Since I didn't want to hi-jack Piggity's thread, I'm starting a new thread.

Al Mirpuri wrote (as part of a response to Piggity's thread):Moscow stud sounds interesting. Obviously it can be played either as a high only game or as a high/low split game, perhaps with an 8 qualifier for low. Five betting rounds (two small and three big for fixed-limit games), right?

Since you don't have to remember any discarded up cards from mucked hands, the game seems easier and offering much less of an edge than seven stud to those who have facility at remembering such things. But it's more complicated than Omaha because you have to think in three card combinations and single card possibilities in addition to two card combinations.

Has anyone played it as a high/low game? Or is it a high-only game at this point? I think I'll try it both ways when our private poker group meets next week. Sounds like fun.

Buzz

I came across it years ago in a compendium of poker variations.

It was presented as a high game but there seems to be no reason why it could not be high-low.

It would come over well on tv, hole cards and communal cards just like hold'em.

I am not aware if it has a following or not.

Sounds like a horrible game:

1. Slower than hold'em
2. Lower variance than stud
3. Tougher opening hand requirements, it seems
4. Simpler than stud
5. Probably can't be played PL/NL well because of the 5 streets and hidden river.


Playing it hi/lo would necessarily tighten up good play and make it even more of a grind.

This game has no reason to exist.

Of course, I could be wrong and I'd like to see some hand histories.


BTW, Omaha's more complex than "Moscow Stud" because there are more cards at every betting round (4-7-8-9) and because it's played pot-limit.


BTW2, should it even be called "Stud" since there are no private boards?

I prefer the version which goes:

1) 2 downcards + 1 upcard to each player as normal - round of betting

2) 1 upcard to each player + 1 community card in the middle - round of betting

3) 1 upcard to each player - round of betting

4) 1 community card to the middle(RIVER!!) - final round of betting

It's a laugh playing this hi-lo as well. Brings lot more high hands into the game.

Sounds like Mississippi Stud but with half community cards (4 betting rounds, river up). Now that would be a cool game.

Played it limit? It might be doable PL/NL

I played this game many years ago, but don't remember much about it. I only remember that it was "easier' than regular stud. Would be interested in hearing how it was received at the game.

We're going to play a variation of Moscow stud in our weekly private poker game this coming Saturday. Your modification would work fine but I've already sent out slightly different rules to the players who will be in the game this Saturday.

We play tournament style and either pot-limit or no-limit, with everybody getting forty chips to start and then continuing for one more round of the table after the second of two players is knocked out. The blinds double with each round of the table and when a player has been knocked out. It's fairly fast paced. First place (by chip count) gets ~half the prize pool, second place gets ~three tenths of the prize pool and third place gets ~ two tenths of the prize pool. We play dealer's choice for each tournament and once we start a tournament, everybody deals the same game until the tournament is over. Then it's on to a new tournament with everybody chipping in for the new tournament. Works pretty well and is fun and fast. We usually get in about two dozen tournaments in a four hour session. Something like that.

When it's my first turn to choose the game, I'm going to choose Moscow stud-8. Then on my second turn I'm going to choose Moscow stud-high. But I like four betting rounds too, as follows:
• two private down cards plus one common up card
• two common up cards
• one common up card
• one private down card

I'll let you know how it goes.

Buzz

Interesting Buzz. Lets call my version 'Kingston Stud'.

dismalstudent, I would think it would play well in any format, though I dont like stud NL.

With Kingston Stud, the community card gives high hands hope to play against low hands in hi-lo. He'll hope it's high so that all low hands(456, A55, etc) have received a brick or some sort.

Also, many high hands are given a shot at more information, as in Mississippi stud. This is a nice feature. When more change and possibilities open up after the first round, people are more likely to come in and play.

O.K. by me. I'll try Kingston stud the next time we play, but just the high/low-8 version.

Alas, my version of Moscow stud was not a big hit. The high/low went over bigger than the high only version, but I don't plan to deal either ever again. I didn't even like it much myself.

And I'll get booed if I deal a variation Moscow stud and still call it Moscow stud.

Buzz

let me know how Kingston Stud went - especially the hi-lo version which I think is really worth it...

Hell, these games are starting to sound a lot like the games in my one home group, the wild card game group.

Hi ahosang - We played the high low version of your Kingston Sud last night for one of our tournaments. It went very well. Very fast paced game. Fun game. Thanks for the suggestion.

I'm thinking this thread belongs in the home games forum.

Buzz