Stud Poker Variations

Of all the stud poker variations, Seven Card Stud and Five Card Stud are by far the most popular. Five Card Stud, however, has become much less popular in recent years, although Seven Card Stud can still be found being played in homes and in casinos across the world. In most stud poker variations, players are dealt a certain amount of cards to begin with, and one more card is dealt each time a betting round is completed until a certain number of cards have been dealt. Feel free to take these games and make your own poker variations with them – your own imagination is the limit!

2 to 7

Number of Players: 3-7.

The Deal: As in Seven Card Stud, players are first dealt two cards face down and one card up.

How to Play: Like Seven Card Stud - after the first round of betting each player is dealt three more cards face up, with a round of betting following each deal. The final card is dealt face down, there is a betting round, and then a showdown. In 2 to 7, however, Aces are always played high. Straights and flushes count.

Pot Goes to: The low hand
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7's Take All

Number of Players: 3-7

The Deal: Same as Seven Card Stud.

How to Play: Same as Seven Card Stud, except there are no wild cards and a pair of sevens is the highest possible hand. You cannot have three sevens anywhere in your seven cards and only pairs count.
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Baltimore, a.k.a. Low Chicago

Number of Players: 4-7.

The Deal: Same as Seven Card Stud.

How to Play: Same as Seven Card Stud.

Pot Goes to: The high hand and the player with the lowest spade in the hole split.

Variations: Just add wild cards!

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Baseball

Number of Players: 3-7

The Deal: Two face down and one up to each player.

How to Play: Same as Seven Card Stud, but threes and nines are wild. If a four is dealt up, the recipient immediately receives another card down.

Pot Goes to: The high hand

Variations: 1. Paying for wild cards. The payment is usually equivalent to what is in the pot. Face up threes, nines, or both could be wild if a recipient pays for them. 2. Face up threes, nines, or both could require the recipient to pay for them or fold. 3. Pay for face down and face up wilds. 4. Having to pay for the additional card when a four is dealt face up. 5. Allowing a player with a face down four to put it face up and get another card. 6. Instead of matching the pot, just pay a predetermined fixed amount for the above paying variations. 7. Blind Baseball: threes and nines are wild. Wild cards require payment from a player. Fours get the player an extra card. You can’t look at your hole cards until the showdown.

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Black Mariah

Number of Players: 3-7.

The Deal: Two cards down and one up to each player

How to Play: Same as Seven Card Stud, with these variations: All queens are wild. When a queen is dealt up, the next rank of card dealt up is also wild. If the Queen of Spades is dealt face up, the hand immediately ends, all players ante up again and the hand is redealt.

Pot Goes to: The high hand

Variations: 1. Players pay for queens they get. 2. If the last card dealt up is a queen, nothing, including Queens, is wild. 3. The King of Diamonds, or some other King, kills the hand for everyone or just for the player turning it.

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Canadian Stud Poker

Number of Players: 3-7

The Deal: Same as five or seven card stud, whatever you like.

How to Play: Same as normal stud poker, but additional hands are added. A four card straight beats a pair, a four card flush beats a four card straight and two pair beats a four card flush.

Pot Goes to: The high hand.

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Caribbean Stud Poker

Number of Players: 3-8

The Deal: Five cards

How to Play: Ante starts at $5. Everyone gets five cards, the dealer shows 1 of his. If you want to stay in, you bet exactly twice your ante, else fold. The dealer needs A-K or better to qualify. If he doesn't qualify, he pays off your ante only (if you're still in), no matter what you're holding. If he qualifies, he pays off your ante and your bet if you beat him. The bet (not the ante) pays off in multiples for: 2 pair (2x), trips (3x), straight (4x), flush (5x), house (7x), 4 of a kind (20x?), straight flush (50x?), royal (200x). Furthermore, you can put in a dollar at ante time to be eligible for progressive payoffs. (You get these whether the dealer qualifies or not. These vary by casino; where I was, a flush was worth $50, house $100, 4 of a kind $250, straight flush 10%, royal 100% of the pot. The pot was ~$96k where I played last, but I've seen it as high as $290k. I understand it was originally a cruise ship game, hence the name.

