Switching from Hold'em to Stud: Basic Strategy Considerations

Stud is a classic form of poker, requiring plenty of observation, patience and strategy. With the game more focused on individual hands than community cards, your approach to Stud Poker should be subtly different to that of the more mainstream versions of poker. This makes it a very different game to Texas Hold’em or Omaha, and there are a few points to consider before making the switch.
Community Cards
In Texas Hold’em Poker, you can tell the likelihood of someone having a stronger hand than you thanks to the community cards, which give you a greater idea of the strength of each hand. In Stud Poker, the best hand is more difficult to assess, with a mix of face-up and face-down cards making it much more difficult to confidently judge the situation. To compensate, you'll need to learn to recognise signals and rely on your instinct.
Starting Bets
In Texas Hold’em, the pot starts with the big blind and small blind, ensuring that the responsibility for building the pot is spread around the table as the game goes on. In Stud Poker, however, an ante (compulsory bet for all players) and a "bring-in" bet are used instead - although the rules in Stud Poker are not uniform, it is commonly the player with the lowest card showing that pays the bring-in.
Limits
The majority of modern Hold’em games are played as No Limit, whilst Stud is usually only available in Limit form. The bets are split into big and small bets, which will come into play in different rounds (for instance, in Seven Card Stud, big bets start in the fifth round). This makes it more important to play with the best hand, as progressing with weak cards and hoping for a lucky draw can prove costly.
Position
In Texas Hold’em, position relative to the dealer is very important for working out your strategy. This isn't the same for Stud Poker, though, and your position in a hand can change depending on the cards showing on the table. As you cannot count on a good position, your strategy must be based solely on the cards showing.
Bluffing
You can perform strong bluffs in Hold’em by making large, outlandish bets when faced with strong (or weak) community cards. In Stud, the regulated bet sizes don’t allow you to bully the table, and can rarely be used to force a player with a good hand to fold. Bluffing is not easy in Limit games, so you'll need to be much more protective over your stack.
As you can see, there are a number of subtle differences to Stud Poker that may not be suitable for everyone - the patience and strategy involved make it much slower, and it can take a while to master. Once you get the hang of it, though, it can be an incredibly enjoyable and profitable pastime, with plenty of the best UK casinos giving you the chance to get involved. If you want to practice before trying it out in a real world casino environment, head over to Gala Casino today.
Recommended Poker Sites
-
18+ | UK new players only. Deposit bonus (equals to 200% up to 1,000$): Full T&C's apply • First deposit only • Min. deposit $10 • The bonus will be granted in $10 chunks subject to wagering restrictions of 100 Bonus Points per chunk • Bonus wins are capped at $500 • Valid for selected games only, when playing Casino • Wagering req. vary by game • Bonus expires in 90 days. BeGambleAware - Full Terms Apply.'Online Poker Operator of the Year' 2022Unique BLAST & SNAP Fast-Fold GamesSatellites to Exclusive Online XL SeriesBonus Code
The code required to claim this sign-up bonus (if any)
Payout TimeThe usual withdrawal processing time
1-3 DaysRakebackDoes this poker site refund a portion of your rake or offer cashback for poker loyalty points?
YesWSOP SatellitesCan you enter satellites for World Series of Poker™ event packages?
YesHome GamesCan you set up private online poker games with friends?
YesWith over 10 million registered members, 888poker is one of the world’s largest poker networks and they also have their own live circuit featuring some of the most prestigious poker events in the world, with destinations such as London, Barcelona and Bucharest. -
18+. UK. New players only. Deposit min £10 to get 100% deposit bonus (up to £400). Must accumulate 4 x deposit bonus in points to release in full, within 90 days. Bonus is released in 10% increments. Additional £70 credited as P$ and tickets (credited over 9 days). Restrictions and T&Cs apply.Official Partner of F1 McLaren Racing TeamPoker Ambassadors Kevin Hart & Carl FrochEarn up to 40% Cashback Every WeekBonus Code
The code required to claim this sign-up bonus (if any)
Payout TimeThe usual withdrawal processing time
1-2 DaysRakebackDoes this poker site refund a portion of your rake or offer cashback for poker loyalty points?
YesWSOP SatellitesCan you enter satellites for World Series of Poker™ event packages?
YesHome GamesCan you set up private online poker games with friends?
YesOne of the pioneers of online poker, PartyPoker was once the world’s biggest poker site and they still host huge online tournaments such as the prestigious MILLIONS series - with a $1million guaranteed main event, plus satellites to PartyPoker live events. -
First-time depositors only. Min. deposit £10 with Bonus Code ‘STARS400’. Play on any real money table on the site within 120 days after making eligible deposit. Bonus released in £5 instalments every 100 redemption points. Terms apply.Owner & Sponsor of the European Poker TourOfficial Partner of the Red Bull F1 Racing TeamSigned Neymar Jr as 'Cultural Ambassador'Bonus Code
The code required to claim this sign-up bonus (if any)
Payout TimeThe usual withdrawal processing time
3-5 DaysRakebackDoes this poker site refund a portion of your rake or offer cashback for poker loyalty points?
YesWSOP SatellitesCan you enter satellites for World Series of Poker™ event packages?
NoHome GamesCan you set up private online poker games with friends?
