If are a true poker fan, you probably know how to play seven card stud and even five card stud poker. But, can you play Chicago, English Stud or Psycho? Stud poker has numerous variations that can add some action to your regular poker game. Here is an introduction to some of the most common stud poker variations available at the closest local poker game.

 

All of the stud poker variations share some common principles. In all of them, you will be dealt a changing number of face up and face down cards in several betting rounds. In most of them, the player who places the first bet changes from round to round.

Caribbean Stud

Caribbean stud poker is one of the most popular stud poker variations. It can be found in most online casinos including as a progressive jackpot game. Although Caribbean stud rules are influenced from five card stud poker rules, this stud poker variation is different, mainly because the players compete against the house rather than against the other players. In land based casinos, you can find Caribbean stud poker in the table games area.

The play begins with each player places an ante. The dealer deals each player five face down cards including himself and shows one of his cards. After looking at their cards, each of the players can choose whether to play or fold. A player who chooses to play has to place a bet double the size of the ante. Then, the dealer compares his five card hand with each players hand separately.

The dealer has to have Ace and King or better in order to qualify. If the dealers hand does not qualify, you would be paid off your ante. If he qualifies and his hand is weaker than your hand, you would be paid your ante and your bet according to a paytable.

Canadian Stud

Canadian stud is played exactly like five card stud poker except additional hand ranking between pair and two pairs. 4 card straight is ranked higher than a pair and 4 card flush is ranked higher than 4 card straight but lower than two pairs.

English Stud

In English stud, each player receives six cards. Before the final card is dealt, each of the players may discard one card and replace it with a new one. A player who discards his hole card will receive a new face down card or a new face up card if he had chosen to discard one of his face up cards. After the sixth card is dealt, the players may exchange cards again. Rather than that, English stud is played the same as seven card stud poker.

Razz

The only difference between razz and seven card stud poker is that in razz the winner with the best low hand wins. The highest ranked razz poker hand is a wheel: Ace, 2, 3, 4, 5. Aces ranked as low cards and straights and flushes do not count.

Psycho

The game begins when each player receives five face down cards and then shows three of them. After the first round of betting, the sixth card is dealt face up, followed by a second betting round, a deal of the seventh card and the last betting round. In the showdown, each player may use all of his seven cards to form the best possible hand. Psycho is usually dealt in high low spilt.

Chicago

Chicago is played the same as standard stud poker, except that the pot splits between the player with the highest five card poker hand and the player with the highest spade in his hole cards.

Baltimore or Low Chicago

Here, the pot splits between the player with the best hand and the player with the lowest spade in his hole cards.