Louisiana Stud Poker: Rules, Strategy & Odds (2026)

Picture this: you sit down at a table that looks exactly like Mississippi Stud. Two hole cards, three community cards, decisions to raise or fold. But something is different. The pay table has no flush payouts on the base game. The side bets have names you have not seen before: 3-UP Bonus, 5-Card Stax Progressive.

Welcome to Louisiana Stud Poker — Galaxy Gaming's Gulf Coast twist on the Mississippi Stud formula. If you have played Cajun Stud, you are already 90% there. But that remaining 10% — the missing flush payouts, the swapped side bets — changes the math enough to trip you up.

This guide breaks down everything: the complete rules, the full 2026 pay table, optimal strategy for all 3 decision points, every side bet analyzed, and a head-to-head comparison with the games you already know. In about 14 minutes, you will know more about Louisiana Stud than most dealers on the floor.

TL;DR — Louisiana Stud at a Glance

Key Numbers

Louisiana Stud plays identically to Mississippi Stud and Cajun Stud on the surface, but the payouts and side bets are unique. The base game is solid at 4.91% house edge — comparable to the best table games in any casino. Just stay away from Lo Ball.

What Is Louisiana Stud Poker?

Louisiana Stud Poker is a proprietary table game developed by Galaxy Gaming. It belongs to the Mississippi Stud family: you receive 2 hole cards, 3 community cards are dealt face-up one at a time, and you build the best 5-card poker hand using all 5 cards.

The game sits at the intersection of community card poker and classic table games. You play against a pay table — not against other players and not against a dealer hand. If your final 5-card hand qualifies, you win according to the posted payouts. If not, you lose your ante and any raises.

Louisiana Stud vs. Cajun Stud — Are They the Same Game?

Short answer: almost, but not quite. Both are Galaxy Gaming products. Both use the same 2+3 card structure. Both share the Pocket Bonus and Lo Ball side bets.

Here is what is different:

The critical difference is the flush removal from the base pay table. In Cajun Stud Poker, hitting a flush on your 5-card hand pays 5:1 on all bets. In Louisiana Stud, a flush pays nothing extra on the base game (though it still counts for side bets). This sounds worse for the player, but the other pay table values are adjusted to maintain a similar overall house edge.

Think of it this way: Cajun Stud is the Louisiana Stud variant that added flush payouts back in. Louisiana Stud is the stripped-down original.

Louisiana Stud vs. Mississippi Stud — Key Differences

Louisiana Stud and Mississippi Stud share the same skeleton: 2 hole cards, 3 community cards, 3 decisions. But the details diverge:

The strategy is similar in spirit but differs in specific thresholds because the payout structure changes which borderline hands are worth raising with.

Who Makes Louisiana Stud? (Galaxy Gaming)

Galaxy Gaming is the Nevada-based game developer behind Louisiana Stud, Cajun Stud, and dozens of other table game variants. Founded in 2006, they license proprietary games to casinos worldwide. Louisiana Stud targets Gulf Coast and Southern US casinos, where the regional branding resonates with players who want something familiar yet distinct from standard Mississippi Stud.

How to Play Louisiana Stud — Step by Step

The game flow is simple once you see it in action. Here is every step, from sitting down to collecting your payout (or sliding your chips to the dealer).

Step 1 — Place Your Ante (+ Optional Side Bets)

Place your ante bet in the designated circle. Table minimums typically range from $5 to $25 in 2026. You can also place optional side bets at this time:

• 3-UP Bonus — based on the 3 community cards
• Pocket Bonus — based on your 2 hole cards
• Lo Ball — based on your final 5-card hand (lowest wins)
• 5-Card Stax Progressive — pays for premium hands with a progressive jackpot

Side bets are independent of your base game decisions. They pay or lose regardless of whether you fold or raise.

Step 2 — Two Hole Cards

The dealer gives you 2 cards face-down. Only you see your hole cards. This is your first piece of information and your first decision point.

