Players are dealt seven cards in five rounds and must make their best possible 5 card poker hand from the cards they are dealt.

The game begins with a small ante from all players at the table and each player is dealt two cards face down and one card face up.

The player with the highest up card begins the betting with forced bet (called the bring in) and play moves in a clockwise direction with players either calling the bring, completing the bet (raising to the lower limit) or folding. There is a limit of three re-raises in all betting rounds.

Next each player still in the hand is dealt another upcard, followed by another betting round that begins with the player whose upcards make the best hand.

Since there are less than 5 cards face up no straights flushes or full houses will count for this.

Next a third upcard is dealt followed by another betting round, then a fourth upcard is dealt again followed by a betting round.

Finally a downcard is dealt followed by the final betting round and then a showdown.

At the showdown players must make their best 5-card poker hand out of the seven cards they were dealt.

7 card stud is summarized as 2 down, 4 up, 1 down.