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5 Card Stud Poker Online

John Ford | January 22, 2021 | Updated on: February 12th, 2021

5 Card Stud poker is one of the first variations of the original casino game, poker. There are many other versions of the game and you can enjoy each one of them at the casinos we have listed below.

The main objective of the game is simple – build the best possible hand with the cards you’ve been dealt. We list the different hand rankings below so you know exactly which card combinations to aim for. We also give some strategy ideas you can use to help you beat the house.

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How Does 5 Card Stud Work?

There are two possible ways to play the game. You can either go the traditional route with the Ante version, or the modern route with the Blinds version. In the Ante version, you must pay an ante upfront before any of the cards are dealt.

In the blinds version of the game, only the two players left of the dealer must place wagers upfront. The player to the immediate left of the dealer must pay the small blind, while the player next to him must pay the big blind. There is no set amount that must be wagered, but the general rule of thumb is that the small blind pays at least half the big blind wager.

So, the big difference between the two types of 5 Card Stud games is when the initial wagers are placed, and who will pay it. You decide which version of the game you want to play. But, not all online casinos offer both versions so you’ll just have to go with the version offered.

How to Play 5 Card Stud

The rules of the game remain largely the same regardless of the variant you choose to play. Once every player has given their ante or blind wager, the dealer will begin to deal the cards. You will receive five cards each, and every card will be handed face down. Once all players have received five cards each, the first official betting round begins.

5 Card Stud

Now, if you have chosen to play with antes, betting will begin with the player left of the big blind. If you are playing blinds, betting will begin with the small blind who should be the first player left of the dealer. This signals the start of the draw round.

In the draw round, you have the option to fold, “stand pat” or discard any number of cards. Folding means you are out of that round. You will not place any more bets, and you will not receive any winnings.

Standing pat means you’ve decided to keep all your cards, and discarding means you swap any number of cards from 1 to 5 in exchange for new cards of equal amount. This signals the start of the second betting round.

When you’ve assessed your current hand, you will decide if you want to fold, stand pat or discard just like in the first round. You then place your bet and voice your move. The cards you have once the second round of betting is done will be your final hand to use in the showdown.

In the showdown round, the player with the best 5 Card Stud hand will win the game. But, what poker hands are the best and which ones are the worst or lower ranked? Have a look at our table below.

The poker hands stated apply to most variations of online poker and are presented in descending order from highest ranked to lowest rank.

Poker Hand Example Explanation
Royal Flush Ace, K, Q, J, 10 All cards must belong to the same suite
Straight Flush 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 Cards that run in consecutive order, all from the same suite.
Four-of-a-Kind 3, 3, 3, 3 of spades + K Any number in flowers, hearts, diamonds & spades + an odd card out say a Q diamonds.
Full house 5, 5, 5 of Q + 2, 2 of J Any three cards of the same suite plus any two cards of the same suite
Flush 3, 4, 6, J + Q all in spades Same suite of card, but different face value
Straight Ace, 2, 3, 4, 5 5 consecutive cards in different suites
Three-of-a-kind 9, 9, 9 out of a 5-card hand from different suites Any 3 cards with the same face value, but all 5 cards differ in suite
Two pair KK + QQ + 3 Two cards with the same face value + another two cards with the same face value & an odd card out
One Pair AA + K ,Q, J Two cards with the same face value + three with different face value. All cards can differ in suite
High Card 2, 3, 6, K, Ace Any combination of cards that don’t fall into the hand ranks previously mentioned

 

Lowball Variation

5 Card Stud is a versatile variation of poker with more than one way to play. The gameplay we have mentioned above is one where the highest ranked hand wins. But, you can also switch it up and have the lowest ranked hand win the game. This version is called Lowball.

The best possible hands in this case is Ace to 5, deuces to 7, or Ace to 6. The Ace to 5 hand is more commonly best ranked.

5 Card Stud Poker

Most casinos play Lowball 5 Card Stud using the same rules as in the original 5 Card version. The only notable difference is aiming for the lowest ranked hand and not the highest ranked hand. You can still use the rankings table above, but try to avoid forming a hand that has a pair.

You want to form a hand similar to the high card example that consists of 5 cards with different face value. Remember, this version of the game you are only as good as your highest card.

So, if you have a hand that consists of A, 2,3,4 & 10 but your competitor has a hand of 3,4,5,6,8 then they win because their highest card (8) is lower than your highest card (10).

Best 5 Card Stud Strategy

5 Card Stud is a relatively soft variation of poker, so using a strategy when you play should put you in a good position to win some money. The strategy suggestions we have are pretty simple and should be easy to implement.

  • Our first form of advice is to fold if the hand you have cannot beat what your competitor has. There’s no shame in trying again and you’ll soon learn that 5 Card Stud is a game of patience as much as it is a game of skill.
  • Weigh the amount of money you out into ante’s and blinds. Remember you will have to win as many rounds as possible to win back the money you’ve wagered.
  • Bluffing really helps in a game as competitive as this. Everyone is on their own so do what you have to.
  • Learn how to calculate odds in poker. This is a tough solution, but it’s the best way to

Play for Real Money

Now you know how to play the game, you should be ready to play at a casino, at least in free mode first. Our casinos offer free versions for most of its casino games, which is great for practice.

When you feel prepared, you can opt for the instant play option, which will give you the chance to play for real money provided you’ve made a deposit.