Caribbean Stud Poker: Everything You Need To Know

If you love poker and prefer to take on the house rather than a table full of random players, then Caribbean Stud Poker is the game for you.

A great game

Based on the poker classic known as five card stud, Caribbean Stud, available at William Hill Vegas, follows a similar format and is simple to play. That said, the game puts some decisions in the players’ hands and that multiplies the intrigue.

How Caribbean Stud plays

The game begins with an initial ante. Then five cards are dealt, just like in the seminal five card stud.

Things change with the dealer gives himself one up card. All of the player cards are dealt face up. Once the dealing is done, and the dealer’s card is exposed, you decide whether or not to continue with your hand

Fold, and you lose your ante. To continue, place your call bet for a sum that equals the ante. At this point, the dealer’s cards turn up.

If the dealer has a hand that is worse than Ace, King, no matter the player’s cards, the player wins the ante and pushes on the call bet, meaning that the call bet is returned.

If the dealer’s hand is Ace, King or better, whoever has the stronger hand wins the ante and the bet.

Regardless of the dealer’s hand-strength, your ante and your call-bet are all that can be won from you. But, if you beat the dealer, your payout will be determined by the quality of your hand.

A winning pair, for example pays even money. If you win with two pair, it pays 2-1. A winning flush rewards you at 7-1. And the big daddy of all poker hands, the royal flush, pays 100-1. This means than a $10 bet becomes a $1,000 windfall.

In the event of a tie, both the call bet and the ante bet get returned to the player. The hand is a push, with no money won or lost.

Two strategies from the player’s seat

Here are two key strategies to keep in mind while playing:

With a pair or higher, always place a call bet.

If your hand is worse than the dealer’s qualifying hand of Ace, King, fold.

A little money on the side

Side bets such as the 5+1 Bonus and the Jackpot allow you to risk more money with the potential of winning more money.

With the 5+1, you are betting that your five cards plus the dealer’s first upturned card will make three of a kind or better.

The Jackpot, which builds up from money wagered on Jackpot bets that fail to pay off, rewards with sweeteners for hands that range from flush to royal flush.

The good news: Land the jackpot hand and it pays off whether you beat the dealer or not.

Ante up, play smart, get lucky and have fun!