It is impossible for me to choose one particular poker variant and claim it is my absolute favorite. Instead, I would have to comprise a list, but one which would be open to change every now and then to fit my passing moods.

If all this sounds like a cop out, that’s because it is. So let me make one clear statement and say that Caribbean Stud would have to be near the top of my list. It’s an outstanding and largely overlooked game,

Unlike standard poker games, Caribbean Stud is played against the house rather than against other players. There is no bluffing or other form of deception. To play, every player places his ante on the layout where indicated. All ante bets must be placed prior to the dealer announcing “No more bets.”

Each player and the dealer then get five cards, face down. The dealer will turn over one of his cards, then push the cards toward the players, after which the players may look at their cards.

Players have the option to play or fold. If they choose to play, they place their bets (which is an amount exactly twice their respective ante) in the bet box. If they choose to fold, they forfeit their ante. After all the players have made their calls, the dealer exposes his hole cards.

The dealer only plays with an ace/king or higher. Then, by comparing his cards to the players’ cards (individually, right to left), it is determined who wins by virtue of being in possession of the best poker hand

This is a game which places a high premium on proper etiquette, so it’s worth your time to figure out some very basic rules of decorum. There is only one hand allowed per player. Players cannot hold or wager on multiple hands at the table. If the dealer does not show an ace/king, hands playing the jackpot must be turned over, face up, and shown to the dealer and table. If the player is not playing the jackpot prize, the cards are not shown. This may seem a bit odd if you are used to playing different forms of poker, but it’s important.

Knowledge of what other players hold can decrease the house edge. It’s estimated with the knowledge of 6 other player’s hands, the player can gain an edge of 2.3 percent. That’s a fairly substantial difference. Since sharing information is against the rules, a computer would be needed to calculate the appropriate strategy. I would not hold your breath for that to ever happen in a casino, my friend. But we can all dream.

You cannot blame these kids for failing to realize that poker is an umbrella category that covers an extraordinarily wide range of variations, many of which are extremely different from Texas Holdem. After all, what other game has gotten the kind of televised coverage that Holdem has enjoyed recently? Until the day comes (and I would not hold your breath) that some genius decides to switch the final table main event at the World Series of Poker from no-limit Holdem to say, 5-Card Draw, we can continue to expect that newer players will have a rather limited focus and understanding of the game at large.

However, in light of this current monopoly, other trends of poker offer themselves up to be discovered by the truly adventurous player. In fact, as a general sense of burnout begins to set upon the minds of those who have been playing Holdem relentlessly for many years running, the idea of checking out a new variant becomes extremely attractive indeed. This is what I meant about too much of a good thing can actually being a good thing and I can think of no better example to illustrate my point than the game of Caribbean Stud.

It is true that there are many seasoned gamblers – both in cyberspace and on the casino circuit – who feel little more then contempt for Caribbean Stud, claiming it is not worthy of serious players. In general, this conclusion is reached due to the fact that there is no real bluffing involved in Caribbean stud. Therefore, what’s the point?

While I can at least partially understand this jaded viewpoint, it is not one which I myself endorse. Why? For the simple reason that Caribbean Stud is an extremely fun game to play, even though it may be somewhat less ruthless in its structure than Holdem or other popular variants. In fact, I feel this game perfectly captures the unique planetary region from which it draws its name. Sure, it is a bit more mellow than you may be used to in a poker match. But hey, life is short, so every once in a while it’s fun to just kick back, feel the tropical breeze on your skin and and play a game in which every single hand is not life or death. That’s how I view the great game of Caribbean Stud.

1. As with any gambling endeavor, decide on your budget beforehand, and don’t go overboard. There’s no sense in turning a fun experience into a regret!
2. Because this is a game where you play against the house and not against other players, there is a house advantage. On the whole, this poker variation is not particularly advantageous for the player.
3. Even though you’re all in it against the dealer, this doesn’t mean you can be buddy-buddy with the other players. It is strictly forbidden to discuss your cards with other players at the table.
4. Casinos introduced the progressive jackpot feature to make the game more attractive to gamblers – but don’t be fooled! Statistically speaking, the $1 contribution is not worth the risk until the meter surpasses $263,000.
5. Also about the progressive jackpot: many casinos impose house upper limits on the amount a player can win from the pot with a straight flush or a royal flush. If this is the case where you’re playing, it may be even less worth it to contribute to the pot.
6. Remember that there is an element of skill to this game. Don’t bet blindly. Put our strategy to use to combat the house advantage.
7. The dealer knows best. If you don’t have an Ace or a King, fold. In fact, even one of these is really not good enough. See our strategy section for more information.
8. Don’t waste too much time pondering over the dealer’s face up card. In most cases, it’s not nearly as meaningful as the cards in your own hand.
9. Casinos reserve the right to offer their own payoffs for winning hands. Be sure to check these out before you play to see whether they give the house more or less of an advantage.
10. Certain on-line gambling sites offer this game with slight modifications to the payoffs, generally lowering the house advantage against the player. If you’re dead set on playing Caribbean stud poker, maybe it’s best to stick to the web!

