Objective
Stud is a poker variant where the aim is to form the best possible poker hand to win the round. The objective is to hold the highest value poker card combinations at the end of a round to claim the pot.
Game Components
- Deck of Cards: A standard 52-card poker deck without jokers.
- Chips or Money: For placing and raising bets.
Number of Players
- Minimum of 2 players, maximum of 8 players.
Basic Rules
- Posting Ante: At the start of each round, all players place a small bet called the "ante" into the pot.
- Dealing Cards: Each player receives some face-down cards and some face-up cards, depending on the specific Stud variant being played (e.g., Five Card Stud or Seven Card Stud).
- Betting Rounds: There are multiple betting rounds where players can either raise their bet, call, or fold.
- Five Card Stud: Each player receives one face-down and four face-up cards. A betting round occurs after each new card.
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Seven Card Stud: Each player receives two face-down cards and one face-up card to start, followed by three more face-up cards and one final face-down card, with a betting round after each card.
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Forming the Best Hand: The goal is to have the best possible hand by the end. The poker hand rankings are: Royal Flush, Straight Flush, Four of a Kind, Full House, Flush, Straight, Three of a Kind, Two Pair, One Pair, High Card.
- Showdown: If more than one player remains after the betting rounds, the cards are revealed, and the best hand wins the pot.
Strategic Tips
- In Stud, information from opponents’ visible cards is crucial.
- Bluffing can be effective, especially if you are showing strong face-up cards, intimidating opponents.
- Keep an eye on your bankroll and place bets strategically to avoid being forced out of the round early.
Variants
- Razz: A variant of Seven Card Stud where the lowest hand wins.
- Pay attention to the variant of Stud being played as rules and strategies can differ.
