The object of 5 Card Stud is for each player to use the 5 cards he is dealt throughout the game to create the highest

ranking poker hand possible. As the game beings, each player has only 2 cards to work with, one face down and the other face up. Betting rounds ensue as the game progresses, delivering one more face up card per betting round to each player until 5 cards are held. The player with the highest ranking poker hand at this point wins the pot.

5 Card Stud is most often played in a Fixed Limit betting style, but No Limit and Pot Limit variations may also be found. For more information on No Limit and Pot Limit betting styles, please see our Texas Holdem Poker Rules.

For the following rules of 5 Card Stud, we will use a Fixed Limit betting format with stakes of $1/$2. This means that all

bets (aside from the Ante) must be made in increments of $1 (minimum) or $2 (maximum). As the game progresses, the final two betting rounds will double the forced bet amounts to $2/$4.

The Game Starts

Each player is required to place an Ante bet, generally 10% of the low-end stakes. In this case, a $1/$2 5 Card Stud game would require a $0.10 Ante. The dealer then deals 2 cards to each player, the first face-down and the second face-up. This is known as the player’s ‘Starting Hand’, with every card dealt thereafter called a ‘Street’.

The player with the highest face-up card must place the Bring-In bet, equal to the low-end stakes, $1. (Note that some

games require the lowest face-up card to place this bet.) In case of a tie, the player closest to the dealer’s left places the

Bring-In Bet.

In clockwise fashion, starting left of the Bring-In bettor, each player may choose to Call the bet, Raise, or Fold.

The Third Street (Card)

A third card is dealt face-up to each player, followed by another round of betting. Once again, the player showing the

highest face-up hand (pair or high card at this point), will start the betting by choosing to Check (choosing not to bet, but

remaining in the hand), Bet or Fold. Note that Folding is never recommended when a Check option is available. Should the player Check, the next player may also choose to Check or Bet. Should all players Check, the next Street begins. If a Bet is placed, all players, starting with the next bettor, must either Call the bet, Raise or Fold.

The Fourth Street (Card)

A fourth card is dealt face-up to each player and another round of betting ensues in the same fashion s before, expect the betting limits now increase to twice that of the original stakes – in this case, doubling to $2/$4.

The Fifth Street (Card)

The rules of 5 Card Stud can vary at this point of the game. Usually, the fifth card is dealt face-up, but some variations deal this card face down. In addition, bets are usually forced to meet the high-end limit; in this case forcing bets and raises of $4.

The Showdown

After all final bets have been made, the Showdown commences. All players remaining in the hand (those who did not Fold) must show their cards. The player with the highest ranking poker hand wins the entire pot. Should a tie occur (ex: Pair of Kings), the next highest card determines the winner. Should an exact tie occur, the winning players split the pot.

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