Since its introduction in the 16th century, poker has remained a popular card game among players around the globe. It is basically a game of skill and luck. The fun and excitement that the game offers make it a top choice among players. While there are different poker variants you can try at online casinos, stud poker is the most popular one. Are you wondering what is stud poker and how it works? Read on to explore everything in detail.
Stud poker is a variation of poker in which the players are dealt a mix of face-down and face-up cards over a number of betting rounds. This poker variant is a little different from the community card games such as Texas Hold’em. In Texas Hold’em, the community cards are shared by the players on the table. However, in stud poker, the cards of each player are unique to them. That means they are not shared with others on the table.
Hand Rankings of Stud Poker
- Straight Flush: It is the highest possible hand in stud poker when a standard pack is used without jokers or wild cards. To make a straight flush, you would require 5 cards in a sequence belonging to the same suit.
- Five of a Kind: For this hand, you will need at least one joker. It is a hand combination that rarely occurs.
- Flush: A flush is made up of 5 cards of the same suit. However, they may not be in a sequence.
- Full House: To make this hand, you will require 3 cards of the same rank and 2 cards of another rank.
- Straight: A straight is formed with five cards in a sequence. However, they may not belong to the same suit.
- Four of a Kind: This hand is made up of 4 cards having the same rank and another card of a different rank.
- Two Pairs: A two-pair hand consists of 2 cards having the same rank, 2 cards of a different rank, and 1 card of yet another rank.
- Three of a Kind: This hand is made up of 3 cards having the same rank and 2 cards of other ranks.
- High Card: This hand consists of 5 cards of different ranks. Moreover, they also may not be in a sequence.
- One Pair: One pair hand is made up of 2 cards having the same rank and 3 cards of different ranks.
How to Play the Game of Stud Poker?
Now that you have an idea of the hand rankings, you would want to get started with stud poker. However, before that, knowing the steps involved is vital for optimum success.
Stud poker is played in a number of betting rounds. Before the cards are dealt to the players, they need to pay a nominal amount. It is referred to as the Antes or forced bets. Once all the players have posted an ante, the first round of betting will take place. The game starts with three cards. On the basis of these cards, you can place your bet.
Then, in the next betting round, another card is dealt to the players. The number of betting rounds will depend on whether you are playing 5-card stud poker or 7-card stud poker. In the final bet round, the hands of the players will be revealed and compared. The winner of stud poker will win the pot.
The core objective of stud poker is to win the pot. For that, there are basically two ways. You can either be the last active player who did not fold or be the player having the highest 5-card poker hand.
Betting Options in Stud Poker
If you want to try your hands on stud poker, knowing about the different betting options matters a lot. The top options are outlined below.
- Check: The player keeps the cards and declines to place a bet.
- Call: To call a bet means to place the same amount in the pot as the previous bet.
- Raise: To raise a bet means the player wants to match the previous bet but is willing to increase the amount.
- Bet: To bet means the player opts to play based on their hand and places a bet.
Five-Card Stud Poker vs. Seven-Card Stud Poker
Five-card and sever-card stud poker are the most popular variants you will find online. The most common difference between the two is the number of cards dealt to the players. Apart from that, the number of rounds also differs. For instance, the 5-card stud poker consists of rounds like 3rd street, 4th street, and 5th street. On the other hand, the 7-card stud poker includes 3rd street, 4th street, 5th street, 6th street, and 7th street.
Step-by-Step Guide to Play Five-Card Stud Poker
Want to play the 5-card stud poker game? If so, you need to follow these steps. Let’s dive in!
- Ante: Before the cards are dealt, each player at the table will contribute a predetermined amount to the pot.
- Dealing of Cards: Each of the players will receive two cards. They will get one face-up or door card and one face-down or hole card. The player who has the lowest-ranking door card will begin the action. They can either place a regular bet or a forced bet.
- Third Street: Another face-up card is dealt to each of the players. The player having the highest ranking hand will initiate the betting action.
- Fourth Street: Another face-up card is dealt to all the players on the table. The player having the highest ranking hand will start the betting action.
- Fifth Street: The players who are still present in the hand will receive the last face-up card. The player having the highest ranking hand will initiate the betting action.
- Final Betting: Once the fifth street is complete, there will be a final betting round in the 5-card stud poker game. Again, the player having the highest ranking hand will start the action.
- Showdown: If there are still two or more players in the hand, a showdown will take place. In this round, the players will have to reveal their hole cards. The player having the best or highest five-card hand will be eligible to win the pot.
Step-by-Step Guide to Play Seven-Card Stud Poker
- Ante Amount: Before the seven-card stud poker game starts, each of the players who are willing to play the game will have to place a nominal amount called an Ante. The amount is usually decided before the commencement of the game.
- Third Street: Each of the players will receive three cards, which will include one face-up card and two face-down or hole cards. The player having the lowest face-up card will start the betting action. The other players will follow and the betting takes place in a clockwise direction.
- Fourth Street: Once the third street is complete, one more face-up card will be dealt to all the players. The player having the highest rank will initiate the betting action. Then other players will follow,
- Fifth Street: Another face-up card is dealt to each of the players who are still in the hand. The player having the highest value will act first.
- Sixth Street: In this round, another face-up card is given to each of the players. The player having the highest hand will make the first move.
- Seventh Street or The River: A face-down card will be dealt to the players who are still in the hand. That means this card will only be known to the player. The player who has the highest value of the shown cards will initiate the betting action. A final betting round takes place.
- The Showdown: If there are still two or more players in the game, a showdown will take place. The last bettor or raiser will first show their cards. The player having the best five-card hand will win the entire pot amount. However, in case, two players have identical poker hands, the pot amount will be equally divided between the players.
Difference Between Stud Poker and Draw Poker
The main difference between draw poker and stud poker is the downcards and upcards dealt to the players. In the game of draw poker, players receive only face-down cards. That means all the cards are hidden from the other players. However, the game of stud poker involves a combination of downcards and upcards. So, the face-up cards remain visible to other players.
The betting rounds involved in draw poker are usually less compared to stud poker. In draw poker, players are allowed to discard up to 3 cards. However, there is no such chance in the case of stud poker.
Conclusion
By now, you must have a comprehensive idea about stud poker. The casino game is indeed interesting and exciting at the same time. However, whether you want to play video poker or online slots, choosing the right platform is vital. Select the best online casino and enjoy the live casino games.
