To begin playing Five Card Stud, you place an ante on the table. The amount of the ante varies with the stakes of the game. There is no ante in $0.50/$1.00 games.

Each player is then dealt two cards; one face down and one face up. The player with the lowest face-up card by suit starts the betting with a bring-in bet that is half the lower full bet. Subsequent players may then either fold, call or raise the amount to a full bet. 

Second Round:
Another card is then dealt, face up, to all players at the table. Another round of betting begins. The player who has the highest combination of cards showing acts first and may either bet or check. If two players are showing equal cards, the one nearest the dealer's left acts first. If a player is showing a pair, any player may opt to bet at the higher limit in which case all subsequent calls and raises must be at the higher limit.

Third Round:
Another card is then dealt, face up, to all players at the table. Another round of betting begins with the player who has the highest combination of cards showing. Bets are at the higher limit.

Fourth Round:
With all the cards dealt, one down and four up to each active player, a final round of betting begins. When the betting is finished players show their hole cards and the highest five-card hand wins the pot. 

How to Play | Terminology | Starting a game | Five Card Stud Tips