Mississippi Stud Calculator: Optimal Strategy Guide (2026)
Mississippi Stud Calculator: Maximize Your Betting Decisions
Mississippi Stud lets you bet up to 10x your ante through four decision points. Our calculator shows optimal bet sizing for each street, helping you minimize the 4.91% house edge through strategic multi-street wagering.
What Is Mississippi Stud?
Mississippi Stud is a poker-based table game where you build a five-card hand using two hole cards and three community cards. You can bet 1x-3x ante at three decision points.
Quick Answer: Mississippi Stud strategy depends on your hand strength at each decision: Bet 3x with made hands or strong draws, 1x with marginal hands, fold with nothing. Key thresholds: Premium pairs (6+) bet 3x; any made pair bets 1x; big cards with potential bet 1x. House edge is 4.91%.
How to Use Our Mississippi Stud Calculator
Use the Mississippi Stud Calculator →
Enter your cards at each street to see optimal bet decisions.
Step-by-Step Instructions
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Enter Your Two Hole Cards: Starting hand
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View 3rd Street Decision: Bet 1x, 3x, or fold
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Enter Community Card 1: First community card
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View 4th Street Decision: Bet 1x, 3x, or fold
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Enter Community Card 2: Second community card
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View 5th Street Decision: Bet 1x, 3x, or fold
Input Fields Explained
| Field | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Hole Cards | Your two cards | J♠ J♦ |
| 3rd Street Bet | First decision | 3x |
| Community 1 | First community | K♥ |
| 4th Street Bet | Second decision | 3x |
| Community 2 | Second community | 7♣ |
| 5th Street Bet | Third decision | 3x |
| Final Hand | Result | Pair of Jacks |
Mississippi Stud Rules
Game Flow
- Ante: Place mandatory ante bet
- Deal: Receive 2 hole cards
- 3rd Street: Bet 1x-3x or fold (see 1 community card)
- 4th Street: Bet 1x-3x or fold (see 2nd community card)
- 5th Street: Bet 1x-3x or fold (see final community card)
- Showdown: Five-card hand evaluated
Maximum Bet Structure
| Decision | Minimum | Maximum | Total Possible |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ante | 1x | 1x | 1x |
| 3rd Street | 1x | 3x | 4x |
| 4th Street | 1x | 3x | 7x |
| 5th Street | 1x | 3x | 10x |
You can bet up to 10 units total per hand.
Mississippi Stud Payouts
Standard Pay Table
| Hand | Payout | Multiplier |
|---|---|---|
| Royal Flush | 500:1 | 500x total bet |
| Straight Flush | 100:1 | 100x total bet |
| Four of a Kind | 40:1 | 40x total bet |
| Full House | 10:1 | 10x total bet |
| Flush | 6:1 | 6x total bet |
| Straight | 4:1 | 4x total bet |
| Three of a Kind | 3:1 | 3x total bet |
| Two Pair | 2:1 | 2x total bet |
| Pair of Jacks+ | 1:1 | 1x total bet |
| Pair of 6s-10s | Push | Return bets |
| Less than 6s | Lose | Lose all bets |
Payout Example
Ante: $10 Total bet: $10 (ante) + $30 (3x) + $30 (3x) + $30 (3x) = $100 Hand: Flush
- Payout: $100 × 6 = $600
- Plus return of $100 bets = $700 total
Optimal Strategy: 3rd Street
After Seeing Your 2 Hole Cards
Bet 3x With:
| Hand Type | Examples |
|---|---|
| Any pair 6s or higher | 6-6, J-J, A-A |
| Any two cards J or higher | Q-J, K-Q, A-K |
Bet 1x With:
| Hand Type | Examples |
|---|---|
| Pair of 2s-5s | 3-3, 5-5 |
| Two mid cards (6-10) suited | 7♠-9♠, 8♥-10♥ |
| One high card (J+) with mid card (6+) | J-8, A-6 |
| 6-5 suited | 6♠-5♠ |
Fold With:
| Hand Type | Examples |
|---|---|
| Two low cards unsuited | 2-7, 3-4 |
| No pair, no high card potential | 4-9, 2-8 |
Optimal Strategy: 4th Street
After Seeing First Community Card (3 Cards Total)
Bet 3x With:
| Hand Type | Examples |
|---|---|
| Made pair 6s+ | J-J-x |
| Four to a flush | Three suited + community suited |
| Four to an outside straight | 5-6-7-8 possibility |
| Three to a royal flush | K♠-Q♠-J♠ |
Bet 1x With:
| Hand Type | Examples |
|---|---|
| Low pair (2s-5s) | 4-4-K |
| Three to a flush | Two suited + one suited community |
| Two high cards (J+) | K-Q-7 |
| Inside straight draw with 2 high | K-Q-10-x |
Fold With:
| Hand Type | Examples |
|---|---|
| No pair, no draws | 4-9-2 unsuited |
| Only one high card, no draws | J-4-2 |
Optimal Strategy: 5th Street
After Seeing Second Community Card (4 Cards Total)
Bet 3x With:
| Hand Type | Examples |
|---|---|
| Made pair 6s+ | Pair of 8s, etc. |
| Four to a flush | One card to complete |
| Four to an outside straight | One card to complete |
| Any made hand (two pair+) | Automatic 3x |
Bet 1x With:
| Hand Type | Examples |
|---|---|
| Low pair (2s-5s) | Pair of 4s |
| Three high cards | K-Q-J-x |
| Inside straight draw | Q-J-9-8 |
Fold With:
| Hand Type | Examples |
|---|---|
| No pair, weak draws | Fold is rare here |
| Truly hopeless | 2-4-7-9 unsuited |
Real-World Examples
Example 1: Premium Pair
Hole Cards: Q♠ Q♦ 3rd Street: Bet 3x (pair 6s+)
Community 1: 8♣ 4th Street: Bet 3x (made pair)
Community 2: K♥ 5th Street: Bet 3x (made pair Jacks+)
Community 3: 2♦ Final Hand: Pair of Queens - pays 1:1
Example 2: Developing Hand
Hole Cards: A♠ K♠ 3rd Street: Bet 3x (two Jacks+)
Community 1: 5♠ 4th Street: Bet 3x (three to flush, two high)
Community 2: 9♠ 5th Street: Bet 3x (four to flush)
Community 3: 3♣ Final Hand: Ace high - LOSE
Analysis: Even with proper strategy, draws miss. Bet sizing was correct.
