Stud Poker Rules and How to Play Stud Poker Variants

Mississippi Stud

In Mississippi Stud, each hand starts with an ante. Once a player has anted, they’ll be dealt two face-down hole cards, and three face-down community cards. At this point, each player must choose whether to fold – forfeiting their ante – or raising.

If the player raises, the dealer reveals the first of three community cards. There is another fold-or-raise round of betting. If the player remains active, these rounds continue until all three community cards are face-up.

If the player remains active once all community cards have been revealed, they make the best possible five-card poker hand, comprised of the three community cards and the player’s two hole cards. The player’s payout will depend on the paytable for that version of Mississippi stud poker.

Mississippi Stud Payout

While payouts may vary from casino-to-casino and game-to-game, here’s a sample Mississippi Stud payable:

Hand	Example	Payout
Royal Flush		500:1
Straight Flush		100:1
Four of a Kind		40:1
Full House		10:1
Flush		6:1
Straight		4:1
Three of a Kind		3:1
Two pair		2:1
Pair of Jacks of Better		1:1
Pair of 6s – 10s		Push
All other		Loss

Caribbean Stud

In Caribbean Stud, players play against the dealer – and the dealer alone – to make the best five-card hand.

Each round of Caribbean Stud begins with the player placing their ante. At some casinos, players also have the option of whether or not to buy in to a progressive jackpot attached to the game.

Once players have placed their ante bets, both they and the dealer will be dealt five cards. All of the player’s five cards will be face down, while one of the dealer’s five will be face up.

At this point, players choose whether to fold – sacrificing their ante – or play, in which case they must raise a fixed amount, typically twice the value of the ante. If the player raises and remains active in the game, both players reveal their cards.

In order for the dealer to qualify, their hand must include at least an ace and a king or a pair or better.

• If the dealer qualifies, and the player’s hand wins, they receive 1:1 payout on their ante, plus a pre-determined amount on their raise
• If the dealer qualifies, and the dealer’s hand wins, the dealer keeps all of the player’s wagers
• If the dealer does not qualify, ante bets are paid 1:1, and the raises push
• If the dealer qualifies, and they tie the player’s hands, all bets push

Caribbean Stud Payout

Again, if the dealer qualifies and the player’s hand is higher, the player receives two payouts:

• Ante bets are returned 1:1
• Raise bets are paid out at a pre-determined value set by the game’s paytable. Be sure to check your game for specifics, but a typical table looks like this:

Hand	Example	Payout
Royal flush		100:1
Straight flush		50:1
Four of a kind		20:1
Full house		7:1
Flush		5:1
Straight		4:1
Three of a kind		3:1
Two pair		2:1
One pair		1:1
High card		1:1

7 Card Stud Poker

Each hand of 7 card stud poker begins with each player being dealt three cards – two face-down, and one face-up. Initial betting action begins with the player who is showing the lowest-ranking card and proceeds clockwise around the table until all bets are in.

The game then proceeds with each player being dealt individual cards, interspersed with rounds of betting, until each player has been dealt seven cards. Cards four, five, and six are dealt face-up, while the seventh and final card is dealt face-down.

By the time each player has received all of their cards, they should have a total of seven cards – three facedown, and four face-up. At this point, all remaining players reveal their facedown cards, and the best five-card poker hand wins the pot.

5 Card Stud Poker

In 5 card stud poker, the player’s goal is to build the best possible five card poker hand using only cards that he or she is dealt. Unlike in similar stud games, there are no shared community cards – rather, just a mix of face-up and face-down hole cards.

The game begins with each player being dealt two cards each – one face-up and one face-down. Typically, 5 card stud is played with a small ante and a bring in, meaning the player with the lowest-value face-up card must place a small wager. From there, betting proceeds clockwise around the table.

For the remainder of the game, players are dealt one face-up card each, followed by a betting round, until each player has five total cards – one face-down, and four face-up. As in other games, these deal & betting rounds are known as third, fourth and fifth street, respectively.

Once each player has been dealt all five cards, all active players reveal their face-down card, and the player with the best poker hand wins the pot.

Razz

Razz poker puts a unique twist on poker. Rather than the strongest hand winning the pot, it’s actually the weakest hand that wins the pot!

Razz poker is challenging as it forces players to think in a completely different way, often acting against years of experience from other traditional poker games.

5 Card Stud Strategy

• Consider folding if opponents’ up card beat both your up and face down cards.
• Don’t chase straights and flushes.
• Having an ace in the hole is the best possible (including pairs).

7 Card Stud Strategy

• Be selective about your starting hand – if you don’t like your hand, and you can get out for free, fold.
• If you believe you have a strong hand, bet strong on third betting round and smart on fourth and fifth.
• If your hole cards include an Ace or King, play on. If you have a pair in the hole, bet aggressively.

Mississippi Stud Strategy

• Avoid 2x ante bets- either fold, wager 1x or 3x the ante.
• If you have a face card, raise 1x the ante.

Caribbean Stud Strategy

• If you start with a pair or better, call or raise depending on what the dealer is showing.
• If you don’t have a pair and at least one face card, fold the hand.