How to Play Mississippi Stud
Mississippi Stud is a less competitive but entertaining poker variant with multiple payout opportunities. Players compete against a predetermined paytable rather than a dealer or other players. However, forming a winning hand requires careful decisions at each stage of gameplay. A winning hand is not assured until the showdown.
This guide explains how to play Mississippi Stud, including the rules, wagering structure, paytables, and practical strategies.
What Is Mississippi Stud?
Mississippi Stud is a player-versus-paytable five-card poker game with a multi-stage wagering structure and optional jackpot side bets. Up to six players can participate.
The objective is to form the best five-card poker hand using:
- Two hole cards
- Three community cards
Mississippi Stud has five wagering stages. The house edge is approximately 4.91% on the Ante but can be reduced to about 1.37% with optimal strategy.
Step-by-Step: How to Play Mississippi Stud
1. Place an Ante Bet
Each player must place an Ante bet to receive cards. The dealer then deals:
- Two cards face down to each player
- Three community cards face down
Players may also place optional side bets (3-Card Bonus and 6-Card Bonus).
2. Fold or Make a Third Street Wager
Evaluate your two hole cards.
- Fold and lose your Ante
- Or raise 1x to 3x your Ante (Third Street bet)
After all decisions are made, the dealer reveals the first community card.
3. Fold or Make a Fourth Street Wager
After seeing the first community card:
- Fold and lose previous wagers
- Or raise 1x to 3x your Ante (Fourth Street bet)
The dealer reveals the second community card.
4. Fold or Make a Fifth Street Wager
This is your final decision:
- Fold and lose Ante + previous street bets
- Or raise 1x to 3x your Ante (Fifth Street bet)
The dealer reveals the third community card.
5. Compare to the Paytable
Your final five-card hand (2 hole cards + 3 community cards) is evaluated against a fixed paytable.
If your hand qualifies, all wagers are paid according to the payout schedule.
Mississippi Stud Paytable
| Five Card Hand | Payout |
|---|---|
| Royal Flush | 500:1 |
| Straight Flush | 100:1 |
| Four of a Kind | 40:1 |
| Full House | 10:1 |
| Flush | 6:1 |
| Straight | 4:1 |
| Three of a Kind | 3:1 |
| Two Pair | 2:1 |
| Jacks or Better | 1:1 |
| Pair of 6s to 10s | Push |
| All Other Hands | Loss |
Side Bet Payouts
3-Card Bonus Paytable
Wins when the community cards form a qualifying hand.
| Hand | Payout |
|---|---|
| Straight Flush | 40:1 |
| Three of a Kind | 30:1 |
| Straight | 6:1 |
| Flush | 3:1 |
| Pair | 1:1 |
6-Card Bonus (Progressive Jackpot)
This wager forms a six-card hand using:
- Your two hole cards
- Four bonus cards dealt to the jackpot section
| Hand | Payout |
|---|---|
| 6 Card Royal (All Suits) | $100,000 |
| 5 Card Royal | 1000:1 |
| 5 Card Straight Flush | 200:1 |
| Four of a Kind | 50:1 |
| 5 Card Flush | 20:1 |
| 5 Card Straight | 10:1 |
| Three of a Kind | 5:1 |
Mississippi Stud Strategy
Optimal Strategy
Two Cards
- Raise 3x with any pair
- Raise 1x with 6/5 suited
- Fold all others
Three Cards
Raise 3x with:
- Any made hand (mid pair or better)
- Royal flush draw
- Strong straight flush draws
Raise 1x with:
- Low pair
- Straight draw with no gaps (456 or higher)
- Certain suited combinations
Fold all others.
Four Cards
Raise 3x with:
- Any made hand (mid pair or higher)
- Four to a flush
- Four to an outside straight (8 high or better)
Raise 1x with:
- Low pair
- Other straight draws
Fold weak holdings.
Card Point Strategy
Assign point values:
- Jack, Queen, King, Ace = 2 points
- 6 through 10 = 1 point
- 2 through 5 = 0 points
Raise based on total points:
- Initial 2 Cards: Raise 1x with 2+ points
- 3rd Street: Raise with 2+ points
- 4th Street: Raise with 3+ points
- 5th Street: Raise with 4+ points
Final Thoughts
Mississippi Stud is easy to learn but requires discipline. Since outcomes are determined by a fixed paytable, strategic wagering on each street is crucial. While side bets offer jackpot potential, they also increase the house edge.
Raise carefully, follow optimal strategy, and manage your bankroll wisely.