Seven-card stud · five-card opening and discard
Super Stud rules and beginner guide.
Super Stud is Seven-Card Stud High with a larger opening decision. Each player begins with four downcards and one upcard, bets, then discards two downcards before the deal continues like ordinary stud.
How to play
The objective, deal, and showdown
Winning objective
Build the highest standard five-card poker hand from the seven cards held at the end. The expanded opening lets players select a stronger three-card foundation before fourth street.
Deal and drawing
After the ante, each player receives four cards down and one up. The lowest door card normally brings in; after third-street betting, every remaining player discards two downcards. Fourth, fifth, and sixth streets are dealt up and seventh street down, with betting after each street.
Key comparison
The two discarded cards are gone permanently and are normally folded face down. Your choice should account for the exposed boards, live ranks and suits, and the public story created by your door card.
Strategy foundation
What to notice before playing
Choose the best three-card core
The opening five cards may offer competing pair, straight, and flush routes. Keep the three-card structure with the strongest live improvement path rather than simply the three highest cards.
Dead cards shape the discard
Visible door cards can make one promising draw much weaker than another. A suited or connected core loses value when too many key cards are already exposed.
Your door card stays public
Only downcards may be discarded. The upcard determines how opponents read your range, so factor that visible card into both value and deception.
Common mistakes
Avoid these beginner leaks
- Trying to discard the exposed door card instead of two downcards.
- Choosing a pretty three-card draw without checking whether its key cards are live.
- Forgetting discarded cards when counting the remaining deck later in the hand.
- Applying ordinary Seven-Card Stud starting-hand values before making the Super Stud discard.
FAQ
Quick answers
Why is it called Super Stud?
Players receive two extra downcards at the start and choose which two to discard, creating a stronger and more decision-rich three-card foundation.
How many cards does a player have at showdown?
Seven. The player keeps three cards after the opening discard and then receives four more cards from fourth through seventh street.