Caribbean
Stud Rules and Basic Strategy
Caribbean Stud is a
poker variation where the player or players compete against the house
rather than other players. The
game starts with an ante by each player in the designated ante box. It is important to note that there is another phase of
wagering after the deal called the raise.
The amount of a raise is always twice the ante amount. Be aware of this when placing the ante so as to have enough
bankroll to cover a raise. Once
all players have anted the dealer gives each player and himself five
cards. All of the players’
cards will be face down while four of the dealer’s cards are face down
and one is face up. Once the player has cards there are two options:
raise or fold. If the
player chooses to fold the dealer will take back the cards and the player
loses his ante. Players that
raise place chips equal to twice the ante amount in the betting square and
when all players have either raised or folded the dealer exposes his
remaining four cards. First
the dealer checks to see if he has qualified (the dealer must have a low
hand of Ace-King within his five cards).
If the dealer does not qualify the game is over and each player
that did not fold is paid one to one on their ante bet and the raise bet
is considered a push with the player retaining the entire amount.
If, on the other hand, the dealer does qualify, his cards are
compared individually to each player’s hand and the high poker hand
between them is deemed the winner. Players
who lose to a qualified dealer lose both ante and raise.
Players that win are paid one to one on the ante and then are paid
according to the following chart on their raise bet.
|
Hand
|
Payoff
|
|
Ace/King
|
1 to 1
|
|
Pair
|
1 to 1
|
|
Two pair
|
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
|
Here is one basic
strategy of the game called “matching rank:
- Raise
on any pair or better
- Raise
in and Ace-King where the dealer’s up-card matches any card in the
player hand
- Fold
anything lower than Ace-King
There are charts
available which show, based on mathematical analysis, exactly what to do
for each hypothetical hand but they are vast and beyond the memory
capability of the average player. To
play by those charts would be considered “perfect strategy”.
This would give the house about a 5.22% edge. Playing the matching rank strategy equals about a 5.33% edge,
slightly worse odds for the player but a strategy nonetheless!
Many Caribbean Stud
tables will have a progressive jackpot that pays out small amounts for any
three of kind and better, a 10% payout for a straight flush, and the whole
shebang when a player hits a royal flush.
These are typically a $1 bet for every new hand in the game and the
jackpots are sometimes over $100,000.
Although they seem tempting, especially when considering special
payouts for all hands of three of a kind and better, do not play them!
The odds of actually winning the jackpot with a royal flush are
tiny, especially considering the relatively small number of hands played
in any given session. As
well, most casinos have a built in take of up to 30 cents on the dollar
right from the drop of the coin. That
means that only 70 cents is actually being added to the pot!
The casinos get away with this because they “seed” the jackpot
after every hit with its initial payout money (usually $10,000).
All in all, the house edge on the progressive side wager is around
25%, a bad bet anywhere!
Enjoy playing
Caribbean Stud!
|
