Official Poker Rules BoardDocument OPR-683 · Updated 28 September 2026

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Kings and Little Ones Rules

Kings and Little Ones is Seven Card Stud with two kinds of wild card: all kings, and each player's own lowest card. Before the deal, the dealer announces whether a player must hold a king for their lowest card to be wild. The best five-card hand wins, and five of a kind is possible.

Players: As in Seven Card Stud
Type: Stud
Wild cards: Kings, and each player's lowest card
Betting rounds: 5
Pot: High only

Article 1Players, deck and wild cards

1.1

Kings and Little Ones is played exactly like Seven Card Stud, with a standard 52-card deck and the same number of players.

1.2

All kings are wild.

1.3

Each player's little one, the lowest-ranking card in their own seven-card hand, face up or face down, is also wild for that player.

1.4

King required. Before the deal, the dealer shall announce whether a player must hold a king for their lowest card to be wild. If a king is required, a player without a king has no low wild card.

1.5

The source does not settle whether every card of the lowest rank is wild when a player holds two or more, or whether an ace counts as low when finding the lowest card. The dealer shall announce these points before the deal.

1.6

Five of a kind is possible and is the highest hand, above a straight flush. See hand rankings.

Article 2Antes, the deal and betting

2.1

Each player antes a small amount. The deal and betting then follow Seven Card Stud:

Street	Cards dealt	Betting
Third street	Two down, one up	First round
Fourth street	One up	Second round
Fifth street	One up	Third round
Sixth street	One up	Fourth round
Seventh street	One up or down, at the player's choice	Final round

2.2

Before the last card, the dealer asks each player whether they want it dealt face up or face down (down and dirty). Most players take it face down, since a player showing a king who takes the last card face up tends to get less action in the final betting round.

2.3

In each round a player may check, bet, raise or fold according to the action before them, as in Seven Card Stud.

Article 3Showdown

3.1

After the final betting round, the remaining players show their hands. Each makes the best five-card hand from their seven cards, using kings and their lowest card (if it qualifies) as wild. The best hand wins the pot.

Example

A king makes the low card wild

King required. A player holds K♦4♣4♠7♥9♥J♦2♣.

The king is wild. Because the player holds a king, the lowest card, the two, is also wild. With the natural pair of fours and two wild cards, the player has four fours, with the jack as the kicker.

Example

No king, no low wild card

King required. A player holds 3♦5♠5♥7♥9♣10♣Q♦.

There is no king, so the three is not wild. The player has only a pair of fives. If the dealer had announced that no king is required, the three would be wild, and the player would have three fives.

Article 4Common variations

4.1

King required or not. The main choice, announced by the dealer, is whether a king must be held for the lowest card to be wild (rule 1.4).

4.2

Door-card kings. In another version, a king counts as wild only if it was dealt as the player's door card, the first face-up card.

The same idea appears in Connect Four, a draw game in which fours take the place of kings, and in Low Hole, where the lowest concealed card is wild.

Article 5Strategy notes

Every player is likely to have at least one wild card, so four of a kind and five of a kind are common winners.
When a king is required, a player showing no king may still hold one face down, so opponents cannot be sure who has a low wild card.
Taking the last card face down keeps opponents guessing about whether a new low card has changed which card is wild.

Article 6Frequently asked questions

What are the wild cards in Kings and Little Ones?

All kings, and each player's lowest card. The dealer announces before the deal whether you need to hold a king for your lowest card to be wild.

Does five of a kind beat a straight flush?

Yes. In Kings and Little Ones, five of a kind is the highest hand.

Is Kings and Little Ones a stud or draw game?

It is played exactly like Seven Card Stud: two cards down and one up, then three more up cards and a last card up or down, with a betting round after each.

Final authority

Where any doubt remains in the application of this document, Rob is right.

Hand rankings, high to low: royal flush · straight flush · four of a kind · full house · flush · straight · three of a kind · two pair · one pair · high card. Suits never break ties.

Kings and Little Ones Rules · OPR-683 · officialpokerrules.com/kings-and-little-ones/

OPR-683Uncontrolled when printed