Five Card Stud

Five card stud can be played with more players than a traditional draw poker game because less cards are used. Up to ten people can play five card stud. It is usually played with a small ante and a bring-in although players can agree to forego the bring-in. A bring-in is a small amount, usually a dollar that the player with the lowest card showing would have to open the betting with on the first round only.

Play begins with the dealer dealing one card face down to each player and without pause, one card face up to each player. Players can look at the "hole" card (the card dealt face down) but do not reveal this card to the other players. The player with the lowest card showing starts the betting by paying the bring-in. He has the option at that time to also place the regular bet but he does not have to. Since the betting has begun, even if it's only the bring-in, the next player does not have the option to "check" or pass.

After all the players have either put in their bets or folded, the next card is dealt to the remaining players and now, as in all subsequent rounds, the player with the best hand showing starts the betting. In this second round, that would be only the 2 cards dealt face up. Although the hole card is considered to be part of the hand by the player, it does not figure in as to who starts the betting as only the cards showing determine that.

Play continues round by round with one card being dealt face up with the best hand showing starting the betting. If the player with the best hand showing decides to check, any subsequent player can also check in that round until a bet is placed.

There is usually not a showdown in five card stud as players fold until there is one player left. That player wins the pot. If there is more than one player left after all players have been dealt five cards in all (four face-up and the first one that was dealt face-down), then as in all other rounds except the first one, best hand showing would place a bet and when all bets were called, there would be a showdown. The player with the highest ranking hand would then win the pot.

Some Recommended Poker Reads

 

©pokerhelpfiles.com