Howdy OJOers’. If you want to learn how to play Caribbean stud poker, you’re in the right place! This poker game is a variation of 5-card poker, where players compete against the house, rather than each other.
It’s thought to have been created by David Sklansky, a professional poker player and author, who originally called it ‘Casino Hold’em’. A few years later it was introduced to a casino on the Caribbean Island of Aruba, where it became known as Caribbean stud poker.
Now, we’re going to dive into how the game works, the payouts, rules and basic strategy. Follow these simple steps to get a handle on the game and make the most from your play time!
Note, however, that the House will always have the edge. You should never gamble more in the hope of recovering your losses. Remember, the outcome of the games is always entirely based on luck.
How Caribbean Stud Poker Works
If you’re used to playing poker, learning Caribbean stud poker should be a cinch. While the hands are the same, the game has its own set of unique rules and side bets. Another one of the main differences is that it’s a solo pursuit, it’s you versus the dealer – no bluffing, numerous rounds of betting or silly hats and sunglasses required.
And because you don’t have to worry about giving off signals that might alert other players to your hand, Caribbean stud poker is a lot less stressful and simple. Here are the basic Caribbean stud poker rules of play:
- Place your ante bet. To receive cards, you need to place an ante bet. Ante bet minimum and maximum will vary, depending on where you play, so always check before you get started.
- Cards are dealt. The player and dealer are dealt five cards. One of the dealers’ cards will be exposed to give you some insight into the strength of his hand.
- Decide if you want to fold or bet. You now have to choose whether you want to fold and lose your ante bet or play on. If you choose to play, you must bet an additional amount that is exactly twice the ante.
- Dealer reveals all his cards. The dealer exposes his final four cards. If the dealer does not have at least an ace/king then they do not qualify. This means your ante is paid even money and your raise is a push (returned to you).
- Winning bets are paid. If the dealer does qualify with an ace/king or better, you go head-to-head with the dealer. If your hand is lower, you lose your ante and raise bets. If your hand is better than the dealers, the ante is paid 1-1 and the raise is paid according to its poker hand value.
Caribbean Stud Poker Common Bonus Bets
Depending on where you play Caribbean stud poker, there will be various side bet options. A few common ones include:
5+1 Bonus
This is an optional side bet that must be placed at the same time as your ante bet. The amount you can stake for this bonus should equal or be greater than your ante bet.
You win the 5+1 bonus bet when the dealers first face up card and your five cards create a poker hand of three of a kind or greater. Payouts for winning this bet range from 7-1 for a three of a kind, up to 1,000-1 for a royal flush.
Progressive Jackpot
The majority of casinos with Caribbean stud poker on offer have a progressive jackpot in play. When placing your ante, you have the option to add a jackpot bet equal to or greater than your ante.
It’s important to note that – you do not need to beat the dealer’s hand to win the progressive jackpot. Thats right OJOers’, if you land a flush, full house, four of a kind, straight flush or royal flush, the bonus is paid. Payout for the progressive jackpot will vary between casinos, so check before you play.
Caribbean Stud Poker Payouts and Odds
Take a look at the table below to learn the different Caribbean stud poker hand payouts and odds.
| Hand | Payout Odds | Winning Hand Example |
| Royal Flush | 100-1 | 10, J, Q, K, A (pictures + same suit) |
| Straight Flush | 50-1 | 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 (5-card run same suit) |
| Four of a Kind | 20-1 | 10, 10, 10, 10, 7 (any 4 cards the same) |
| Full House | 7-1 | 3, 3, 3, 8, 8 (any 3 of one, 2 of other) |
| Flush | 5-1 | 5 cards of same suit |
| Straight | 4-1 | 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 (of any suit) |
| Three of a Kind | 3-1 | 7, 7, 7, 9, 2 (any 3 same and 2 random) |
| Two Pair | 2-1 | J, J, 9, 9, 4 |
| Pair | 1-1 | K, K, 5, 2, 6 |
Basic Strategy for Caribbean Stud Poker
As with the majority of casino games, a good Caribbean stud poker strategy can help to improve your chances of winning. And, because of the simplicity of this game, with the player only making two decisions each hand – raise or fold – it’s easy to get the hang of.
Here are a few basic Caribbean stud poker strategy tips worth taking note of:
- Always raise when you have a pair or higher
- Always fold if you have a weaker hand than the dealers qualifying hand (ace/king)
- If the dealer’s up card is a Queen or lower and you have a matching card – raise
- If the dealer shows an ace or king, only raise if you have a jack, queen, king or ace
- If you have a queen and the dealer’s up card is lower than your fourth highest card – raise
By following these strategy tips, you may improve your chances of beating the dealer and getting paid out. However, remember that there is a house edge, meaning that the odds are in the casinos favour.
So, even if you follow these strategy tips to the letter, you may lose more often than you win. Always follow responsible gaming guidelines to have fun play, the safe way.
Best Games Like Caribbean Stud Poker
Way back in 1998, the first real money online poker room was launched by Planet Poker. Fast forward to today and there are many different types of poker offered online, which we love here at PlayOJO! Here are few games like Caribbean stud poker worth checking out:
Three Card Poker
Three card poker has the simplicity and excitement of Caribbean stud poker, with only three cards dealt. Similarly, you compete against the dealer for the best hand, although they only need a ‘Queen High’ to qualify. In this version, the bonuses include an Ante Bonus which pay for a straight or better no matter what the dealer gets and the Pair Plus and Six card bonus offer the chance of big payouts.
Ultimate Texas Hold’Em
Ultimate Texas Hold’em is a variant of traditional Casino Hold’em, where you play against the dealer. The aim of the game is to beat the dealer’s hand by getting the best 5-card hand, using the two cards dealt to you and the community cards. An optional side bet is the Trips Bet which can be placed before the hand begins. It gets paid out on three of a kind or better, regardless of what the dealer achieves.
Play Caribbean Stud Poker at PlayOJO
If you’re ready to get crackin’, you can take your new Caribbean stud poker skills for a whirl here at PlayOJO. Just set up your account, claim your welcome package (that’s 50 free spins with your first deposit, with no wagering requirements at all) and you can play with a live dealer.
Oh, and did I mention you get money back on every bet? Yes, OJOPlus pays back 0.03% in cash on every bet when playing Evolution Caribbean stud poker with us. If you need a reminder of the rules and payouts, click on the question mark icon or you can even ask the dealer a question during the game by clicking the chat tab.
Again, it is worth reminding that the outcome of the games is always entirely based on luck and the House will always have the edge. You should never try to recover your losses by gambling more.
How to Play Caribbean Stud Poker FAQs
Caribbean stud poker is a simple game to get the hang of. All you need to do is place your ante bet, receive five cards and decide whether you want to fold, or raise your bet. If you decide to go for it, the dealer reveals their remaining cards which are compared against yours. If you win, you get paid – simple!
The golden hand in Caribbean stud poker is the Royal flush. This is a ten, Jack, Queen, King, Ace of the same suit. If you manage to hit this beauty, you can do a little happy dance, as you’ll get paid out 100-1.
While there’s no guarantee you will win playing Caribbean stud poker, playing basic strategy helps to better your chances. Aim to raise when you have a pair or higher and fold when you have lower than an ace/king.
