5 Card Stud Poker

Hand Rankings: Hand rankings are as follows, with the highest hands first:

Hand Ranking	Description	Example
Royal Flush	5 suited cards in sequence, topped with the ace. For example, a Royal Flush in Spades.
Straight Flush	5 suited cards in sequence. For example, an Eight-high Straight Flush in Diamonds.
Four of a kind	4 cards of the same rank. For example, four Queens.
Full house	3 cards of the same rank, plus 2 cards of the same rank. For example, a full house with 3 aces and 2 fives is a Full House, Aces full of Fives.
Flush	5 cards of the same suit, not all of which are in sequence. For example, a King-high Diamond Flush.
Straight	5 cards in sequence, not all of which are the same suit. For example, a Ten-high Straight.
Three of a kind	3 cards of the same rank. For example, three Queens.
Two pair	2 different occurrences of 2 cards of the same rank. For example, Two Pair -- Jacks and Nines.
One Pair	2 cards of the same rank. For example, a pair of Queens.
High Card	Cards all of which are different ranks and are not all the same suit. For example, Ace High.

The Play of the Game: The play of the game proceeds as follows:

1. All players ante
2. Each player is dealt one card face-down (hole card) and one card face-up (door card)
3. First betting round
4. Each player is dealt one card face-up (3rd street)
5. Second betting round
6. Each player is dealt another card face-up (4th street)
7. Third betting round
8. Each player is dealt a last card face-up (river)
9. Final betting round
10. Showdown

Betting Structure and Rules

All players must first ante before they receive their initial cards.

On the first round of betting, the low card by suit is required to initiate action with a bet equal to half the lower limit (bring-in). Suits are ranked: spades (highest), hearts, diamonds, clubs. On subsequent rounds, the high hand on board initiates betting action. If hands are tied, the player to the left of the dealer acts first. In all cases, the dealer will inform the players as to who acts first.

Each bet and raise during the first two rounds of betting is set at the lower limit of the stakes structure. For example in a $4/$8 game, all bets and raises are $4 for the first two rounds. The exception to this rule is if any player displays a pair with their 2 face-up cards after the third street is dealt. In this circumstance, all players have the option to bet either the lower limit or the higher limit. If a player bets the higher limit, then all subsequent raises must be made at the higher limit.

Each bet and raise during the last two rounds of betting is set at the higher limit of the stakes structure. For example in a $4/$8 game, all bets and raises are $8 for the last two rounds (fourth card and the river).

The maximum allowable number of bets per player during any particular betting round is four. This would consist of (1) a bet, (2) a raise, (3) a re-raise, and (4) a cap. The term cap is used to describe the 3rd raise in a round since betting is then capped and can not be raised anymore. Once the pot is capped, players will have only the option of calling or folding.

Check-raising is (usually) allowed.

Strategy: 

Here are some basic tips.

• Know at least some of the odds of making your draws. For example, the odds of drawing the 5th card to your 4-card straight is approximately either 7 to 1 (if you can make either end of the 4-card straight) or 11 to 1 (if there is only one card that fills your straight).
• Only play at stakes that you are comfortable playing.
• Don't chase hands. If you consistently call three bets with only an Ace after fourth street, you're going to lose in the long run.
• Playing at the free sites like Yahoo Games and MSN Games will not help you learn to master this game; players at those sites are just pushing chips around, and stay to the end on every hand because they have nothing invested in the game.

Read, read, read! Then practice, practice, practice! Then, win, win win! :)

Online Play: There are many online sites where you can play this style of poker -- but you need to make sure that the site accepts players fom your area of residence.

• US players should use the links below to find a poker room
• All sites that accept players from your area
• All sites that accept players from your area and that offer a free, no-deposit bonus to try the games risk-free
• All sites that accept players from your area and that offer at least a 50% initial deposit bonus should you decide to make a deposit
• Players outside of the United States have additional choices, and should use the links below to find a poker room
• All sites that accept players from your area
• All sites that accept players from your area and that offer a free, no-deposit bonus to try the games risk-free
• All sites that accept players from your area and that offer at least a 50% initial deposit bonus should you decide to make a deposit

Best Bets: These sites have nice bonuses, great game selection, and excellent sit-and-go tournaments at all stakes.

  Americas Cardroom
100% bonus on initial deposits between $ 50 and $ 1000
Languages:    Currencies:

Good luck and have fun!