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Introduction to Caribbean Stud Poker

Caribbean Stud Poker is a more straightforward poker variant in which players compete against the dealer. The popular game's origin is disputed, but it quickly became a staple at casinos and cruise ships across the Caribbean before spreading worldwide, and now you can play Caribbean Stud Poker online.

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Caribbean Stud Poker Rules

Caribbean Stud Poker involves going against the dealer rather than other players. The goal is to make the highest-ranking five-card hand, which must outrank the dealer’s hand to win.

Before the cards are dealt, you place an ante bet, establishing the initial pot. Players then decide whether to raise or fold based on their hand. Next, it's determined if the dealer’s hand qualifies. Depending on whether it does or not, bets are paid out or returned. Talking or communicating in any way is strictly not allowed in the game.

The Game Setup & Table Layout

Caribbean Poker is available at Vave Casino, including a demo version for you to practice. (Source: Vave Casino)

Caribbean Poker is available at Vave Casino, including a demo version to practise on. (Source: Vave Casino)

Caribbean Stud Poker game is played on a half-moon-shaped table that can accommodate a maximum of seven players and the dealer. It resembles blackjack, with the dealer on one side of the table, facing the players. In front of the dealer is an area for their hand and the chips, which the players can see. Each player has a specific area with separate boxes for their ante and raise bets. Sometimes, there is also a side bet area for the progressive jackpot.

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How To Play Caribbean Stud Poker

While Caribbean Stud Poker differs from playing traditional poker, it is straightforward to learn. Here’s our step-by-step guide on how to play it:

  1. Place your ante bet: Firstly, you’ll need to place an ante bet, a mandatory wager at the start of the game.
  2. Dealing the cards: Once ante bets are placed, the dealer gives out five cards to each player and themselves. All cards are dealt face down, apart from one of the dealer’s cards.
  3. Reviewing the hand: Players will then assess their hand without showing it to anyone else.
  4. Raise or fold: Based on their hand, players can either raise or fold. You’ll typically make a raise bet if you have a strong hand. On the other hand, if you’re not confident in your hand or the dealer’s revealed card is strong, you might choose to fold.
  5. Dealer’s qualification: Then, the dealer’s remaining cards are revealed to see if the hand qualifies. If it doesn’t, the round ends at this point and the ante bets are paid out 1 to 1.
  6. Comparing hands: The dealer compares their hand to the other players' individually to see who has the strongest one. If the dealer has the stronger hand, the house wins, and the unsuccessful bets are collected.
  7. Final showdown: Each player with a hand outranking the dealer’s is paid out their ante bet in even money. The amount paid out on their raise bet depends on their specific hand, which we detail later.

Understanding Hand Rankings & Caribbean Stud Betting

Poker hands are ranked in Caribbean Stud Poker according to a hierarchy, which determines the winner of the game. This ranking system follows the same structure as other popular variants; it is important to remember so that you know how strong your hand is and when to raise or fold.

Here are the hands from highest to lowest ranking:

  • Royal Flush – Ace, King, Queen, Jack, and 10 of the same suit
  • Straight Flush – Five consecutive cards of the same suit
  • Four of a Kind – Four cards of the same rank
  • Full House – Three of a kind and one pair
  • Flush – Five cards of the same suit
  • Straight – Five consecutive cards of any suit
  • Three of A Kind – Three cards of the same
  • Two Pairs – Two sets of two cards of the same rank
  • Pair – Two cards of the same rank
  • High Card – Highest ranking card

Betting Rounds & Options

During the game, the betting rounds are based on the initial ante, then raising and folding based on your hand. Let’s explore exactly what those mean.

  • Ante: At the start of the game, this is a mandatory wager placed before any cards are dealt or seen, acting as the initial pot for the game. All players contribute the same amount for their ante. Ante bets are always paid out at 1 to 1.
  • Raise: After receiving and reviewing their cards, players can raise if they have a strong hand. This is a second bet, typically double the ante, increasing their potential payout.
  • Fold: If a player has a weak hand or the dealer’s revealed card is strong, they can choose to fold. By doing this, they lose their initial ante bet and are no longer in that round.

Dealer Qualification Rules

Once all the players have made their decisions and placed their cards face down on the table, the dealer reveals his remaining four cards to identify the highest-ranking poker hand.

For the round to continue, the dealer’s hand must qualify, which means it has to include an Ace and a King or a high-ranking hand. If the dealer’s hand doesn’t qualify, players will receive even money on their ante bets, and their raise bets are returned to them.
If the dealer’s hand does qualify, it is compared against the others’ hands to determine the winner.

