The dealer is identified by a disc, called the ‘dealer button’. After all players have paid the ante, they are dealt three cards, two face down and one face up. The player with the lowest face up card is known as the ‘bring-in’ and must bet half the small blind. The other players then must match this amount or else fold.

Once the first round of betting has been completed, each player still playing is dealt another face up card. In this round the first person to act is the player whose face up cards have the highest poker value. This player may either check or bet.

Each player is dealt a third face up card. The big blind is the minimum bet in this round and all subsequent rounds. The first person to act is again the player whose face up cards have the highest poker value.

Each player receives a fourth face up card, the sixth in total. Betting in the fourth round is just like the third round.

Each player is dealt a seventh card. This last card is dealt face down. The first person to act is the player whose face up cards have the highest poker value.

7-Card Stud Hi-Lo has the extra factor in that the pot may be shared between a player holding the high (Hi) hand and a player holding the qualifying low (Lo) hand. A low hand is a five card hand that includes cards from ace to eight inclusive. If no low hand exists, the pot goes entirely to the high hand. A high hand is the same as the usual winning hand in a game of 7 Card Stud.