5 Card Stud

5 Card Stud is a classic variation of poker that is played mostly in social gatherings, and less competitive environments in comparison to Texas Hold’em. It has simpler rules, making it ideal for a player who has just started playing poker. In this game, the players are dealt five cards from the beginning, and have to make the best possible hand. There are no community cards in this version of poker.

A game of Five Card Stud poker involves antes, a bring-in, and a limit betting structure.

5 Card Draw Rules – How to play 5 Card Stud?

To play 5 Card Stud online, these are the basic rules:

• Antes – The 5 Card Stud rules don’t require a small blind/ big blind system like Texas Hold’em. ‘Antes’, which are basically a fraction of the small bet, is placed by all players, and two hole cards are dealt out to each. One card is face down, and the other is given face up.

• Door Card – The second card which is given face up is called the ‘Door’ card. The player who holds the lowest ranked ‘Door’ card must post the ‘bring-in’.

• Bring-In – This is basically half of the small bet. So if the game is being played for Rs.5/Rs.10 stakes. Then the ‘bring-in’ is basically Rs.2.50.

• Initial Betting Round – The player with the lowest ranking ‘Door’ card can choose to place the ‘bring-in’ amount or put the complete small bet amount, in this case it will be Rs.5.

Once the first player has placed their amount in the pot, the other players can call, raise or fold as per their choice. The round goes clockwise, until all players have had an opportunity to act.

• Third Street – After the initial round of betting is complete, the dealer will deal another card face up to the players still in the game. The player with the highest value third card will start this round, and can choose to check or raise.

Another round of betting starts going clockwise, until every player has an opportunity to check, call, fold or raise the stakes.

• Fourth Street – The fourth card is dealt to all remaining players after the last round of betting. This fourth card is also placed face up, and rightfully named ‘Fourth Street’.

This time the betting starts with the big bet amount, which in this case is Rs.10. The player with the best fourth card starts the round, and can choose to check or raise.

Everyone else gets their turn to check, call, raise or fold as usual.

• Fifth Street – After the last round of betting, the fifth card is dealt face up for all players. This card is aptly called ‘Fifth Street’. 

A last round of betting action takes place using the big bet size, which is Rs.10. The player with the best fifth card starts, and the rest follow suit in clockwise order.

• Showdown – On any street if a player bets or raises, and all other players fold. Then that player wins the hand without going to a showdown.

If more than one player is remaining after the last round of betting, then the game goes to a showdown, and each remaining player has to show their initial hole card.

The player with the best five card hand combination according to the poker hand rankings, wins.

Five Card Stud poker can be enjoyed by both beginners, and seasoned players. Unlike Texas Hold’em there are no community cards, and players have to make the best hand combination with the cards they are dealt. This is a easier way to play, since you don’t have to worry about your opponents actions, and can focus on your own hand.