How to Create Stud Poker Variations:

One of the reasons why stud poker has become so popular is the dynamic nature of the game. There are certain rules variations that can be mixed different ways and create unique ad-hoc games. That is why so many stud poker versions exist and keep appearing.

The most common way to vary a stud poker game is to add one or more jokers and treat them as wild cards or designate other cards to be wild. Some existing stud poker versions use this principle. Low Hole Card Wild, for example, indicates the lowest down-card of the player and all cards of the same rank to be wild for this player only. Another game, called Follow the Queen makes wild all up cards followed after a Queen. If a Queen appears in up cards again, the previous wild card loses its status and a new one is defined.

Another way to change the game is to add more down-cards and to obligate players to either discard these extra cards at some stage of the game, or to limit the number of down-cards that can be used at the showdown. For example, the game called Crocodile is five card stud, where before the first betting round, an additional hole card is dealt to each player, while in the final hand players may use only one of these two down-cards. Seven card stud, where each player is dealt three down-cards at the beginning, and only two of them can be used at showdown is called Buffalo stud. If the same game obliges players to discard the extra down-card after the first round, such game is called Australian stud. Playing a game where an extra hole card is dealt but must not be discarded during the game, it is recommended to ensure that each player physically discards one hole card before showdown to prevent any confusion about which cards were down and which were up.

Variations can also be crated by eliminating or adding betting rounds and dealing more than one card at a time. For example Mississippi stud is actually seven-card stud, where the second round is removed, and the last card is dealt face up instead of face down. Mississippi stud played with an extra hole card makes it Murrumbidgee stud.

It is also possible to use community cards in stud games, so the number of possible stud poker versions is only limited by players imagination.