How To Play 5 Card Stud

Setup

• Uses a standard 52-card deck.
• 2 to 10 players can participate.
• Each player antes (places a small initial bet) to create the pot.

Gameplay

1. Deal
• Each player is dealt two cards: one face down (hole card) and one face up.
2. Betting Round 1
   • The player with the lowest face-up card starts the betting (may be forced to bet a "bring-in").
   • Betting continues clockwise.
3. Third Street (Second Card Face Up)
• Each player still in the game is dealt a second face-up card.
• Another betting round occurs, starting with the player showing the highest hand.
4. Fourth Street (Third Card Face Up)
• Another face-up card is dealt to each remaining player.
• Another round of betting follows.
5. Fifth Street (Fourth Card Face Up - Final Card)
• Each remaining player gets their fifth and final card, face up.
• A final round of betting occurs.
6. Showdown
• If two or more players remain after the last bet, they reveal their hands.
• The player with the best five-card poker hand wins the pot.

Hand Rankings (from best to worst)

1. Royal Flush (A-K-Q-J-10 of the same suit)
2. Straight Flush (Five consecutive cards of the same suit)
3. Four of a Kind (Four cards of the same rank)
4. Full House (Three of a kind + a pair)
5. Flush (Five cards of the same suit, not consecutive)
6. Straight (Five consecutive cards, any suits)
7. Three of a Kind (Three cards of the same rank)
8. Two Pair (Two different pairs)
9. One Pair (Two cards of the same rank)
10. High Card (If no other hands are made, the highest card wins)

Key Strategies

• Watch opponents’ up cards to predict their hands.
• Fold early if you have a weak starting hand.
• Bluff carefully, as players can see most of your hand.
• Remember which cards have been folded to estimate probabilities.