Enthusiasts of stud poker may also enjoy playing 7 Card No Peek. Both games deal seven cards to players, who attempt to build a five-card winning poker hand from the cards they receive. Unlike stud poker, No Peek does not allow a player to look at any of his cards prior to betting. This eliminates bluffing and creates a challenging new strategy for playing the game.
Set Up
Two players or more are required to play the game, although it is preferable to have at least three. A dealer is chosen to start the game. The dealer passes seven cards to each player, face down. If a player looks at her cards, she has to sit out that hand. Play starts with the player to the left of the dealer.
Opening Bets
The first player turns over the first card in his hand. He then decides how much, if any, he wants to bet on this card. The next player has to match the original bet, raise the bet to a higher amount or fold his hand, sitting out until the next hand. If someone raises the bet, the remaining players decide if they want to continue by matching the higher bet or folding their hands. The betting continues until everyone has an equal bet in the pot or has folded his hand. When betting has concluded, the next player to the left takes his turn.
Second Bet
The second player turns over the first card of her hand. If her card cannot beat the original turn, she continues to turn her cards over until she can beat the opening hand. To beat the first hand, the second hand needs to be a higher card or a matching Pair (2-2, 3-3, and so forth). The cards are ranked in the order of 2 through 10, followed by Jack, Queen, King and Ace, in that order. Betting commences when the second player beats the first player's initial card. Players then bet in the same manner as the opening hand.
Playing the Game
Each player takes a turn, flipping over his cards one at a time, trying to beat the previous player's hand. Place bets every time a player turns enough cards over to beat the prior hand. If a person turns over all his cards without beating the prior hand, his hand is dead, and he no longer has to bet. The winning hands are the same as in most other poker games, such as Texas Hold ‘Em.
Winning Hands
The highest hand is a royal flush (A-K-Q-J-10 of the same suit). Next is a straight flush, which is any sequential order of numbers of the same suit. Four of a kind is four of the same number. A full house consists of three of one number and two of another. A flush is five cards of the same suit. A straight is five cards in the same numerical order, regardless of suit. Three of a kind is three of the same number. Two pair is two cards of the same number matched with two cards of a different number. A pair is two cards of the same number. Finally, a high card is the largest single card in a hand.
Winning the Hand
The hand ends when everyone but one person turns over all seven of their cards. When the final round of betting has concluded, he final player turns over her cards to determine whose hand is highest. Whoever has the highest hand at the end wins all the money in the pot. The dealer moves to the person to the left of the previous dealer, and players make new bets for the next round.
Writer Bio
Shawn Lealos has been writing professionally since 1996. His articles have appeared in magazines such as Inside Sports and on websites such as 411mania.com. He works as a film critic and is a member of the Oklahoma Film Critics Circle. Lealos received a Bachelor of Arts in journalism from the Gaylord School of Journalism at the University of Oklahoma in 2000.
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