7 card stud hi/lo is another variation of the simple 7-Card Stud,game. This game is very popular as there are two pots to be won not just the one pot! The rules are the same and the hands are the same the only difference is the distribution of the pot. There are two pots known as the "hi" and the "lo" pot. Here is how to play.

1. All the antes are place; the antes are decided before the game begins. Your two face cards are dealt face down, and then a third is dealt face up, this is called the "third street" or the "door card"

2. There is a round of betting. At some poker rooms, the player with the lowest valued 'door card' must bet first - called the 'bring in bet'.

3. Next comes the "fourth street", this is the second face up card that you are dealt. Again another round of betting takes place but with the person with the highest ranking hand!

4. The "fifth street" is the next card to be dealt face up again, then there is a round of betting but the minimum and maximum bets are typically doubled in this round.
5. Now the "sixth street" card is dealt and the bets are placed, still keeping to the higher bets that were determined in step 4.

6. The "seventh street", which is the final card is then placed face down; it is also known as the river card. Again another round of betting takes place.

Betting Note: Unlike Texas Hold'em or Omaha where betting starts to the left of the dealer, in any Stud game the player with the highest ranking hand showing amongst their face up cards bets first for that round, with the bet then moving clockwise around the table.

The winner of the high pot is the person with the highest winning hand, and the winner of the low pot is the person who has the lowest "winning" hand! There is a chance how ever that the winner of the hi and lo pot can be the same person!

* Note: While you'll be dealt 7 cards in total in any 7 card game; you will only play your best 5 cards at the end of the hand, with the two remaining cards not counting towards your final hand total. In a Hi/Lo game you can still only use 5 cards per hand - but can use different card combinations from your 7 cards to make up a high and low hand.

What's a 'Low' Hand? Simple: the lowest (worst) hand that can made with your cards. The are exceptions to this rule however - straights and flushes do not count in a low hand, so A, 2, 3, 4, 5 is the lowest hand possible (does not count as a straight). In 7 Card Stud Hi/Lo you must usually 'qualify' to play a low hand, meaning you can play a 5 card combination with no cards of 9 or higher and no pairs. There is no qualifying for the high hand. This is known as '8 or better' at some poker rooms.