A single wager is made on the Ante circle, anything from three additional bets must be made that range from 1 to 3 times.
Once the player has made an Ante wager. The dealer will deal two cards face down to each betting circle.
And, then the community cards face down on the layout.
The good news is you can look at your two cards and fold them. Now, if you’ve lost your Ante wager, you can raise it 1 to 3 times.
Mississippi Stud allows you to make a lot of decisions. Keep in mind that your first decision is the most important.
It’s here where you’ll decide when to fold and which two cards to play. In order to win you need a pair of 6s or better.
A good strategy is to get rid of your low-value cards and play only with your higher-value ones.
If you hold two cards between 6 and 10 or a face card, raise 1x your Ante bet. When the dealer deals a pair of 2s, 3’s, 4’s, or 5’s.
The worst thing that can happen is you’ll lose a minimum of 1x your bet. The pair of 6’s through Aces guarantee you a payback, raise 3x.
Tips to Help You Win
I’m not an expert on the game, but I share some tips that helped me win more often:
- Fold Early on Weak Hands: If my first two cards are below 6 and not suited, I fold. Small offsuit cards lose over 70% of the time—no point sinking more money into them.
- Bet 3x with High Pairs: When I get a pair of Jacks or better, I bet 3x the ante. High pairs win about 85% of the time, so betting big maximizes value.
- Chase Strong Draws: One card away from a flush or straight? After two community cards, push 3x the ante. With flushes paying 6:1 and straights 4:1, the risk can be worth the reward.
- Fold Without a Pair or Draw: No pair or draw after the third card? Fold. These hands win less than 10% of the time and drain chips fast.
Payout Structure
The house edge is 4.91%, higher than blackjack but lower than most online slots. The element of risk is just 1.37%, meaning I lose about $1.37 for every $100 wagered.
Royal Flush: 500 to 1
Straight Flush: 100 to 1
Four of a Kind: 40 to 1
Full House: 10 to 1
Flush: 6 to 1
Conclusion
Mississippi Stud Poker because it mixes strategy with pure odds. I’m not playing against other players—just the paytable. That means every decision I make matters.
With a house edge of 4.91%, I can’t afford to play random hands. I fold early when I get junk cards and bet big when I hold a pair of Jacks or better.
