Stud Game · Antes · Low Card Bring-In · Alternative Ranking · aka Sökö
Overview
Canadian Stud (also known as Sökö or Finnish Poker) is 5-Card Stud with an expanded hand ranking system. Four-card flushes and four-card straights beat one pair, making it viable to continue with a four-flush or four-straight draw even against a visible pair. The rest of the rules are identical to standard 5-Card Stud.
Watch a Sample Hand
Hero builds a four-flush (four clubs) which beats P2's one pair in Canadian Stud — the alternative ranking in action.
POT: $15
YOU (Hero)
FOUR FLUSH · WINNER!
Player 2
Player 3
BRING-IN (2♠ lowest)
Ready to Deal
Press Next Step to begin dealing the sample hand.
Step 0 of 5
Alternative Hand Ranking
KEY DIFFERENCE: In Canadian Stud, the hand ranks (from lowest to highest) are:
High card < One pair < Four straight < Four flush < Two pair < Three of a kind < Straight < Flush < Full house < Four of a kind < Straight flush
Four straight: Exactly 4 of your 5 cards form a straight (e.g., 5-6-7-8-x where x doesn't extend it). The fifth card plays no role in the ranking but can break ties.
Four flush: Exactly 4 of your 5 cards share the same suit (e.g., K♣ Q♣ J♣ A♣ + 9♠). Beats a four straight. The fifth card breaks ties.
If you have a full 5-card straight or flush, it ranks as normal (above two pair and above four flush/four straight).
A four straight flush (4 cards to a straight flush) ranks as a four flush, not a four straight.
The Deal & Betting
Ante: All players post an ante
3rd Street: 1 card face-down + 1 card face-up → player with lowest upcard pays the bring-in (ties broken by suit rank: clubs lowest, spades highest)
4th Street: 1 upcard → player with best hand showing acts first
5th Street: 1 upcard → player with best hand showing acts first
6th Street: 1 upcard → final betting round → Showdown
Best visible hand acts first from 4th street onward. Note that a four-flush showing on board now acts before a visible pair — this changes the action dynamics significantly.
Strategy Tips
Four-flushes are now playable hands — don't automatically fold to a pair if you have 3 suited upcards with more to come
Pairs are devalued: an opponent showing a pair may be beaten by your developing four-flush or four-straight
Track suit distribution carefully — dead suited cards shrink your four-flush outs quickly
With 4 cards visible on the last street, it is usually clear whether your four-flush or four-straight is the best hand