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Cathy's Game

Number of Players: 3-8

The Deal: The first deal, of one face down card, goes to the player to the dealer’s left.

How to Play: This is similar Five Card Stud Poker. Once the first player receives their card, they must decide whether to keep it or replace it. If they choose to replace the card, they must put a market on it to indicate this. This proceeds around the table until every player has received a card. This is followed by a betting round, which is followed by another deal, as before. This continues until all players have a Five Card Stud hand. Each player may only replace one card per hand.

Pot Goes to: The Low hand

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Chicago

Number of Players: 4-7

The Deal: Same as Seven Card Stud.

How to Play: Same as Seven Card Stud.

Pot Goes to: The high hand and the high spade in the hole split the pot.

Variations: Add wild cards.

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Choose Your Own

Number of Players: 3-7

The Deal: Same as Seven Card Stud

How to Play: Same as Seven Card Stud, but after the first round of betting, a number of community cards are dealt face up, one for every player that is playing. The player who has the lowest hand showing then picks which card they want. Ties go to the player nearest the dealer’s left. This continues around the table, moving on to the next lowest hand showing, until everyone has a card. This is followed by another betting round, and another round of face up cards. Another betting round is followed by the final round of face up cards. Then, after another round of betting, each player is dealt one more card face down (each player now has seven cards). This is followed by the final round of betting and a showdown. The best five card hand wins.

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Cowpie Poker

Number of Players: 3-7

The Deal: Same as Seven Card Stud.

How to Play: Same as in Seven Card Stud, but after the betting round that follows the final down card, the players who remain split their hands in two; one five card hand and one two card hand. The two card hand must have at least one down card and the five card hand must be better than it. After the split, there is one more betting round, followed by the showdown.

Pot Goes to: The highest five card hand and highest two card hand split.

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Dakota

Number of Players: 4-10.

The Deal: Two cards face down to each player.

How to Play: After the deal, players simultaneously turn one card up. After each round of betting, players receive another down card and roll (turn over) one of their cards. Before getting the seventh down card, a player must decide whether or not to buy the “Option”. If the option is declined, that player does not turn another card up. If the Option is bought (at the cost of the maximum allowed bet), another one of their cards is turned up. After a final betting round, players declare whether they have a high, low or both hand, and their hands are revealed. Each player's lowest down card (along with other cards of that rank in their hand) is wild, but only for that player, and only if the player went for a high hand.

Pot Goes to: The high and low hands split.

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Dirty Schultz

Number of Players: 3-7

The Deal: Two cards face down and one up to each player

How to Play: Same as Seven Card Stud, but whenever a pair is dealt up to a player, the next card rank dealt up becomes wild. If another pair is dealt, the next card dealt up replaces the previous wild card. If the second card of a pair is the last up card, nothing is wild.

Pot Goes to: The high hand

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English Stud Poker

Number of Players: 3-6

The Deal: Two face down, one up to each player

How to Play: Same as Seven Card Stud, with these variations: Players get only six cards. Before the final card is dealt, all players, beginning from the dealer's left, may (or may not) replace exactly one card. If an up card is discarded, it is replaced with an up card and if a down card is discarded, it is replaced with a down card. When all players have gone, the sixth card is dealt. This is followed by a round of betting and another one card draw. Then, a final round of betting ensues, followed by the showdown.

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Five Card Stud Poker

See “Stud Poker”.

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Follow the Queen

Number of Players: 3-7

The Deal: Two cards face down and one up to each player

How to Play: Same as Seven Card Stud, with these variations: All queens are always wild. When a queen is dealt up, the next rank of card dealt up is also wild. If another queen is dealt up, the next up card replaces the previous wild card. If a queen is the last card dealt up, only queens are wild.

Pot Goes to: The high hand

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Fourplay

Number of Players: 3-10

The Deal: Same as Seven Card Stud

How to Play: Like Seven Card Stud, but fours are wild. If a four gets dealt up to a player, then that player gets an extra hole card.

Pot Goes to: The high hand.

