7 Card Stud has been a popular casino game for years, and it remains one of the most popular poker games today. If the game of poker is new to you or you have not read a comprehensive 7 Card Stud book, it is wise to become familiar with the many rules and strategies of the game. Even players who have read every major 7 Card Stud book find the game of 7 Card Stud a never-ending learning process. At OnlinePoker.com, you'll find many of the tools and strategies you'll need to play 7 Card Stud successfully.

When you sit down at a casino table to play 7 Card Stud, there will typically be five to eight other players. You'll need to buy in to the game first in order to play 7 Card Stud, typically at a price of 10 times the low limit of the game. For example, if the low limit was one dollar, the buy-in would be 10 dollars.

After the initial cards are dealt, the initial wager needs to be made. This task goes to the player holding either the highest--or the lowest--card. In casino play, the player with the lowest card typically makes the initial wager, unless there is an ante, in which case the player with the highest card typically opens. The initial wager is equal to the low end of the game limit.

Part of having a good strategy when you play 7 Card Stud is knowing what constitutes a good starting hand. Knowing when to bet and when to fold is critical to playing a successful game of 7 Card Stud. Even if you start with a great hand, it is usually wise to bet conservatively in the beginning, so you don't scare the other players into folding. Learning to read the other players will help you determine when it is safe to bet more aggressively. A few strong starting hands include a pair of aces or a pair of kings, three of a kind and three cards to a straight.