Step 3 — First Decision: Raise 1x–3x or Fold

After looking at your hole cards, you choose:

• Raise 3x — place a bet equal to 3 times your ante (strong hands)
• Raise 1x — place a bet equal to your ante (marginal hands worth seeing more cards)
• Fold — forfeit your ante and any side bets still in play

This is the biggest decision in Louisiana Stud. A 3x raise commits serious money. The strategy section below tells you exactly when to raise 3x, 1x, or fold.

Step 4 — First Community Card — Second Decision

The dealer reveals the first of 3 community cards. Combined with your 2 hole cards, you now see 3 of the 5 cards that will form your final hand. Your options:

• Raise 1x — add another ante-sized bet
• Fold — lose everything wagered so far

No 3x option on this street. You either stay in for 1x more or walk away.

Step 5 — Second Community Card — Third Decision

The dealer reveals the second community card. You now see 4 of 5 cards. Same options:

• Raise 1x — one more ante-sized bet
• Fold — lose all previous wagers

This is your last chance to bail before the final card.

Step 6 — Final Card & Showdown

The third and last community card is revealed. Your 5-card poker hand is now complete. The dealer compares it to the pay table:

• Pair of Jacks or better — you win according to the pay table
• Pair of 6s through 10s — push (your bets are returned)
• Pair of 5s or lower / no pair — you lose all bets

No dealer hand to beat. No bluffing. Pure math against a fixed pay table.

Louisiana Stud Pay Table — Full Payout Chart (2026)

Ante & Raise Pay Table

Every bet you have placed (ante + all raises) pays at the same ratio based on your final hand:

Notice the flush paying nothing (push). This is the defining feature that separates Louisiana Stud from Cajun Stud and Mississippi Stud. A flush does not lose — your bets are returned — but it does not win either.

Push Rule: Pairs of 6s–10s

The push rule is identical across the Mississippi Stud family. If your final hand is a pair of 6s, 7s, 8s, 9s, or 10s, all bets are returned. No win, no loss. This creates an interesting strategic wrinkle: mid pairs are "free rolls" that let you stay in the game without penalty.

In practice, the push rule means roughly 12-15% of hands end in a push, which softens the volatility compared to games without this feature.

5-Card Stax Progressive

The 5-Card Stax is an optional $1 progressive side bet. It uses your complete 5-card hand (2 hole cards + 3 community cards):

Note that flushes DO pay on the 5-Card Stax even though they push on the base game. The progressive jackpot seed is typically $10,000+, making the royal flush payout potentially life-changing. However, the house edge on progressive bets is typically 15-25% depending on the jackpot size — only worth considering when the meter is unusually high.

Louisiana Stud Side Bets Explained

Louisiana Stud offers up to 4 side bets beyond the base game. Each one is completely optional and independent of your fold/raise decisions.

3-UP Bonus — Rules & Payouts

The 3-UP Bonus is unique to Louisiana Stud. It pays based ONLY on the 3 community cards — your hole cards are irrelevant.

Since you are betting on just 3 cards, the probability of hitting premium hands is higher than you might expect. A pair among the 3 community cards occurs roughly 17% of the time. The house edge is approximately 7%.

Pocket Bonus — Rules & Payouts

The Pocket Bonus pays based on your 2 hole cards only. This is the same side bet found in Cajun Stud Poker.

Simple: pairs pay, suited cards pay, everything else loses. The pair frequency (5.88%) and suited frequency (23.5%) are fixed probabilities that do not change with strategy. House edge is approximately 6% — the best side bet in Louisiana Stud.

Lo Ball — Rules & Payouts

Lo Ball rewards the worst poker hands. Your final 5-card hand is evaluated for its "high card" value, and the lower it is, the better you do.

A 7-high hand with no pairs, no straights, and no flush is extremely rare with 5 cards (roughly 0.1% chance). The house edge on Lo Ball is approximately 12%, making it the worst bet at the Louisiana Stud table by a wide margin.

Are the Side Bets Worth It? (House Edge)

Let's put all the numbers side by side:

The base game is where your money should go. If you want a side bet, the Pocket Bonus is your least costly option at $1 per hand.

