How to Play poker

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5 Card Stud

At the beginning of a 5 card stud hand, each player must contribute a small bet or ante. These are the incentives used to entice players into the hand and to build the pot. Once the antes have been posted, the Dealer then deals each player one face down card (called the Pocket) and then one face up card known as the Door.

Once the cards have been dealt, the first betting round begins with the bring-in. The player with the lowest showing Door card must post the bring-in or mandatory bet. This is usually half the smaller stake amount but the player can choose to increase the bet up to the value of the full small stake.

If two players have the same Door card, suit rankings are used to determine the first better. The ranks from strongest to weakest are Spades, Hearts, Diamonds and Clubs. The bring-in functions in much the same way as an ante, encouraging players to stay in the hand and build up the pot. Once the bring-in has been completed, the remaining players have to call, raise or fold. Betting begins with the player to the left of the one who posted the bring-in and goes clockwise around the table.

If the bring in starts with the lowest possible stake, the next bet will complete the bring-in and all remaining stakes after that must be the lower stake amount. For example, at a R2/R4 table, the player that starts the bring-in will stake R1. The player that raises him must stake R2 to complete the bring-in. All remaining players then need to stake R3.

Third Street follows the first round of betting. This is where each player is dealt a second face up card and the highest showing hand opens the betting. A pair in any hand on Third Street enables the player to double their stake and then raise the stake for this round of betting. Usually Third Street bets and raises are limited to the small stake. After the second round of betting is completed, a third face up card is dealt to each player and the high hand opens the betting round. This is known as Fourth Street and for the remaining betting rounds the stake is set at the higher stake amount.

The River follows. Each player is dealt a fourth and final face up card, giving each player a total of five cards in their hand. The final betting round then commences, with the highest showing hand starting. Bets are set to the upper limit of the higher stake. Once all the bets have been called, it is time for the showdown. The last player to bet or raise during the previous betting round is required to show their hand first. The other hands will be shown in a clockwise direction from here. Players now have the option of mucking their hands if they have a weaker set of cards. The best five card hand takes the pot.

Traditionally, 5 card stud is not as exciting as 7 card stud, Texas Hold’ Em or Omaha. With only one Pocker card, there is not much in the way of suspense as to what the other players are holding. As there are only 5 cards per player and no discards, the hands dealt are generally low and are mostly pairs. IN 5 card stud, you are stuck with what you get and the other players can see most of it.