Caribbean Stud Poker Guide: How to Play
Caribbean Stud Poker is a casino variation of the famous five-card stud. Like most other casino table games, it is played against the house. Although other players can be at the table, they each are dealt a separate hand that is played with the goal of beating the dealer. With this Caribbean Stud Poker guide, be sure that you are going to be able to defeat that dealer.
Unlike other forms of poker played against opponents, there is no bluffing in Caribbean Stud, and the player does not draw any cards. As a result, the rules are simple to learn, and playing the game doesn’t have a lot of difficulties, as anyone can play the optimal strategy with this amazing Caribbean stud poker guide.
Caribbean Stud Poker Rules
Players must place their initial bets, which is called the ante. This bet is on whether the player will have a better poker hand than the dealer. Each player and the dealer are dealt five cards face down to start the game, with the dealer turning one card face up. The player then needs to look at their hand and decide whether to play or fold.
To continue playing, another bet called a raise bet must be placed, which is double the value of the ante bet. If the player decides to fold, the ante is lost, and the hand is over. Once all players have folded or raised, the dealer will show their hand to see if it qualifies. The dealer must have a hand of at least Ace-King high to qualify. If they don’t, all players in the hand automatically win the ante bet and are returned their raise bet.
If the dealer does have a qualifying hand, it’s then compared to the remaining player’s hands to see which one wins. Winning players are paid 1-to-1 on their ante bets. The amount they are paid on their raised bets depends on how big a hand the player has. If the dealer wins with a qualifying hand, the house wins both the ante and the raise bets. Here’s an example of the payouts for each winning hand:
| Hand | Payout |
| Royal Flush | 100-to-1 |
| Straight Flush | 50-to-1 |
| Four of a Kind | 20-to-1 |
| Full House | 7-to-1 |
| Flush | 5-to-1 |
| Straight | 4-to-1 |
| Three of a Kind | 3-to-1 |
| Two Pair | 2-to-1 |
| One Pair or less | 1-to-1 |
Bonus Bet
Players can also make a bonus bet in Caribbean Stud. Most casinos offer players a chance to win a progressive jackpot that pays out if a player hits a royal flush. Betting the bonus bet makes the player eligible to win the jackpot and also a certain percentage of the jackpot that is paid out for premium hands, which in most cases is a straight or higher.
The minimum amount for the raise bet and the bonus bet differ depending on the casino and are usually posted directly on the table or a card next to the play area. Any wager on the bonus bet usually wins with a hand of a flush or higher, regardless of whether the player’s hand beats the house or not. For example, a Royal Flush pays 100% of the progressive jackpot, with a Flush usually paying out 10%.
Caribbean Stud Poker Tutorial: Basic Strategy
The house edge in Caribbean stud poker is one of the highest of any casino table games at 5%. However, this advantage can be lowered by using an optimal strategy. With Caribbean Stud, the player only needs to make one decision, which is whether or not they think their hand is good enough to continue or if they’re going to fold. But don’t worry, with this Caribbean Stud poker tutorial you are going to make the right choice.
The biggest thing players should not do in Caribbean Stud is play the progressive bet. Although the amount players who can win makes this a very attractive wager, the reality is that the odds of making one of the winning hands are extremely low. The house edge on the bonus bet is 26%, which, in any casino, is giving your money away.
The first strategy players should use is to always raise with any pair or higher. Even with a pair of twos, the raise bet should always be placed to have a showdown with the dealer. Players should always fold with any hand weaker than Ace-King.
The next basic strategy to use in Caribbean Stud is always to make the raise bet if you have Ace-King and the dealer’s upcard is a Queen or lower, and you have a card of the same value in your hand. Also, if the dealer shows an Ace or a King and you have a Queen or a Jack, the raise bet should always be made.
The final tip for when dealt an Ace-King is always to make the raise bet if you also have a Queen and the card the dealer is showing has a value lower than your fourth-highest card.
To learn the strategies more easily, players can find charts online that can help in using the optimal strategy. Players that stick to this simple strategy will never lose more than the house edge. Remember, if you want to know more about Slots Paradise, check our social media and join our community.
Betting Limits
Some tables can be found at live casinos with minimum antes of $3, although most normally have a $5 minimum. If you prefer to play online, much lower limits can be found, with the ante being a maximum of $2.50 at some casinos.
Whether online or in an actual casino, playing Caribbean Stud is a game that can be very entertaining, especially when enjoyed with friends or other players in a live casino. Players can always find places to practice their strategy online, as many sites offer players a chance to play for free before risking any money in the casino.
Always remember that because the house edge is much higher than other table games, playing too often or for too long could become very costly, so it’s always better to take any winnings in the short term as the longer you play, the more you will lose in the long run.
Caribbean Stud Poker Jackpot
Many casinos offer the chance for players to place a bet on the progressive jackpot in their own way. You can also find the game running at any time if you choose an operator from the actual casino list.
A bet that qualifies for Caribbean stud poker jackpot is typical $1, and it’s not tied to the stakes in the game. 70% of every dollar goes to the progressive jackpot pool, while the casino keeps the remainder.
It may sound worse than it is. The casino keeps a portion of the jackpot money, but they must also use it to seep the next jackpot when someone wins. A jackpot can be as high as $10,000, and the casino must pay the rest.
You must get dealt a royal flush from any suit to win the jackpot. You will instantly win 100% of your jackpot if you are so fortunate. You’ll receive 10% of the jackpot if you have a straight flush.