Mastering Mississippi Stud: A Guide to Winning Poker Hands
Introduction
Immerse yourself in the excitement of Mississippi Stud, a thrilling poker-based table game developed by Scientific Games. With its straightforward gameplay, players compete to form the best five-card hand for a chance to win big. The true skill lies in knowing when to raise the stakes or fold as the cards are unveiled, adding an element of strategy to the game. Join the action and test your luck in Mississippi Stud for an unforgettable gaming experience.
Rules
In Mississippi Stud, the gameplay unfolds in several stages:
- The player places an ante wager.
- The dealer deals two cards face down to each player and three community cards face down.
- The player may examine their own cards and decide whether to fold or make a “3rd Street” bet, ranging from one to three times the ante.
- The first community card is revealed.
- The player may fold or make a “4th Street” bet, once again ranging from one to three times the ante.
- The second community card is revealed.
- The player may fold or make a “5th Street” bet, with the same betting options as before.
- The third and final community card is revealed.
- All wagers are paid out according to the provided pay table.
Mississippi Stud Pay Table
| HAND | PAYS |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| Straight | 4 to 1 |
| Three of a Kind | 3 to 1 |
| Two Pairs | 2 to 1 |
| Pair of Jacks or Better | 1 to 1 |
| Pair of 6s thru 10s | Push |
| All other | Loss |
Playing Online For Real Money
Mississippi Stud may not be commonly found at online casinos, but it is available at select brands such as:
- All British Casino
- KarlCasino
- Videoslots
- Royal Panda
- YakoCasino
- No Bonus Casino
- Jackpotjoy
Strategy
The strategy below was developed by Joseph Kisenwether, and it’s authorized for publication here. This strategy is considered optimal.
Card Values:
High: J to A = 2 points
Mid: 6 to 10 = 1 point
Low: 2 to 5 = 0 points
Here’s the strategy based on the provided card values:
Raise 3x with any pair.
Raise 1x with at least two points.
Raise 1x with 6/5 suited. Fold all others.
3 Cards
- Raise 3x with any made hand (mid pair or higher).
- Raise 3x with royal flush draw.
- Raise 3x with straight flush draw, with no gaps, 567 or higher.
- Raise 3x with straight flush draw, with one gap, and at least one high card.
- Raise 3x with straight flush draw, with two gaps, and at least two high cards.
- Raise 1x with any other three suited cards.
- Raise 1x with a low pair.
- Raise 1x with at least three points.
- Raise 1x with a straight draw, with no gaps, 456 or higher.
- Raise 1x with a straight draw, with one gap, and two mid cards.
- Fold all others.
4 Cards
- Raise 3x with any made hand (mid pair or higher).
- Raise 3x with any four to a flush.
- Raise 3x with four to an outside straight, 8 high or better.
- Raise 1x with any other straight draw.
- Raise 1x with a low pair.
- Raise 1x with at least four points.
- Raise 1x with three mid cards and at least one previous 3x raise.
- Fold all others.
The following graphic version of my strategy was created and used with permission by Ray A.
Analysis
The following table shows number of combinations, probability, and contribution to the return of every possible hand and sequence of bets.
