Cajun Stud Poker: Rules, Side Bets & Strategy

Picture this: you're sitting at a Mississippi Stud table, you've got the strategy dialed in, and you're thinking, "I wish there were more ways to win on this thing." Well, someone in Louisiana had that exact thought — and Cajun Stud Poker was born.

Cajun Stud takes everything you already know about Mississippi Stud and bolts on three side bets that fire on different parts of the hand. One pays on your hole cards. One pays on the community cards. And one pays you for having a terrible hand. Yeah, seriously.

By the end of this guide, you'll know exactly how each bet works, which ones are worth your chips, and which one you should avoid like a bad bluff.

TL;DR — The 30-Second Version

No time? Here's your cheat sheet:

Now let's dig into the details.

What Is Cajun Stud Poker?

Cajun Stud is Mississippi Stud's spicier cousin from the bayou. The base game is 100% identical to Mississippi Stud — same rules, same payouts, same strategy. What makes it Cajun is the three optional side bets that give you extra action on every hand.

If you already know Mississippi Stud, you're 80% of the way there. If you don't, no worries — we'll cover everything from scratch. But for the deep dive on base game strategy, check out our complete Mississippi Stud strategy guide.

Here's the key thing to understand: the side bets are completely independent. They don't change the base game at all. Think of them as three mini-games running alongside your main hand. This discipline of keeping strategy decisions separate is the same principle that drives every successful casino strategy.

How to Play Cajun Stud — Step by Step

The Setup

You sit down at a table with betting spots for:

• Ante (required) — your base game bet
• Pocket Bonus (optional) — pays on your 2 hole cards
• Board Bonus (optional) — pays on the 3 community cards
• Lo Ball (optional) — pays when your 5-card hand is bad

The Flow

Step 1: Place Your Bets Put your ante in the circle. Place chips on whichever side bets you want. All side bets are typically $1 minimum.

Step 2: Receive Your Hole Cards The dealer gives you 2 cards face down. Three community cards are dealt face down in the center. Nobody — including the dealer — sees the community cards yet.

Step 3: 3rd Street Decision Look at your 2 hole cards. Now decide: Bet 3x the ante, Bet 1x the ante, or Fold (lose your ante).

At this point, the Pocket Bonus is already resolved — check your hole cards against the pay table.

Step 4: 4th Street The first community card is revealed. Again, you choose: 3x, 1x, or Fold.

Step 5: 5th Street The second community card is revealed. Same decision: 3x, 1x, or Fold.

Step 6: Showdown The final community card flips. Your best 5-card poker hand is evaluated against the pay table. Board Bonus and Lo Ball are also resolved now.

Quick Example

You get A♠ K♠ as hole cards → Bet 3x (strong starting hand, 4 points).

Community card 1 is Q♠ → Bet 3x (three to a royal flush!).

Community card 2 is 3♦ → Bet 1x (still have two high cards, but the royal draw got thin).

Community card 3 is J♠ → Showdown! You have A-K-Q-J of spades plus 3♦ = Flush (6:1 payout on all bets).

Base Game Paytable

The Cajun Stud base game pays exactly like Mississippi Stud:

Remember: payouts apply to each individual bet (ante + each street bet). So if you bet 3x on every street, a flush pays 6:1 on your ante PLUS 6:1 on each of your three street bets. That's 6 × (1 + 3 + 3 + 3) = 60 units on a $5 ante = $300.

The 3 Side Bets — Cajun Stud's Secret Sauce

This is where Cajun Stud separates itself from standard Mississippi Stud. Let's break down each side bet in detail.

1. Pocket Bonus (Best Side Bet)

The Pocket Bonus pays based on your two hole cards only. You know the result instantly — no waiting for community cards.

House edge: ~6%

Why it's the best: You get instant gratification (result known on hole cards), the house edge is the lowest of the three, and it doesn't mess with your decision-making at all.

2. Board Bonus (Middle Ground)

The Board Bonus pays based on the three community cards only. Your hole cards don't matter.

House edge: ~7.5%

Why it's okay: You have no control over community cards — pure luck. But the payouts are decent, especially the 50:1 for trips. The house edge is moderate.

3. Lo Ball (Avoid This One)

Lo Ball pays when your final 5-card hand is terrible. Yes, you're betting that you'll lose the main game.

House edge: ~12%

Why you should skip it: A 12% house edge is brutal — worse than most slot machines. Plus, it creates a psychological conflict: you're rooting for a bad hand on Lo Ball while needing a good hand for the base game. That split focus can subtly corrupt your decision-making.

Side Bet House Edge Comparison

The chart tells the story clearly. The base game is your bread and butter at 4.91%. If you want extra action, the Pocket Bonus is the only side bet that makes mathematical sense. Board Bonus is tolerable for entertainment. Lo Ball? Hard pass.

Base Game Strategy — The 2-1-0 Point System

Since Cajun Stud uses the exact same base game as Mississippi Stud, you can use the same proven strategy. Here's the condensed version:

Point Values

3rd Street (Hole Cards Only)

4th Street (Hole Cards + 1 Community)

5th Street (Hole Cards + 2 Community)

For the complete strategy with all edge cases, see our full Mississippi Stud optimal strategy breakdown.

