Stud 8 or Better Rules

Rules of Stud 8 or Better

Seven Card Stud 8 or Better is a split pot version of Seven Card Stud. In many pots, a high side will win half the pot and a low hand will win the other half. Before we go into the basic rules of Stud 8 or Better, we should review what a low consists of.

A low is a five card hand with five unique cards eight or lower. For example, 7-4-3-2-A is considered a seven-low. 6-5-3-2-A would be a six-low. Low straights can play for both high and low. The same is true about low flushes. The best low hand is the wheel, or an A-2-3-4-5. This hand can also play as a five high straight for high.

First, each player posts an ante into the pot before cards are dealt. Then, each player is dealt three cards, two down and one up. This is known as Third Street. The player with the lowest card showing makes a forced bet known as the bring-in. If more than one player has the lowest card, the bring-in is determined by the lowest suit. Suits in order from lowest to highest are clubs, diamonds, hearts, and spades. The deuce of clubs is automatically the bring-in.

The bring-in bet is typically double the ante. In a $2-$4 game with a 50 cent ante, the bring-in is $1. The bring-in bettor also has the option to complete the bet to the small bet amount. In the example above, a completion would be to $2. If the bring-in bettor does not complete the bet, the next player has the option to either call the bring-in or complete the bet. Once a bet is completed, subsequent betting and raising is done at the small bet amount.

After betting is completed on Third Street, a card is dealt face up. This is known as Fourth Street. At this point, the player with the highest hand showing opens the bet. If more than one player has an equal rank hand, the player closest to the dealer starts the betting. The high hand opens the betting from Fourth Street until the river. One rule difference between Stud HI and Stud 8 or Better is regarding open pairs on Fourth Street. In Stud 8, you cannot make a double bet on Fourth Street when an open pair is showing. Betting and raising occurs at the small bet amount.

After betting on Fourth Street is concluded, a third up card is dealt. This is Fifth Street. Betting limits double from this point to the river. In the example above, betting would now be in increments of $4. After betting is completed, a fourth up card is deal. This is Sixth Street. After betting is completed, a final card is dealt to each player face down. This is Seventh Street, which is also known as the river. The player who opened betting on Sixth Street will also open betting on Seventh Street.

After the last round of betting is completed, the remaining players show their hands. The highest five card hand wins the high side of the pot. If there is a qualifying low hand, that hand wins the low side of the pot. A player holding both the best high and low hands will scoop the pot. This also occurs when there isn’t a qualifying low hand.

Razz Poker Rules
Seven Card Stud Poker Rules
Limit Holdem Poker Rules
Omaha 8 or bettor Poker Rules
Omaha 8 or bettor Poker Rules