Best Caribbean Stud Poker Guide

Rules of Caribbean Stud Poker

One of the most attractive aspects of Caribbean Stud Poker is that the game is relatively simple to understand and has very few rules. The basics of the game are to try and beat the dealer’s five-card hand with your hand. Players will need to make an Ante bet, and then they will be dealt five cards, all facing up.

The dealer will also be dealt five cards, but only one card will be face up. Players then need to look at their hand and the face-up dealer card to decide whether to fold or play further. If you decide to continue playing, you need to place a second bet that is 2x your Ante bet. If you fold, you forfeit your Ante bet and move on to the next round.

The Dealer’s Hand

At most casino sites, the Dealer’s hand needs to meet a strength requirement to qualify. When the dealer’s hand qualifies, that’s when the escalating payouts come into effect. Most casinos require the dealer’s hand to contain and Ace and King to qualify.

Even if your hand is stronger and the dealer’s hand does not qualify, you only get the 1:1 payout on your Ante bet. You will get your larger bet back, as it will essentially be null and void.

Caribbean Stud Poker Hand Rankings

When it comes to ranking hand strength in Caribbean Stud Poker, the game uses standard poker hand rankings. However, what makes the game unique is the escalating payout scale. This means that not only do stronger hands win, but they win larger amounts.

It is important to remember that the dealer’s hand needs to qualify with an Ace and King to get the escalating payout. Without that, your payout will always be 1:1. Even if you get a Royal Flush, your payout is 1:1 if the dealer does not have an Ace and King. They need to qualify for you to get the 100:1 payout. Below is the Caribbean Stud Poker Hand Ranking and the payout scale.

Strategy for Caribbean Stud Poker

While Caribbean Stud Poker may be a relatively simple casino game to play, there is an element of strategy involved. Just like Blackjack, in each game, there is a decision that will give you the best chance of winning. Below we have some basic guidelines that can be applied to each hand that you play.

• Any time you hold a pair or higher, you should Raise.
• If you have less than an Ace-King, you should consider folding
• Always raise if the dealer’s face-up card is not an Ace and matches one of the cards in your hand.

Avoid the Side Bet

Some casinos will offer players the option of placing a side bet. The side bet will allow the player to win a progressive jackpot, and it will be very tempting to place this bet. In most cases, it will only add a small additional cost, but this will add up over time. In addition to this, it increases the house edge to 26%

We highly recommend avoiding the bet and sticking to the normal Raise or Fold guidelines. This is the chance you have of having a profitable betting session.

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