Spots Stud

Spots Stud Overview

Spots Stud is a split-pot variant of Seven Card Stud. Played exactly like Seven Card Stud, the pot is split between the player with the best poker hand and the player with the most “spots” in the center column of their cards. Additionally, the lowest card in each player’s hand is a wild card for the purpose of the poker hand. Spots Stud is suitable for 3-7 players.

Spots Stud Rules

To begin the game, all players ante up. This means that they place a small sum of money in the pot. Then the dealer gives each player two cards facedown, and a third card face-up. There is a round of betting beginning with the player to the dealer’s left. Moving clockwise around the table, players choose whether they want to call or match the bet, raise the bet to a higher sum, or fold, giving up all stake in the game.

Each player receives three more cards face-up. After each card is dealt, there is another round of betting.

Then the seventh card is dealt facedown. There is a final round of betting. Then there is a showdown. Players show all their cards. Bearing in mind that the lowest card in each player’s hand is wild, the player who can form the best five card poker hand wins half the pot. The player with the most spots in the center columns of their cards wins the other half of the pot.

The cards contain the following number of spots:

• A- 1
• 2- 2
• 3- 3
• 4- 0
• 5- 1
• 6- 0
• 7- 1
• 8- 2
• 9- 1
• 10- 2
• Face Cards- 0