Caribbean
Caribbean
Tropical Stud, Tropical Stud Poker, Caribbean Stud or Oasis Stud: these are all terms used to describe a Caribbean poker variation that is offered in almost every casino. The main difference between Caribbean Stud and other poker variations is that the player plays alone against the casino.
Essentially, there are no other participants for the player, which means that many of the delightful elements of traditional poker play (such as the bluff or psychological deception) disappear from the game.
Caribbean Stud Rules
Because Caribbean Stud is played alone (player versus house), the set-up is similar to Blackjack. It is typically played with a French pack of 52 cards. At a semi-circular table, seven people can sit opposite the dealer (croupier). In front of each player (pointeur) there are markers on which you can place your bets; a betting circle and an ante box. Each player also has a slot for the progressive side bets.
Players must place their bets before the game begins. The ante (the first minimum bet that the casino usually forces the player to make) is determined by the table limits. In addition, players can also place side bets on the progressive jackpot by throwing a chip into the corresponding slot. Then a light indicator goes on to indicate that the progressive jackpot is active.
The hand rating is similar to traditional poker, but the gameplay is similar to Blackjack. The dealer deals each player and himself five cards. One of the dealer's cards is dealt face up. Players can now rate their cards (but they cannot show them to other players) and decide whether to fold and lose their bet, or raise their bet and go to the next round. In addition, you can switch a single card with the dealer for an amount equal to the ante. For another bet, the bet must be twice as high as the initial bet.
When all the players have decided, they return their cards to the table and the dealer reveals his cards. The dealer must have a regular poker combination (Ace-King or higher) for the game to continue. If the dealer does not qualify, the player's original bet and a win equal to the stake are paid to the player and the game is over.
If the dealer qualifies, the casino is called and the players' hands are compared individually and separately to the dealer's hand. If the dealer's hand is better, the player loses all his bets. If the player's hand is higher, he gets his bet back 1:1 and the bet on the bet area according to a specific table:
- A pair (or lower): 1 to 1
- Two pairs: 2 to 1
- Three of a kind: 3 to 1
- Straight: 4 to 1
- Flush: 5 to 1
- Full House: 7 to 1
- Four of a kind: 20 to 1
- Straight Flush: 50 to 1
- Royal Flush: 100 to 1
Play Caribean Stud Poker for free
In recent years, the Caribbean Stud variant has been able to establish a good reputation, especially online. Online casinos didn't exist when the game was developed and slowly gained attention, but now Caribbean Stud Poker games can be more profitable than live casinos due to the speed of the hands and the guaranteed higher payouts. Therefore, it is now much more often played virtually than in the typical stationary casinos.
Players typically get better chances online because more players are involved and the progressive jackpots are higher. However, there is no change in the way the game is played or the strategies used online.
The Progressive Jackpot at Caribbean Stud
Caribbean Stud achieves with the addition of the side bet on the progressive jackpot. With this feature, players can risk an extra dollar to get a shot at the progressive jackpot pool.
If a player who bets on the progressive makes a royal flush, he wins the progressive jackpot, which can reach up to hundreds of thousands of dollars. Even with a lower hand, such as a flush or a full house, you get a portion of the jackpot. This addition, which allows players the chance to win hundreds of thousands of dollars for just one dollar, helped make Caribbean Stud the phenomenon it is today. Payouts vary from state to state.
Strategy tips for beginners
As with any game of chance, there is no perfect strategy for Caribbean Stud Poker. But, unlike other poker games, as mentioned in the previous chapter, there are some asymmetries that favor the course of the game for the player. Caribbean Stud is suitable as a holiday game because the optimal strategy is very easy to keep in mind. In a nutshell:
- If you have a pair or higher in your hand, you should bet.
- If you have less in your hand than the dealer needs to qualify (Ace-King), you should fold.
- Always pay attention to your bankroll and avoid side bets (see a similar strategy in Craps and Bankroll Management in Craps).
Of course, this strategy also depends on the dealer's open card. The chances of winning are better if you have the card in your hand that the dealer reveals (which reduces the likelihood of a pair in his hand).
An optimal strategy to maximize the advantage of the casino is the following (after observing the rules mentioned above):
- Player raises the bet if the dealer's face-up card is between 2 and Queen and matches a card in the player's hand.
- The player raises the bet if the dealer's face-up card is an Ace or King and the player has a Queen or Jack in his hand.
- Player raises the bet if the dealer's face-up card does not match a player's card, but he has a Queen and the dealer's card is lower than the player's fourth highest card.
Caribbean Stud History
Although poker card playing dates back to the early 19th century, it was not until the 1980s that Caribbean Stud became popular.
Clearly, the beginnings of the game cannot be traced, but it is said that it was created on a cruise to Aruba. When the popularity within this cruise company increased, a casino on Aruba wanted to buy the game itself and trademark it.
