Poker is a relatively straightforward game once you get to grips with Poker hand rankings and betting structures. Casino Stud Poker is even easier, as it uses the same rankings as other variants and has a straightforward structure.
During every hand, you have four options:
- Ante: The main game bet. Placing a bet here will start the game. Choose your stake by selecting the chips in the bottom-right corner and adding them to the ante section.
- Call/Fold: After the cards have been dealt, you can choose to fold and discard the hand or call and go straight to the reveal.
- 5+1: A side bet whereby you create the best 5-card hand using the dealer’s face-up card and all 5 of your cards. 5+1 is optional and as it’s based on the initial card draws, it remains active even if you fold.
- Jackpot: If this side bet is active when a Royal Flush is revealed, the progressive jackpot will be triggered. There are other big payouts to collect, as well.
Casino Stud Poker Hands
If you know Poker hand values, you’ll understand the basics of most Poker games, including Stud, Draw, and Hold’em variants. It’s something that many beginners struggle with, but it’s actually quite simple.
As long as you remember that a flush beats a straight, and lower probability equates to a better hand, you’ll be good to go.
For instance, you are less likely to get 2 pairs or a 3 of a kind than you are to get 1 pair, which is why the former beats the latter. For the same reason, a straight flush is better than a flush and a straight, and by virtue of containing both a pair and a three of a Kind, a full house beats both of these hands when achieved individually.
Check out the following hand values for more information:
- Royal Flush: A “royal flush” is a “straight flush” using the five highest cards in the deck: Ten, Jack, Queen, King, and Ace.
- Straight Flush: If your cards are consecutive and they are all in the same suit, it is a “straight flush”.
- 4 of a Kind: The 7 of hearts, 7 of clubs, 7 of spades, and 7 of diamonds makes “four 7s”.
- Full House: If you have a three of a kind along with a pair, it qualifies as a “full house”.
- Flush: When all your 5 cards are the same suit, it’s a “flush”.
- Straight: You have a “straight” when your cards are consecutive, regardless of the suits.
- 3 of a Kind: The 7 of hearts, 7 of clubs, and 7 of diamonds make “three 7s”, also known as a “set of 7s”.
- 2 Pairs: The 7 of hearts and the 7 of clubs along with the 9 of diamonds and the 9 of clubs makes “2 pairs”.
- Pair: The 7 of hearts and the 7 of clubs make a “pair of 7s”.
- High Card: If you have none of the hands above but have an Ace, you have “Ace High”.
Casino Stud Poker Rules
Following an ante bet, five cards are dealt to the player and dealer. If a fold is chosen, the hand will end for the player (but continue for everyone else) and they will lose their ante.
If a call is chosen, an additional 2x will be taken and the hands will then be revealed and checked.
From here, several things can happen:
- Dealer Qualifies (The dealer has at least king or ace high)
- The player has a stronger hand = Payout according to table
- The player has a weaker hand = Ante and call bets are lost
- Dealer Doesn’t Qualify
- Ante bet pays even money; call bet is returned
As for the jackpot and 5+1 bets, these payout according to the respective side bet tables.