flush – a hand of five cards all of the same suit, irrespective of value

fold – the equivalent of “giving up”; a player who folds forfeits any money he or she has bet, but escapes from having to bet any more

four of a kind - a hand containing four cards of the same value, irrespective of suit

full house – a hand of three cards of the same value and two cards of another same value, irrespective of suit, e.g. 2, 2, 2, 5, 5; i.e. a three of a kind and a pair

high card – the highest card in a player’s hand; used to determine the winning hand if neither player nor dealer holds a higher poker combination, or if both hold the same combination (e.g. if both player and dealer are holding a straight, the one with the higher card wins)

hole cards – the face down cards of the dealer that are revealed at the end of a hand

layout – the table on which the game is played, including all markings, fixtures, etc.

one pair – a hand containing one pair of cards of the same value, irrespective of suit

progressive jackpot – the pot of money optionally contributed to by players at the start of each hand; players who contribute to the progressive jackpot have the opportunity to win back from it with any hand of a flush or higher

royal flush – a hand of 10, J, Q, K, A, all of the same suit

straight - a hand of five cards of consecutive value, e.g. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, irrespective of suit; an Ace cannot count as both low and high, as in e.g. Q, K, A, 2, 3

straight flush - a hand of five cards of consecutive value, e.g. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, all of the same suit; an Ace cannot count as both low and high, as in e.g. Q, K, A, 2, 3

three of a kind – a hand containing three cards of the same value, irrespective of suit

two pair - a hand containing two pairs of cards, each of the same value, irrespective of suit

The house advantage in Caribbean stud poker is actually the same as in American-style roulette: 5.26%. The difference between the two is that while roulette is a game of pure luck, Caribbean stud poker can involve an element of strategy.

The big decision in Caribbean stud poker is this one: play, or fold. If a player folds, he or she loses the ante but avoids the possibility of losing even more. If a player decides to play, he or she must raise the bet. There are then three possible outcomes:

1. The dealer folds; the player wins the ante bet.
2. The dealer plays and the player has the higher hand; the player wins both the ante bet and the raise bet.
3. The dealer plays and has the higher hand; the player loses both the ante bet and the raise bet.

Keep in mind that the dealer will always fold if he or she does not hold a King, an Ace, or any higher poker combination (one pair, etc.).

As with many casino games, the dealer’s strategy is usually the best. A player with no high card should always fold.

In fact, even if a player does have a King or an Ace and decides to play, he or she will be unlikely to win the raise bet, because the dealer will only play with a high card as well. In such cases, the player should also fold.

Players should only play if they are holding both a King and an Ace, or any higher poker combination. If a player is holding any poker combination – i.e. one pair or higher – he or she should always play the hand. In a five-card game without dropping, the chances of being dealt any poker combination are slim at best. Even with a pair of deuces, there is less than a 50% chance that the dealer will also have a pair.

Meanwhile, if a player is holding both a King and an Ace (and has no higher poker combination), the player should fold unless one of the following conditions is met:

1. Two of the player’s other three cards are Q and J, or
2. One of the player’s other three cards is a Q, J, or 10, and the player is holding a card of the same value as the dealer’s face up card.

In the second condition, the reason that the player must be holding a card of the same value as the dealer’s face up card is that this lowers the chances of the dealer having a pair.



Specifically, Caribbean Stud Poker was first played in 1988 in the Holiday Inn Hotel & Casino, which has since changed its name to the Excelsior Casino. The resort in fact will be host to the World Poker Tour in September of 2005.

The popularity of Caribbean Stud Poker grew rapidly; soon it was played throughout the Caribbean Islands and on cruise ships. The original version of the game did not include a progressive jackpot, but when Las Vegas took notice, which it did with due promptness, casinos out west quickly included the game in their repertoires and made it even more attractive to players by adding the progressive jackpot option.

The growth of Caribbean Stud Poker in such a short time is phenomenal; nowadays there are very few casinos which don’t offer the game.

Caribbean Stud Poker is based on the game of 5 Card Stud which is very popular in the US and easily recognizable to many players.

Fun Facts:

• Caribbean Stud was the first casino table game to offer a progressive jackpot. Players have the opportunity to win a huge sum of money with a $1 side bet.
• All players are competing against the dealer instead of each other, negating the competitive nature of the typical poker game.

What are the Odds of getting certain hands in Caribbean Stud Poker?

Following is a listing of possible hands (approximately) in Caribbean Stud Poker and the probability of receiving these hands.

The times that you will receive good hands are not very frequent. Most of the time, you might end up being dealt a pair, or even two pairs with an occasional three of a kind. Given these statistics, you should consider folding with only one pair. Moreover, often the dealer may not even qualify.

Caribbean Stud Poker Odds and Tips

• Always stay in when you have 2 pair or better.
• Try and not play the progressive – If the jackpot is low, it is never a good bet to play the progressive bet, however if the jackpot is large, it might be worth to do so.
• In the event that you do play the progressive, you win even if the dealer doesn’t qualify.
• If you have nothing it is always better to fold.
• The house edge for Caribbean Stud poker is about 5.2% making it one of the worst bets in the casino.
• Play for fun and enjoy the game; don’t expect to win on a consistent basis.