Stud Game – Split Pot – 7 Players Max
Kentrel (nicknamed "48") is a seven-card stud split-pot game with a unique starting mechanic: each player is dealt 4 cards face-down, then must discard 1 and expose 1 before the betting begins. The exposed card becomes the player's door card. The remaining two cards stay as hole cards.
After the discard/expose, P3 shows the lowest door card (2♥) and must bring in. Hero wins High (Three Aces); P3 wins Low (6-low: 2-3-4-5-6).
Unlike standard stud where you receive 2 down + 1 up on third street, Kentrel deals all 4 cards face-down first. Then each player must:
This gives players strategic control over what they reveal — but the discard is final and gone before anyone sees it.
After all door cards are exposed, the player showing the lowest door card must bring in. Ace is high for bring-in purposes — an Ace is the best door card to show and will never force the bring-in. 2 is the worst door card (always brings in if no lower card showing).
After the bring-in, play proceeds like standard 7-card stud:
At showdown, the pot splits between the best high hand and the best low hand:
Strategy Note: The discard/expose decision is crucial. Exposing a low card (like a 2 or 3) may give away low-hand potential, but showing a high card gives opponents information about your high-hand strength. Sometimes strategic players expose a mid-range card to reveal as little as possible.
The nickname "48" refers to the game's structure: 4 initial cards dealt, with an 8-or-better low qualifier. The name Kentrel is the traditional game name.