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Delaware Stud is a hybrid of Hold'em and stud. Each player gets two hole cards and a three-card flop is dealt to the table, then each player gets one more card face up and a last card face down, with four betting rounds in all. Players make the best five-card hand using at least two of their own four cards.
Delaware Stud was contributed to pagat.com by a reader credited as Mr. White. It is played with a standard 52-card deck and no wild cards.
Each player receives four cards of their own, and three community cards are dealt to the table. The best five-card hand, formed under rule 4.1, wins the pot.
The game uses blinds and a dealer button, as in Texas Hold'em. Its four betting rounds and forced bets make it suitable for tournament play.
The blinds are posted and each player is dealt two cards face down.
After the first betting round, the dealer burns a card and deals a three-card flop face up in the centre of the table.
After the second betting round, each active player is dealt one card face up, as on sixth street in Seven Card Stud.
After the third betting round, the dealer burns a card and deals each active player a final card face down, the river. The fourth and last betting round follows.
| Round | Cards dealt before it | Like |
|---|---|---|
| 1st betting round | Two hole cards each | Hold'em pre-flop |
| 2nd betting round | Burn; three-card flop | Hold'em flop |
| 3rd betting round | One card face up to each player | Stud sixth street |
| 4th betting round | Burn; one card face down to each player | Stud river |
The first betting round follows the Hold'em blind structure: the player to the left of the big blind acts first, and the big blind has the option.
The source does not say who acts first on later rounds. The usual practice, as in Hold'em, is the first active player to the left of the button. The dealer shall announce the order before the deal.
Any betting structure may be used. The dealer shall announce it before the deal.
Each player's hand must include at least two of their own four cards. A player may form their hand in any of these ways:
4.1(a) two of their own cards with all three community cards;
4.1(b) three of their own cards with two community cards; or
4.1(c) all four of their own cards with one community card.
A player may not play the board, and may not use only one of their own cards.
The highest five-card hand wins the pot. Ties are split as in Texas Hold'em.
Counting own cards
Flop: K♥9♥4♣
Player A's four cards are A♥2♥7♥Q♥. A plays A♥Q♥7♥ from their own cards with the K♥9♥ from the flop: an ace-high flush, A-K-Q-9-7. That uses three own cards and two community cards, which is allowed.
Player B's four cards are K♦K♠4♦9♣. B plays K♦K♠9♣ with the K♥9♥: kings full of nines, again three own cards and two community cards.
A full house beats a flush, so Player B wins.
At least two. You may use two, three or all four of your own cards with three, two or one of the community cards.
No. There are only three community cards, and you must use at least two of your own cards.
Four: after the hole cards, after the flop, after the face-up card and after the face-down river card.
Where any doubt remains in the application of this document, Rob is right.
Hand rankings, high to low: royal flush · straight flush · four of a kind · full house · flush · straight · three of a kind · two pair · one pair · high card. Suits never break ties.
Delaware Stud Rules · OPR-519 · officialpokerrules.com/delaware-stud/