Mississippi Stud Return Table
| 3rd St. | 4th St. | 5th St. | Hand | Pays | Combinations | Probability | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 1 | Loser | -4 | 43594056 | 0.279561 | -1.118244 |
| 1 | 1 | 1 | Pair 6-10 | 0 | 5078808 | 0.032569 | 0 |
| 1 | 1 | 1 | Pair J-A | 4 | 5396544 | 0.034607 | 0.138428 |
| 1 | 1 | 1 | Two pair | 8 | 489888 | 0.003142 | 0.025133 |
| 1 | 1 | 1 | Three of a kind | 12 | 163296 | 0.001047 | 0.012566 |
| 1 | 1 | 1 | Straight | 16 | 216288 | 0.001387 | 0.022192 |
| 1 | 1 | 1 | Flush | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1 | 1 | 1 | Full house | 40 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1 | 1 | 1 | Four of a kind | 160 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1 | 1 | 1 | Straight flush | 400 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1 | 1 | 1 | Royal flush | 2000 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1 | 1 | 3 | Loser | -6 | 1079292 | 0.006921 | -0.041528 |
| 1 | 1 | 3 | Pair 6-10 | 0 | 4761396 | 0.030534 | 0 |
| 1 | 1 | 3 | Pair J-A | 6 | 5033856 | 0.032281 | 0.193687 |
| 1 | 1 | 3 | Two pair | 12 | 1516536 | 0.009725 | 0.116703 |
| 1 | 1 | 3 | Three of a kind | 18 | 539832 | 0.003462 | 0.062313 |
| 1 | 1 | 3 | Straight | 24 | 130944 | 0.00084 | 0.020153 |
| 1 | 1 | 3 | Flush | 36 | 185808 | 0.001192 | 0.042896 |
| 1 | 1 | 3 | Full house | 60 | 14040 | 0.00009 | 0.005402 |
| 1 | 1 | 3 | Four of a kind | 240 | 1560 | 0.00001 | 0.002401 |
| 1 | 1 | 3 | Straight flush | 600 | 672 | 0.000004 | 0.002586 |
| 1 | 1 | 3 | Royal flush | 3000 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1 | 1 | Fold | n/a | -3 | 7569216 | 0.04854 | -0.14562 |
| 1 | 3 | 1 | Loser | -6 | 261252 | 0.001675 | -0.010052 |
| 1 | 3 | 1 | Pair 6-10 | 0 | 34236 | 0.00022 | 0 |
| 1 | 3 | 1 | Pair J-A | 6 | 41760 | 0.000268 | 0.001607 |
| 1 | 3 | 1 | Two pair | 12 | 144 | 0.000001 | 0.000011 |
| 1 | 3 | 1 | Three of a kind | 18 | 48 | 0 | 0.000006 |
| 1 | 3 | 1 | Straight | 24 | 6432 | 0.000041 | 0.00099 |
| 1 | 3 | 1 | Flush | 36 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1 | 3 | 1 | Full house | 60 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1 | 3 | 1 | Four of a kind | 240 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1 | 3 | 1 | Straight flush | 600 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1 | 3 | 1 | Royal flush | 3000 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1 | 3 | 3 | Loser | -8 | 88644 | 0.000568 | -0.004548 |
| 1 | 3 | 3 | Pair 6-10 | 0 | 3459060 | 0.022182 | 0 |
| 1 | 3 | 3 | Pair J-A | 8 | 4124256 | 0.026448 | 0.211585 |
| 1 | 3 | 3 | Two pair | 16 | 1691352 | 0.010846 | 0.173541 |
| 1 | 3 | 3 | Three of a kind | 24 | 750168 | 0.004811 | 0.115457 |
| 1 | 3 | 3 | Straight | 32 | 7968 | 0.000051 | 0.001635 |
| 1 | 3 | 3 | Flush | 48 | 22440 | 0.000144 | 0.006907 |
| 1 | 3 | 3 | Full house | 80 | 76248 | 0.000489 | 0.039117 |
| 1 | 3 | 3 | Four of a kind | 320 | 8472 | 0.000054 | 0.017385 |
| 1 | 3 | 3 | Straight flush | 800 | 720 | 0.000005 | 0.003694 |
| 1 | 3 | 3 | Royal flush | 4000 | 240 | 0.000002 | 0.006156 |
| 1 | 3 | Fold | n/a | -5 | 1152 | 0.000007 | -0.000037 |
| 1 | Fold | n/a | n/a | -2 | 11966976 | 0.076742 | -0.153484 |
| 3 | 1 | 1 | Loser | -6 | 2027520 | 0.013002 | -0.078013 |
| 3 | 1 | 1 | Pair 6-10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | 1 | 1 | Pair J-A | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | 1 | 1 | Two pair | 12 | 304128 | 0.00195 | 0.023404 |
