A game best played with 4 to 7 players,  7 Card Stud is one of the most popular forms of poker.  Since each player receives 7 cards,  seven is really the maximum number of people you can have at the table.  This game involves five rounds of betting and,  as is usual in poker rules,  one bet and three raises are permitted on each betting round.  The object is to make the best 5-card poker hand you can out of the 7 cards you get.

Play starts with all players placing an ante.  Dealer gives each person two cards face down and one face up.  A betting round ensues,  and it is commonly the person with the lowest card showing who must make a bring-in bet.  Dealer passes another card face down to each,  and this one is called "Fourth Street."  (Your first pocket card is called "Third Street.")  Another bet round follows,  this time it may be the person with highest hand showing who begins,  but he can check if he wishes,  or bet.  In some games,  poker rules are that if a pair is showing,  a player may wager a double amount.

Another card is dealt,  this time face up.  This is called  "Fifth Street."  Bets are usually double now.  Third betting round follows.

"Sixth Street",  or everyone’s sixth card,  is dealt face up;  followed by another round of wagers.  Then the final card,  "Seventh Street or The River,"  is dealt face down.  After this fifth bet round,  the best 5-card hand wins the pot.