Caribbean Stud Poker Strategy

Please read the game rules first. Only when you fully know and understand the rules, you can apply tactics and strategies.

If you can play 5-Card Stud, then you can play Caribbean Stud poker. The difference? Everyone seated at the table plays against the dealer and not against each other, so you don't have to worry about figuring out everyone else's strategy. Even better is playing Caribbean Stud poker for free at Bodog; it's challenging and action packed.

Caribbean Stud Poker is based on five card stud poker played on a Blackjack style table. This fun activity is played with a single deck of cards. Various casinos have available progressive jackpot for high ranking hands. Instead of playing against other card players, this poker game is played against the casino house. The participant with the best hand is simply declared the winner. Tactics in other poker games such as bluffing are not used in Caribbean Stud Poker.

Before card play can begin, all players must first lay out their opening bet antes where indicated. All participants receive 5 cards, facing down except for the dealer whose fifth card is facing up. Players can look at their cards. However, they cannot share what they have with other players at the table. The players then have the option to either play or fold. Players also have the choice to put up $1.00 for participation in the progressive jackpot. Players can win all or part of the progressive jackpot with a Royal Flush, Straight Flush, Four of a Kind, Full House or Flush.

If the players decide to play, they make their bets that are equal to the amount of the initial ante in the bet box. Their bet ante is forfeit if the player decides to fold. Once all gamblers made their decisions, the dealer exposes his hole cards. As long as the dealer holds at least an ace/king or better, he qualifies to challenge the players’ hands. If the dealer does not have at least one of these cards, play stops and all bets are void. Players get back only their bet antes at 1:1 regardless of ranking. The play wager goes back to the player.

As play continues, the dealer compares his cards to all the other players’ opened cards. If the dealer's hand is superior to the player's hand, the player loses both the 'ante' and 'play' wagers. If the player's hand is stronger than the dealer's, it’s the dealer who pays the player for both wagers; the 'ante' and the 'play'. For the 'ante' the payoff is set at 1:1 regardless of the hand ranking. For the 'play' wager, the payoffs are based on the ranking of each player's hand.

The payoffs tend to vary between casinos but essentially go like this:
Royal Flush - 100 to 1
Straight Flush - 50 to 1
Four of A Kind - 20 to 1
Full House - 7 to 1
Flush - 5 to 1
Straight - 4 to 1
Three of A Kind - 3 to 1
Two Pairs - 2 to 1
A Pair - Even Money

Regardless of the dealer's hand, the player with a qualified hand gets to play for the progressive jackpot. The player wins based on the standing of his hand. In a situation where two or more players win, the winnings are divided up. The payoffs for the jackpot are as follows:
Royal Flush - 100% of the Jackpot
Straight Flush - 10% of the Jackpot
Four of a Kind - $100
Full House - $75
Flush - $50

The house advantage is 5.22%.


The Player can win if:

* Ante - The Player has a higher 5-card poker hand than the Dealers.
* If the Player Raises and the Dealer does not qualify.
* Raise - The Player has a higher 5-card poker hand and the Dealer has a minimum of an Ace/King.
* Progressive - If the Player places $1 in the Jackpot slot, the Player receives a flush or higher.

The Player loses if:

* The Player folds.
* The Dealer qualifies and has a higher 5-card poker hand.