Caribbean Stud poker is a popular casino game due to its simplicity, clear rules, and solid winnings. And let's not forget the exotic name associated with warmth and good emotions. However, we notice that many people have only heard of this game, never played it, and think it is as complicated as regular poker played with cards. Far from it – Caribbean Stud, although played with cards, is just one of the casino games where luck plays a bigger role than deep knowledge. However, to play, you still need to read the rules at least once. Here are the essential rules and a few strategic ideas that we hope will help you win even more.
Where to play best:
Caribbean Stud rules
To play Caribbean Stud Poker, you must make a mandatory bet – Ante. This will later be associated with the main bet, so decide how much you want to allocate for the game. Ante limits in many online casinos range from 1 to 100 US dollars or euros, which are more familiar to us. It is also possible (not in all casinos) to make a side bet, which is usually equal to 1 monetary unit (dollar, euro, or other currency prevailing in the casino). More about the side bet later.
When the mandatory bet (ante) is made, the cards are dealt to the players and the casino. Both the players' and the casino's cards are dealt face down, except for the last casino card, which is turned face up. This allows more experienced players to assess the situation a bit more easily.
Next bets…
When the player sees their card and the last casino card, they must decide – to bet double the ante (if the ante was €100, now you must additionally bet €200) or fold and lose the mandatory bet. The side bet is also lost if it was made.
If the player decides to play (or at least one player at the table), the dealer reveals the remaining four cards. Note that the casino can lose even with higher cards than the player! The casino participates in the game only if it has an ace along with a king or higher. The lowest possible combination for the casino to continue the game and compare cards is ace, king, 4, 3, 2. The highest combination with which the game is not continued is ace, queen, jack, 10, 9.
If the casino drops out of the game, the player gets their bet back, and the ante bet is paid 1:1. For example, if you bet €100 ante and another €200 to continue the game, you will receive a total of €400 (€100 “in profit”).
If the casino participates in the game and wins – the player loses both the ante and the additional bet and side bets. In case of a tie, both the ante and the bet are returned. When the player wins, the ante is paid at a ratio of 1:1, and the bet is paid according to the list below:
- Pair or worse pays 1:1;
- Two pairs pay 2:1;
- Three of a kind pays 3:1;
- Straight pays 4:1;
- Flush pays 5:1;
- Full house pays 7:1;
- Four of a kind pays 20:1;
- Straight flush pays 50:1;
- Royal flush pays 100:1;
Attention! These are typical, most commonly encountered payouts, especially in US and European casinos. In online gambling, payouts may vary, often various bonuses are applied for certain combinations (especially for royal flush), sometimes even for combinations that mean something specific to a particular casino.
Side bets or jackpot
In many casinos, not only standard Caribbean Stud Poker bets are offered, but also side bets, allowing you to win the jackpot. After making a side bet, usually equal to one dollar or euro, it goes into the jackpot (a percentage is taken by the casino), which is won if a flush or better is achieved.
The already accumulated jackpot budget is usually visible publicly, and winnings are paid proportionally. For a royal flush, 100% of the accumulated jackpot is usually offered, a straight flush gives a chance to get about 10%, smaller payouts are even smaller, with percentages varying greatly depending on the specific casino. Sometimes a fixed amount is paid, for example, €500, instead of a percentage of the jackpot.
When the jackpot is won, it starts accumulating not from zero, but from an amount set by the casino. In smaller casinos, that amount is 1000, in larger ones, it is about 10 thousand euros or dollars.
It is understandable that the casino takes a certain percentage from side bets to ensure its profit and compensate for the initial amount. The usual casino percentage range is between 25 and 35, so about 65-75 cents from a one-euro bet go into the jackpot.
Main Caribbean Stud poker strategies
The simplest way to play and reduce the likelihood of losing when playing Caribbean Stud Poker is to follow two main strategic recommendations:
- Always play with a pair or better
- Always fold when you have less than the casino's required cards – ace and king.
For those who want to delve a bit more into the game and play even more profitably, we recommend trying these tips:
- Play if the casino's open card is from 2 to king and you have at least one card of the same value.
- Fold if the casino card is an ace or king, and you do not have at least a pair.
Guaranteeing a win in Caribbean Stud poker is very difficult, as it is more of a game of luck, like many casino games. However, playing with not very large amounts and following at least the basic game strategies, it is an interesting and attractive way to spend time, chosen by many gamblers from various countries around the world.
We note that when playing casino Caribbean Stud Poker, you cannot reveal your cards not only to the dealer but also to other players. When a player knows another player's cards, the casino's advantage drops significantly, so it is strictly prohibited, and you may be asked to leave the casino for such a violation.
