Common Variations in Stud Poker
Changing the rules of any game is a great way to liven up an old favorite. And it’s definitely prevalent in poker, where Stud Poker is a variant of regular draw poker games. But then even within Stud Poker, there are several popular variations that are played all over the world.
However, before we talk about variations, let talk about similarities first: To begin, most games use an ante. Also, in Stud Poker, all hands are dealt with both face up and face down cards. Usually one or two face down cards start the game – these cards are sometimes called the hole cards. Then several cards are dealt face up, one at a time, usually with a round of betting after each card. Most games have a limit of seven to eight players, since anything more can tap out the deck and interfere with the game. Some games have a last card dealt face down. Also, in regards to betting, the betting round usually starts with whoever has the best hand / highest card showing.
One of the most popular stud poker variations is Seven-card stud. It first showed up in America during the Civil War. Although it’s seeing some stiff competition from Texas Hold ‘em, it’s still a very popular game, heavily played in casinos and homes around the world. Like the name suggests, you get seven cards dealt to you, and you try to make the best five-card hand out of the seven cards. Seven-card stud has its own interesting variation where two people can win the pot. Usually this is split between the person with the best hand, and the person with the best low hand. This type of came is called, “Seven-card stud hi lo”. Five-card stud and Six-card stud are also very popular games.
A few other stud poker variations are becoming popular. Both Razz & London lowball have a small but growing fan base, and we’re sure it’s only a matter of time before they reach a wider audience. Both games are fairly similar where the object is to get the lowest hand. Mexican Stud and Mississippi Stud are two wild games that derived from Seven-card stud.
In addition to the ones mentioned, there are many more variations to try, and even new ones to be invented. Things like that make poker a great game to play because there’s always going to be a style for someone. Good luck finding your style!
