Introduction to Caribbean Stud Poker
November 15th, 2009 | Published in Inrodution
Caribbean stud poker has been incredibly popular over the last several years. As the name suggests, this poker variant originated in the Caribbean islands. From there, it became highly popular in America, Europe, and cruise ships sailing around the world.
Though Caribbean stud poker is a variant of traditional five-card stud, the unique aspect of this game is that it gives players the opportunity to make a side wager to win a progressive jackpot. While the odds of hitting the jackpot are quite lopsided at 649,000 to 1, this still adds tremendous excitement to the game.
Playing Caribbean Stud Poker
Caribbean stud poker is based on traditional draw poker, therefore, you should be certain that you understand hand rankings before playing. The big difference between this game and other variants is that you do not have to concern yourself with other players, as the goal here is to simply beat the dealer’s hand.
The game of Caribbean stud is played at a much slower pace than blackjack, making it more of a social card game, such as Let it Ride. For this reason, the house edge, which is about 5% in the typical game, will not affect your bankroll tremendously if you play it smart and focus on smaller stakes. However, this is not the case with the side bet for the bonus jackpot.
In Caribbean stud, the player is essentially wagering that they will assemble a hand that consists of a flush or better. If the player’s hand qualifies for the bonus jackpot, they win the amount specified in the payout table.
Players typically receive 100% of the pot on a Royal Flush, 10% on a Straight Flush, and a predetermined amount on a Four of a Kind, Full House, or a Flush. Keep in mind that these amounts vary depending on the casino.
To begin the game, each player makes an ante, which is the initial bet that must be equal to the table minimum. This is the time where you also have the chance to make an additional side bet of one dollar towards the progressive jackpot. The cards are then dealt with each player receiving five face-down cards. The dealer receives four hole cards and one face up card.
Players observe their hands and decide whether they want to forfeit the ante bet by folding or making an additional bet by calling, which is double the size of the ante. For example , if you are playing Caribbean stud poker at a five dollar table, than your call bet would be $10.
Once the players either fold or call, the dealer must reveal their hand. In order to qualify, the dealer must have a hand with an Ace-king combination or better. If not the dealer does not qualify, at which point all players at the table receive money to cover the original ante. The second call bet results in a push, which means you neither win nor lose money. If you beat the dealer, you are paid for your ante bet and call bet. The call bet will pay out according to the following structure:
Royal Flush – 100 to 1
Straight Flush – 5- 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 – 2 to 1
Two Pair – 2 to 1
Pair – 1 to 1
Ace/King 1 to 1
Caribbean Stud Strategy
Similar to blackjack, Caribbean stud poker calls for you to take action before the dealer. This means there will be times where you want to forfeit your hand to ensure that the dealer does not qualify. With this game, you do not need to play every hand to win. A good rule of thumb is to play your hand if you are holding an ace-king or better and fold everything else. When it comes to the jackpot, keep in mind that you must have a flush or higher in order to qualify for the bonus payouts.
If you choose to make a side bet, it is important to know that you are eligible for the progressive jackpot whether the dealer hand qualifies or not. What you have to do is let the dealer know right away before they pick up their cards. In many cases, the dealer will pick up all the cards without turning them over so don’t be afraid to speak up.