Side Bet Strategy — When to Play Each

Let's analyze each side bet mathematically:

Pocket Bonus Verdict: Play Occasionally

• House edge: ~6%
• Hit rate: ~30% of hands win something
• Best for: Players who want extra excitement without heavy cost
• Math: On a $1 bet, you lose about $0.06 per hand on average. Over 100 hands, that's roughly $6 in expected loss.

Board Bonus Verdict: Entertainment Only

• House edge: ~7.5%
• Hit rate: ~25% of boards hit a pair or better
• Best for: Players who don't mind paying $7.50 per 100 hands for the thrill
• Math: The 50:1 trips payout keeps it interesting, but you're paying a premium for that shot.

Lo Ball Verdict: Skip It

• House edge: ~12%
• Hit rate: ~8% of hands qualify (Jack-high or worse)
• Best for: Nobody, really
• Math: You lose $12 per 100 hands on a $1 bet. And the 500:1 payout for 7-high happens roughly once in 20,000 hands.

Practice Your Strategy

Use the trainer above to practice the 2-1-0 point system. It'll also show you what the side bets would have paid on each hand — a great way to see how rarely Lo Ball actually hits.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Mistake #1: Playing All Side Bets Every Hand

Each side bet adds to your hourly cost. Playing all three on every hand adds roughly $0.25 per hand in expected losses (on $1 bets). Over a 4-hour session at 30 hands/hour, that's an extra $30 in expected loss — on top of your base game losses.

Fix: If you want side bet action, stick to Pocket Bonus only.

Mistake #2: Changing Base Strategy Because of Lo Ball

Some players start making bad folds on the base game when their Lo Ball bet is alive, trying to "protect" a potentially bad hand. This is backwards thinking — the $1 side bet is never worth sacrificing correct base strategy.

Fix: Treat the base game and side bets as completely separate. Your raise/fold decisions should never change based on side bet outcomes.

Mistake #3: Not Checking the Table Variant

Some casinos modify the side bet paytables. A Board Bonus that pays 40:1 instead of 50:1 for trips, or a Pocket Bonus that pays 25:1 instead of 30:1 for paired aces, significantly increases the house edge.

Fix: Always check the posted paytables before sitting down. Compare them to the standard payouts listed above.

Game Comparison: Cajun Stud vs. Similar Games

Bankroll Management

How much should you bring based on your play style?

Based on ~30 hands per hour with optimal base strategy.

The bankroll calculator and session simulator can help you dial in the exact numbers for your preferred bet sizes.

Quick Reference Card

Save this for the table:

Point System: J/Q/K/A = 2 pts | 6-10 = 1 pt | 2-5 = 0 pts

3rd Street: Pair → 3x | 2+ pts → 3x | Suited w/1+ pt → 1x | Connected w/1+ pt → 1x | Else → Fold

4th Street: Paying pair → 3x | Low pair → 1x | 2+ high cards → 1x | Else → Fold

5th Street: Paying pair+ → 3x | Low pair → 1x | 4-flush/4-straight → 1x | 3+ high → 1x | Else → Fold

Side Bet Verdict:

• Pocket Bonus — Best bet (~6% edge). Play if you want extra action.
• Board Bonus — Okay for fun (~7.5% edge). Entertainment tax.
• Lo Ball — Skip (~12% edge). Math doesn't justify it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Check the FAQ section below — we've answered the 15 most common questions about Cajun Stud Poker, from basic rules to strategy and bankroll.

Final Thoughts

Here are 5 takeaways to remember:

1. Cajun Stud = Mississippi Stud + 3 side bets. The base game is identical. If you know one, you know the other.
2. Use the 2-1-0 point system. It's the same optimal strategy that works for Mississippi Stud.
3. Pocket Bonus is the only worthwhile side bet. At ~6% house edge, it's reasonable entertainment.
4. Avoid Lo Ball. The 12% house edge makes it the worst bet on the table.
5. Never let side bets change your base strategy. They're independent — treat them that way.

Keep Learning

Ready to level up your table game skills? Here are some tools and guides that complement Cajun Stud:

• Mississippi Stud Strategy — the full base game strategy deep dive
• 3 Shot Poker Rules & Strategy — another community card poker variant
• Match the Dealer Side Bet Guide — side bet analysis for blackjack
• House Edge Calculator — compare house edges across all casino games
• RTP Calculator — understand return to player percentages
• Variance & Volatility Calculator — measure your risk level
• Session Simulator — simulate your Cajun Stud sessions
• Bankroll Calculator — plan your casino bankroll
• Loss Calculator — see the true cost of side bets over time
• Equity Calculator — poker equity fundamentals
• Pot Odds Calculator — essential poker math
• Bankroll Management for Poker — manage your poker bankroll
• Fibonacci Betting System — alternative staking strategies
• Pot Committed Strategy Guide — know when you're committed and when to fold
• Irish Poker Drinking Game — complete rules for the popular party card game