Playing the Table Games: Mississippi Stud

Poker players are known to explore the variety on offer at casinos. Card sharks are always swimming in those felt waters in search of their quarry. Blackjack and baccarat remain popular alternatives to poker, but casinos boast all sorts of alternatives that’ll strike the fancy of poker players.

One such game is Mississippi Stud, an iteration of poker in which players try for a hand that triggers a payout. Far from its other card-game brethren like Hold ‘Em, Omaha, or non-poker card games, Mississippi Stud is less cutthroat and a touch more volatile.

In Mississippi Stud, you’re dealt two cards from a standard deck of 52. You place an ante just to see those cards. If you like them, you can place a bet of 1x to 3x your ante to see the first community card. You repeat this process for two more community cards until there are three on the board. Your hand plus the community cards represent your final hand.

Payouts are based on the quality of your hand alone. No need to beat a dealer or other players at your table.

● 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

● 6s to 10s: Push

Notice that a pair of 5s or lower will still be logged as a loss. This means the ideal strategy will result in folding most of your hands. However, winning a hand—especially when you’ve placed a 3x bet on each card—can yield a big win.

The game also typically comes with two side bets: 3 Card Bonus and Ultimate Pairs.

In the 3 Card Bonus, you get paid out if the three community cards form a paying hand. In Ultimate Pairs, you win if your two-card hand forms a qualifying pair.

If you’re a poker fan, give Mississippi Stud a try next time you hit the casino. You may enjoy the twist on poker that it offers.