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Introduction

Mississippi Stud is a popular poker-based table game by Scientific Games. The game is simple to play. Wins are based only on the player's final five card hand. The skill is in deciding how much to raise, or fold, as the cards are revealed.

Equus is a play by Peter Shaffer written in 1973, telling the story of a psychiatrist who attempts to treat a young man who has a pathological religious fascination with horses. 1 Shaffer was inspired to write Equus when he heard of a crime involving a 17-year-old who blinded six horses in a small town in Suffolk. We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us.

Rules

  1. Player makes ante wager.
  2. Dealer gives each player two cards face down, and three community cards face down. Player may examine his own cards.
  3. Player may fold or make a '3rd Street' bet, of one to three times the ante.
  4. First community card is turned over.
  5. Player may fold or make a '4th Street' bet, of one to three times the ante.
  6. Second community card is turned over.
  7. Player may fold or make a '5th Street' bet, of one to three times the ante.
  8. Third community card is turned over.
  9. All wagers paid according to the following pay table.

Video Tutorial

The Wizard of Odds demonstrates his Mississippi Stud demo game, showing the rules, odds, and strategy for the game.

Mississippi Stud Pay Table

HANDPAYS
Royal Flush500 to 1
Straight Flush100 to 1
Four of a Kind40 to 1
Full House10 to 1
Flush6 to 1
Straight4 to 1
Three of a Kind3 to 1
Two Pairs2 to 1
Pair of Jacks or Better1 to 1
Pair of 6s thru 10sPush
All otherLoss

Playing Online For Real Money

Mississippi Stud is not widely available at online casinos but it is available at these brands:

Strategy

The following strategy was created by Joseph Kisenwether, with permission to publish here. I can verify that this strategy is indeed optimal.

Card Values

  • High = J to A = 2 points
  • Mid = 6 to 10 = 1 point
  • Low = 2 to 5 = 0 points

2 Cards

Mississippi Stud Free Play
  1. Raise 3x with any pair.
  2. Raise 1x with at least two points.
  3. Raise 1x with 6/5 suited.
  4. Fold all others.

3 Cards

  1. Raise 3x with any made hand (mid pair or higher).
  2. Raise 3x with royal flush draw.
  3. Raise 3x with straight flush draw, with no gaps, 567 or higher.
  4. Raise 3x with straight flush draw, with one gap, and at least one high card.
  5. Raise 3x with straight flush draw, with two gaps, and at least two high cards.
  6. Raise 1x with any other three suited cards.
  7. Raise 1x with a low pair.
  8. Raise 1x with at least three points.
  9. Raise 1x with a straight draw, with no gaps, 456 or higher.
  10. Raise 1x with a straight draw, with one gap, and two mid cards.
  11. Fold all others.

4 Cards

  1. Raise 3x with any made hand (mid pair or higher).
  2. Raise 3x with any four to a flush.
  3. Raise 3x with four to an outside straight, 8 high or better.
  4. Raise 1x with any other straight draw.
  5. Raise 1x with a low pair.
  6. Raise 1x with at least four points.
  7. Raise 1x with three mid cards and at least one previous 3x raise.
  8. Fold all others.

The following graphic version of my strategy was created and used with permission by Ray A.


Click on image for larger version.

