It’s one of the first versions of poker, and remains a firm favourite - 5 card stud is beloved by newcomer and veteran players alike, thanks to its straightforward structure and simple rules. 5 card stud did end up sidelined in favour of 7 card stud, Texas Hold’em, and Omaha Poker during the poker boom years of the early 2000s, but the 2010s saw it make a comeback in many a game rotation. So, how do you get started with this classic, you might ask? That’s simple, as all you need to do to learn all about playing 5 card stud poker is read our guide!
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The Basic Rules of 5 Card Stud
Playing 5 card stud poker involves following these rules. Keep in mind that unlike other poker variants 5 card stud does not use community cards, and the fact only one card is dealt face down, with all others dealt face up. As the name suggests, the game indeed involves hands consisting of 5 cards and has 4 rounds of dealing and betting in total.
- The game starts with each player starting the hand by placing an ante in the pot.
- The players are dealt two cards, the first face down (hole card), and the second face up (door card).
- The player with the lowest door card has to place a “bring-in” bet. This is typically half the size of the game’s minimum bet.
- The dealer hands each player another face up card after the first round of betting.
- Another round of betting takes place, starting with the player with the best hands. After they place their bet the betting continues in a clockwise direction around the table.
- The dealer hands another face up card to each player before another round of betting starts.
- The dealer deals each player another face up card and the final round of betting.
- The players show their cards and the player with the best hand wins the pot.
- In case of a tie the pot is divided equally between the tied players.
- Some 5 card stud poker variants may make use of a wild card. This can be any card of the dealer’s choice and can be used to form the best possible hand.
5 Card Stud Betting Structure
The stakes on offer at the table determine the maximum and minimum when it comes to betting. For example, at a $1-2 table the limit for betting on the first 2 rounds is $1 and $2 on the final two rounds. That said, the player with the best hand can increase the bet on the second round, for a total of three raises during the game. Of course, private 5 card stud rooms can change the rules regarding betting and pot size.
The Hand Rankings of 5 Card Stud Poker
The Hand Rankings of 5 Card Stud Poker
5 card stud retains the same hand rankings we know and love in poker. In case you’re not familiar, here’s what they are and how they rank:
- High card: The highest card is the best hand. If two cards are the same value, the spade is usually regarded as the highest-ranking card, followed by the heart, diamond, and then the club.
- One pair: Two cards of the same value.
- Two pair: Two pairs, with each pair containing two cards of the same value.
- Three of a kind: Three cards of the same value.
- Straight: All five cards in sequential order; the ace serves as the low or high end.
- Flush: All five cards of the same suit, though not necessarily in sequential order.
- Full house: Three cards of one value and two cards of another.
- Four of a kind: Four cards of the same value.
- Straight flush: All five cards are of the same suit and in sequential order, with an ace as the low or high end.
- Royal flush: The straight flush must contain an ace, king, queen, jack, and ten.
Some poker sites might offer the hi-lo (or high-low) version of 5 card stud. This rare variant has you play a high and low in the same hand. A low hand must have all cards valued under 8, meaning the best hand would be an A-2-3-4-5 with the ace playing low. The next best hand would be A-2-3-4-6, and so on.
5 Card Stud Poker Variants
As well as hi-lo, there are other 5 card stud variants you can sometimes find at the best poker sites. Here are some that we’ve found and enjoyed:
- Lowball - Also known as 5 card stud low, here you only play the low hand rankings. As such, the ace ranks low. The player with the highest card (not an ace) takes care of the bring-in bet, while all betting rounds start with the player with the lowest hand.
- High-low with a buy - This variant of high-low allows players to buy a card during the final betting round. This way you can discard one face-up or face-down card and receive a replacement in the same manner by placing a large bet.
- Sökö - The Finnish version of the 5 card stud adds more hand rankings to the game. These are the four-card straight, which ranks above a pair, and the four-card flush which ranks just higher than that. Both lose to a two pair.
Enjoy 5 Card Stud Poker with our Guide!
5 card stud is easy enough for new players to pick up and play, while still providing exciting action for the more experienced ones. Remember that the game has no community cards, although if there aren’t enough cards left in the deck to deal to all players then a single card will be placed face up in the centre of the table. This can then be used by all players to form the best possible hand! Enjoy playing 5 card stud with our guide and, as always, do remember to gamble responsibly.