Example 3: Marginal Fold
Hole Cards: 4♦ 9♣ 3rd Street: Fold
Reasoning: No pair, no suited, no high cards = automatic fold.
Example 4: Low Pair Play
Hole Cards: 5♥ 5♣ 3rd Street: Bet 1x (pair 2s-5s)
Community 1: K♦ 4th Street: Bet 1x (still just low pair)
Community 2: 5♦ 5th Street: Bet 3x (three of a kind!)
Final Hand: Trip 5s - pays 3:1
House Edge Analysis
Base Game: 4.91%
| Factor | Impact |
|---|---|
| Multi-street betting | Primary edge source |
| Minimum pair requirement (6s) | Key loss generator |
| Big payouts for big hands | Partial offset |
Compared to Other Games
| Game | House Edge |
|---|---|
| Blackjack (basic strategy) | 0.5% |
| Let It Ride | 3.51% |
| Three Card Poker | 3.37% |
| Mississippi Stud | 4.91% |
| Caribbean Stud | 5.22% |
3 Card Bonus Bet
Optional Side Bet
Some tables offer a 3 Card Bonus based on your two cards + first community:
| Hand | Typical Payout |
|---|---|
| Mini Royal | 50:1 |
| Straight Flush | 40:1 |
| Three of a Kind | 30:1 |
| Straight | 6:1 |
| Flush | 4:1 |
| Pair | 1:1 |
House edge: 3.5-7% depending on pay table.
Common Mistakes
1. Betting 3x with Low Pairs
Mistake: "I have a pair, bet max" Reality: Pairs 2-5 only justify 1x Fix: 3x reserved for 6s+ or premium draws
2. Chasing Every Draw
Mistake: Betting 3x with inside straights Reality: Inside straights need premium context Fix: Only bet 3x on outside straights, 4-flushes
3. Folding Too Early
Mistake: Folding marginal hands at 3rd street Reality: Mid suited connectors have value Fix: 1x bet keeps you in cheaply
4. Ignoring the Push
Mistake: Thinking 6-10 pairs are losers Reality: They push—return your bets Fix: Value pairs 6-10 appropriately
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the house edge higher than Let It Ride?
More betting streets mean more money at risk. You can bet up to 10x vs Let It Ride's 3x maximum.
Should I always bet 3x with made pairs?
Only with 6s or better. Pairs 2-5 only warrant 1x because they only push, not win.
When should I ever fold?
Only at 3rd street with truly terrible hands (no pair, no high cards, unsuited, no straight potential).
Is the 3 Card Bonus worth it?
At 3.5% edge, it's better than most side bets. Not recommended for serious play, but not terrible for entertainment.
What's the minimum hand to win?
Pair of Jacks or better wins 1:1. Pairs 6-10 push (return bets). Below 6s loses.
How much bankroll do I need?
With 10x ante possible, bring 50-75 units minimum per session.
Variance Considerations
Understanding Volatility
| Betting Pattern | Variance |
|---|---|
| Always bet 1x | Low |
| Mixed (optimal) | Moderate-High |
| Always bet 3x | Very High |
Session Bankroll
| Risk Level | Recommended |
|---|---|
| Conservative | 100 units |
| Moderate | 75 units |
| Aggressive | 50 units |
Pro Tips
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Memorize the thresholds: 6+ pairs = 3x; J+ high cards = 3x; low pairs = 1x
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Don't over-bet draws: 3x for strong draws only
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Fold early when needed: Bad 3rd street? Cut losses
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Enjoy the ride: 10x bets can mean big swings
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Track your play: Know your win/loss patterns
Related Calculators
- Let It Ride Calculator - Similar structure
- Three Card Poker Calculator - Simpler game
- Caribbean Stud Calculator - Five-card poker
- Texas Hold'em Calculator - Same community cards
- Casino House Edge Calculator - Compare games
Conclusion
Mississippi Stud rewards proper bet sizing across multiple streets. Our calculator shows optimal 1x/3x/fold decisions at each point, helping you minimize the 4.91% house edge. Master the thresholds: premium pairs and high cards get 3x; marginal hands get 1x; trash gets folded.
Calculate Your Mississippi Stud Decisions Now →
The key to Mississippi Stud is understanding that 10x betting is a double-edged sword. Bet big when you should, bet small when you shouldn't, and fold the truly hopeless hands at 3rd street.
