Caribbean Stud Poker is a game played against the house and not against other players. This is a poker variation with very simple rules that most people will be able to learn quickly.
David Sklansky allegedly invented the game in 1982 under a different name. His game was named Casino Poker. It has a couple of differences, but it’s essentially the same as Caribbean Stud Poker. Like many types of poker, it’s almost impossible to confirm when it was invented without a time machine.
The house edge is over 5% in Caribbean Stud Poker, even if you play as close to the optimal strategy as you can. Poker players usually choose games like Texas hold ‘em, Omaha, or short deck since they offer a much greater edge.
Let’s talk about the rules and strategy of Caribbean Stud Poker, the payouts, and where you can play online.
The Rules For Playing Caribbean Stud Poker
If you don’t know the hierarchy for poker, we’ve got a hand combination guide to refer to. Caribbean Stud Poker uses the same hand hierarchy as other poker games. A royal flush is the best possible hand.
It’s you against the dealer, so other players at the table won’t affect your action.
Here’s how to play Caribbean Stud Poker:
- Start by placing the ante bet on the table. Once the ante is in place, you’ll be dealt 5 cards face down.
- The dealer also takes five cards for themselves, but one card will be flipped up. In David Sklansky’s Casino Poker, two cards are turned up.
- Take a look at your cards. If you’re in a casino, make sure you don’t reveal your hand to other players. This is against house rules in most casinos, as it can help you deduce what cards the dealer may have face-down.
- Choose to Play or Fold. If you like the look of your hand, you can Play it. You’ll need to pay double the ante amount. Alternatively, you can fold your cards and deal the next round.
Let’s talk about which hands you should play and which hands you should fold to play optimal Caribbean Stud Poker.
The dealer must make a qualifying hand, which is Ace-King or better in this poker game. If they fail to make the qualifying hand, you’ll get a 1-to-1 payout on your ante. When the dealer’s hand doesn’t qualify, your Play bet is returned without a payout. When you have a pair or better, you can receive payouts.
If you want to hop into free tournaments in other poker formats, like Texas hold ‘em and Omaha, we’ve got a long list for you. These freeroll tournaments have no entry fee, but they come with a range of cash prizes. You’ll have to battle through other players and rise to the top of the field. One of the best sites for freeroll tournaments is 888poker, with guaranteed prize pools between $50 and $10,000, plus first-time depositor freerolls for new players.
How The Payouts Work For Caribbean Stud Poker
When the dealer’s hand qualifies (Ace-King or better), you can get a payout from your Play Bet. The payouts begin at two-pair, with no payout for a single pair.
Note: Your hand must beat the dealer’s hand for a payout. If you get dealt four-of-a-kind Aces, but the dealer gets a straight flush, you lose the hand.
| Hand Combination | Payout for the Play Bet |
|---|---|
| One-Pair | 1 to 1 |
| Two-Pair | 2 to 1 |
| Three-of-a-Kind/Trips | 3 to 1 |
| Straight | 4 to 1 |
| Flush | 5 to 1 |
| Full House | 7 to 1 |
| Four-of-a-Kind/Quads | 20 to 1 |
| Straight Flush | 50 to 1 |
| Royal Flush (Jackpot Winning Hand) | 100 to 1 |
Most online and offline casinos offer a progressive jackpot that you can enter, usually for $1 per hand. For high and low stakes, the price to enter the jackpot will stay the same. Some of this $1 (around 70%) goes into the jackpot, which will be paid out if you’re dealt a Royal Flush of any suit. A small part of the $1 jackpot bet goes directly to the casino.
Some sites like 888casino, offer jackpot payouts for lower hands, like 5-1 for three-of-a-kind
Most players that play jackpot bets will never see that money returned to them, so it’s not the best strategy for Caribbean Stud Poker. Then again, this style of poker is usually played to have a fun adventure, rather than a practical way to make money.
Strategy for Caribbean Stud Poker:
- Play any pair or better
- Fold hands weaker than Ace-King
Can You Play Caribbean Stud Poker Online?
888poker is a trusted site that also offers sports betting and a full range of casino games. They are best known for the $88 Free No-Deposit poker bonus, but you can play Caribbean Stud Poker in the live casino, or without a live dealer. You’ll be sharing your hand with other players, which has no effect on the outcome or payouts. All of your actions are independent from the other players.
The live dealers at 888casino are professional and chatty. The tables mix the real cards and table with a digital display, so you never misread the cards.
If you want more of an edge and control over your winnings, it's best to play a classic poker game like Texas hold ‘em or Omaha. You’ll be facing off against other players, instead of giving the casino the edge like in Caribbean Stud Poker.
888poker is a great option, but PokerStars is worth checking out too. They have one of the widest selections of poker games in the world, with 17 formats including hold ‘em, Omaha, stud, Razz, short deck, and many more. You can try all of their poker games for free if you want, using Play Money.
There are lots of busy cash game tables at every stake level, from micro-stakes to high-stakes. If you hate waiting times, the Zoom tables keep things moving along. If you don’t like your cards, fold them and teleport to a new table, with fresh hole cards.
For a longer poker adventure, PokerStars has a long list of multi-table tournaments (MTTs) to suit any level of buy-in.
Our PokerStars review has more information about the tournaments, bonuses, and software on the site.