This page explains the simple, easy-to-learn rules of Caribbean Stud. With a few simple tips, you can play this game nearly optimally. Even with perfect strategy, the house edge exceeds 5%. This is poor when compared to blackjack, roulette, Three Card Poker, or Ultimate Texas Holdem. The game can be a lot of fun, especially if played with a group of friends, and you can potentially win a large jackpot, but it is not free.
Rules of Caribbean Stud Poker
Caribbean Stud only requires a basic understanding of poker hand rankings.
Ranks of Caribbean Stud Hands
You’re set if you’ve played Hold’em, Omaha, Stud, or Five Card Draw. The hands are ranked from low card to royal flush (highest). Absolutely not. This game, like others, is played against the house. Everyone at the table is attempting to outsmart the dealer. So that players can encourage one another when a big hand helps but does not hurt. Before each hand, you must place the ante in the box. The dealer then deals five cards face down to each player. They will also take five cards, one of which will be visible to all. After that, examine your cards and make a decision.
Rules of Caribbean Stud Poker
You cannot show your cards to the other players before making a decision. Most casinos don’t mind if you do it accidentally or for fun, but doing it repeatedly can get you in trouble.
In this game, sharing your cards is cheating because you and other players can gain information.
When you look at your hand, you have two choices:
- Folding means giving up your bet.
- Play – placing a bet equal to twice the ante
Once everyone has made their decision, the dealer will turn over the rest of their cards and pay the winners.
Payouts for Caribbean Stud Poker
The dealer compares their hand to each player’s after the cards are turned face up. You will always be paid 1 to 1 if your hand beats the dealer’s. You will only be paid 1 to 1 on the ‘Play’ amount if the dealer has Ace-King or better.
If the dealer does not qualify, players’ ante bets are forfeited.
“Play” bets can pay out more than one to one. If you get two pairs or better, you will be paid out as shown in the table below.
- Two pair pays 2 to 1
- Three of a kind pays 3 to 1
- Straight pays 4 to 1
- Flushes pay 5 to 1
- Full boats pay 7 to 1
- Quads are paid at 20 to 1
- Straight flushes pay 50 to 1
- Royal flush pays 100 to 1
These Bets Pay Only Under Two Conditions:
- The dealer has a qualifying hand
- Your hand beats the dealer’s hand
You lose the hand and will not be paid if you are dealt full aces and the dealer shows quads. Unlike other casino poker variations, Caribbean Stud has no standalone bets other than the progressive jackpot.
Caribbean Stud Jackpot
Most casinos allow players to independently bet on the progressive jackpot, and you can always find a game if you choose an operator from the real casino list. Regardless of the game’s stakes, the minimum bet to qualify for a hand’s jackpot is £1. 70% of every dollar goes to the progressive jackpot pool, with the casino keeping 30%.
It isn’t as bad as it appears. When a jackpot is won, the casino must use some of the proceeds to seed the next one. For a £10,000 jackpot, the casino must put up £10,000. The jackpot is won by a royal flush in any suit. If you’re lucky, you’ll win the jackpot. Straight flushes are worth 10% of the jackpot.