Stud Poker

Stud poker is played on a semi-circular table with players facing the dealer using a standard 52 card deck held in a card shoe. The aim of the game is to beat the dealer with the five cards you are dealt.

Stud Poker casino game

Rules of Stud Poker

The game begins with your stake which is set prior to the dealing of cards. Each player must decide how much to wager on the upcoming hand and place that bet on the "Ante" box. Five cards are then dealt face down to each player by the dealer. The dealer also takes five cards, four of which are face down and one is placed face up for all to see. You then look at the five cards that you have been dealt and must decide whether to play them or fold. Players that fold lose their Ante bet and Progressive bet had they played one. There is therefore something of an incentive to play rather than sit on the sidelines waiting for the best cards. If you chose to play then you must place two times your Ante in the Bet box. This is known as your call.

Once all the players have decided whether they will play or fold, the dealer reveals his cards. You had the advantage of seeing one of his cards prior to betting so you have a slight advantage in that regard, but the dealer retains the overall advantage in that he must qualify for the call bets to count. To qualify the dealer must have Ace King or a higher hand. If the dealer does not qualify then regardless of what you held you receive double your Ante bet but your call bet will be returned to you with no further gain. If the dealer qualifies (has AK or higher) then your cards will be turned over by the dealer to see if you have a higher five card stud poker hand than the house. If you do then you receive a multiple of your call bet in accordance with the call bet payout table.

A ranking of Poker hands from royal flush to high card

Standard five-card Poker hands are ranked here in order of strength, from the strongest Poker hand to the weakest.

Royal Flush

This is the best possible hand in standard five-card Poker. Ace, King, Queen, Jack and 10, all of the same suit.

Straight Flush

Any five-card sequence in the same suit (e.g.: 8, 9, 10, Jack and Queen of clubs; or 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 of diamonds).

Four of a Kind

All four cards of the same value (e.g.: 8, 8, 8, 8; or Queen, Queen, Queen, Queen).

Full House

Three of a kind combined with a pair (e.g.: 10, 10, 10 with 6, 6; or King, King, King with 5, 5).

Flush

Any five cards of the same suit, but not in sequence (e.g.: 4, 5, 7, 10 and King of spades).

Straight

Five cards in sequence, but not in the same suit (e.g.: 7 of clubs, 8 of clubs, 9 of diamonds, 10 of spades and Jack of diamonds).

Three of a Kind

Three cards of the same value (e.g.: 3, 3, 3; or Jack, Jack, Jack).

Two Pair

Two separate pairs (e.g.: 2, 2, Queen, Queen).

Pair

Two cards of the same value (e.g.: 7, 7).

High Card

If a Poker hand contains none of the above combinations, it's valued by the highest card in it.

Stud Poker Strategy

Like any casino game the house has an edge, but luck on any given day plays a large part in deciding the winner. As to strategy it is important to recognise the marginal plays where odds are actually in your favour. Most players are uncomfortable playing low pairs such as twos, threes and fours and are even less likely still to play AK because they often seem to lose. This is in fact a true statement - you will lose more often with these hands than with others but many people fail to realise is that folding is also a player loss. It is the case that with these types of hand the correct play is to bet them because that will turn out to be the best play over the long term.