Introduction
Caribbean Stud Poker is a meld-making table game based on the game mechanics and rules of the Poker genre of comparing games.
However, Caribbean Stud is not a comparing game in the same way as its relatives. Instead, it is a casino table game, where each individual Player faces off against the Dealer, instead of the whole table at once.
How to Play Caribbean Stud Poker?
The game is played using the standard Anglo-American deck of 52 cards. As Texas Hold’em, Caribbean Stud is a “High-Hand” Poker game. This means that during the face-off, either the Player or the Dealer will have the superior hand (unless there is a tie), and the one with the highest value hand will win.
The hierarchy of melds in Stud will be explained below in the Hands and Payouts section of the guide.
Ante Ups
The game begins with each Player making their initial wager in order to be dealt their cards. This wager is known as the Ante. Unlike many other Poker games, this Ante does not have to be equal for each Player.
Player 1 might place an Ante of $10, but Player 2 might place an Ante of $5. Most tables have rules that limit or require certain bets, a Minimum and Maximum bet.
The Initial Deal
Once each Player has placed their Ante, all Players that paid in will be dealt five cards at a time, all face-down. Players may look at their own cards, but not each other’s cards.
Once each Player has been dealt out, the Dealer will then deal themselves 5 cards, also face-down. One of those cards will then be flipped face-up, to reveal to other Players.
This card gives the Players at the table a very rough gauge of the Dealer’s possible hands. If a Player has a three-kind, for example, and they see that the Dealer’s revealed card is the 4th card of that three-of-a-kind, then they know that the Dealer at the very least does not have a pair, three-kind, or four-kind composed of that particular card.
Once the Dealer’s card has been revealed, Players are given the option to “Play, or Fold.”
Betting Positions
Fold
Players that Fold surrender their Ante to the Dealer, and are not allowed to participate in the Showdown portion of the game, forfeiting all rights to winning a payout even if their cards would have won.
Play or Call
Players that choose to play, sometimes referred to as “Calling” at some casinos, must pay an additional wager that is exactly double their initial Ante. If the Player puts in a $25 Ante, they must place an additional $50 on the table in order to continue with the game.
Revealing the cards (Showdown)
Once each Player has been given the chance to call or fold, the Players will then go in order, clockwise or counter-clockwise from the Dealer, depending on the casino, revealing their hands and comparing them against the Dealer’s hand, which will also be revealed.
Players compare their hand against the Dealer one at a time and receive their payouts based on the payout table provided by the casino.
Although some casinos may set different odds, generally they want to maximize their own profit, and as such have the payout table set in such a way that provides the house with an Edge of nearly 5%. The most common payouts that one will find at a Caribbean Stud table will be provided below in the Hands and Payouts section of this guide.
Dealer Qualification
There is another important rule Players should keep in mind:
- If the Dealer does not “qualify”, then the Player’s Call wager is returned to them without any additional payment. Players that beat the Dealer, whether or not they qualify, will always be paid out on their initial Ante 1:1.
Imagine a Player puts $40 in their Ante, and then $80 in their Call, and then the Dealer does not qualify, the Player would win a total of $160. 80 returned to them from their Call, as the Dealer did not qualify, and an additional $80 from their wager for beating the Dealer.
The Dealer qualifies when they have at least an Ace-King, or higher. This means the Dealer must have at least an Ace and King in their hand, or they must have a pair or better.
Practice: at CoolOldGames.com you can play Caribbean Stud online for free.
Caribbean Stud Rules
In short, the official rules are as follows:
- Players that wish to Call and play the game must double their initial Ante. This means the Ante determines the total amount that will be bet on a particular hand.
- The House must “qualify” in order for payouts to be made on the Call. However, the Ante always pays out if it wins even if the Dealer does not qualify.
- Players do not play against each other. As a table game, Caribbean Stud Poker is played against the Dealer or “House.”
- One of the Dealer’s cards is left face-up before Players make their decision to Play or Fold.
Hands and Payouts
Caribbean Stud is played using the standard Poker hierarchy of melds. Aces are both high and low.
Payouts for Caribbean Stud Poker are based on the quality of the hand. If the Dealer qualifies, and the Player wins in the comparison against the Dealer, then the Player will receive a payout based on their Call wager and only on their Call wager. The Ante is considered separate from the Call wager, and does not receive a payout multiplier like the Call wager does.
When a Player beats the Dealer, their Ante is always won in a 1:1 ratio, meaning they win back their Ante as well as another sum of money equivalent to their Ante.
The following table demonstrates the most common payouts one will find at a casino’s Caribbean Stud tables:
| Meld | Example | Payout |
|---|---|---|
| Royal Flush | 10♥ J♥ Q♥ K♥ A♥ | 100x |
| Straight Flush | 8♣ 9♣ 10♣ J♣ Q♣ | 50x |
| Four Kind | 4♦ 4♣ 4♠ 4♥ | 20x |
| Full House | 7♦ 7♣ 8♠ 8♣ 8♥ | 7x |
| Flush | 8♠ 5♠ Q♠ 10♠ 3♠ | 5x |
| Straight | 3♦ 4♣ 5♠ 6♠ 7♣ | 4x |
| Three Kind | 3♥ 3♦ 3♣ | 3x |
| Two Pair | 2♣ 2♠ 8♣ 8♠ | 2x |
*Players that manage to win against the Dealer with only a pair, which can only happen if the Dealer has a weaker pair or Ace-King (as they must qualify), will only receive a 1:1 payout on their call wager, the same as their Ante.
