7 card hi-lo poker - Gameplay & strategy

7-card Hi-Lo is played pretty much in the same way as 7-card stud, until the betting rounds are over and it is time to show your cards.

The game is played as follows:

1. Each player pays an ante for the coming hand. The size of the ante is determined by the rules of the table you play at.
2. Two cards are dealt face down to each player, followed by one card that is dealt face up (totalling three cards in each hand. This first face up card is known as third-street or the door card.
3. There is then a round of betting. At some casinos, the player with the lowest door card must bet first. This is known as the bring-in bet.
4. After betting, another card is dealt, face-up, to each player. This second card is known as fourth-street.
5. There is another round of betting
6. Another card (fifth-street) is dealt, face-up, to each player.
7. There is another round of betting, with the betting minimums / maximums typically doubled during this round.
8. Another card (sixth-street) is dealt, face-up, to each player.
9. There is another round of betting at the higher values.
10.Another card is dealt, face-down, to each player. This is known as the river card or seventh street.
11. There is then the final round of betting.

Structurally, 7 card Hi-Lo is identical to 7 card stud, and thus much of what has been previously discussed is the case here as well.

This applies to the differences between an aggressive game and a restrained one, and to the consequent shift of focus from a three card starting strategy to one based on the first four cards. It applies also to the middle rounds, where your betting strategy will vary if you hold a probable winning hand, a vulnerable leading hand, or a drawing hand. And of course, the importance of accurately reading your opponents cards still applies. There are however, a few minor differences that are worth mentioning…