Each poker table shall be restricted to a maximum of eight players. Each player who plays in a round of play may be required to place an ante.
Starting with the first player to the left of the dealer and continuing in a clockwise rotation around the poker table, the dealer will deal two rounds of cards face down and one round of cards face-up to each player.
Once each player has received three cards, the first betting round shall begin by comparing the up-card of each player. The player with the lowest card will start the betting round. In the event that two or more up-cards are of the same rank, the up-cards shall then be ranked by suit, with the highest to lowest ranked suits in order as follows: Spades, Hearts, Diamonds and Clubs.
Following the bet placed by the player with the low card, each following player might, proceeding in a clockwise rotation may, fold, call or raise the bet. After the last player has responded to the most recent bet, the betting round is complete.
Upon completion of the first betting round, the dealer will bring the chips into the center of the table and burn the top card of the deck and place it under the pot. Starting with the first remaining player to the dealers left, deal a fourth card face up to each player remaining in the game. The Player with the highest-ranking poker hand showing will initiate the action by betting or checking. If the highest ranking poker hand showing is held by two or more players, the player closest to the left of the dealer shall be required to bet or check.
Following the initial bet or check, each subsequent player, proceeding in a clockwise rotation, may fold, call, raise or, if the preceding players have not made a bet, check. Each player may check until a bet has been made. Once a bet has been made, the next player in a clockwise rotation may fold, call or raise. After the last player has responded to the most recent bet, the betting round is complete.
The dealer shall then deal two additional rounds of cards face-up to each player remaining in the game, with each round followed by a betting round. Prior to each round of cards being dealt, the dealer shall burn the top card of the deck and place it under the pot.
If there are enough cards remaining in the deck/stub, give each remaining player a seventh and final card.
If there are not enough cards remaining in the deck to give each remaining player a seventh card, the dealer may shuffle the burn cards, burn a card, then deal a seventh card to each player. If there are not enough cards remaining including the burn cards to issue a seventh card, the top card of the deck shall be burned and a common card shall be dealt face up in the center of the table. If there is one or no card remaining in the deck when a common card is to be dealt, the dealer shall shuffle the burn cards, burn a card, and then deal the common card.
If more than one player remains after the final betting round, a showdown will be used to determine the winner of the pot. Each player remaining in the game shall form a five-card poker hand from the seven cards that they were dealt. The winner of the pot will be the player with the highest-ranking five-card high hand.
For 7 Stud Hi-Lo, the pot will be split with half going to the highest hand and half to the lowest hand. The player must have at least 5 cards that rank 8 or lower that are not duplicated in order to qualify for a low hand. Straights and flushes do not disqualify as a low. The lowest ranking hand is a “Wheel”: ace, two, three, four and five.
