Stud poker’s main difference from draw poker is that no cards are discarded. In fivecard stud, the five cards you are dealt are all you get to make up your whole hand. There are many variations of the game, but standard five card stud poker is thought to be poker’s oldest game and while it is mostly absent from casino and tournament play, it is still a popular informal game and one of the best to learn on since poker’s betting principles and bluffing strategy are clearest here. It is a good foundation for most of the other games, including other stud and ‘community’ card games.

After the ante is down (an agreed on percentage of the minimum bet) the dealer deals first to the player on their left. Each player receives one down-card and one up-card. The player with the lowest up-card places a forced bet which is usually half the minimum bet. Betting rotates clockwise until the other players have either called, raised or folded.

Then a second up-card is dealt to all players, starting with the player to the dealer’s left, and a second round of betting is started, this time by the the player with the highest showing hand. It may be a high card or a pair. If two or more players share a the same card, then an agreed on hierarchy of suits (often determined alphabetically) will decide who bets first. The second round of betting must be opened with at least the minimum bet and no more than the maximum. It rotates clockwise from the opening bettor and closes when all bets are called or players have folded.

A third up-card is dealt in the same order and this round proceeds as the former. A final up-card is dealt and the betting is once again opened by the highest showing hand which can be anything from a high card to four of a kind, though not a straight, a flush, a full house or a straight flush. Betting for the final round is opened with the maximum bet. The game is won by the highest hand to be called or if the other players have folded.

FIVE CARD STUD STRATEGY

Since the players only receive five cards each and there are no ‘community’ cards, there is little chance of very high hands. Straights, flushes, full houses and four of a kind are rare and usually winning hands if they do appear. Three of a kind is a good hand and it is game know for pairs.

Poker Strategy - Ante

Depending on the ante, players should approach the game differently. If the ante is large, half the minimum bet or even bigger, then there is a lot to lose and the aggressive and ‘tight’ players are more likely to come out on top. If the ante is small, then there is little to lose and the player can wait for better hands.

Poker Strategy – Know your odds and outs

Like most poker games with up-cards, the mathematical probabilities are extremely important since the other players will also be calculating the ‘odds’ of their hand. It is generally accepted that if you do not have a pair by the third card then it’s better to fold your hand. Many players fold immediately if they are dealt a weak ‘hole’ card. If you have a low hole card and the other showing cards, the ‘board’ cards, are higher than yours, the it’s better to fold. However, if you have a strong hole card even though the board cards might be stronger than your board card, it is worth staying in for another card.

Players will be aware that you are playing as though you have a high hole card. If your hole card is good and the board shows another of your card, then the odds of a pair are are considerably reduced, even more so the odds of three of a kind. The same goes for sharing an up-card with another player. The odds are reduced with the extra disadvantage of the other players knowing it.

A strong hole card or starting pair is no guarantee of a good hand. Of course, if you have a high up-card and a high hole card, then it is worth staying in for a chance to develop a good hand. If there are no revealed or ‘dead’ cards which will better your hand, the odds are greater.

Cards yet to be dealt which will improve your hand are called ‘outs’. The more cards yet to be revealed, the better your chances. Considering the board cards and the potential hands of your opponents and how they are betting, whether or not their proposed hand is weakened by dead cards, it is best to fold if your strong hole card has not developed into a better hand by the third or fourth card. Once you’ve reached the fourth card, your investment in the pot changes your ‘pot odds’ and a hand you might have folded earlier might be worth seeing to the end if it stands a chance. This depends a lot on the betting. If you’re only adding a small percentage of what you’ve already invested to see the game to it’s end, it might be worth the chance. Whereas opponents may force the betting to a point where your hand is not worth the extra investment.

Poker Strategy – Understand Opponent Betting Characteristics

Always be aware of your opponents and their betting character, whether they are prone to bluffing. And a good player will be able to calculate the odds of the live cards and weigh it against the other hands and what those hands might actually be considering the player’s usual betting character.