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5 Card Stud Poker Rules

5 Card Stud poker first appeared during the American civil war and became very popular. It is only in recent years that it has been surpassed by 7 Card Stud and Texas Hold'em.

Five Card Stud poker differs from most modern Stud variants because the number of visible cards makes it easier for players to judge the strength of their hands. With four rounds of betting, you need to know when to hold and when to fold. Patience and skill are key to success.

The following illustration shows the betting structure of the game.

The following illustration shows the betting structure of the game.

All players ante

Each player is dealt one card face-down (hole card) and one card face-up (door card)

First betting round

Each player is dealt one card face-up

Second betting round

Each player is dealt another card face-up (4th street)

Third betting round

Each player is dealt a last card face-up (river)

Final betting round

Showdown

At Showdown, the best poker hand wins.

Why has 5 Card Stud has not reached the popularity of other Stud variations or Texas Hold'em?

The likely reason is that the players receive only five cards, the hand values in 5-card stud vary dramatically from games like hold'em or 7-card stud, where the players each get seven cards and then can choose their best five. It is far easier to make a strong hand when you can pick five out of seven cards, rather than just getting five.

One major problem with 5-card stud, and a reason for the lack of popularity is that there is too much information available to the players on the table. With only one hidden card, it is very easy to see what an opponent's best possible hand might be and bluffing becomes far more difficult. Further, unless the ante is very high, there is little reason to try to chase down an opponent from behind.

In a real poker game, that easy understanding makes the correct play too obvious to create much excitement, or much betting action. A good 5-stud player will take the money from bad 5 card stud poker players much too quickly for the bad players to remain interested in the game. Winning potential therefore is less than other poker games....not a good trait to pull in poker players!

General 5 Card Stud Poker Strategy

Five Card Stud is predominantly a game or pairs and high cards. You should not play for straights and flushes unless you have three cards to a straight flush on third street. In addition you should not play for a flush or straight unless you think you might hit a straight or flush on fourth street. It is advisable to stay out of athe hand unless you have a pair or at least one live card that beats the board. You should fold when you are beaten on the board and do not have a good draw to the best hand.

Playable 5 Card Stud Hands

Play Any Pair - Fast play low pairs to try to get heads up. Consider folding if you don't get trips or a live upcard on third street. Bet/Call high pairs.

Play when you have both cards HIGHER than the board - For example you hold 6 8 and there is no opponent upcard that is higher than 5

Play the hand when you have a high hole card that beats the board with any high card - For example you have J down - 8 up and there is no opponent upcard that is higher than ten.

HIGH UPCARD that BEATS the BOARD with HIGH CARD in the HOLE - An Ace up is a good hand that you can sometimes take past third street unpaired, if you have a good kicker. The high card in the hole does not have to beat the board.

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