New Jersey Administrative Code
Title 13 - LAW AND PUBLIC SAFETY
Chapter 69F - RULES OF THE GAMES
Subchapter 14 - POKER
Section 13:69F-14.9 - Seven-card stud soker; procedures for dealing of cards; completion of each round of play

Universal Citation: NJ Admin Code 13:69F-14.9

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 18, September 16, 2024

(a) Each casino licensee shall be required to observe the procedures set forth in this section for each game of seven-card stud high, seven-card stud low, seven-card stud high-low split, or seven-card stud high-low split eight or better poker offered in its casino room or casino simulcasting facility.

(b) Each poker table shall be restricted to a maximum of nine players as determined by the casino licensee. Each player who elects to participate in a round of play may be required to place an ante. The rule governing the placement of an ante and the amount of the ante, if any, shall be posted on a sign at each poker table in accordance with 13:69F-8.3.

(c) Starting with the first player to the left of the dealer and continuing in a clockwise rotation around the poker table, the dealer shall deal two rounds of cards face down and one round of cards face up to each player.

(d) Once each player has received three cards in accordance with (c) above, the first betting round shall commence by comparing the up-card of each player. For the purposes of this subsection only, in the event that two or more up-cards are of the same rank, the up-cards shall then be ranked by suit, with the highest to lowest ranked suits in order as follows: spades, hearts, diamonds, and clubs. Betting shall be commenced by:

1. For high poker, the player with the lowest ranked up-card;

2. For low poker, the player with highest ranked up-card;

3. For high-low split poker, the player with the highest ranked up-card. For this purpose, an ace shall be considered ranked below a two; and

4. For high-low split eight or better poker, the player with the lowest ranked up-card. For this purpose, an ace shall be considered the highest ranking card.

(e) Following the placement of the forced bet required by (d) above, each subsequent player may, proceeding in a clockwise rotation from the player who placed the forced bet, fold, call, or raise the bet. After the last player has responded to the most recent bet, the betting round shall be considered complete.

(f) Upon completion of the first betting round, the dealer shall burn the top card of the deck and then, starting with the first remaining player to his or her left, deal a fourth card face up to each player who made or called the last wager. The next betting round shall commence as follows:

1. The player with the highest ranking poker hand showing shall be required to bet or check;

2. For seven-card stud low, the player with the highest ranking low poker hand showing shall be required to bet or check; or

3. If the highest ranking poker hand showing is held by two or more players, the player closest to the left of the dealer shall be required to bet or check.

(g) Following the initial bet or check required by (f) above, each subsequent player, proceeding in a clockwise rotation, may fold, call, raise or, if the preceding players have not made a bet, check. Each player may check until a bet has been made. Once a bet has been made, the next player in a clockwise rotation may fold, call or raise. After the last player has responded to the most recent bet, the betting round shall be considered complete.

(h) The dealer shall then deal two additional rounds of cards face up and one round of cards face down to each player who made or called the last wager. Prior to each round of cards being dealt, the dealer shall burn the top card of the deck. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if insufficient cards remain in the deck to give each remaining player either a sixth or seventh card, the top card of the deck shall be burned and a common card shall be dealt face up in the center of the table. If there is either one or no card remaining in the deck when a common card is to be dealt, the dealer shall shuffle the burn cards, burn a card and then deal the common card. The dealing of each round of cards or, if applicable, each common card pursuant to this subsection shall be followed by a betting round conducted in accordance with the provisions of (f) and (g) above.

(i) If more than one player remains in the round of play after the final betting round has been completed, a showdown shall be used to determine the winner of the pot. Each player remaining in the game shall form a five card poker hand from the seven cards which he or she was dealt. This five-card hand shall constitute the poker hand of that player at the showdown. The winner of the pot shall be:

1. In high poker, the player with the highest ranking five-card high hand;

2. In low poker, the player with the highest ranking five-card low hand;

3. In high-low split poker or high-low split eight or better poker, the player with the highest ranking five-card high hand and the player with the highest ranking five-card low poker hand, subject to the provisions of (j) below, who shall divide the pot equally.
i. If a pot cannot be divided equally, the excess amount, which shall not exceed $ 1.00, shall be given to the player with the highest ranking high hand.

ii. If a tie exists between two or more players for the highest ranking high hand, the high hand share of the pot shall be divided equally among the tied players. If the high hand share of the pot cannot be divided equally among the tied players, the excess, which shall not exceed $ 1.00, shall be given to the player with the highest ranking high poker card by suit.

iii. If a tie exists between two or more players for the highest ranking low hand, the low hand share of the pot shall be divided equally among the tied players. If the low hand share of the pot cannot be divided equally among the tied players, the excess, which shall not exceed $ 1.00, shall be given to the player with the lowest ranking low poker card by suit.

iv. For purposes of this subsection, the cards shall be ranked by suit with the highest to lowest ranked suit in order as follows: spades, hearts, diamonds, and clubs.

(j) In seven-card stud high-low split eight or better poker, a winning low hand may not contain any pairs or a nine, 10, jack, queen, or king. This defines the qualifying clause known as "eight or better." In the event that none of the hands of the remaining players satisfies this requirement, the entire pot shall be awarded to the player with the highest ranking high hand.

(k) In seven-card stud high-low split poker and seven-card stud high-low split eight or better poker, the player may form two different hands of five cards each out of the player's seven available cards, enabling that player to contend for both the high hand and low hand share of the pot. A player may use the same five-card grouping to make a high poker hand and a low poker hand. For example:

1. A hand consisting of a two, three, four, five, and six would qualify as a straight for purposes of the high hand and as a high ranking low hand; or

2. A hand consisting of five cards of the same suit, none higher than an eight, would qualify as a flush for purposes of the high hand and as a high ranking low hand.

(l) In seven-card stud high-low split poker and seven-card stud high-low split eight or better poker, an ace may be used concurrently as a low card to satisfy a low hand and as a high card to satisfy a high hand.

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