Caribbean Stud Poker

This game belongs to the same family of card games that includes Three Card Poker, Let it Ride and the Pai Gow Poker. The main difference between the Caribbean Stud and the usual poker game is that this is the game where a player plays against the dealer or house rather than playing against other players. Your main aim here should be to form a better hand than that of the dealer. In this sense, this poker game can't be grouped under the traditional poker games. Although, the basic knowledge of the customary poker hand position is very essential.

The game itself is played on a table that is very similar to the one in the blackjack and features places for ante and progressive bets.
Your initial bet is placed in the areas marked "Ante". If you think your hand will beat the dealer's hand you can place an additional bet that is double your ante bet.
Before the dealing of the cards, you can place progressive bets on any hand you have placed an ante bet on. This will allow you to win the rising payout and you can win the entire jackpot amount with a royal flush. With a straight flush you will pocket 10% of a jackpot.
After placing your ante bet and optionally a progressive bet, each player is dealt five cards face up. The dealer is also dealt five cards but only one card is face up. Based on the strength of your hand and on the value of the dealer's face up card you must decide whether to call and increase your bet to maximise your winnings or to fold and minimise your losses.
If you choose to continue the hand place a double amount of the ante in the betting square. If folding hand, your ante will be kept by the house. Now the dealer will reveal all his cards and if he holds better than ace or king it will compare his cards with you.
Obviously, to beat the dealer you need to hold a stronger hand.

When a player wins at the table and receives winnings, it is called a payout. Depending upon what their hand is and what cards the dealer has, they will receive different payments. The typical payouts are as follows.

The game itself offers players an opportunity to use strategy to help decrease the house edge. However, mathematicians will warn players that no matter how good of a strategy they use, the inherent numbers resulting from the rules of the game simply will not allow players to beat Caribbean Stud Poker over the long run. The casino edge on the ante bet alone is 5.22%, while the jackpot side bet can get up to 29% depending on the value of the progressive jackpot.
One of the keys to playing progressive bets is knowing when to quit. Obviously, if you are the benefactor of the Royal Flush grand jackpot, taking a break from the casino is the wisest decision you can make. If you gamble to win money, once you win that money, it only makes sense to stop gambling. If not, then you have crossed the line into gambling addiction, and that is par for another topic worth discussing on another occasion.

Caribbean Stud, as we already mentioned, depending on the rule variations and payouts, generally has a house advantage of about 5.2% and can be played effectively by using a plain three-step strategy.
There is a general strategy that most good players follow to maximise their winnings and minimise the house edge. It's simple to learn, and easy to remember.

• Raise on a pair or better
• Fold on less than an Ace & King
• If you have an Ace & King:
  
  • A. Raise if the dealer is showing a 2 through Queen, and it matches one of your cards.
  • B. Raise if the dealer is showing an Ace or King, and you have a Queen or Jack in your hand
  • C. Otherwise, fold.

In summary, Caribbean stud is a more interesting than 5 or 7 card stud in my opinion as it includes a progressive jackpot. It's a fun casino game you should play for the entertainment and the excitement only because with the house edge of approximately 5% can't expect to win a lot of money in the long run.