Carribean Stud Poker Basics

Carribean Stud Poker name

As a result of the popularity of poker, casinos created a house banked game known as Caribbean Stud Poker in order to lure poker fans to play more table games. The birth of the game is not well referenced, which is unusual for a relatively new game. Gambling genius David Sklansky has laid claim to formulating the game on a well-known poker forum, positing that he invented the game in 1982 using the name “Casino Poker”.

When he developed the game the rules had some differences like, the dealer having two hole cards revealed instead of only one hole card revealed as in Caribbean Stud today. Likewise there was no progressive jackpot in the game he allegedly founded. Sklansky was unable to patent "Casino Poker" due to patent laws, according to the story. A few years afterwards he was approached by a poker player who brought the game to Aruba and had it patented. The poker player and a casino owner changed the rules slightly to form what we experience nowadays as Caribbean Stud Poker.

Basics of Caribbean Stud Poker

The Basics

Step up to the table and place a bet on the box marked Ante. At this time, you may also place a $1 Progressive bet on the marked space. If you happen to be dealt a flush, full house, four-of-a-kind, straight flush or royal flush and have placed a $1 Progressive bet, you will win additional money. This money ranges from casino to casino, so check with your Dealer. The odds are slim that you will be dealt these high-payout hands, but you can decide whether or not this extra bet is worth it to you and your bankbook.

After Ante and any Progressive bets are placed, all Players and the Dealer will be dealt five cards each. The Players' cards are face down and the Dealer will place four of his cards face down and one face up. Now, go ahead and look at your cards. Then, look at the Dealer's one face-up card. Now, look at your cards again. OK, try not to take too long. Your decision is simple. Do you have a winning hand based on basic poker hand rankings? If you have absolutely nothing, not even a pair, fold. Immediately, you will lose your Ante bet and, if placed, your Progressive bet. Placing your cards on the table is a sign to the Dealer that you're out of this hand.

If, however, you have a playable hand, perhaps a pair or straight, and you believe that you might beat the Dealer's hand, it's time to place an additional bet. In the box marked Bet, you must wager twice the amount of the Ante bet. For example, if your Ante bet was $10, you must place $20 on the Bet box.

Once all Players have made their decision to either play or fold, the Dealer reveals his hand. Unfortunately, it's not as simple as your hand beating his. The Dealer's hand must contain a minimum poker hand ranking of an Ace and King. If his cards do not contain the minimum hand, he folds. At that time, Players who stayed in the game, receive 1:1 odds on the Ante bet. However, their secondary bet is returned to them with no additional money. Continuing with our example, you would receive your original $10 Ante, plus an additional $10, and your original secondary bet of $20 would be returned.

If the Dealer's hand contains at least an Ace and King, he must then play his hand against each Player based on traditional poker hand rankings. If your hand beats the Dealer's, you win even money on your Ante bet. For your secondary bet, the odds are as follows:

Pair 1:1
TwoPair 2:1
Three-of-a-kind 3:1
Straight 4:1
Flush 5:1
FullHouse 7:1
Four-of-a-kind 20:1
StraightFlush 50:1
RoyalFlush 100:1

If the Dealer beat your hand, you automatically lose your Ante and secondary bets. However, if you placed a Progressive bet and were dealt a flush, full house, four-of-a-kind, straight flush or royal flush, you would win the Progressive Jackpot even if you lost to the Dealer.

Now that you understand the basics, you can sit down at the Caribbean Stud Poker table with confidence.