Optional Progressive Jackpot
Many Caribbean Stud tables nowadays feature an optional Progressive Jackpot side bet. This wager is placed separately from both the Ante and Call wagers, and it doesn’t affect regular gameplay. It gives the Player a chance to win a large, ever-growing jackpot based solely on the strength of their final hand.
The Progressive Jackpot is funded by Players who choose to place the side bet, with a small portion of every wager added to the shared prize pool. Because this pool continues to grow until someone hits the top hand (Royal Flush mostly), the jackpot can reach impressive sums… Even if the Player does not hit the top payout, many casinos award fixed bonus prizes for lower-ranking premium hands.
Below is a common example of a Progressive Jackpot payout table:
| Hand | Example | Progressive Payout |
|---|---|---|
| Royal Flush | ♥(10, J, Q, K, A) | Full Jackpot |
| Straight Flush | ♣(5, 6, 7, 8, 9) | $5,000 or 10% of the Jackpot |
| Four of a Kind | 9♣ 9♦ 9♥ 9♠ | $500 |
| Full House | 6♠ 6♦ 6♣ 3♠ 3♥ | $100 |
| Flush | ♦(2, 6, 8, 10, K) | $50 |
*Note that the exact bonus amounts can vary by casino, and some establishments may include additional qualifying hands or different payout tiers.
Basic Strategy
As with most casino games, Caribbean Stud is not “supposed” to be beaten. As the Player, mathematically, in the long run, you will eventually lose. However, there exist some generally agreed-upon strategic moves that increase your chances of winning in a single session.
Strategy Chart
| Your Hand | Example | Recommended Action |
|---|---|---|
| Less than Ace-King (A-K) | Q-J-9-6-2 | Fold |
| Ace-King only | A-K-10-7-4 | Call only if your other three cards include: 1) a Q or better, and 2) the Dealer’s up-card is lower than your highest kicker, or the up-card matches one of your cards. Otherwise Fold |
| Pair | 8♦ 8♣ 3♠ 9♥ K♦ | Call |
| Two Pair or Better | 5♠ 5♦ J♣ J♦ 2♥ | Always Call |
| Three of a Kind or Better | K♠ K♦ K♥ 9♣ 7♣ | Always Call |
This table represents the most frequently taught simplified strategy. More complex mathematical strategies exist, but offer very slight improvement only.
General Tips
- Master the Ace-King Rule: The most confusing (and most important) decision is when holding exactly Ace-King. Because this hand is the borderline case between Fold and Call… Knowing when to continue can save a significant amount of money over time.
- Protect Your Bankroll: Caribbean Stud can be swingy due to the 2× Call wager. So, bring at least 40–60 Antes for a reasonable session and avoid raising your bet sizes after wins.
- Don’t Chase the Progressive: The Progressive Jackpot can be enticing, but statistically it carries a very high house edge unless the jackpot is unusually large. Treat it as entertainment, not a core strategy component!
- Play at Tables With “Fair” Payouts: Some casinos reduce the payouts for premium hands (for example, a Straight Flush with a 40× payout instead of 50×)… Whenever possible, choose tables offering: 100× on a Royal Flush, 50× on a Straight Flush, and 20× or greater on Four of a Kind.
Example Scenario
Imagine the following scenario in a game of Caribbean Stud:
You make an initial Ante of $20 in order to be dealt cards.
3♠ 5♦ 7♦ 10♥ K♥
The Dealer has the following card showing:
A♣
Even though one of the four Kings is in your hand, it is still more likely for the Dealer to qualify this hand, as they already have one of the two cards they need if they do not have a meld to qualify. As such, in the case of a qualifying dealer, it is up to the Player if they wish to Play or not.
The above hand is not very strong, absent of any components in order to form a meld. As such, a Player in this situation, with a Dealer that is likely to qualify and with a very weak hand, should consider folding.
Although hindsight is 20/20, and the Dealer might have junk or maybe even won’t qualify, the risk is too great due to the weak hand in the Player’s possession. As such, Players should probably fold in this scenario.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you win in Caribbean Stud Poker?
Caribbean Stud Poker is unlike other poker games, where players face off against each other in a table-wide Battle Royale. Instead, Players are facing off against the Dealer. For that reason, players only need to form a hand that is better than the Dealer’s.
With one of the Dealer’s cards face-up, it is also possible to discern the Dealer’s possible hands. If there is any card below a 9 as the face-up, players know that it is impossible for the Dealer to have a Royal Flush, for instance.
What is the house edge in Caribbean Stud?
Caribbean Stud has a house edge of about 5%. This is a higher edge than in more popular “professional” games, such as Texas Hold’em or Blackjack.
What are the odds of winning?
Considering the house edge, the odds of winning a significant payout consistently are actually quite low. This essentially means the house will win 5% more of the time than the Player, or about a 45% chance to win for the Player overall.
What is the 5+1 Bonus?
The 5+1 Bonus is a side bet that can be made, but only after a Player has already paid in their Ante. In order to successfully receive a payout for the 5+1 bonus, a Player must use their five cards, plus the Dealer’s face-up card, to form a meld of a three-kind or better. The 5+1 Bonus can be paid out even if a Player loses the Showdown against the Dealer.
What is the best hand in Caribbean Stud Poker?
The best hand in Caribbean Stud, as in most Poker games, is the Royal Flush. Aces are high and low, meaning a Royal Flush might be 9, 10, J, Q, K, or 10, J, Q, K, A.