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Grocery Shopping, a.ka. The Price is Right

Number of Players: 3-7

The Deal: Two hole cards are dealt down to every player and two up cards are dealt in a row to the left of the deck (which is facing down) in the middle of the table.

How to Play: After the deal, each player, beginning from the dealer’s left, can purchase a card. The leftmost up card costs a nickel, the second costs a dime, and the top card from the deck costs 15 cents (prices may be adjusted). Up cards stay up and down cards stay down. If the nickel up card is bought, the dime up card replaces it. If the dime card replaces the nickel card or is bought, the top card on the deck replaces it. This buying continues until all players have seven cards, after which a round of betting ensues, followed by the showdown.

Pot Goes to: High and low hands split

Variations: 1. Three up cards instead of two. 2. Abyssinia: No cards are dealt at the beginning. One card is turned face up on each side of the deck. Each player in turn buys one of the up cards or the top card from the deck, each at predetermined prices. A round of betting follows each round of purchasing, play continuing until each player has five or seven cards (your preference). The cost of a card can be determined by the rank of card (e.g. 2 to 5 costs 25 cents, 6 to King costs 10 cents, Ace costs 50 cents). This requires cards from the deck to be dealt up, although players may still hold their purchased cards.

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Harem

Number of Players: 3-7

The Deal: Same as Seven Card Stud.

How to Play: Same as Seven Card Stud, except jacks and kings are wild. If a player has a queen, however, it cancels the wild cards in that player’s hand. If a player has three Queens, that layer wins automatically.

Pot Goes to: The high hand or the hand with three Queens.

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Have a Heart

Number of Players: 3-7

The Deal: Two face down, one up to each player.

How to Play: Same as Seven Card Stud, but when a player is dealt a heart face up, he takes any card, up or down, from another player. The player whose card is taken does not get a replacement.

Pot Goes to: The high hand.

Variations: Players trade one of their own cards for the card they take.

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Henway

Number of Players: 3-5

The Deal: Ten cards face down to each player

How to Play: Players split their hands equally in two, laying each hand down in whatever order they choose. Players roll the top cards from each hand, and a betting round follows. This pattern continues until all cards are visible, the last card to be turned representing the showdown.

Pot Goes to: High and low hands split

Variations: Add wild cards.

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Jack the Shifter

Number of Players: 3-7

The Deal: Two cards face down and one card up to each player.

How to Play: Same as Seven Card Stud, until a Jack is dealt face up. Whoever the Jack is dealt to may call any Seven Card Stud game that fits and the remainder of the hand is played out as that game. Anyone who gets a jack may name a different game. At any point, a player may turn a face down Jack face up and name a game. Timing conflicts can be prevented by the dealer asking each player, starting with the player who has the best up hand, if they want to show a jack during that particular hand and allowing only one player per hand to turn a jack up.

Pot Goes to: The high hand, unless changed by a different game.

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Psycho

Number of Players: 3-6 (may not have enough cards for 6)

The Deal: Five face down to each player.

How to Play: After the draw, players roll three cards face up. After the following round of betting, players receive on more up card, which is followed by another round of betting. One more down card is dealt, another betting round takes place, and then a showdown. A player may use any of their seven cards to make a five card hand.

Pot Goes to: High and low hands split.

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Roll Your Neighbor

Number of Players: 4-10.

The Deal: Three cards face down to each player.

How to Play: Players choose one of their neighbor's two cards to roll and then there is a round of betting. Players are then dealt another card face down and roll another one of their neighbor's cards, followed by another betting round. This continues until every player has seven cards (three down and four up). A showdown takes place after the final betting round. Either the high or low hole card in each player's hand is wild for that player. The dealer must decide before hand whether players roll their right or left neighbor's cards.

Pot Goes to: The high hand.

Variations: The high and low hands split.

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Roll Your Own

Number of Players: 4-10

The Deal: Three cards face down to each player.

How to Play: Players roll one of their cards, followed by a betting round. This continues until all players have seven cards (three down and four up), with a showdown after the final betting round. Players roll one of their two cards and then there is a betting round. Players are dealt another card down and roll one of their remaining two down cards, followed by a betting round. This continues until all players have seven cards: three down, four up. Showdown after the final round of betting. Either the high or low hole card in each player's hand is wild for that player.

