Before the 2000s surge of popularity of Texas hold 'em,[2] seven-card stud was one of the most widely played poker variants in home games across the United States[3] and in casinos in the eastern part of the country.
The player with the lowest-ranking up-card pays the bring-in, and betting proceeds after that in normal clockwise order.
If there is no bring-in, then the first betting round begins with the player showing the highest-ranking up-card, who may check.
Since fewer than five cards are face up, this means no straights, flushes, or full houses will count for this purpose.
Upon showdown, each player makes the best five-card poker hand they can out of the seven cards they were dealt.
In the event that the deck is exhausted during play, the four previously dealt burn cards can be used, but if these are not sufficient, then the final round will have a single community card (which can be used by everyone) dealt into the center of the table in lieu of a down-card to each player.
Stud poker players use the information they get from face-up cards to make strategic decisions.
There are several variations of Seven-Card Stud Poker in which each player is dealt a set number of cards.
Larry folds, indicating this by turning his upcard face down and discarding his cards.
The best five-card poker hand he can play is K-K-9-9-5, making two pair, kings and nines.
At the end of Tennessee Williams' play A Streetcar Named Desire, the minor character Steve says "This game is seven-card stud," seemingly a reference to the narrative's transactional, game-like nature and its lack of propensity to change.