Five Card Stud Rules

Despite its place as one of the first kinds of poker five card stud has largely become a game in movies, rarely played in casinos or advertised in online poker rooms.  Most players prefer the flexibility of Five Card Stud’s cousin Seven Card Stud or the popular and televised Hold’em games.

A decent game for starting players to learn on, Five Card Stud is very simple and straightforward, though lacking the intensity of a game where more bluffing is required and the early fold more seriously considered.

Let’s take a look at the rules of play for this game.

• Ante up.  Before cards are dealt at all players that want in on the round have to contribute to the pot.  How high this contribution must be depends on the table.  Many require ante based on a percentage of the betting limits and will generally inform players of these minimums before play begins.
• First deal.  Two cards are dealt to each player; one face up and the other face down.  The face down card is called the ‘hole card’ and is the only card the player holds that will not be seen by other players.
• Betting.  The first round of betting takes place, based on what the players can build with their initial two cards and hopes for additional cards to be added to what they have. Depending on the room and the table bidding order is started with either the lowest or the highest ranking up card.  Once the first round of bets are in the players that are still in the game continue, those that have folded turn in their cards and wait.
• Second deal.  An additional card is dealt face up to each player.
• Betting.  Another round of betting takes place, based on the new card that has been added.
• Third deal.  An additional card is dealt face up to each player.
• Betting.  Another round of betting takes place, based on the new combinations, and requiring a raise in the amount being bet.
• Fourth deal.  An additional card is dealt face up to each player.
• Final Betting.  Final bets are placed and a call made, requiring that all hands be shown.  The player that can create the best five card poker hand from the ones they have been dealt wins the round.

In each of the aforementioned betting round there are several actions that any given player might take.  It is best to be familiar with the following betting terms and actions.

• Fold - If a player does not feel like they can create a strong enough hand, no matter the cards that may not have been dealt, the player can fold and step out of the game for the remainder of the round.
• Check - If no one else has bet in the round a player may call for a check.  This shows that they wish to stay in the game, but are unwilling to put money in on their current hand.
• Call - The call signifies the end of the round requiring everyone that is still wanting in to match the bets that have been made, all players that are in for the final pot must have contributed to the pot equally, and the cards are revealed.
• Raise - If a player wants to increase the bet beyond that which has been started they would call for a raise and add their additional chips to the pile.

Betting play continues going around the circle until no one wants to increase the bet further and someone calls for the hand to be revealed.