YesPokerStars host some of the biggest online poker tournaments including the famous Sunday Million which has a $1million guaranteed prize pool, plus exclusive satellites to the European Poker Tour. -
New members only, must opt in. Min £10 deposit & wager. 30 day expiry from deposit. Extra Spins: on Double Bubble. Spins value: 20p each. Bingo: Advertised ticket value based on £1 tickets. Game availability & restrictions apply. 18+. **£10 lifetime deposit required. #Ad, BeGambleAware.org'Wild Seat Poker' Texas Hold'em GameInstant Play Software (No Download Required)Poker Tutorial Videos to Improve Your PlayBonus Code
The code required to claim this sign-up bonus (if any)
Payout TimeThe usual withdrawal processing time
24 HoursRakebackDoes this poker site refund a portion of your rake or offer cashback for poker loyalty points?
NoWSOP SatellitesCan you enter satellites for World Series of Poker™ event packages?
NoHome GamesCan you set up private online poker games with friends?
NoDouble Bubble Poker is a fun place for beginners with a friendly interface, welcoming hosts and pocket-friendly tournament entry fees starting at just £0.01. -
18+. T&C ApplyOnline Home of the Grosvenor UK Poker TourQualify for 'National Poker League' Events'Loyalty Club' - Earn Up To 40% RakebackBonus Code
The code required to claim this sign-up bonus (if any)
Payout TimeThe usual withdrawal processing time
1-3 DaysRakebackDoes this poker site refund a portion of your rake or offer cashback for poker loyalty points?
YesWSOP SatellitesCan you enter satellites for World Series of Poker™ event packages?
NoHome GamesCan you set up private online poker games with friends?
YesGrosvenor Poker can reasonably be called the home of UK poker, with exclusive satellites to live events taking place at Grosvenor Casinos across England, Scotland & Wales, including the GUKPT and the biggest live poker tournament in Europe - the Goliath. -
18+. T&Cs apply. New Customers Only. £20 extra = one cash game ticket of €8 and 4 x UK Tour tournament tickets of €4. £500 Playthrough bonus = €600. Both bonuses are activated upon first deposit from the poker client. Tickets expire after 35 days and the playthrough bonus after 60. £1 GBP = €1.1875. Selected games only. BeGambleaware.org. - Full Terms ApplyUnique Software & Independent NetworkQualifiers to Live Unibet Open Tournaments'Online Poker Operator of the Year' 2021Bonus Code
The code required to claim this sign-up bonus (if any)
Payout TimeThe usual withdrawal processing time
3-5 DaysRakebackDoes this poker site refund a portion of your rake or offer cashback for poker loyalty points?
YesWSOP SatellitesCan you enter satellites for World Series of Poker™ event packages?
NoHome GamesCan you set up private online poker games with friends?
NoUnibet Poker runs on proprietary software that allows you to change your online poker alias three times a day. They host exclusive satellites to the Unibet Open - a series of live €1,000 poker tournaments held around Europe. -
18+. New customers only. Nickname required. £10+ deposit = 5 x £5 tickets and 30 x £50 freeroll tickets. £10+ deposit = 100% pending bonus. Max £200 bonus. Bonus released with point accumulation. 90 days to accumulate points. £5 Tokens valid for 14 days. T&Cs apply. Begambleaware.org - Full Terms ApplySit & Go Leaderboards with Daily PrizesMyGame Whiz - Personal Poker CoachUp To 40% Automated Weekly CashbackBonus Code
The code required to claim this sign-up bonus (if any)
Payout TimeThe usual withdrawal processing time
3-5 DaysRakebackDoes this poker site refund a portion of your rake or offer cashback for poker loyalty points?
YesWSOP SatellitesCan you enter satellites for World Series of Poker™ event packages?
NoHome GamesCan you set up private online poker games with friends?
NoAt Coral Poker you can qualify for big online and live poker tournaments, including the Irish Open and UK Grand Prix, plus the high roller MILLIONS tournament series. -
18+ T&Cs Apply. Welcome Bonus promotion for new players only; minimum deposit required. Please Play Responsibly. www.begambleaware.orgLargest Online Poker Site in the WorldWorld Series of Poker™ Official PartnerExternal Tools & Tracking Software BlockedBonus Code
The code required to claim this sign-up bonus (if any)
Payout TimeThe usual withdrawal processing time
1-3 Working DaysRakebackDoes this poker site refund a portion of your rake or offer cashback for poker loyalty points?
YesWSOP SatellitesCan you enter satellites for World Series of Poker™ event packages?
YesHome GamesCan you set up private online poker games with friends?
NoGG Poker offers award winning features including EV Cashout, Snap Cam, NFT Avatars and Squeeze Cards. You can also play online with GGTeam Pro Players Daniel Negreanu, 'ElkY' Grospellier and Jason Kroon. -
€365 bonus is redeemed in instalments based on Status Points earned. Tickets and prize wheel spins expire after seven days. Time limits, exclusions and T&Cs apply. For more information about this offer please visit the website. 18+. New players only. Gamble responsibly. http://www.gamblingcare.ie/. - Full Terms Apply80 Million Customers in Over 150 CountriesRegular Tournament Series EventsTwister Sit & Go's with Jackpot Prize-PoolsBonus Code
The code required to claim this sign-up bonus (if any)
Payout TimeThe usual withdrawal processing time
1-3 DaysRakebackDoes this poker site refund a portion of your rake or offer cashback for poker loyalty points?
YesWSOP SatellitesCan you enter satellites for World Series of Poker™ event packages?
NoHome GamesCan you set up private online poker games with friends?
NoBet365 Poker offer regular Cash Games, Sit & Gos & Tournaments, plus premium tables where you'll play exclusively against Bet365 players only. They also provide 24/7 customer support.
Stay In The Loop With New Casino Sites & Offers!
Free Spins. Exclusive Bonuses. Sent Weekly.