Have you ever cruised through a casino, saw a few Caribbean poker tables, and kept on moving? It’s probably because you weren’t familiar with all the rules or wanted to risk money at a game that’s more familiar. An open spot at a blackjack table is often difficult to find on a Saturday night. If you learned Caribbean poker, often referred to as Caribbean stud poker, you could find a seat a bit easier and have just as much fun. Let’s dig into our guide, go through the rules, and make a few recommendations on how to bet.
The game supposedly originated in 1982 from a professional poker player named David Sklansky. Sklansky first called it ‘casino poker’. It was refined and developed at the King International Casino in Aruba. It’s there that the name ‘Caribbean Poker’ was patented and spread from. In the United Kingdom, Caribbean poker is offered at some casinos, but it’s called ‘Casino five-card stud poker’.
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Caribbean Poker: How to Play, Rules to Know and Betting Advice
What is the goal of Caribbean Poker?
The goal of Caribbean stud poker is to beat the dealer. That’s right. Traditional stud poker games are played against other players or the table. In Caribbean poker, you’re trying to beat the dealer’s hand. There are also bonuses available and an option for a progressive jackpot.
How is Caribbean Poker played?
Step 1
Like most poker games, Caribbean stud poker starts with an ante. All ante wagers must be placed before the dealer announces ‘no more bets’. If the casino offers a progressive jackpot, this is also when you need to place a bet to play. We’ll go through progressive jackpots in a bit.
Step 2
Next, the dealer will deal five cards to each player and himself. The dealer will turn over one of his cards. After the dealer turns, the players can look at their cards.
Step 3
At this point in the game, players can either fold or raise. If you fold here, your initial bet is forfeit. If you raise, your bet is usually twice the size of the ante.
After players have made their decisions, the dealer shows his four remaining cards. A dealer can only continue if his hand contains an ace and a king, or a hand that has a pair of twos or better.
If the dealer can’t continue, the antes of the players who stayed in get paid, and the raises are a ‘push’.
If the dealer can continue, he’ll compare his hand to each of the remaining players. One of three scenarios play out here. Either the dealer loses and pays out all active bets, the dealer wins and the house takes the antes and raises, or the hands push. If there’s a push, bets are returned to the player.
Rules can vary by casino, but they generally follow the format detailed above. It’s best to ask the dealer about any rule variations.
What additional payouts?
There are additional payouts if your hand beats the dealer. A typical payout chart is as follows:
- 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
It’s important to remember that these payouts can vary by casino. Most casinos should have a detailed chart or guide to explain the payout structure. If you have questions, check with the dealer before you start playing.
What about progressive jackpots?
Some games offer progressive jackpots in addition to their normal payouts. A progressive jackpot is when a game offers an additional side bet that offers the chance to win an accumulating prize.
In the case of Caribbean poker, most casinos offer a 100% payout of the progressive meter on a Royal Flush. The rest of a typical payout schedule for a progressive jackpot on Caribbean stud poker is as follows:
- Straight Flush – 10% of progressive meter
- Four-of-a-kind – $500
- Full House – $100
- Flush – $50
Is there a betting strategy to follow in Caribbean poker?
Caribbean stud poker is you versus the dealer. You don’t have to worry about bluffs, and you don’t have to worry about betting against other opponents. The only betting strategy that you really have to worry about is bankroll management. Stick to your bankroll, stay consistent with amounts, and don’t get crazy with the progressive jackpots.
Caribbean stud poker is a simple, fast-paced game that comes across as slightly intimidating to some because it has ‘poker’ in the name. If you see blackjack and craps tables getting backed up, stroll over to Caribbean poker. It’s just as fun, just as quick, and really not harder to play than blackjack is, and offers more ways to stay in the game.
Keep in mind that your time playing online or at a table shouldn’t cause additional stress. You get enough of that from work, family, and sports gambling. If your blood pressure is rising, get up, take a walk, throw on your earphones, and listen to the latest episode of the Sports Gambling Podcast, but always remember to let it ride!
