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5 Card Stud Poker Rules, Tips and Gameplay Explained

How to Play 5 Card Stud Poker

5 Card Stud Poker is one of the most well-known classic five card stud of games that many people look for online, but not everyone is familiar with the rules and gameplay. So, what do you need to know about the 5 Card Stud Poker rules and do you play it?

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What is 5 Card Stud Poker?

This is a game where first betting round all players at the table receive a total of five cards, with one of them dealt face down and the other four face up. However, the cards are dealt one by one in several rounds instead of all at once. 5 Card Stud Poker is very similar to 7 Card Stud Poker, with the number of cards in your hand as the main difference.

The fact that no cards are discarded in stud poker is another difference with draw poker. The five cards the player is dealt with in the different stages of the game are the only cards that the player receives.

5 Card Stud Poker Rules

Each game starts with an ante bet by all players. After that, they get a face-down card, known as the hole card, and a face-up card, which is called the door card. At this point third betting round, the player who has the lowest value of the door card needs to add a bring-in bet to keep playing. After this, the other players can match (call) or raise the bet, or fold.

A third card is then dealt – face up – and the player with the best hand starts a new betting round, called the third street. The dealing of a fourth card goes hand-in-hand with the fourth street and second betting round.

The second round of fifth street takes place when the final card is dealt. At this stage, each player has four face-up cards and one that is still face-down. The final betting round then occurs and once again the player with the best hand takes the lead. After everyone has made a decision, the remaining players reveal their face-down card for the final showdown.

One of the key 5 Card Stud Poker rules involves the bet limits of every round. Rather than the big blind/small blind system used in Texas Hold'Em, this game usually has relatively low limits during subsequent betting rounds.

The ante bet begins with a percentage of the small bet amount. It’s possible that the whole amount of the small bet is used in the initial betting round. The player who opens the third street or fourth betting round can choose between the big bet or small bet. Both the fourth street and fifth street action always use the big bet amount.

5 Card Stud Poker Hands

The best hand wins in the final showdown. This is where we need to know the ranking of the best poker hands, which you can find in the list below. The order will be familiar to anyone who has played online poker in the past:

  • Royal flush: This incredibly rare hand can’t be beaten by any other combination and includes the ace, king, queen, jack, and ten of the same suit all in the same hand.
  • Straight flush: Five cards in a row of the same suit. So, it can be 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or another sequence.
  • Four a kind: As the name suggests, four identical cards, such as four kings or four aces. If two players get this hand at the same time then the highest-ranking card wins.
  • Full house: A set of three matching cards plus another one that shows a different number. If two players have a full house, then the player with the highest set of three cards wins.
  • Flush: Five cards of the same suit, but not all in sequence. When there are two flushes in a game, the highest card determines the winner.
  • Straight: Five cards in a numbered sequence, but of different suits. If two straights are competing against each other, the one with the highest card wins.
  • Three of a kind: True to the name, this hand includes three cards of the same rank as well as a couple of other cards that don’t match. So, it could be something like 6-6-6-7-9.
  • Two pairs: This hand involves two unrelated pairs. An example would be 4-4-8-8-K. The higher pair wins when compared with another hand featuring two pairs. If they match, then the lower pair is compared to determine the winner.
  • Pair: A single pair with no other matching cards is the next best hand according to the 5 Card Stud Poker rules.
  • High card: When none of the above combinations applies, the hand with the highest card wins.

5 Card Stud Poker Odds and Payouts

The odds of winning and the potential payouts depend on the number of participating players fixed limit game and their betting amounts. In roulette and blackjack the odds and payouts can be listed in advance. When playing 5 Card Stud Poker however, you need to keep an eye on the pot and the current bet as you work out whether to carry on in the game or fold.

Games with jackpot prizes or side bets are the exceptions though, as the respective prizes are known in advance.

5 Card Stud Poker Tips and Strategies

The different ways of playing this game result in many strategies to get an edge. Perhaps the most evident scenario in which folding quickly makes a lot of sense, is when your opponents’ first card face back-up cards are stronger than yours. If your first couple of cards are low value ones, it’s going to be extremely difficult for you to win.

Playing a hand with little chances of winning is one of the big mistakes made by many newcomers. In such case it’s best to fold and try again in the next round of betting game rather than chasing a lost cause.

However, you’ve got a good starting hand ranking this point if you begin with a pair of cards that’s stronger than the ones in your opponents’ hands.

5 Card Stud Poker is a game that requires patience and the ability to weigh up your chances of winning, which is a matter of experience. Ideally, you’ll learn how to calculate your chances of getting the card you need and then work out whether the amount in the pot is worth the risk.

5 Card Stud Poker FAQ

What are the rules of 5 Card Stud?

5 Card Stud Poker begins with each player receiving one face-up card and the dealer deals another face-down card. Betting rounds then follow as three more cards are dealt, with all of the players left in the game revealing their face-down card at the end to determine the winning hand.

How many cards can you discard in 5 Card Stud?

No cards can be discarded in this version of five card stud poker. 5 Card Stud is different from draw variants that enable players to throw away cards. When playing 5 Card Stud Poker, you receive five cards to create the best possible hand.

What is a 5 Card Stud draw in poker?

This phrase mixes two different types of poker; 5 Card Stud and 5 Card Draw, so it doesn’t really mean anything.

Is 5 Card Stud the same as Texas Hold'em?

No, they are different. Both are popular poker variants with specific rules. While there are some similarities, both poker games also differ significantly.

How do you win at 5 Card Stud poker?

The player with the best hand in the final round of the showdown wins. Like most versions of poker, a royal flush is the best combination of cards that can be achieved in this game.

How many decks do you need for 5 Card poker?

5 card poker games are traditionally played with a single deck of cards.

Why is it called 5 Card Stud?

While there is no definitive answer to this, “stud poker” is any type of poker where some of the cards players are dealt are face up and others are face down.

Where did the 5 Card Stud come from?

It’s believed that 5 Card Stud Poker was first played among soldiers on both sides of the American Civil War. The five-card version is the original type of stud poker, while the seven-card game and other variants appeared later.

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