5 Card Stud

5 Card Stud, one of the original kinds of poker played and a mainstay in Wild West films - has become largely wiped out in the poker world as well as at online poker rooms, with 7 Card Stud a more popular option for most players today.

Five card stud is a very simple game, arguably much too simple to maintain players interest in a new poker era where Texas Hold'em dominates the scene. Having only one down card there is little guesswork as to what other players are holding, and bluffing can only go so far as good hands are easily seen by your opponents for an easy fold.

That said, there are still a few poker sites where 5 Card Stud is played, though table selection is limited.

Playing 5 Card Stud:

A game of 5 Card Stud game is played out in this manner:

• All the players first ante up before the deal, with the amount of the ante differing depending on the table limits.
• Each player is then dealt two cards, one card face down - which is the "hole" card, and one card face up.
• Starting with the player showing the highest ranked card face up, the first round of bets are made.
• Every player then gets another card face up, their third.
• There is then a second round of betting.
• Following the second round of betting every remaning player gets another card face up. (their fourth)
• The third round of betteing then commences, however the minimum bet is doubled now.
• Every player then gets their fifth and last card, face up.
• The final bets are made.

Once the final betting round is complete, the remaining players show their complete hand, with the last person to raise showing their cards first. The person who has the highest regular poker hand takes the pot.

Betting Note:

Stud games are different from Texas Hold'em and Omaha Poker in that the player with the highest ranking face up hand bets first for that round. The betting continues clockwise around the table, but the first bettor for every round may differ as the best hand showing moves around the table.