Five Card Stud Guide

Five Card Stud is less common than Texas Holdem and other types of poker, yet is still popular at casinos, both online and off. It is the earliest form of stud poker and is sometimes played no limit and pot limit, although fixed limit and spread limit versions are also common.

Objective

The objective of Five Card Stud poker is to finish the game with the best possible hand and to win the pot.

Betting Structures

The stakes offered at a particular table determine the limit or maximum bets on the player’s turn. The amount of the ante in the game reflects the table limit – if the limit is low, the ante is low.

Five Card Stud Game Rules

• 1. Five Stud Poker is played between 2 and 10 players around a table.
• 2. One card is dealt by the dealer to each player, face down. This is known as the hole card.
• 3. Each player is dealt another card face up.
• 4. The pack of cards is then placed face down in front of the dealer.
• 5. The player with the highest up facing cards makes the opening bet.
• 6. The player to his left can then stay, fold, raise the pot or reraise the bet.
• 7. When the betting is over, the dealer deals another card face up to the players.
• 8. A second round of betting begins by the player who has the highest ranking poker hand among his or her two upcards. This player can choose to check, bet or drop out.
• 9. Subsequent players around the table can drop, fold, stay, raise or reraise.
• 10. Another card – the third - is dealt face up to each player.
• 11. Another round of betting begins and is played out exactly as the second round was.
• 12. After this betting round, a fourth upcard is dealt to each player.
• 13. The final round is betting is played out as the second and third rounds with one difference – the bettor can select to call, instead of staying or playing.
• 14. When all betting has been done, the showdown stage of the game begins.
• 15. Players starting with the call hand turn over their hole cards.
• 16. The player who manages to create the best poker hand takes the pot.

Tips and Strategies

• 1. If your first three cards don’t produce a pair or better, you should fold.
• 2. Study your opponents to see whether you can pick up any tell tale signs about what their hole card may be. Look out for signs of bluffing, body language, mannerisms, etc.
• 3. Except in the case of three cards to a straight flush, do not play for straights and flushes.
• 4. Vary your game play so that you become ‘unpredictable’. Don’t be afraid to get caught bluffing.
• 5. Try to remember which cards are ‘live’ by memorizing the folded cards throughout the game.
• 6. You should always fold when you are beaten on the board and you don’t have a good draw to the best hand.
• 7. Try to avoid playing low hole cards.

Conclusion

Five Card Stud is usually the first variant of poker learned by players. Although it is not extremely common at casinos and tournaments, the game can still be found. It is important to remember that rules may vary from casino to casino.