Two Great Five Stud Variants

[Al Mirpuri]

Here are two great Five Stud variants that are relatively unknown but will spice you any home game:

Crocodile Stud (this was invented by David Zanetti, who also invented the game Big River/Mississippi Stud ).

This is 5stud except that you get two hole cards with your initial upcard. At the end, only one of the hole cards is live (and you choose which one).

Choose Your Own

After the first round of betting (everything the same as Five Stud), the upcards for third street are dealt in the center (one upcard for each active player) and the low board gets to choose which upcard he wants, and then the next lowest board chooses, and so on. Then a round of betting. This is repeated until all the active players have four upcards and you then have a round of betting and a showdown. At no point are there more upcards in the middle than the number of active players.

[Lottery Larry]

" Crocodile Stud
This is 5stud except that you get two hole cards with your initial upcard. At the end, only one of the hole cards is live (and you choose which one)."

So, Crazy Pineapple 5-stud?

" Choose Your Own

After the first round of betting (everything the same as Five Stud), the upcards for third street are dealt in the center (one upcard for each active player) and the low board gets to choose which upcard he wants, and then the next lowest board chooses, and so on. Then a round of betting. This is repeated until all the active players have four upcards and you then have a round of betting and a showdown. At no point are there more upcards in the middle than the number of active players."

Al, have you played his Mississippi Stud in real play? What about in big-bet structures? What do you think of it?

[Al Mirpuri]

I have not played Mississippi Stud in real play yet. Draws become cheaper to play as one bet on third and then you get two cards...In fact, all marginal hands become easier to play on third. I think it unlikely to displace 7stud but who knows? Is the game playable? Definitely. I think Crocodile Stud is just as good if not better. It rejuvenates the 5stud genre of games.