Unlike hold´em and Omaha, Seven-Card Stud is not a community card game. The dealer does not deal the flop, turn and river in the middle of the table. Rather, each player receives their own cards which they (and only they) will use to make the best five-card hand. Each additional card that you receive is called a “street.” The deal works as follows:
Start of the Hand
Initially, every player posts an ante, which is usually a small amount of chips. The antes are collected and go into the pot. Then each player is dealt two face-down cards, known as hole cards, and one face up card. A round of betting occurs, after which the fourth street is dealt.
Fourth Street
On fourth street, each player receives another face-up card and another round of betting occurs.
Fifth Street
On fifth street, each player receives another face-up card and another round of betting occurs.
Sixth Street
On sixth street, each player receives another face-up card and another round of betting occurs.
The River: Seventh Street
On seventh street or “the river”, each player receives their final card face down. Then a final round of betting occurs and the showdown takes place.
By the river, each player should have three face-down cards and four face-up cards. Every player can make the best five-card hand using any of the seven cards that are dealt to them. In contrast to community card games, like hold´em and Omaha, each player receives their own seven cards with which they can make the best five-card hand. It is important to note that one cannot use any other player’s face-up cards to make one’s own best five-card hand.