April, 2021 - Five card stud has seen a big spike in popularity in 2014. The best 5 Card Stud sites in years past are almost completely different from the best Stud sites in 2021. Stud poker players have had to find new rooms to play at and this is why 5 card stud is back in the spotlight. The major 5 Card Stud poker room is Bovada. This US poker site had low Stud poker traffic before Black Friday but that has all changed. Bovada Poker and Bet365 Poker (non-US) have each seen a massive increase in real money traffic and the five card stud tables are getting their share of it. A year ago these tables were empty but not anymore. This 5 card stud guide will cover the rules and strategy of this addicting Stud poker game. I will also provide some information on the three 5 card stud poker sites.
Five card stud poker was a pretty common game when I played cards with my family. The 5 card stud rules we used are slightly different from what the 5 card stud poker sites use. In my version the final card was dealt face down, as a second hole card. When you play 5 card stud online you will receive the last card face up. I'm getting ahead of myself though. Here is a breakdown of a typical game of five card stud:
It is really pretty simple. One hole card followed by four up cards and four rounds of betting. 5 card stud uses the standard hand ranking system. Learning how to play 5 card stud will only take a minute or two, making 5 card stud the easiest poker game to learn.
5 card stud strategy is very simple since you can see 80% of your opponents cards. You will always know what their best possible hand is. Bluffing is a core component in a winning five card stud strategy. Catching an Ace at the start of a game is always worth a bet. An Ace with a good kicker can win the pot 30-40% of the time, depending on how many players are in the game. A pair is a strong hand in 5 card stud and two pair is extremely strong. When you catch a pair by 3rd Street you should try to build up the pot as much as possible without scaring everyone out of the hand. That is why it is important to bluff, and bluff often. You may lose some hands but you will also win some. In addition to that you will also be able to draw players into a pot when you actually catch a strong hand. Playing tight in 5 card stud is almost like giving your money away. Good players make a decent percentage of their money from stealing blinds. You don't have to play hands like 2-5-8 but a couple picture cards it worth calling a bet after the deal. Here is a hand chart, based on what you can expect out of a specific hand:
The online poker sites below each offer five card stud tables. The traffic can fluxuate quite a bit so it is best to check to see how many active real money tables there are during the room's peak hours. We offer exclusive bonuses at these five card stud poker rooms. Read the following reviews to find out which poker room is best for you.
Room | Special Bonus Offers | U.S.? |
Read Review |
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150% up to $750 + 45% Cashback | ![]() |
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200% up to $1,000 + Freerolls | ![]() |