Seven Card Stud games are played with a maximum of eight players per play, unlike Hold'em games where the max is 10. Also instead of four betting rounds, there are five, not including the ante.

Each player, starting from seat 1 (the seat to the left of the dealer), is dealt two cards face down, then four cards face up, and the final (river) card is dealt face down. 

Betting rounds
Betting structure in Seven Cards Stud differ from Texas Hold'em and Omaha games.

In Seven Cards Stud there are five possible betting rounds not counting the ante:

Ante
All players ante (except in certain low limits games that
have no ante).

The amount of the ante is based on the table limits. As an example, a game with a $1-$2 limit may have a $0.25 ante and a $3-$6 game may have a $0.50 ante. Each player is dealt two cards face-down (pocket cards) and one card face-up (door card) - Cards 1, 2 and 3

Showdown
When all the betting is done, and if more than one player is still in for the pot, then the showdown determines who wins. The last player to open or raise is required to show cards first, and anyone else can fold (muck his cards if he/she determines he/she has lost). Players who elect to fold do not have to show their cards.

Very seldom, a situation occurs where there are not enough cards left in the deck to give each player their own river card. In this event, the dealer will turn one board card face-up and it will be used as a community card.

Betting structure
Each bet and raise during the first two rounds is set at the lower limit of the stakes structure. For example in a $2/$4 Fix Limit game, all bets and raises are $2 for the first two rounds (after two hole cards and door card are dealt). Betting and raising during the last three rounds is set at the higher limit of the stakes structure.

In this example all bets and raises will be $4. The maximum allowable number of bets during any betting round in Seven Cards Stud poker is four. This includes a (1) bet, (2) raise, (3) re-raise, and (4) cap. The term cap is used to describe the 3rd raise in a round since betting is then capped and can't be raised further. Once capped, players will have only the option of calling or folding. There are other games where cap on number of raises does not apply and they are No Limit and Pot Limit games.

One on One games have a cap after 6 betting rounds.

Bet/Raise/Call/Check/Fold
Once a betting round has started you must select one of the options from the play buttons that appear when it is your turn. If you choose one of the advance options (advance buttons), your bet is made automatically on your turn. If you select Sit Out or you close the window after a round has started, your bet will be considered a fold. If you click "Sit Out" button before the game started and you change your mind and than click "Deal Me In" button you will still be seated out for that hand. If your connection is lost, your hand will be played as an all-in bet.
 
Dealer Button
At the table a graphic called the Dealer Button, a small round disk with the letter 'D' marked on it, is used to signify the theoretical dealer of the hand. The hand is deal clockwise one card at a time.

Betting Order
The Seven Card Stud cards are dealt in a specific order starting clockwise from the button and betting also takes place in a specific order as outlined below.

Rake
Unlike other casino games, poker is a game among players, and not a game against the house. Therefore the poker room makes money by collecting a rake. The rake is a predetermined amount that is removed from the pot. The rake amount varies depending on the number of people seated, the limits of the table, and the amount of the pot. The maximum house rake on the pot is $3.