Louisiana Stud Strategy — All 3 Decisions

The key to Louisiana Stud strategy is the same system used in Mississippi Stud: evaluate your cards, assign points, and make the mathematically correct raise or fold decision. High cards (Jack through Ace) are worth more because they directly connect to the pay table threshold (pair of Jacks = payout).

First Decision (Two Hole Cards)

This is the most impactful decision. You are committing 1x or 3x your ante — or giving up your ante entirely.

Raise 3x Hands

Raise the maximum (3x your ante) with:

• Any pair — even low pairs. A pair in your hand gives you a strong starting position for two pair, trips, or a full house
• Two cards Jack or higher — J-J, J-Q, J-K, J-A, Q-Q, Q-K, Q-A, K-K, K-A, A-A. You are already halfway to a paying pair
• Suited high cards (10+) — two suited cards with both 10 or higher. Flush draw potential (even though base game flushes push, you still benefit from straight possibilities and side bets)

Raise 1x Hands

Raise 1x (minimum raise) with:

• One high card (J+) with a mid card (6-10) — you have a shot at a paying pair with one more high card on the board
• Suited connectors (6+) — suited 6-7, 7-8, 8-9, 9-10. Straight and flush draw potential
• Two mid cards (6-10) suited — marginal but playable

Second Decision (After 1st Community Card)

Now you see 3 cards total (2 hole + 1 community). Raise 1x if ANY of these apply:

• You have a pair of 6s or better — you are already in push or win territory
• You have 3 to a flush with 2+ high cards (J+) — multiple ways to improve
• You have 2 high cards (J+) — strong chance of pairing up
• You have an open-ended straight draw with 2 high cards — dual draw potential

Fold if you have none of the above: no pair, no high cards, no realistic draw.

Third Decision (After 2nd Community Card)

You now see 4 of 5 cards. This decision is the most straightforward because you have the most information:

• Raise 1x with any pair — even low pairs push, so you cannot lose
• Raise 1x with 4 to a flush — one card to hit and at minimum push
• Raise 1x with 4 to an outside straight — 8 outs for a straight (pays 6:1)
• Raise 1x with 3+ high cards (J+) — multiple pairing opportunities

Fold everything else. At this point, if you have no pair, no draw, and fewer than 3 high cards, the math says walk away.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Chasing Lo Ball with base game decisions — Your fold/raise choices should be based on the base game pay table. Lo Ball pays independently regardless of what you do
2. Raising 3x with any suited hand — Only suited high cards (10+) justify 3x. Suited 3-7 is a fold or 1x at best
3. Folding mid pairs on the third street — Pairs of 6-10 always push. There is zero risk in staying with a mid pair. Never fold a pair
4. Treating flushes as winners — In Louisiana Stud, a flush is a push on the base game. Do not get excited about flush draws the same way you would in Cajun Stud. They protect your bankroll (push) but do not profit
5. Playing 5-Card Stax at every table — The progressive is only worth $1 when the meter is significantly above the seed. At the default jackpot level, the house edge exceeds 20%

Louisiana Stud Odds & House Edge

Base Game House Edge (~4.91%)

The base game house edge of 4.91% is calculated on the ante bet using optimal strategy. This puts Louisiana Stud in the middle tier of table games:

Louisiana Stud matches Mississippi Stud exactly in house edge. This is by design — Galaxy Gaming calibrated the pay table to deliver a familiar mathematical profile.

Side Bet House Edges

At 30 hands per hour with a $1 side bet on each, the Pocket Bonus costs you about $1.80/hour. Lo Ball costs $3.60/hour. The difference adds up over a 4-hour session: $7.20 vs $14.40 in expected losses from the side bets alone.

Element of Risk Per Hand

The element of risk is a more useful metric than house edge because it accounts for your total amount wagered across all streets, not just the ante.

