Lesser Known Casino Games: Mambo Stud
Although the name is misleading, “Mambo Stud” isn’t an attractive Latin dancer ready to sweep you off your feet, but rather a form of Stud Poker. The game is based around creating a high hand, a low hand, or the combination hand that’ll scoop the pot. Mambo Stud (or “Mambo Stud Poker” if you prefer) is relatively new. If you want to play where nobody has years of experience, then this is the game for you!
Mambo Stud is played in three stages with betting allowed each turn. Gameplay begins with the dealer passing out one card face down and another face up to each player. You can get a feeling for the other hands and decide if chances look good. Assuming you want to continue, make your call or raise. Sit back and wait for the second stage.
During the second Mambo Stud stage, another card is dealt face down. It’s pretty much a repeat of the first round with some players folding and others calling and raising. After the second stage is complete, the final bets start.
During the last stage, the dealer places the final card which is the community card. Mambo Stud is a community Poker game, so all players can use that card to complete their hand. A Mambo Stud hand only uses three cards. Use the community card or refuse it if the three cards in your hand are better.
The round isn’t over yet because there’s betting to be done! Whoever has the highest hand showing acts first, and they can either check or bet. Once all the remaining players have made their betting decisions, the round is over.
Now’s the showdown and time to make your low hand, your high hand or try for a combination hand to win the entire pot. The high hand of “High Mambo” uses the same thought behind regular Poker hands. However since there’s only three cards, we have to modify the hands a bit. In High Mambo, the best hand is an Ace, King, and Queen of the same suit.
Going for the low hand of “Low Mambo” is similar to Lowball. A hand with an Ace, two, and a three is the worst (or best) hand you can get for Low Mambo. If there’s no low hand, the entire pot goes to the person with the winning high hand.
Good luck, and we hope you get a hand that’ll win the entire pot!
