How to Play 5 Card Stud Poker

5 Card Stud is, ironically, considered the grandfather of all forms of poker, yet it is much less popular than all the other well-known varieties of poker. 5 Card Stud can be traced at least to the American Civil War. There is a Canadian version, popular also in Finland, where it is called Soko.

As there are only five cards, most of the modern additions to poker are not used in 5 Card Stud. There are no blinds. Instead, there is an ante and a buy-in, or a forced opening bet. Also, because there are only five cards, most hands are won by one pair or high card. Even relatively low pairs are considered decent hands if the board doesn't indicate greater strength elsewhere. It is usually poor judgment to chase a straight or a flush.

It is considered sound to fold after seeing two cards when the table shows other potentially stronger hands. As is the case in all variations of poker, if you use sound judgment you will "throw away" some winning hands but, in the long run, you will come out ahead.

Most games nowadays are low-bet/low-limit games. No one goes all-in in 5 Card Stud.

• All players ante a fixed amount. Often the ante will be 25 or 50 cents.
  
  
• All players are now dealt one down card and one up card.
  
  
• The player with the lowest up card must bet. The bet will usually be one-half the lower bet. In some cases, the forced bet will be equal to the lower level bet.
  
  
• If two players have the same lowest face-value card, then the forced bid is determined by suit. Clubs is lowest, then diamonds, hearts, and spades.
  
  
• At this point, all players must call, raise, or fold.
  
  
• The next round is called Third Street. Each player is dealt one face-up card.
  
  
• Now, and in all subsequent rounds, the highest hand showing opens the betting.
  
  
• An opening bet is not forced as in the previous round.
  
  
• In this round, betting is still at the lower level.
  
  
• On Fourth Street all players get one face-up card.
  
  
• Betting ensues as before except that now bets are at the higher level.
  
  
• The last card is dealt face-up. This means that all players see 80% of the cards they are betting against.

• There is little difference than betting in all the other variants of poker.
  
  
• Betting begins according to fixed rules and then continues clockwise.
  
  
• The first round of betting is called Third Street. It begins with the lowest up card. This is also called a door card. The opening bet is forced, and must be at least one-half the minimum bet.
  
  
• If two or more players "tie" for low door card, the opening bidder is the one with the lowest suit. Suits are spades, hearts, diamonds , and clubs in descending order.
  
  
• Fourth Street and Fifth Street begin with the highest hand showing.
  
  
• If on Fourth or Fifth Streets, there are two or more equally high hands, the hand closest to the dealer's left opens.
  
  
• Third Street betting at the minimum. Fourth and Fifth Streets are at the maximum.
  
  
• Often, there are no more than three raises per round.
  
  
• Players don't have to raise, but must at least call when a raise has been made.
  
  
• It is very bad manners to bet out of turn.

• Be aware of your opponents' visible cards as you can see if you are losing a hand



• If the cards you need to help improve your hand are visible in your Opponents hands, consider them dead to you



• There are 13 cards in a suit. You need five of them to make a flush, if the cards you need happen to be in your opponents' hand you have no chance of them being dealt to you, however, if you can't see them, it means that it is still possible to receive those cards



• It is advisable to fold if another Player's exposed cards are strong



• It is advisable to fold if another player's exposed cards beat your entire hand



• If you are trying to compete a Straight, check to see if another Player displays the cards you need. You can then adjust your strategy accordingly



• Fold when necessary. 5 Card Stud poker is a game of patience; so do not bet all your money on losing hands.  5 Card Stud rewards patience above all other virtues!