Stud Poker: Getting Intense!

All Stud Poker games are essentially different from Draw Poker games in that betting begins when only two (or maybe three) cards have been dealt, and another round of betting follows the dealing of each additional card.

Hence with each successive round of betting, one has more information at one's disposal about the cards which other players hold.

And since any player may at any time retire, at the same time 'folding' his cards (say, placing them face downwards in front of him), one has little hope of winning unless one has memorized the cards that have been exposed.

Or, at any rate, the cards which are relevant to one's own hopes of improvement.

Hence the skill factor in Stud Poker games is higher than in Draw Poker games; unobservant players, and players who can't concentrate, are almost certain to lose their money.

One good example is the Five-card Stud Poker, and its mechanics.

In a club game, each player will initially place (for instance) one chip in front of him. This is all that he need lose.

The dealer now gives each player one card, dealt face downwards, and then another card, face upwards. The player inspects the card dealt to him face downwards, then lays it down again, face, downwards in front of him.

For five-card Stud Poker's first round of betting, the player who best first is he who has the highest exposed card; if two players have equally high cards, the first to bet is the one nearest to the dealer.

Now, another card is dealt, face upwards, to the players who are still in the game, and the second round of betting follows.

After this, every player still in the game receives a fourth card, face upwards, then comes the third round of betting.

If there are still two or more players left in the game, they are now dealt their fifth, and last cards. These again are dealt face upwards. The fourth (and final) round of betting concluded the proceedings.

However, an advice on how to play this difficult game is a good advice as one could hope to get anywhere.

For those who want to play it, there are countless but simple basic rules which should be followed almost explicitly.

If you do follow them, there is no guarantee that you will win, but if you do not follow them, you are certain to lose.

An important note to Poker players--- it should be in mind if you are playing in a private game where less restricted betting is permitted. When you bet less, you make it too easy for people to stay.

When you bet more, you immediately drive out all but the very good hands.

Lastly, when playing with a limit, you should bet the size of the pot until such time as the chips in the pot exceed the limit.

From them on, you should bet the limit.