Before Texas Hold'em poker took the world by storm, 7 Card Stud was the most popular version of the game and it is one of the oldest.

The major difference between Stud Poker and games such as Hold'em and Omaha is that each player has only his own cards from which to construct his hand; there are no community (shared) cards. Free poker online might be played as well to start practicing.  

The dealer button is the same as in Hold'em but unlike that game every player must post ante, which is their initial stake. After everybody has done that three cards are dealt sequentially to each player in a clockwise direction from the player on the left of the dealer. Two of the cards are dealt face down and one is dealt face up.

The player with the lowest exposed card becomes the blind and must make a bet. If two or more players have the same low card than suit rankings are called in to place and these are in descending order spades, hearts, diamonds and clubs, so two of clubs is lower than two of diamonds. Action proceeds clockwise from that player.

There is a round of betting followed by another face up card being dealt to everybody still in the game. The person with the highest ranked visible cards has the privilege to make the first bet and betting proceeds clockwise from him. When betting is complete another face up card is dealt as before with another round of betting which starts with the player with the highest ranked visible hand.  This is followed by a further face up card and another betting round just as before.

Finally a face down card is dealt to every player and betting commences from the person with the best exposed hand. When all betting is done, the next step is the showdown.

Here each player must decide their best hand and declare it. The highest ranked hand wins the pot, or it is split between players with the same ranked hands. It is not unusual for beginners to make a mistake and to miss their best hands, so care is needed.