Caribbean Stud is one of the types of poker that you should get to know as it’s a fun game with opportunities to win big. Here’s a closer look at what the game is all about.
Playing against the house
One major concept to understand about the game of Caribbean stud poker is that you are playing against the house and not other players, which takes bluffing – a crucial element of advanced Texas Hold ‘Em strategy – out of the equation. It makes the game a little similar to blackjack in that you are playing against only the house. The game was started in the early 1980s in order to give poker fans more ways to play and the rules are fairly straightforward.
How it works
First, each player bets and is dealt five cards, all face down, and the dealer then gives themselves the same amount of cards (also face down). The dealer will then turn over just one of their cards and that means the rest of the table can then look at their hands as well. The player will then have two options: they can fold their hand and lose their bet to the house or they can continue to play but will have to put in twice the amount of their original bet. After this round of betting is completed and players have decided whether to invest or fold, the dealer will then show all their face-down cards, which will be referred to as the “hole” cards. If the dealer does not have containing an ace and a king or higher, then you are paid 1:1 on your bet and your ante is returned.
Here is the list of payouts for Caribbean stud poker:
Royal flush: 200 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
One pair or less: 1 to 1
There are a few other tips that you can use to try and beat the house at Caribbean stud poker but these are just the basics and you will figure out the rest as you go. Caribbean stud poker seems like it is complicated when you start but it really just takes a few hands to get onboard and start building your bankroll.