| 3 | 1 | 1 | Three of a kind | 18 | 101376 | 0.00065 | 0.011702 |
| 3 | 1 | 1 | Straight | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | 1 | 1 | Flush | 36 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | 1 | 1 | Full house | 60 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | 1 | 1 | Four of a kind | 240 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | 1 | 1 | Straight flush | 600 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | 1 | 1 | Royal flush | 3000 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | 1 | 3 | Loser | -8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | 1 | 3 | Pair 6-10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | 1 | 3 | Pair J-A | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | 1 | 3 | Two pair | 16 | 152064 | 0.000975 | 0.015603 |
| 3 | 1 | 3 | Three of a kind | 24 | 101376 | 0.00065 | 0.015603 |
| 3 | 1 | 3 | Straight | 32 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | 1 | 3 | Flush | 48 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | 1 | 3 | Full house | 80 | 20736 | 0.000133 | 0.010638 |
| 3 | 1 | 3 | Four of a kind | 320 | 2304 | 0.000015 | 0.004728 |
| 3 | 1 | 3 | Straight flush | 800 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | 1 | 3 | Royal flush | 4000 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | 1 | Fold | n/a | -5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | 3 | 1 | Loser | -8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | 3 | 1 | Pair 6-10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | 3 | 1 | Pair J-A | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | 3 | 1 | Two pair | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | 3 | 1 | Three of a kind | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | 3 | 1 | Straight | 32 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | 3 | 1 | Flush | 48 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | 3 | 1 | Full house | 80 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | 3 | 1 | Four of a kind | 320 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | 3 | 1 | Straight flush | 800 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | 3 | 1 | Royal flush | 4000 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | 3 | 3 | Loser | -10 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | 3 | 3 | Pair 6-10 | 0 | 2534400 | 0.016253 | 0 |
| 3 | 3 | 3 | Pair J-A | 10 | 2027520 | 0.013002 | 0.130021 |
| 3 | 3 | 3 | Two pair | 20 | 1026432 | 0.006582 | 0.131647 |
| 3 | 3 | 3 | Three of a kind | 30 | 785664 | 0.005038 | 0.15115 |
| 3 | 3 | 3 | Straight | 40 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | 3 | 3 | Flush | 60 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | 3 | 3 | Full house | 100 | 69120 | 0.000443 | 0.044325 |
| 3 | 3 | 3 | Four of a kind | 400 | 20160 | 0.000129 | 0.051713 |
| 3 | 3 | 3 | Straight flush | 1000 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | 3 | 3 | Royal flush | 5000 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | 3 | Fold | n/a | -7 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | Fold | n/a | n/a | -4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fold | n/a | n/a | n/a | -1 | 48451200 | 0.310709 | -0.310709 |
| Total | 155937600 | 1 | -0.049149 |
The lower right cell shows a house edge of 4.91%. On average, the player will bet 3.59 units per hand. The ratio of the expected loss to total amount bet, what I call the “element of risk,” is 4.91%/3.59 = 1.37%.
