How to Play Caribbean Stud

Caribbean Stud Poker, sometimes referred to simply as Caribbean Poker, bears a strong resemblance to 5 Card Stud, except the game is played against the dealer and not against other players. Carribean Poker is very reliant upon luck, and the only skill involved is deciding whether or not to raise. There is also an available jackpot in Caribbean Poker.

Basic Caribbean Stud Poker Hand

The hand begins with the players making their ante bets. Five cards are then dealt to each player and the dealer. One of the dealer’s cards is dealt face up, while every other card on the table is dealt face down. Players can then look at the cards, but may make no indication of what their cards are. This is very important to prevent collusion, which would lower the house edge considerably.

After looking at their cards, each player must decide whether to raise or fold.  Players give up their antes if they fold. If a player raises, the raise must be twice the size of the ante  After all the players act, the dealer reveals the other four cards in the dealer’s hand. 

The dealer hand must qualify to beat the player hands, and the dealer must have Ace-King at the very least to qualify. Players will win the ante bet if the dealer does not qualify, and will take back their raises. If the dealer qualifies and there is a tie, it is considered a push. The player loses both bets if the dealer’s qualifying hand wins, otherwise the player will win even money on the ante bet and the raise will be paid according to casino specific pay tables.

Progressive Jackpot

At the beginning of the hand, the player has the option of making a $1 Progressive Jackpot bet. If the player has a great hand, they get paid from the jackpot for their $1 bet. The payout is typically 100% of the jackpot for a royal flush, 10% for a straight flush, and varying dollar amounts for a four of a kind down to a straight, although the straight pays very little, if any. If a player does not have a strong hand when a progressive jackpot bet is made, the casino takes a portion of the bet, while the rest goes into the jackpot to form a larger jackpot.