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7 Card Stud is another well-known poker variation. It is played at a table with no more than 8 players. Players are dealt seven cards each, and they must make the best five-card combination they can from these seven cards. Typically stud games use an "ante" which is a small fixed bet each player must provide before the deal. Antes vary in size, but usually are not more than about 25% of the "bring in". The "bring in" bet is a forced bet made after the initial deal and is usually made by the lowest card showing, according to rank and suit. The suits are ranked from highest to lowest as follows: Clubs, Diamonds, Hearts, Spades. This makes the deuce of clubs the lowest card possible for a bring in.

The deal in stud always begins with the player immediately to the dealer's left. Players "ante up" (pay their antes) and then the cards are dealt: two face down, and one face up. Cards in stud are referred to as "streets," making this third card "third street". Exposed cards are commonly called "upcards" as well. The lowest-ranked card "brings it in" for a fixed amount (usually half the smaller bet denomination; we will look at a $2/4 stud game with a bring in of $1). Play proceeds in a clockwise direction. Players have the option to fold, call the $1, or "complete" this $1 bet to the full $2. If the bet is completed, players may raise in $2 increments. Just like in Hold 'em, players are all given a chance to call raises and there is normally a three or four raise "cap" on the bets each round.

After betting on third street is completed, the dealer burns a card and gives all remaining players a fourth card, face up. A round of betting in $2 (or whatever the lower bet is for the stakes being played) increments follows, beginning with the highest hand that is showing. If one player shows an ace and no one else does, they begin the betting. The highest hand on each street can change, so betting may begin with a different player each round. There is a special rule for 7 card stud: if, on fourth street, there is an exposed pair, the first player to bet has the option to make a double bet (so $4 in a $2/$4 game). If they choose not to, another player can make this double bet or a double raise. Other than this special circumstance, betting is the same as on third street.

The dealer burns a card and deals a fifth card face-up. Betting proceeds as above, except exposed pairs no longer can make double bets, and on fifth, sixth, and seventh streets, the betting increases to the higher bet for the stakes being played ($4 in a $2/$4 game). The dealer burns and deals sixth street face up, followed by another round of betting. Finally, the dealer burns one last card and deals seventh street (also called "the river card") face down to all players. A round of betting occurs, followed by a showdown and the highest hand wins the pot.

Beginners' Tip: Many beginners wonder when they're playing a stud game, "What happens if everyone stays in"? The deck doesn't have enough cards! In the event that too many players remain in the game to receive their own river card, a community river is used. The dealer burns one card and places the river card face up so that all players may see it. Betting continues as it normally would.

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7 Card Stud is also often played as a split game, 7 Card Stud Hi-Lo (8 or better). 7 Card Stud Hi-Lo is played the same was as 7 Card Stud, except a high and low hand are possible each new hand. Low hands consist of 5 cards ranked 8 or lower, and players may use different combinations of cards to create their high hand and low hand. A high hand is always possible, but there will sometimes be no low. Low hands are ranked the same way as in Omaha Hi-Low.

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"Razz" is a 7 Card Stud variant which is played as low-only. The mechanics of the game are nearly identical to 7 Card Stud. However, in Razz, the highest card showing on third street brings it in. Straights and Flushes do not count against you, however, pairs do. Players attempt to make the lowest 5-card hand they can from the seven cards they receive. There are no rules regarding the ranking of the hands, ie the five cards used to not have to be ranked 8 or lower. The best possible hand in Razz is "the wheel", which consists of 5432A.

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In certain poker rooms, you also may find 5 Card Stud. Play in 5 Card Stud is similar to that of 7 Card Stud. Players ante up and the dealer gives each player one card face down, and one face up. The low card showing brings it in and a round of betting proceeds. The dealer burns a card and gives out another card face up, followed by more betting. Once again the dealer burns and deals out fourth street, followed by betting. Finally, another card is burned and fifth street is dealt face up. When betting is completed, high hand wins the pot.