The following tables show the expected value of raising one unit and three units on all possible starting hands. The player should make the play with the higher expected value. If both are less than -1, then the player should fold.
Unsuited Hands — Expected Values
| Higher Card |
Lower Card |
Raise 1X | Raise 3X |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 2 | -1.716327 | -3.333061 |
| 4 | 2 | -1.716327 | -3.333061 |
| 5 | 2 | -1.716327 | -3.333061 |
| 6 | 2 | -1.389592 | -2.67898 |
| 7 | 2 | -1.389592 | -2.705918 |
| 8 | 2 | -1.389592 | -2.705918 |
| 9 | 2 | -1.389592 | -2.705918 |
| 10 | 2 | -1.389592 | -2.705918 |
| J | 2 | -0.901429 | -1.810408 |
| Q | 2 | -0.901429 | -1.810408 |
| K | 2 | -0.901429 | -1.810408 |
| A | 2 | -0.901429 | -1.722245 |
| 4 | 3 | -1.716327 | -3.262041 |
| 5 | 3 | -1.716327 | -3.262041 |
| 6 | 3 | -1.389592 | -2.587551 |
| 7 | 3 | -1.389592 | -2.653673 |
| 8 | 3 | -1.389592 | -2.705918 |
| 9 | 3 | -1.389592 | -2.705918 |
| 10 | 3 | -1.389592 | -2.705918 |
| J | 3 | -0.901429 | -1.810408 |
| Q | 3 | -0.901429 | -1.810408 |
| K | 3 | -0.901429 | -1.810408 |
| A | 3 | -0.901429 | -1.722245 |
| 5 | 4 | -1.710204 | -3.186122 |
| 6 | 4 | -1.370952 | -2.492857 |
| 7 | 4 | -1.377075 | -2.55898 |
| 8 | 4 | -1.389592 | -2.63 |
| 9 | 4 | -1.389592 | -2.705918 |
| 10 | 4 | -1.389592 | -2.705918 |
| J | 4 | -0.901429 | -1.810408 |
| Q | 4 | -0.901429 | -1.810408 |
| K | 4 | -0.901429 | -1.810408 |
| A | 4 | -0.901429 | -1.722245 |
| 6 | 5 | -1.336122 | -2.394354 |
| 7 | 5 | -1.342245 | -2.460476 |
| 8 | 5 | -1.360748 | -2.531497 |
| 9 | 5 | -1.389592 | -2.607959 |
| 10 | 5 | -1.389592 | -2.705918 |
| J | 5 | -0.901429 | -1.810408 |
| Q | 5 | -0.901429 | -1.810408 |
| K | 5 | -0.901429 | -1.810408 |
| A | 5 | -0.901429 | -1.722245 |
| 7 | 6 | -0.78517 | -1.51932 |
| 8 | 6 | -0.81619 | -1.610748 |
| 9 | 6 | -0.85102 | -1.705986 |
| 10 | 6 | -0.893469 | -1.806122 |
| J | 6 | -0.357959 | -0.927755 |
| Q | 6 | -0.357959 | -0.927755 |
| K | 6 | -0.357959 | -0.927755 |
| A | 6 | -0.357959 | -0.927755 |
| 8 | 7 | -0.748707 | -1.510612 |
| 9 | 7 | -0.783537 | -1.60585 |
| 10 | 7 | -0.825986 | -1.705986 |
| J | 7 | -0.292653 | -0.829796 |
| Q | 7 | -0.357959 | -0.927755 |
| K | 7 | -0.357959 | -0.927755 |
| A | 7 | -0.357959 | -0.927755 |
| 9 | 8 | -0.714422 | -1.504082 |
| 10 | 8 | -0.756871 | -1.604218 |
| J | 8 | -0.223537 | -0.728027 |
| Q | 8 | -0.292653 | -0.829796 |
| K | 8 | -0.357959 | -0.927755 |
| A | 8 | -0.357959 | -0.927755 |
| 10 | 9 | -0.686122 | -1.500816 |
| J | 9 | -0.152789 | -0.624626 |
| Q | 9 | -0.221905 | -0.726395 |
| K | 9 | -0.292653 | -0.829796 |
| A | 9 | -0.357959 | -0.927755 |
| J | 10 | -0.080408 | -0.519592 |
| Q | 10 | -0.149524 | -0.621361 |
| K | 10 | -0.220272 | -0.724762 |
| A | 10 | -0.292653 | -0.829796 |
| Q | J | 0.581905 | 0.374558 |
| K | J | 0.511156 | 0.271156 |
| A | J | 0.438776 | 0.166122 |
| K | Q | 0.511156 | 0.271156 |
| A | Q | 0.438776 | 0.166122 |
| A | K | 0.438776 | 0.166122 |
Suited Hands — Expected Values
| Higher Card |
Lower Card |
Raise 1X | Raise 3X |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 2 | -1.478367 | -2.884286 |
| 4 | 2 | -1.478367 | -2.884286 |
| 5 | 2 | -1.478367 | -2.884286 |
| 6 | 2 | -1.133265 | -2.243571 |
| 7 | 2 | -1.173367 | -2.322041 |
| 8 | 2 | -1.173367 | -2.322041 |
| 9 | 2 | -1.173367 | -2.322041 |
