Official Poker Rules BoardDocument OPR-711 · Updated 28 September 2026

Home game · Stud

Seven Card Stud with Wild Cards Rules

Seven card stud with wild cards is ordinary seven-card stud in which certain cards, such as all the twos, are named wild before the deal. A wild card can stand for any card its holder chooses, so big hands such as four of a kind and five of a kind become common. It can be played for high, for low or high-low.

Also known as 7 Card Stud with Wild Cards, Seven Card Stud, Deuces Wild

Players: 2 to 8
Type: Stud
Wild cards: Chosen before the deal, e.g. deuces
Pot: High only, low only or high-low split

Article 1Players, deck and wild cards

1.1

The game is played as seven-card stud with a standard 52-card deck, by two to eight players, with the addition of wild cards.

1.2

Before the deal, the players agree the wild cards, or in a dealer's choice game the dealer names them. The simplest choice is every card of one rank, as in seven card stud, deuces wild.

1.3

Other common choices in home games include:

1.3(a) the one-eyed jacks (the jacks of spades and hearts);

1.3(b) the suicide king (the king of hearts);

1.3(c) one or two jokers added to the deck.

1.4

A wild card may stand for any card its holder chooses, including a card the player already holds. It need not be declared until showdown.

Article 2Hand rankings with wild cards

2.1

Five of a kind is possible whenever there are wild cards. By the usual convention it is the highest hand, above a straight flush. See hand rankings.

2.2

All other hands rank in the normal order. A hand made with wild cards is equal to the same hand made naturally, unless the table has agreed that a natural hand beats an identical wild one. Any such rule shall be announced before the deal.

2.3

Low hands. In a low or high-low game, a wild card may stand for any rank, including an ace. Used for low, it normally counts as the lowest card that does not pair the rest of the hand.

2.4

In a high-low game, each player may use a wild card as one card for the high hand and as a different card for the low hand.

Article 3Antes, the deal and betting

3.1

Antes, the deal and the betting rounds follow seven-card stud.

Street	Cards held after the deal	Betting
Third street	2 down, 1 up	First round
Fourth street	2 down, 2 up	Second round
Fifth street	2 down, 3 up	Third round
Sixth street	2 down, 4 up	Fourth round
Seventh street	3 down, 4 up	Final round, then showdown

3.2

Whether exposed wild cards count at their wild value when deciding who bets first is a house rule. The dealer shall announce it before the deal if it may matter.

Article 4Showdown and splitting the pot

4.1

At showdown, each player makes their best five-card hand from their seven cards, using any wild cards as they choose.

4.2

In a high game the best high hand wins. In a low game the best low hand wins, under the low ranking the dealer announced.

4.3

In a high-low game the pot is split between the best high hand and the best low hand, as in Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo. The dealer shall announce whether a qualifier applies and whether players declare or the cards speak.

4.4

Identical hands split the pot, or the relevant half of it, equally.

Example

Deuces wild, high hand

Player A holds 2♠2♦Q♣Q♥9♠5♦3♣. With the two wild deuces as queens, A has four queens.

Player B holds A♠K♠Q♠J♠7♥7♣4♦. B has four cards to a royal flush but no wild card, so B's best hand is a pair of sevens.

Player A wins with four of a kind.

Example

Deuces wild, high-low

A player holds A♠3♦4♣6♥2♠K♦K♣.

For low, the deuce plays as a two, giving 6-4-3-2-A. For high, the same deuce plays as a king, giving three kings.

The player can win both halves with one hand, if no one beats either.

Article 5Games with changing wild cards

Some stud games decide the wild cards during the deal, from the cards the players receive:

Follow the Queen: the rank of the card dealt face up after the last exposed queen is wild, and many groups make queens wild too.
Low Hole: each player's lowest face-down card is wild for that player.
Baseball: threes and nines are wild, with extra rules for fours.
Deuces & Jacks & the Man with the Axe: nine wild cards, but a natural pair of sevens beats everything.

Article 6Frequently asked questions

Does five of a kind beat a straight flush?

Usually, yes. When wild cards are in play, five of a kind is normally ranked as the highest hand. Agree this before the deal.

Can a wild card be an ace in a low hand?

Yes. A wild card can be any rank, including an ace, so for low it normally counts as the lowest card that does not pair your hand.

What are the most common wild cards in seven-card stud?

Deuces are the classic choice. One-eyed jacks, the suicide king and jokers are also common in home games.

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.

Seven Card Stud with Wild Cards Rules · OPR-711 · officialpokerrules.com/seven-card-stud-with-wild-cards/

OPR-711Uncontrolled when printed