OBJECTIVE OF ENGLISH STUD: Create the best 5-card hand and take the pot.
NUMBER OF PLAYERS: 5-6 players
NUMBER OF CARDS: standard 52-card
RANK OF CARDS: A, K, Q, J, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2
TYPE OF GAME: Poker
AUDIENCE: Adults
INTRODUCTION TO ENGLISH STUD
English Stud Poker is a variation on Seven Card Stud Poker. This variation can accommodate a maximum of 6 players. In this variant, players try to improve their hand by substituting cards in it. English Stud follows the same
THE DEAL & BETTING
The rules and mechanics of play in English Stud are nearly identical to Seven Card Stud (which is similar still to Five Card Stud.) This article assumes the reader is familiar with certain poker semantics. If you are new to poker, check out Poker Basics to familiarize yourself with the jargon and general structure of poker games.
Before the first official betting round, the dealer gives each player two cards face-down (hole cards) and one card face-up. The player with the lowest face-up card pays the bring-in bet. Ties for the low card are broken by suit rankings. If there is a bring-in bet, the first player betting in the official round may not check. Betting begins with the player who has the highest card. If there was no bring-in, this player may check (not place a bet). If players tie for high card, the first player immediately clockwise to the dealer begins the betting.
Fourth Street
After the initial round of betting, players are dealt another face-up card after the burn card. A burn card is a card on the top of the deck the dealer discards, it is not used by the players. The dealer deals each play another exposed card.
Since there are less than five upcards players are unable to make straights, flushes, or full houses. Once all the cards are dealt, players bet again, starting with the player with the highest hand.
Fifth Street
At this point, players have two face-down cards and two face-up cards. The dealer deals each player a third exposed card. Once again, players with the highest ranking exposed cards starts the betting round.
From this point onward, all bets are in big bet increments.
Sixth Street
Before the sixth card is dealt, players have the option to exchange a card in their hand. Starting to the left of the dealer, one at a time, players decide if they wish to exchange a single card in their hand. They can choose to discard an exposed card or a hole card, the dealer will replace it accordingly. Players may also stand pat and decide to keep their hand.
The last exposed card is dealt to players after the betting round. Another round of betting follows as usual, with the player with the best hand starting it.
Seventh Street (The River)
Before the last card is dealt, players have the option again to discard any card in hand for a replacement card. Once all players have had the chance to exchange a card or stand pat, the final card is dealt out. This card is dealt face-down. After, a final round of betting ensues in which the player with the best hand from the exposed cards starts the betting.
Seven card stud is simplified as, “two down, four up, one down,” which refers to the quantity and order of the way cards are dealt.
THE SHOWDOWN
Once the deal and the betting has concluded, the showdown begins. The player with the highest ranking hand in accordance with standard Poker Hand Rankings. The player with the best five-card hand takes the pot. If there are tied hands players split the pot.
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