San Francisco Poker Rules

This game is a variation (if only slight) to 7 Card Stud. The normal rules apply to that of 7 Card Stud. There are 2 variations to this poker variant, SF High and SF Low.

In San Francisco High, at the showdown, the player with the highest Heart splits the pot with the highest hand (the player that would normally have won the whole pot). For instance if you hold the Ace of Hearts but have made no playable hand it is an idea to stay in the hand as you will split the pot. If you holdem the highest hand and the highest ranked Heart then you would take down the whole pot.

The low game, if you haven't guessed by now, is that the high hand splits the pot with the lowest heart in play at showdown. Again if you were to have the 2 Hearts you should stay in the pot as you will split the pot. Similarly you would take down the whole pot if you had the 2 Hearts and the highest hand.

Other than these differences, San Francisco is the same as Seven Card Stud. The only negative aspect about this variant is that you often get people waiting only to play the Ace hearts or the 2 depending on which variation you are playing. As the player is guaranteed to split the pot in this situation players will bet aggressively to commit you to more of your stack knowing that they even though they have no hand they hold the key Heart that will earn them a split of the pot.