Five card stud is a very straightforward poker game. All players ante. Each player is then dealt two cards, one exposed and one face down (in the hole). The person with the lowest exposed card is forced to bring in for a small forced bet (generally about half the small fixed limit bet).

The third card is dealt face up to each player, followed by a round of betting. On this round of betting and onward, the player with the best exposed hand begins the betting.

The fourth card is dealt face up to each player, followed by a round of betting.

The fifth, final card is dealt face down to each player, followed by betting. However, some people play with the fifth card dealt face up to each player, so each player has only one card in the hole.