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.HandPaysCombinationsProbabilityReturn
111Loser-4435940560.279561-1.118244
111Pair 6-10050788080.0325690
111Pair J-A453965440.0346070.138428
111Two pair84898880.0031420.025133
111Three of a kind121632960.0010470.012566
111Straight162162880.0013870.022192
111Flush24000
111Full house40000
111Four of a kind160000
111Straight flush400000
111Royal flush2000000
113Loser-610792920.006921-0.041528
113Pair 6-10047613960.0305340
113Pair J-A650338560.0322810.193687
113Two pair1215165360.0097250.116703
113Three of a kind185398320.0034620.062313
113Straight241309440.000840.020153
113Flush361858080.0011920.042896
113Full house60140400.000090.005402
113Four of a kind24015600.000010.002401
113Straight flush6006720.0000040.002586
113Royal flush3000000
11Foldn/a-375692160.04854-0.14562
131Loser-62612520.001675-0.010052
131Pair 6-100342360.000220
131Pair J-A6417600.0002680.001607
131Two pair121440.0000010.000011
131Three of a kind184800.000006
131Straight2464320.0000410.00099
131Flush36000
131Full house60000
131Four of a kind240000
131Straight flush600000
131Royal flush3000000
133Loser-8886440.000568-0.004548
133Pair 6-10034590600.0221820
133Pair J-A841242560.0264480.211585
133Two pair1616913520.0108460.173541
133Three of a kind247501680.0048110.115457
133Straight3279680.0000510.001635
133Flush48224400.0001440.006907
133Full house80762480.0004890.039117
133Four of a kind32084720.0000540.017385
133Straight flush8007200.0000050.003694
133Royal flush40002400.0000020.006156
13Foldn/a-511520.000007-0.000037
1Foldn/an/a-2119669760.076742-0.153484
311Loser-620275200.013002-0.078013
311Pair 6-100000
311Pair J-A6000
311Two pair123041280.001950.023404
311Three of a kind181013760.000650.011702
311Straight24000
311Flush36000
311Full house60000
311Four of a kind240000
311Straight flush600000
311Royal flush3000000
313Loser-8000
313Pair 6-100000
313Pair J-A8000
313Two pair161520640.0009750.015603
313Three of a kind241013760.000650.015603
313Straight32000
313Flush48000
313Full house80207360.0001330.010638
313Four of a kind32023040.0000150.004728
313Straight flush800000
313Royal flush4000000
31Foldn/a-5000
331Loser-8000
331Pair 6-100000
331Pair J-A8000
331Two pair16000
331Three of a kind24000
331Straight32000
331Flush48000
331Full house80000
331Four of a kind320000
331Straight flush800000
331Royal flush4000000
333Loser-10000
333Pair 6-10025344000.0162530
333Pair J-A1020275200.0130020.130021
333Two pair2010264320.0065820.131647
333Three of a kind307856640.0050380.15115
333Straight40000
333Flush60000
333Full house100691200.0004430.044325
333Four of a kind400201600.0001290.051713
333Straight flush1000000
333Royal flush5000000
33Foldn/a-7000
3Foldn/an/a-4000
Foldn/an/an/a-1484512000.310709-0.310709
Total1559376001-0.049149

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 1XRaise 3X
32-1.716327-3.333061
42-1.716327-3.333061
52-1.716327-3.333061
62-1.389592-2.67898
72-1.389592-2.705918
82-1.389592-2.705918
92-1.389592-2.705918
102-1.389592-2.705918
J2-0.901429-1.810408
Q2-0.901429-1.810408
K2-0.901429-1.810408
A2-0.901429-1.722245
43-1.716327-3.262041
53-1.716327-3.262041
63-1.389592-2.587551
73-1.389592-2.653673
83-1.389592-2.705918
93-1.389592-2.705918
103-1.389592-2.705918
J3-0.901429-1.810408
Q3-0.901429-1.810408
K3-0.901429-1.810408
A3-0.901429-1.722245
54-1.710204-3.186122
64-1.370952-2.492857
74-1.377075-2.55898
84-1.389592-2.63
94-1.389592-2.705918
104-1.389592-2.705918
J4-0.901429-1.810408
Q4-0.901429-1.810408
K4-0.901429-1.810408
A4-0.901429-1.722245
65-1.336122-2.394354
75-1.342245-2.460476
85-1.360748-2.531497
95-1.389592-2.607959
105-1.389592-2.705918
J5-0.901429-1.810408
Q5-0.901429-1.810408
K5-0.901429-1.810408
A5-0.901429-1.722245
76-0.78517-1.51932
86-0.81619-1.610748
96-0.85102-1.705986
106-0.893469-1.806122
J6-0.357959-0.927755
Q6-0.357959-0.927755
K6-0.357959-0.927755
A6-0.357959-0.927755
87-0.748707-1.510612
97-0.783537-1.60585
107-0.825986-1.705986
J7-0.292653-0.829796
Q7-0.357959-0.927755
K7-0.357959-0.927755
A7-0.357959-0.927755
98-0.714422-1.504082
108-0.756871-1.604218
J8-0.223537-0.728027
Q8-0.292653-0.829796
K8-0.357959-0.927755
A8-0.357959-0.927755
109-0.686122-1.500816
J9-0.152789-0.624626
Q9-0.221905-0.726395
K9-0.292653-0.829796
A9-0.357959-0.927755
J10-0.080408-0.519592
Q10-0.149524-0.621361
K10-0.220272-0.724762
A10-0.292653-0.829796
QJ0.5819050.374558
KJ0.5111560.271156
AJ0.4387760.166122
KQ0.5111560.271156
AQ0.4387760.166122
AK0.4387760.166122