Pot Goes to: The high hand

Variations: The high and low hands split.

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Russian Revolution

Number of Players: 3-7

The Deal: Same as Seven Card Stud.

How to Play: Same as Seven Card Stud with some exceptions. These cards are wild: red Aces, red nines, red sevens. Dealing is the same, except if a player is dealt any face cards, they have the option of either buying a new card or folding. If a player gets another face card, they must again either buy another card or fold. Face cards in the hole are safe.

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Sequence

Number of Players: 3-7

The Deal: Two face down, one up to each player

How to Play: Same as Seven Card Stud, but if a two turns face up, all twos become wild. If a three turns up after that, all threes become wild instead of twos. Then, if a four is turned up, the four becomes wild, and so on… you get the point.

Pot Goes to: The high hand

Variations: High/low

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Six Kick

Number of Players: 3-8

The Deal: Same as Seven Card Stud

How to Play: Same as Seven Card Stud except that after the sixth card is dealt and the bets are made, each player may take turns paying to have a card in their hand replaced. Up cards are replaced with up cards and down cards with down cards. The cost of an up card is the minimum bet, while the cost of a down card is two times this. A betting round is held after each draw (two in total) and a showdown after the final bet.

Pot Goes to: The high and low hands split.

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Stud Poker (Five Card and Seven Card)

Number of Players: 3-10

The Deal: In Five Card Stud, each player is dealt one card down and one card up. All other cards are dealt up until a total of five cards have been dealt to each player. In Seven Card Stud, each player is dealt two cards down and one card up. All other cards are dealt up until a total of six cards have been dealt to each player. The seventh card is then dealt down to each player.

How to Play: A betting round follows the deal. After the betting round, and all subsequent betting rounds, each player is dealt their next card until all players have their required number of cards. After this final deal, another betting round occurs, followed by the showdown.

Pot Goes to: The high hand wins.

Variations: 1. Adding wild cards. 2. High hand and low hand split pot

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Ten

Number of Players: 3-5

The Deal: Ten cards face down to each player

How to Play: Players do not look at their cards. Each player flips a card and quickly places it face up to their left or right. Cards on the left will form a hand going low, while cards on the right will form a hand going high. A round of betting follows, and this is repeated until all 10 cards are face up. The high and low hands can only have five cards each. The last card to be flipped is the showdown.

Pot Goes to: High and low hands split

Variations: Add wild cards.

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The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

Number of Players: 3-7

The Deal: Two cards face down, one up to each player, three face down on the table

How to Play: Same as Seven Card Stud with some variations. After the fourth card is dealt, the first table card is flipped. All cards of the same rank as this card become wild (the good). Table cards are not shared. Continue as in Seven Card Stud. After the fifth card is dealt, the second card on the table is flipped. All cards of this rank must be discarded (the bad). After the sixth card is dealt, the last card down on the table is flipped. Anyone who has an up card of the same rank as this card must fold (the ugly).

Pot Goes to: The high hand

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Wall Street

Number of Players: 3-7

The Deal: Two cards face down and one up to each player, plus four up cards to the table. The card furthest to the left on the table is marked with a chip.

How to Play: Same as Seven Card Stud, with a few exceptions. Before each up card is dealt, the player it is being dealt to can choose instead to buy a card from the table (Wall Street). The first card, which is marked, costs one predetermined betting unit, the second card costs two units, and so on. If the player chooses not to buy, they are dealt a card. Just before each potential purchase, Wall Street is restocked from the deck if necessary. Therefore, if the dealer buys a card, for example, there will only be three cards on the table for the following round of betting. Once all players have four cards up, Wall Street cards are discarded. After the betting round that follows the dealing of the last down card, players declare a high or low hand, followed by a final round of betting and the showdown.

Pot Goes to: High and low hands split the pot.

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Washington Park

Number of Players: 4-7.

The Deal: Same as Seven Card Stud.

How to Play: Same as Seven Card Stud, except the rank of each player's lowest down card is wild for that player.

Pot Goes to: The high hand.

Variations: Adding wild cards.

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