One of the original games of poker, Five card Stud, is not fashionable with the mass of individuals playing the game of poker at present (at casinos as well as at online poker sites), the game of Seven playing card Stud is a much more common variety of stud poker games.

Five playing card Stud is a very easy poker game, some feeling it has been too simple to keep players interested for long periods of time.  With just a single hidden card there has been little suspense in working out what the rest of the competitors hold, bluffing can only go so far, with good hands being easily observed by other players for an easy lay down.

Even with these drawbacks the poker game retains some followers, thus it has been available at a a small number of web based sites.

To play the poker game Five card Stud you do the following:

• Before the game being dealt all of the players have to ante up (the table limits will set the ante limit).
• The dealer deals every player two cards, one face down (the ‘hole’ card) and one card face up.
• Bets are placed, beginning with the player showing the maximum valued card.
• Another playing card is given (face up) to each player.
• There’s another round of betting.
• Another playing card has been given (face up) to all players.
• Additional wagering occurs, however in this round the smallest bet is doubled.
• Each player receives their final card, face up.
• The ending bets are made.

Following the concluding wagering round the remaining participants show their completed hand, with the last person to raise displaying their cards first.  The highest poker hand wins the poker game and wins the pot.

Betting Note: Wagering in Five Card Stud is different from Texas Hold’em and Omaha poker games since it is the best value face up hand that determines who bets first in that round.  Once the first wager is made the remaining participants bet in a clockwise direction, remember that the initial wagers may be made by a different player in every round because it’s the face up set of cards that control the betting order .