This is not actually a Stud poker game, but is hard to classify anywhere else. Seven cards are immediately dealt face-down to each player. Each player divides their hand into one five-card hand and one two-card hand.
The five-card hand will play as a regular poker hand, but the two-card hand will play as a Two-Card Guts hand, consisting of either a pair, or a high card. The stipulation, however, is that the five-card hand must be of equal or better value than the two-card hand. For example, if the two-card hand consists of a pair of Jacks, then the five-card hand must consist of at least a pair of Jacks or better.
A betting round is made immediately after the deal. At the same time, all players reveal their two-card hands face-up. This is followed by a second betting round. All players then reveal their five-card hand. The best two-card hand collects half of the pot, the other half going to the player with the best five-card hand.
Variations:
- Roll-Off: Two betting rounds isn't the most exciting stud game. Instead, a combination of roll-offs can add to the betting rounds. For example, players can roll off one card at a time for a total of seven betting rounds. Or, each player's two-card hand can be rolled off immediately, followed by a roll-off of each player's five-card hand, for a total of four-five betting rounds.
- Stud Deal : Instead of seven cards dealt all at once, cards are dealt one at a time. A betting round follows each card dealt, making seven betting rounds, after which half of the pot goes to best "big hand" and half to best "little hand". Still another variation would be to deal two cards, betting round, two cards, betting round, two cards, betting round, last card, last betting round.
- Reverse Pai Gow): Played along with any of the other aforementioned variations, each player's two card hand must be higher than their five-card hand. This forces players to put their strength into their two card hands, leaving weaker five-card hands.
- Pig : A progressive pot game, where the winning player must win BOTH hands to collect the pot. Otherwise, everybody re-antes and the cards are re-dealt. Betting rounds could be incorporated into this variation to help knock out players before showdown.
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