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Mississippi Stud strategy
The best Mississippi Stud strategy uses points: jacks through aces are worth 2, 6s through 10s are worth 1, and 2s through 5s are worth 0. Raise 3x when your hand already pays or has a strong draw, raise 1x when you have enough points or a weaker draw, and fold the rest. You never raise 2x.
The points
| Cards | Name | Points |
|---|---|---|
| J, Q, K, A | High | 2 |
| 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 | Middle | 1 |
| 2, 3, 4, 5 | Low | 0 |
Add up the points of the cards you can see: yours and the community cards turned so far. High cards matter because a pair of them pays. Middle cards make pushes. Low cards do neither.
3rd street: your two cards
- Raise 3x with any pair.
- Raise 1x with 2 points or more, or with 6-5 suited.
- Fold everything else.
- 4♣4♦ Any pair: raise 3x.
- Q♥3♠ One high card, 2 points: raise 1x.
- 9♠7♦ Two middle cards, 2 points: raise 1x.
- 6♥5♥ 6-5 suited: raise 1x. Offsuit, it is 1 point: fold.
- 10♣4♦ 1 point: fold.
4th street: three cards
Raise 3x with:
- A paying or pushing hand: a pair of 6s or better, or three of a kind
- Three suited cards from 10 to ace (a royal flush draw)
- Three suited cards in a row, 5-6-7 or higher
- Three suited cards with one gap and at least one high card
- Three suited cards with two gaps and at least two high cards
Raise 1x with any other three suited cards, a pair of 2s through 5s, 3 points or more, three cards in a row from 4-5-6 up, or three cards with one gap and two middle cards. Fold the rest.
- 9♠7♦9♥ A pair of 9s already pushes: raise 3x.
- J♥8♥Q♥ Suited, two gaps, two high cards: raise 3x.
- 6♥5♥2♥ Three suited cards, no high card: raise 1x.
- 6♥5♥8♣ 5-6-8 has one gap and two middle cards: raise 1x.
- 9♠7♦2♣ 2 points and no draw: fold.
5th street: four cards
Raise 3x with a pair of 6s or better (or anything bigger), any four to a flush, or four in a row from 5-6-7-8 up to 10-J-Q-K.
Raise 1x with any other straight draw, a pair of 2s through 5s, 4 points or more, or three middle cards if you raised 3x earlier in the hand. Fold the rest.
- K♠9♦K♥4♣ A pair of kings already pays: raise 3x.
- 6♥5♥2♥J♥ Four to a flush: raise 3x.
- 6♥5♥4♣7♦ 4-5-6-7 is open at both ends but 7 high: raise 1x.
- 10♥8♥9♥2♣ Three middle cards after a 3x raise on 4th street: raise 1x.
- Q♥3♠7♦2♣ 3 points and no draw: fold.
Why never 2x
Each raise is paid at the same odds as your final hand. When a hand is likely to pay, the biggest raise earns the most. When it is only a maybe, the smallest raise is the cheapest way to see the next card. A 2x raise is never better than one of those two.
Never fold a paying hand
Once your cards hold a pair of 6s or better, the hand can't lose: the worst it can do is push. Every such hand gets a 3x raise on every street that follows.
Where the strategy comes from
This point system was worked out by Joseph Kisenwether and published by the Wizard of Odds, who checked it against perfect play. Our own count of every possible deal under it gives the lowest house edge the game allows: 4.91% of the Ante. Mississippi Stud odds.
A note on aces
An ace is a high card. But a suited draw that needs the ace to play low, like A♠2♠4♠, is not a strong straight flush draw. Play it like any other three suited cards: raise 1x.
Make it automatic
The rules look long, but most hands are quick: pairs and points. Our free table grades every fold and raise against this strategy, and in Practice "Show me the right play" shows the answer before you choose. The strategy as a chart · Practice with hints.
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Questions
What is the best strategy for Mississippi Stud?
Count points: J to A are 2, 6 to 10 are 1, 2 to 5 are 0. Raise 3x with a paying hand or strong draw, raise 1x with enough points or a weaker draw, and fold the rest.
When should you raise 3x in Mississippi Stud?
With any pair on your first two cards, and later with a pair of 6s or better, a strong straight flush draw on three cards, four to a flush, or four in a row from 5-6-7-8 up.
Should you ever raise 2x in Mississippi Stud?
No. The best strategy only raises 1x or 3x. A 2x raise is never better than one of those.
What is the point system in Mississippi Stud?
High cards (J, Q, K, A) are 2 points, middle cards (6 to 10) are 1 point, low cards (2 to 5) are 0. You raise 1x with 2 points on two cards, 3 on three cards and 4 on four cards.
What hands do you fold in Mississippi Stud?
On your first two cards, fold anything under 2 points that isn't a pair or 6-5 suited, such as 10-4 or 7-3. That is about 31% of starting hands.
Is the Wizard of Odds Mississippi Stud strategy the best?
Yes. His point system matches perfect play: it gives a house edge of 4.91% of the Ante, the lowest possible.
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