What Is Sökö Poker?
Sökö is a 5-card stud poker variant where players receive one card face down and four cards face up. Unlike traditional stud poker, the game includes two additional ranked hands:
- Four-card straight (e.g. 5-6-7-8)
- Four-card flush (e.g. four cards of the same suit)
These hands rank above a one-pair hand and below a full five-card straight or flush.
Sökö Poker Rules
Game Format
- Typically played with 2 to 6 players
- Each player antes before the deal
- One card is dealt face down, then four face up (one at a time)
- Four betting rounds: after each face-up card is dealt
- No community cards
- Best 5-card poker hand at showdown wins the pot
Game Flow
- Ante is posted by all players
- Deal begins: 1st card face down (hole card) and 2nd card face up
- First betting round
- 3rd card dealt face up
- Second betting round
- 4th card dealt face up
- Third betting round
- 5th card dealt face up
- Final betting round
- Showdown: highest ranked hand wins
Betting Structure
Common Formats
- Usually played fixed-limit
- No blinds, but each player posts an ante
- First betting round typically starts with the player showing the lowest upcard
- Subsequent betting rounds begin with the best visible hand
Betting Rounds Summary
- First round: after 2 cards (1 down, 1 up)
- Second round: after 3 cards
- Third round: after 4 cards
- Final round: after all 5 cards are dealt
Hand Rankings in Sökö
Sökö uses traditional high-hand rankings with two added hands between one pair and a straight:
Full Sökö Hand Rankings (Best to Worst)
- Royal Flush
- Straight Flush
- Four of a Kind
- Full House
- Flush (5 cards)
- Straight (5 cards)
- Four-card Flush (unique to Sökö)
- Four-card Straight (unique to Sökö)
- Three of a Kind
- Two Pair
- One Pair
- High Card
Four-Card Flush
Any four cards of the same suit (e.g.3♠6♠9♠Q♠)
Beats three of a kind, loses to a full five-card flush
Four-Card Straight
- Any four sequential cards (e.g.7♣8♦9♠10♠)
- Beats high card, one pair, two pair and three of a kind, loses to a full straight or better
Showdown Rules
When Does Showdown Occur?
- After the fourth and final betting round (when each player has five cards)
- Active players reveal their full hands
- Best hand according to Sökö rankings wins the pot
Ties and Kickers
- If two players have the same hand type, the highest card within the hand breaks the tie
- If still tied, the pot is split
Where to Play Sökö
Live Settings
- Popular in Finnish and Scandinavian home games
- Also seen in some European mixed game formats
- Easy to introduce in dealer’s choice nights
Online Options
Sökö is not commonly offered in mainstream online poker clients, but may appear in custom formats or private club games:
- PokerStars (Home Games) – Custom setup possible
- PokerBros / PPPoker – May be configured in mixed-game clubs
- Donkhouse / Poker Now – Can be created manually
Final Takeaway
Sökö is a simple yet interesting twist on traditional stud poker. By adding two extra hand types — four-card straights and flushes — it fills gaps in hand strength and creates more frequent action. It’s perfect for casual home games or for spicing up a mixed-game rotation. If you already know how stud works, learning Sökö takes just minutes.
FAQs: Sökö Poker Rules
What does Sökö mean?
Sökö is the Finnish name for this variant of 5-card stud that includes four-card straights and flushes.
How many cards are dealt in Sökö?
Each player gets five cards total: one face down, four face up.
What’s the lowest winning hand?
A high card, though most showdowns involve at least a pair or four-card straight.
Can Sökö be played no-limit?
Traditionally, it’s played fixed-limit or pot-limit. No-limit is rare due to the slower betting rounds.
Do the added hands affect full straights and flushes?
No. A five-card straight or flush still beats the four-card versions.