If you want to find a variation to a stud game with no wilds, you might have the one you are looking for. Playing 5 and 2 or 3 is a bit of a few different games all put together, or at least a few different scenarios at play.
The game is easy to follow along, but you must pay attention. If you do not pay attention, you will be paying into the pot more than you would like to be.
5 and 2 or 3 Betting Tips
When creating a strategy for this game, it would be ideal to have tips to point you in the best direction. These tips are simple guidelines to better yourself at the game at hand.
The top tips for this game are knowing the rules, the best hands to have, avoiding the bluff, and watching your money.
Knowing The Rules
For this game, you need to know about the “guts” feature. Everyone will be dealt five cards face down, and if you are in, you will be dealt an additional two more cards face down.
Once you are in, you are somewhat responsible for paying the pot. This means that if you lose, you have to match the pot.
So every person that declares in will be given those two cards. However, if only one person is in and they go against the dealer, the dealer is allowed three cards instead of two.
If no one stays in at all, the dealer is allowed to take all of the pot since no one challenges them. However, this particular rule can be changed if everyone at the table agrees upon this before playing. The best five-card hand wins.
Best Hands To Have
There is no golden rule to having a special hand to win. If you can get the best hand possible dealt to you, then that is really your best bet.
The hand rankings follow your typical poker game. For example, a good hand to have at showdown for this one might be two pairs or three of a kind.
When facing off in a showdown with multiple people, you obviously want the best hand. So if you are in a position to see if multiple people will be in and you have a great hand, then this is the best time to play it out.
Avoiding The Bluff
Since this game follows the guts play, bluffing might not be in your best interest. Unless you can work the table just right, your best option is to avoid bluffing if you want to preserve your bankroll.
Again, the table will allow you to get a feel for how everyone is playing. Some players may give away how they are feeling if they fold too quickly or appear nervous when making a decision. But to keep it simple at first, you should just watch your money and focus on what is in your hand.
Watching Your Money
As noted above, this game plays out like a guts game. So you are tied to the pot once you declare in. Be ready to pay out large amounts if you lose because this pot can get large rather quickly.
If you are not prepared for this, you should either bring extra money or only bet on smaller hands. If you are uncomfortable at all, you can simply walk away and try your luck another day.
This game requires discipline when betting and declaring in. The point is, you really want to have a good hand when you decide to declare your hand in.