Caribbean stud poker is a casino table game with rules similar to five card stud poker. However, unlike standard poker games, Caribbean stud is played against the house rather than against other players (and, like most such games, it cannot be beaten in the long run). There is no bluffing or other deception. For these reasons, most poker players do not consider it to be a form of poker. (They do not necessarily feel that it should not be called poker, but means merely that they will not refer to it as simply "poker". For instance, a gambler might say "I played poker" if he played seven card stud, but probably would not if he played Caribbean stud.)
Here the player competes against the dealer's hand. Each
player makes the opening bet called 'ante'. Players
then have the option to bet $1.00 to participate in the progressive
jackpot. Players win all or part of the progressive jackpot
with a Royal Flush, Straight Flush, Four of a Kind, Full House
or Flush.
Players place the opening bet 'ante'. Then the dealer deals
in turn giving five cards each face down, including himself
except for the dealer's fifth card, which is face up. After
examining the cards, the player must decide on one of two
options:
- Either place a bet on the 'play' mark equal to the 'ante'
amount and continue the game, or
- Fold and withdraw from that round and forfeit the 'ante'
wager.
Once all the players made their decisions, the dealer will
open his or her cards. The dealer's hand must contain an Ace-King
or better to qualify and challenge the players hands, otherwise
the dealer folds and only the 'ante' wagers are paid, at 1:1
irrespective of ranking. The 'play' bet is returned to the
player.
If the dealer's hand qualifies with an Ace-King or better,
then the players cards are opened and compared against the
dealer's. If the dealer's hand is better than the player's
hand, then the player loses both, the 'ante' and 'play' wager.
If the player's hand is better than the dealer's, then the
dealer pays the player for both wagers; the 'ante'
and the 'play'. For the 'ante' the payoff is fixed
at 1:1 irrespective of the hand ranking. For the 'play' wager
the payoffs vary according to the ranking of each player's
hand.
The payoffs may differ between casinos but basically they
are as follows:
- A Pair - Even Money
- Two Pairs - 2 to 1
- Three of A Kind - 3 to 1
- Straight - 4 to 1
- Flush - 5 to 1
- Full House - 7 to 1
- Four of A Kind - 20 to 1
- Straight Flush - 50 to 1
- Royal Flush - 100 to 1
Irrespective of the dealer's hand, if a player has a hand
that qualifies for the progressive jackpot, the player wins
according to the ranking of his hand. If two or more players
win, the winnings are shared. The jackpot payoffs are as follows:
- Royal Flush - 100% of the Jackpot
- Straight Flush - 10% of the Jackpot
- Four of a Kind - $100
- Full House - $75
- Flush - $50
House advantage 5.22%
Caribbean Stud Poker in the United Kingdom
Caribbean Stud Poker differs slightly in the United Kingdom, and most parts of Europe, from the US. The game is officially known as "Casino Five Card Stud Poker", and not all casinos have the jackpot prize. Those which do have the prize, usually the large chain groups, officially call the game "Casino Jackpot Five Card Stud Poker". In both instances, the game is commonly referred to as "Casino Stud Poker".
The basic rules are the same in the UK as the US, although the payouts differ - the maximum bet is generally £100 on the ante and £200 on the raise, and all payouts are paid on the raise, meaning the maximum payout can potentially be £10,000 (a Royal Flush pays at the same odds, 50:1, as a Straight Flush).
Casinos offering the jackpot generally have the card shuffled by a card shuffling machine - the cards are then removed and dealt out by the dealer, or croupier. Independent and small casinos generally have the croupier shuffle the cards by hand.
British casinos do not use the chip dropper system; instead, a £1 chip is placed on a small plastic circle on the table, which lights up. The croupier then presses a button on a panel in front of them, which keeps the lights lit up once the chips are removed. The dealer removes the chips, and can then tell which players are playing the jackpot game and which are not.
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.
Player Strategy
Using optimal strategy the house edge is 5.224% of the player's ante bet. This strategy can be complicated and does not lend itself to practical use in a casino. Using a strategy of raising with Ace/King/Jack/8/3 or better the house edge is 5.316%, very close to the optimal strategy house edge.
Knowledge of what other players hold can decrease the house edge. It has been estimated with the knowledge of 6 other player's hands (30 cards) and associated optimal strategy the player can gain an edge of 2.3%. Given that sharing information is against the rules and that a computer would be needed to calculate the appropriate strategy it is unlikely this could ever be achieved in a real life casino.
Where to play Caribbean
stud poker:
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