The Joker Factor in 5-Card Stud Poker

5 Card Stud
October 7 2008

The game of 5-Card Stud has a possible 2,598,960 hand combinations. When a joker is added, it increases to 2,869,685 possible hands—roughly 10 percent more. But the joker has a much stronger effect on the game than a mere 10 percent. At an eight-handed table, the joker will be dealt to someone before the draw more than three out of four times, roughly 75 percent of the time.

The joker changes the odds-on flush draws from 4.2-to-1 to a draw with 3.8-to-1 odds. And you’ll make your open-ended straight draws 10 percent more often than if there wasn’t a joker in the deck. That means your opponents will also make their draws that much more often.

Having the joker in the deck will also change the play of your opponents. Many will draw to flushes with two suited cards and the joker in their hand, making it appear that they have three of a kind. If they have hands that are three to a flush, with a joker, they have 22 outs to hit a good hand. The joker gives them outs to three of a kind, as well as the flush they’re drawing to. So if you don’t have the joker, beware of someone drawing only two cards.

• More poker tips for: 5 Card Stud
• Complete poker tips archive

Read the rules of 5-Card Stud poker with Bodog!