Five-card stud is a simple game where an experienced player can easily get reads on opponents based on the board cards. Because four of five cards are displayed, one can also muck out if your opponent’s board cards can beat yours.

Five-card stud is a game of pairs and high cards. Don’t concentrate on flushes and straights; they rarely come and often the pots are small when you do get one. This game is about pairs and aces. Save the flush and straight draws for straight flush draws where you have three of the cards at third street. Otherwise it’s a poor decision.

It’s common practice to fold to any bet when you don’t have a pair by the first three cards. It’s also important to watch which cards are up – it may change the outs that you think you have. And the same goes for mucked cards from other players.