker. At the end of the 20th century 7 card stud poker was introduced, and it enjoyed great popularity for much of the past century.

How to Play Seven Card Stud

7 Card stud poker is played between 2-8 players, excluding the dealer. The main difference between 7 card stud poker and other versions of poker is the fact that there are no community cards. Instead, each player has his own individual hand. Players play against each other and aim to have the highest combination of five cards (using any combination of their seven total cards) in order to win.

Betting can be fast paced and in a series is termed as a showdown. There are two ways a player can win - by having the highest five card combination in a showdown or by being the last player to surrender or fold his cards.

For a person to win by showdown there must be more than one player still in the game. In 7 stud poker, a player can fold at any point in the game.

All players must first play the ante which is a small wager that's compulsory on all players. You are dealt two face down cards, and one face up card. Each player will have one card that's visible and the player with the lowest ranking card has to make the first bet which has to be equal to half the lower table limit.

The betting procedures are followed in the same pattern as for other versions of poker. Three rounds of betting commence with a card being dealt after each round. When the last card is dealt, the fourth and final round of betting occurs. Whoever at the point is left with the best 5 card combination wins the pot.