| 10 | 2 | -1.173367 | -2.322041 |
| J | 2 | -0.633265 | -1.406939 |
| Q | 2 | -0.633265 | -1.406939 |
| K | 2 | -0.633265 | -1.406939 |
| A | 2 | -0.591327 | -1.279796 |
| 4 | 3 | -1.435816 | -2.770306 |
| 5 | 3 | -1.435816 | -2.770306 |
| 6 | 3 | -1.090102 | -2.113367 |
| 7 | 3 | -1.132041 | -2.222755 |
| 8 | 3 | -1.173367 | -2.322041 |
| 9 | 3 | -1.173367 | -2.322041 |
| 10 | 3 | -1.173367 | -2.322041 |
| J | 3 | -0.633265 | -1.406939 |
| Q | 3 | -0.633265 | -1.406939 |
| K | 3 | -0.633265 | -1.406939 |
| A | 3 | -0.591327 | -1.279796 |
| 5 | 4 | -1.388061 | -2.651735 |
| 6 | 4 | -1.032347 | -1.980102 |
| 7 | 4 | -1.078878 | -2.08949 |
| 8 | 4 | -1.130816 | -2.203469 |
| 9 | 4 | -1.173367 | -2.322041 |
| 10 | 4 | -1.173367 | -2.322041 |
| J | 4 | -0.633265 | -1.406939 |
| Q | 4 | -0.633265 | -1.406939 |
| K | 4 | -0.633265 | -1.406939 |
| A | 4 | -0.591327 | -1.279796 |
| 6 | 5 | -0.960000 | -1.841224 |
| 7 | 5 | -1.006531 | -1.950612 |
| 8 | 5 | -1.064694 | -2.066633 |
| 9 | 5 | -1.129592 | -2.185714 |
| 10 | 5 | -1.173367 | -2.322041 |
| J | 5 | -0.633265 | -1.406939 |
| Q | 5 | -0.633265 | -1.406939 |
| K | 5 | -0.633265 | -1.406939 |
| A | 5 | -0.591327 | -1.279796 |
| 7 | 6 | -0.385306 | -0.953810 |
| 8 | 6 | -0.453469 | -1.086054 |
| 9 | 6 | -0.529082 | -1.225578 |
| 10 | 6 | -0.605714 | -1.364898 |
| J | 6 | -0.068367 | -0.519082 |
| Q | 6 | -0.068367 | -0.519082 |
| K | 6 | -0.068367 | -0.519082 |
| A | 6 | -0.068367 | -0.519082 |
| 8 | 7 | -0.351531 | -0.941463 |
| 9 | 7 | -0.427143 | -1.080986 |
| 10 | 7 | -0.509082 | -1.225578 |
| J | 7 | 0.026224 | -0.382755 |
| Q | 7 | -0.068367 | -0.519082 |
| K | 7 | -0.068367 | -0.519082 |
| A | 7 | -0.068367 | -0.519082 |
| 9 | 8 | -0.319626 | -0.930986 |
| 10 | 8 | -0.401565 | -1.075578 |
| J | 8 | 0.135578 | -0.231667 |
| Q | 8 | 0.028707 | -0.380272 |
| K | 8 | -0.068367 | -0.519082 |
| A | 8 | -0.068367 | -0.519082 |
| 10 | 9 | -0.291769 | -0.924048 |
| J | 9 | 0.249252 | -0.076259 |
| Q | 9 | 0.140986 | -0.226259 |
| K | 9 | 0.031190 | -0.377789 |
| A | 9 | -0.068367 | -0.519082 |
| J | 10 | 0.527721 | 0.284762 |
| Q | 10 | 0.419456 | 0.134762 |
| K | 10 | 0.30966 | -0.016769 |
| A | 10 | 0.196939 | -0.171224 |
| Q | J | 1.170816 | 1.149388 |
| K | J | 1.057143 | 0.99398 |
| A | J | 0.941939 | 0.837041 |
| K | Q | 1.057143 | 0.99398 |
| A | Q | 0.941939 | 0.837041 |
| A | K | 0.941939 | 0.837041 |
Pairs — Expected Values
| Higher Card |
Lower Card |
Raise 1X | Raise 3X |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 2 | 1.929796 | 2.177959 |
| 3 | 3 | 1.929796 | 2.177959 |
| 4 | 4 | 1.929796 | 2.177959 |
| 5 | 5 | 1.929796 | 2.177959 |
| 6 | 6 | 6.739592 | 8.424490 |
| 7 | 7 | 6.739592 | 8.42449 |
| 8 | 8 | 6.739592 | 8.424490 |
| 9 | 9 | 6.739592 | 8.424490 |
| 10 | 10 | 6.739592 | 8.424490 |
| J | J | 12.486531 | 15.608163 |
| Q | Q | 12.486531 | 15.608163 |
| K | K | 12.486531 | 15.608163 |
| A | A | 12.486531 | 15.608163 |
Acknowledgements
Scientific Games, for providing me with their math report by Elliot Frome. I have some minor disagreements with the report, but it was helpful in my analysis.
Joseph Kisenwether, for providing the strategy posted here, and for correcting an earlier mistake in my analysis.
Links
- discountgambling.net: Outstanding page on collusion in Mississippi Stud. According to this site, the player can have a 1.5%+ edge with knowledge of the other player’s cards.
- Game demo that teaches optimal strategy.