Poker Stories: 7-Card Stud

7-card stud may not grab the big headlines like No Limit Texas Hold’Em, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have a rich and storied history. In fact, before Hold’Em took over as the default game of choice, 7-card stud was one of the most popular poker variants around.

Poker legend Phil Ivey cut his teeth playing the game in his youth in Atlantic City, NJ. He used to grind the game as a teenager, and he even won his second and fourth World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelets playing stud back in 2002.

In Doyle Brunson's seminal poker work Super System, he even devoted just as much space to 7-card stud as he did to Hold’Em. Even in Texas, this was a big game.

And of course, who could forget the iconic Rounders scene where Matt Damon schools his law professors in cards? You know what game they’re playing: 7-card stud.

Daniel Negreanu’s Stud Final Table

Another poker legend, Kid Poker himself, is also a big stud fan. On his vlog, he brings us right into the action. In one video, he’s at the final table of the $10,000 buy-in stud event at the 2019 WSOP. Though he eventually loses the bracelet heads-up against John Hennigan, he has some sick action to get there.

For instance, in one hand, Hennigan opens with Qc open. Negreanu looks down at 5sQh in the hole with a Qd door for a pair and decides to raise. He then gets cold re-raised by David Baker with the 4s. Hennigen folds and Negreanu calls, figuring Baker must have aces or kings.

4th street brings the 5c to Negreanu and the 10h to Baker. Baker makes the bet, and Negreanu calls, planning on raising on a bigger bet street and knowing that if he makes an open pair, he must be dead.

The next card is blank for Negreanu, but Baker lands the Ac. Although Negreanu is started to sweat it, he still calls the bet.

6th street gives a 2h to Negreanu and a 3h to Baker: all blanks, and they check. Finally, on the river, Baker checks and Negreanu takes a moment to think it over. He likes his hand but doesn’t want to get check-raised. After just checking it back, he flips his hand and wins the pot.