Suited Hands — Expected Values

Higher
Card
Lower
Card
Raise 1XRaise 3X
32-1.478367-2.884286
42-1.478367-2.884286
52-1.478367-2.884286
62-1.133265-2.243571
72-1.173367-2.322041
82-1.173367-2.322041
92-1.173367-2.322041
102-1.173367-2.322041
J2-0.633265-1.406939
Q2-0.633265-1.406939
K2-0.633265-1.406939
A2-0.591327-1.279796
43-1.435816-2.770306
53-1.435816-2.770306
63-1.090102-2.113367
73-1.132041-2.222755
83-1.173367-2.322041
93-1.173367-2.322041
103-1.173367-2.322041
J3-0.633265-1.406939
Q3-0.633265-1.406939
K3-0.633265-1.406939
A3-0.591327-1.279796
54-1.388061-2.651735
64-1.032347-1.980102
74-1.078878-2.08949
84-1.130816-2.203469
94-1.173367-2.322041
104-1.173367-2.322041
J4-0.633265-1.406939
Q4-0.633265-1.406939
K4-0.633265-1.406939
A4-0.591327-1.279796
65-0.960000-1.841224
75-1.006531-1.950612
85-1.064694-2.066633
95-1.129592-2.185714
105-1.173367-2.322041
J5-0.633265-1.406939
Q5-0.633265-1.406939
K5-0.633265-1.406939
A5-0.591327-1.279796
76-0.385306-0.953810
86-0.453469-1.086054
96-0.529082-1.225578
106-0.605714-1.364898
J6-0.068367-0.519082
Q6-0.068367-0.519082
K6-0.068367-0.519082
A6-0.068367-0.519082
87-0.351531-0.941463
97-0.427143-1.080986
107-0.509082-1.225578
J70.026224-0.382755
Q7-0.068367-0.519082
K7-0.068367-0.519082
A7-0.068367-0.519082
98-0.319626-0.930986
108-0.401565-1.075578
J80.135578-0.231667
Q80.028707-0.380272
K8-0.068367-0.519082
A8-0.068367-0.519082
109-0.291769-0.924048
J90.249252-0.076259
Q90.140986-0.226259
K90.031190-0.377789
A9-0.068367-0.519082
J100.5277210.284762
Q100.4194560.134762
K100.30966-0.016769
A100.196939-0.171224
QJ1.1708161.149388
KJ1.0571430.99398
AJ0.9419390.837041
KQ1.0571430.99398
AQ0.9419390.837041
AK0.9419390.837041

Pairs — Expected Values

Higher
Card
Lower
Card
Raise 1XRaise 3X
221.9297962.177959
331.9297962.177959
441.9297962.177959
551.9297962.177959
666.7395928.424490
776.7395928.42449
886.7395928.424490
996.7395928.424490
10106.7395928.424490
JJ12.48653115.608163
QQ12.48653115.608163
KK12.48653115.608163
AA12.48653115.608163

Barona Pay Table

I have an unconfirmed report that the Barona casino in San Diego pays 5 to 1 on a straight, instead of the usual 4. Under optimal Barona strategy the house edge is 3.7591%. Using the basic strategy for the standard pay table in the Barona game results in a house edge of 3.7906%. So, the cost of errors using the standard strategy in the Barona game is 0.0315%.

Millionaire Progressive

This is a $5 'red light' progressive side bet that pays $1,000,000 for a royal flush in spades, using the player's five-card hand. For all the rules and analysis, please see my page on the Millionaire Progressive.

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.

Play Mississippi Stud Free No Downloading

Links

Mississippi Stud Free Play

  • 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.

Mississippi Stud Free Play Online

Written by:Michael Shackleford