If you played poker 20 years ago, Stud would have been the most popular card game. However, back then poker was considered to be a “backroom” game that didn’t catch on in the mainstream world until 2003. Then, Hold’em blossomed in popularity. In Stud, you can actually see some of the other players’ cards. Let’s learn how the game is played.

Game Play

To start with, each person pays an ante and then three cards are dealt to each player. Two of these cards are dealt face down and are only known by each player. One of these cards is dealt face up.

The player who has the lowest card showing is responsible for the “bring in” bet and acts first. Each player who wishes to play must pay at least the “bring in” bet, complete the bet (pay the lower of the two limits in the game), or fold. After this round of betting is complete, the remaining players will each be dealt another card face up, called fourth street. This time, the player with the highest two-cards showing (as a pair of aces being the best) begins the betting. The amount that anyone can bet is equal to the lower of the two limits at the table (such as $2 in $2/$4).

The fifth card to be dealt to each player is called fifth street. The sixth card to be dealt to each player is called sixth street. The seventh card to be dealt to each player is called seventh street. A round of betting at the larger of the two limits occurs after each of these cards is dealt. Each player has the option to call a bet, raise, or fold. The fourth, fifth, and sixth cards dealt are all dealt face up. The seventh card is dealt face down. The person acting first each time, beginning with fourth street, is the player with the best hand showing.

The player with the best five card poker hand among the seven cards they hold in total wins. Note that there are no community cards.

Varieties of Stud

There are several well-known varieties of Stud, which helped make this game so popular originally. In Stud High-Low, at the end of each hand, the player with the best hand and the worst hand split the pot evenly. The game flow is exactly the same until a showdown, when two winners are determined. Players are allowed to use different cards to make up their high and low hands.

In Stud High-Low Split Eight or Better, the player with the best hand and the player with the worst hand split the pot evenly, provided that the low hand is no better than eight high. Straights and flushes do not count against the low hand, making the best possible low A-2-3-4-5, which is commonly known as the wheel. The worst qualifying low is 4-5-6-7-8. Players are allowed to use different cards to make up their high and low hands.

Five Card Stud is played in several online poker rooms, but is far less common than Seven Card Stud. Two cards are initially dealt to each player. One card is face down and one card is face up. The player with the worst card showing can elect to pay the “bring in,” complete the bet, or fold. A third card is dealt to each player; it too is face up. The player with the best two cards showing acts first. A fourth up card is dealt to each player and is followed by a final round of betting. In the end, each player has one down card and four cards showing.

You can play Stud Poker on PokerStars and Party Poker, among many others.