With optimal play, your average total bet is approximately 3.6x the ante (because you raise on most streets). The element of risk is:

$\text{Element of Risk} = \frac{\text{House Edge (on ante)}}{{\text{Average Total Bet Ratio}}} = \frac{4.91\%}{3.6} \approx 1.36\%$

In simple terms: for every dollar you put at risk across all your bets, you lose about 1.36 cents. That is competitive with many casino games and significantly better than roulette (2.63-5.26%) or most slot machines (2-15%).

Louisiana Stud vs. Other Poker Variants

vs. Caribbean Stud

Caribbean Stud gives you 5 cards against the dealer's 5. One decision point: raise or fold. Louisiana Stud gives you 3 decision points and uses community cards.

Louisiana Stud is mathematically better and gives you more control, but Caribbean Stud is simpler and faster.

vs. Mississippi Stud

These are essentially siblings. Same card structure, same number of decisions, same house edge. The differences are purely in the pay table and available side bets.

If you know Mississippi Stud strategy, you can sit at Louisiana Stud with only minor adjustments for the flush-push rule.

vs. Cajun Stud

Cajun Stud is the closest relative. Both are Galaxy Gaming. Both use the same 2+3 structure. The differences:

The main strategic implication: in Cajun Stud, flush draws are worth pursuing aggressively because they pay 5:1. In Louisiana Stud, flush draws only protect your bankroll (push) — so borderline flush-draw hands that are a raise in Cajun Stud might be a fold in Louisiana Stud.

Comparison Table

Where to Play Louisiana Stud in 2026

Live Casino Locations

Louisiana Stud is primarily found in:

• Gulf Coast casinos — Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama coastal properties
• Las Vegas — Select Strip and downtown casinos with Galaxy Gaming agreements
• Regional US casinos — Tribal and commercial casinos in states with table game licenses

The game is marketed under the Louisiana Stud brand specifically for Southern/Gulf Coast properties. Check with your local casino or Galaxy Gaming's website for current placements.

Online Availability

As of 2026, Louisiana Stud has limited online presence. Most online casinos offer Mississippi Stud or Caribbean Stud instead. If you want to practice the strategy:

• Use our Session Simulator to model the expected outcomes
• Try the House Edge Calculator to compare Louisiana Stud against other games
• Check the RTP Calculator to understand long-term returns
• Practice with the Volatility Calculator to gauge session variance

For live poker variants, explore our guides to 3 Shot Poker, Triple Double Bonus, and Dirty Diaper hand analysis. If you are interested in poker math, our Bankroll Calculator and Equity Calculator are free tools that work for any poker format.

FAQ

The FAQ section above covers the 15 most common questions about Louisiana Stud Poker. If your question is not listed, the strategy and odds sections of this guide should have the answer.

Final Thoughts

Louisiana Stud Poker sits in a sweet spot: familiar enough for Mississippi Stud players to jump right in, yet distinct enough to justify its own table. The 4.91% house edge is competitive, the 3-decision structure gives you real agency, and the side bet menu lets you customize your risk level.

Three things to remember:

1. Stick to the base game. The Pocket Bonus is the only side bet worth occasional play. Everything else eats your bankroll faster than the base game
2. Flushes push, they do not pay. Do not chase flush draws like you would in Cajun Stud. A flush saves your money but does not make you money
3. The strategy is learnable. Three decision points, clear thresholds, no dealer hand to worry about. Within a few sessions, you will play near-optimal without a strategy card

For the Quad Aces vs Royal Flush dreamers: yes, the progressive 5-Card Stax hits on a royal flush. But at 15-25% house edge per dollar, that dream comes at a steep price.

Now go find a Louisiana Stud table and put the strategy to work. The math is on your side — as long as you avoid Lo Ball.

Keep Learning

• Cajun Stud Poker — Complete Guide — the flush-paying variant
• Mississippi Stud Strategy — the original community card game
• 3 Shot Poker Rules & Strategy — another Galaxy Gaming variant
• Match the Dealer Blackjack Side Bet — side bet math explained
• Fibonacci Betting System — bankroll management approach