Mississippi Stud strategy
This is the exact strategy, not a rule of thumb. It comes from an engine that reads every possible completion of every hand and picks the highest-value action. The trainer grades your play against the same engine.
Short answer
On the first decision, raise 3x with any pair. Raise 1x with two medium-or-better cards, and fold the rest. Correct play folds about 31.07% of starting hands, bets 1x about 63.05%, and bets 3x about 5.88%. On later streets, keep betting made hands and strong draws, and fold when the odds turn against you. Never bet 2x.
Why 2x is never correct
Every wager in Mississippi Stud is paid at the same rate, so the value of a bet is a straight line in its size. When betting more is good, the best move is the largest bet, 3x. When betting more is bad, the best move is the smallest bet, 1x, or a fold. The 2x bet is always beaten by one of those, so optimal play never uses it.
First street: your two cards
This is the decision that matters most, because you make it before committing any extra money.
| Starting hand | Action |
|---|---|
| Any pair (2-2 up to A-A) | Raise 3x |
| Both cards 6 through 10 | Raise 1x |
| Any hand with a Jack or higher | Raise 1x |
| 6-5 suited | Raise 1x |
| 6-5 offsuit and everything weaker | Fold |
Raise 1x with any two cards that are both 6 through 10, for example 10-9, 9-6, or 7-6. Also raise 1x with any hand that contains a Jack, Queen, King, or Ace, down to J-2. The one suit-dependent start is 6-5: raise it 1x when suited, fold it when offsuit.
Fourth and fifth street
Once a community card is out, your partial hand and its draws set the action. The reliable rules are:
| Situation | Action |
|---|---|
| A made paying hand (pair of 6s or better) | Raise 3x |
| Three or four to a royal flush | Raise 3x |
| A low pair (2s through 5s) | Bet 1x, since a third of the kind still pays |
| Strong draws (four to a flush, open straight) | Bet 1x |
| Dead hands with no pair and no live draw | Fold |
The exact border cases on the last two streets depend on which specific cards are live, and that is where the trainer earns its keep. It computes the exact value of folding, betting 1x, and betting 3x for the precise hand in front of you, so you can check any decision against the engine.
Common questions
Do I really raise 3x with a pair of deuces?
Yes. Every pair, including 2-2, is a raise 3x on the first street. A pair already guarantees at least a push at showdown and can improve to trips, a full house, or quads.
Why fold 6-5 offsuit but bet it suited?
The suited version adds flush equity, which is just enough to make betting 1x break even or better. Without that flush chance, 6-5 offsuit is a small loss, so it folds.
How much does one strategy mistake cost?
It varies by spot, but betting hands you should fold is the leak that widens the house edge the most. Played correctly the edge is 4.9149% per ante; loose play pushes it well above that.