Mississippi Stud Strategy Guide

Mississippi Stud is a five-card poker game played against a pay table rather than a dealer. You build a hand from two of your own cards and three community cards, raising or folding before each community card is revealed.

There's no dealer to beat — you're paid purely on the strength of your final hand, with a pair of 6s or better needed to come out ahead.

How to Play

• Place an Ante. You get two cards, and three community cards are dealt face down.
• Before each community card is revealed, raise 1×, 2×, or 3× your ante — or fold and forfeit everything wagered so far.
• After the third community card, your best five-card hand is paid per the pay table on your total wager.
• A pair of 6s–10s pushes, Jacks-or-better and higher hands win, and anything less loses.
• The optional 3-Card Bonus pays on the three community cards and is independent of the main game.

Pay Tables

Strategy

• 3rd street (2 cards): raise 3× with any pair; raise 1× with at least two points (J–A = 2, 6–10 = 1) or 6-5 suited; otherwise fold.
• 4th street (3 cards): raise 3× with a pair of 6s+ or a strong straight-flush/royal draw; raise 1× with a low pair, three to a flush, an open straight draw, or 3+ points; otherwise fold.
• 5th street (4 cards): raise 3× with any paying pair, four to a flush, or four to an open-ended straight (8-high+); raise 1× with other straight draws, a low pair, or 4+ points; otherwise fold.
• Use the Show hint toggle for the exact recommendation each street.

House Edge

Played optimally the house edge is about 4.9% of the ante, or roughly 1.4% of the average total wagered (element of risk). The 3 Card Bonus side bet runs higher.

Tips

• Discipline is everything — fold weak hands early instead of chasing, and raise 3× only when the math supports it.
• Use the in-game Show hint toggle while you learn the point-count strategy.
• Side bets are for fun; they don't lower the house edge.