Payout Structure in Caribbean Stud Poker

If the player’s hand is better than the dealer’s, the player is the winner. The ante bet is paid out in even money, and if the raise bet is successful, then winnings are determined based on this table:

Hand Payout
Royal Flush 100 to1
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 Pairs 2 to 1
Pair or less 1 to 1

The Progressive Jackpot

Players can place a side bet for the progressive jackpot before seeing any cards. This pays out if the player’s hand consists of a flush or higher hand; it is separate from the game. It isn’t necessary to beat the dealer’s hand to win the progressive jackpot, provided that you have one of the below hands:

Hand Payout
Royal Flush Total Jackpot
Straight Flush 10% of Jackpot
Four of a Kind €500
Full House €100
Flush €50

Strategies for Winning at Caribbean Stud Poker

Players can employ a few strategies for winning when playing Caribbean Stud Poker. It is not as tactical as standard poker, as the game involves going against the dealer rather than other players, so you’re limited to folding or raising based on your initial hand. Below are a few tips to follow:

  • It is crucial to understand the hand rankings. Knowing this hierarchy will tell you if you have a strong or weak hand and help you decide whether to fold or raise.
  • As in any poker game, understanding how psychology affects your poker game is imperative to improving your odds.
  • You should always raise if you’ve been dealt a pair or higher. This is a well-known strategy.
  • If your hand is weaker than an Ace-King high, then it is advisable to fold. This is the minimum hand that the dealer must have to qualify.

It can be beneficial to follow this:

Player’s Hand Dealer’s Visible Card Action
Matching Queen or lower Raise
Ace or King Queen or lower Raise
Ace, King, Queen, Jack Ace or King Raise
Low Pair (2s to 6s) 7 or higher Fold
No Queen or Jack Ace or King Fold

Common Mistakes To Avoid

There are many common poker mistakes players unwittingly make, the below are the most common for Caribbean Stud.

  • Fold if you do not have at least an Ace or a King — This is unlikely to beat the dealer’s hand.
  • Risking your whole bankroll — Even if you have a solid hand, you shouldn’t risk your whole bankroll.
  • Relying on bluffing — Unlike standard stud poker, this strategy doesn’t work, as you need to focus on your hand against the dealer.
  • Ignoring the dealer’s visible card — Take into consideration this card in accordance with your hand.
  • Folding low pairs immediately — It is important to remember that the dealer will sometimes fail to qualify. So, even if you have a low hand, you could still have a chance of winning.

Caribbean Stud Poker Variants

Want to try something a little different? You can also explore a few similar games to Caribbean Stud Poker:

  • Mississippi Stud Poker — Similar to Caribbean Stud Poker, but hands are not compared to the dealer’s hand. Instead, it is against a paytable with fixed odds.
  • Oasis Poker — Follows the same rules as Caribbean Stud Poker, except players can try to improve their hands by exchanging cards.
  • Caribbean Hold’em — As the name suggests, this variant merges Caribbean Stud Poker and Texas Hold’em. Players use individual and community cards to make the best five-card hand.

Online vs. Live Caribbean Stud Poker

Playing Caribbean Stud Poker at an online casino versus at a physical casino comes with a few key differences, each offering its own set of advantages and disadvantages. Ultimately, it comes down to the player's preference. Let’s see how to play Caribbean Stud Poker online versus in person:

Online In-Person
  • Convenient, play from anywhere
  • Faster than physical dealing
  • Lower stakes & high stakes available
  • Better if you prefer private gaming
  • Available 24/7
  • Need to travel to physical location
  • Slower gameplay
  • Typically higher minimum bets
  • Encourages social interaction
  • Set opening hours

Conclusion

Caribbean Stud Poker is a simple yet engaging variant of poker, which you can start playing today by exploring our recommended casinos at the top of the page. This variant is popular for its straightforward rules and potential for big wins, even if the RTP is quite low. Don’t forget to learn the hands and follow our Caribbean Stud Poker strategy to increase your chances of success.

FAQs

Many online casinos (like Vave, Jackbit, and CryptoLeo) will have demo versions of Caribbean Stud Poker, where you can practise Caribbean Stud Poker online free and test out your strategy.

Check out our top picks of the best Caribbean Stud Poker online casinos in the table at the top of the page.

Like standard poker, a Royal Flush is the best hand in Caribbean Stud Poker, where you have an Ace, King, Queen, Jack, and 10 of the same suit.

Caribbean Stud Poker has a house edge of 5.5% for the ante bet and 2.6% for both the ante and raise bets. But this can vary depending on the specific casino.