Stud Poker Rules and How to Play Stud Poker Variants
Although Texas Hold’em might be the most popular poker game currently, stud poker has historically been one of the most widespread games in casinos and online. The stud family contains several of the most famous poker variants, including Caribbean and Mississippi.
Read our expert guide to stud poker rules, variants, and more to learn how to play this incredibly popular poker game online!
Where to Play Stud Poker Online
Here are the USA online casinos and online poker rooms our team of experts recommend players use for playing stud online:
- 250+ Poker Rooms
- Min. deposit: $20
- Rollover: No rollover
- Games: All poker games
- 25 Free Spins
- Min. deposit: $20
- Rollover: 10x
- Games: All poker games
Stud Poker Rules
The basic stud poker rules are universal, regardless of which particular variant you’re playing. In stud games, you will be dealt some cards face-up (which all players can see) and some face-down (which only you can see). The objective remains the same: to create the strongest hand possible to beat your fellow players.
Although every stud variant has its own particular rules, these basics are shared by all stud types.
Types of Stud Poker
There are four main types of stud poker you should be on the lookout for when you are playing at online poker rooms, or at online casinos. As with all poker variants, each game is slightly different and have their own intricacies which players will need to learn in order to be successful.
Mississippi Stud
In Mississippi Stud, each hand starts with an ante. Once a player has anted, they’ll be dealt two face-down hole cards, and three face-down community cards. At this point, each player must choose whether to fold – forfeiting their ante – or raising.
If the player raises, the dealer reveals the first of three community cards. There is another fold-or-raise round of betting. If the player remains active, these rounds continue until all three community cards are face-up.
If the player remains active once all community cards have been revealed, they make the best possible five-card poker hand, comprised of the three community cards and the player’s two hole cards. The player’s payout will depend on the paytable for that version of Mississippi stud poker.
While payouts may vary from casino-to-casino and game-to-game, here’s a sample Mississippi Stud payable:
Hand | Example | Payout |
---|---|---|
Royal Flush | ![]() |
500:1 |
Straight Flush | ![]() |
100:1 |
Four of a Kind | ![]() |
40:1 |
Full House | ![]() |
10:1 |
Flush | ![]() |
6:1 |
Straight | ![]() |
4:1 |
Three of a Kind | ![]() |
3:1 |
Two pair | ![]() |
2:1 |
Pair of Jacks of Better | ![]() |
1:1 |
Pair of 6s – 10s | ![]() |
Push |
All other | ![]() |
In Caribbean Stud, players play against the dealer – and the dealer alone – to make the best five-card hand.
Each round of Caribbean Stud begins with the player placing their ante. At some casinos, players also have the option of whether or not to buy in to a progressive jackpot attached to the game.
Once players have placed their ante bets, both they and the dealer will be dealt five cards. All of the player’s five cards will be face down, while one of the dealer’s five will be face up.
At this point, players choose whether to fold – sacrificing their ante – or play, in which case they must raise a fixed amount, typically twice the value of the ante. If the player raises and remains active in the game, both players reveal their cards.
In order for the dealer to qualify, their hand must include at least an ace and a king or a pair or better.
- If the dealer qualifies, and the player’s hand wins, they receive 1:1 payout on their ante, plus a pre-determined amount on their raise
- If the dealer qualifies, and the dealer’s hand wins, the dealer keeps all of the player’s wagers
- If the dealer does not qualify, ante bets are paid 1:1, and the raises push
- If the dealer qualifies, and they tie the player’s hands, all bets push
Caribbean Stud Payout
Again, if the dealer qualifies and the player’s hand is higher, the player receives two payouts:
- Ante bets are returned 1:1
- Raise bets are paid out at a pre-determined value set by the game’s paytable. Be sure to check your game for specifics, but a typical table looks like this:
Hand | Example | Payout |
---|---|---|
Royal Flush | ![]() |
100:1 |
Straight Flush | ![]() |
50:1 |
Four of a Kind | ![]() |
20:1 |
Full House | ![]() |
7:1 |
Flush | ![]() |
5:1 |
Straight | ![]() |
4:1 |
Three of a Kind | ![]() |
3:1 |
Two Pair | ![]() |
2:1 |
One Pair | ![]() |
1:1 |
High Card | ![]() |
1:1 |
7 Card Stud Poker
Each hand of 7 card stud poker begins with each player being dealt three cards – two face-down, and one face-up. Initial betting action begins with the player who is showing the lowest-ranking card and proceeds clockwise around the table until all bets are in.
The game then proceeds with each player being dealt individual cards, interspersed with rounds of betting, until each player has been dealt seven cards. Cards four, five, and six are dealt face-up, while the seventh and final card is dealt face-down.
By the time each player has received all of their cards, they should have a total of seven cards – three facedown, and four face-up. At this point, all remaining players reveal their facedown cards, and the best five-card poker hand wins the pot.