In the Holiday Inn Hotel & Table (today: Excelsior) of that time, the easy-to-understand rules were laid down that could also deviate from the game on the cruise ship. However, this is no longer exactly comprehensible, which is quite strange for such a young game. The game is much more relaxed than the traditional poker game and also more relaxed than Pai Gow Poker or Bridge. That suited the holiday atmosphere. Also, the payout rates were much better, which led the players to prefer the Caribbean Stud.
People brought the game "home", and the demand for Caribbean Stud also grew in the local casinos. However, it took a while for it to really become popular elrange. Only when it was combined with a promising progressive bonus jackpot did it get really hot. Because the house advantage of the game was very high (far higher than Blackjack or later Video Poker), the players needed another incentive. The Progressive Jackpot was supposed to fix that.
The advantage of a progressive jackpot is that it pays for itself through the players' contributions. In slots this kind of playing was already known and popular, because the jackpot was a basic component of the machines. But it was the first time that a progressive jackpot was offered in a real time game at a real table.
Caribbean Stud Poker became one of the fastest growing poker games of the 90's and infected the whole world. Now, Caribbean Stud can be played not only on cruise ships in the Caribbean, but in any live casino in the world. Caribbean Stud is also very popular online (even if you have to miss the tropical climate).
Caribbean
Tropical Stud, Tropical Stud Poker, Caribbean Stud or Oasis Stud: these are all terms used to describe a Caribbean poker variation that is offered in almost every casino. The main difference between Caribbean Stud and other poker variations is that the player plays alone against the casino.
Essentially, there are no other participants for the player, which means that many of the delightful elements of traditional poker play (such as the bluff or psychological deception) disappear from the game.
Caribbean Stud Rules
Because Caribbean Stud is played alone (player versus house), the set-up is similar to Blackjack. It is typically played with a French pack of 52 cards. At a semi-circular table, seven people can sit opposite the dealer (croupier). In front of each player (pointeur) there are markers on which you can place your bets; a betting circle and an ante box. Each player also has a slot for the progressive side bets.
Players must place their bets before the game begins. The ante (the first minimum bet that the casino usually forces the player to make) is determined by the table limits. In addition, players can also place side bets on the progressive jackpot by throwing a chip into the corresponding slot. Then a light indicator goes on to indicate that the progressive jackpot is active.
The hand rating is similar to traditional poker, but the gameplay is similar to Blackjack. The dealer deals each player and himself five cards. One of the dealer's cards is dealt face up. Players can now rate their cards (but they cannot show them to other players) and decide whether to fold and lose their bet, or raise their bet and go to the next round. In addition, you can switch a single card with the dealer for an amount equal to the ante. For another bet, the bet must be twice as high as the initial bet.
When all the players have decided, they return their cards to the table and the dealer reveals his cards. The dealer must have a regular poker combination (Ace-King or higher) for the game to continue. If the dealer does not qualify, the player's original bet and a win equal to the stake are paid to the player and the game is over.
If the dealer qualifies, the casino is called and the players' hands are compared individually and separately to the dealer's hand. If the dealer's hand is better, the player loses all his bets. If the player's hand is higher, he gets his bet back 1:1 and the bet on the bet area according to a specific table:
- A pair (or lower): 1 to 1
- Two pairs: 2 to 1
- Three of a kind: 3 to 1
- Straight: 4 to 1
- Flush: 5 to 1
- Full House: 7 to 1
- Four of a kind: 20 to 1
- Straight Flush: 50 to 1
- Royal Flush: 100 to 1
Play Caribean Stud Poker for free
In recent years, the Caribbean Stud variant has been able to establish a good reputation, especially online. Online casinos didn't exist when the game was developed and slowly gained attention, but now Caribbean Stud Poker games can be more profitable than live casinos due to the speed of the hands and the guaranteed higher payouts. Therefore, it is now much more often played virtually than in the typical stationary casinos.
Players typically get better chances online because more players are involved and the progressive jackpots are higher. However, there is no change in the way the game is played or the strategies used online.
The Progressive Jackpot at Caribbean Stud
Caribbean Stud achieves with the addition of the side bet on the progressive jackpot. With this feature, players can risk an extra dollar to get a shot at the progressive jackpot pool.
If a player who bets on the progressive makes a royal flush, he wins the progressive jackpot, which can reach up to hundreds of thousands of dollars. Even with a lower hand, such as a flush or a full house, you get a portion of the jackpot. This addition, which allows players the chance to win hundreds of thousands of dollars for just one dollar, helped make Caribbean Stud the phenomenon it is today. Payouts vary from state to state.
Strategy tips for beginners
As with any game of chance, there is no perfect strategy for Caribbean Stud Poker. But, unlike other poker games, as mentioned in the previous chapter, there are some asymmetries that favor the course of the game for the player. Caribbean Stud is suitable as a holiday game because the optimal strategy is very easy to keep in mind. In a nutshell:
- If you have a pair or higher in your hand, you should bet.
- If you have less in your hand than the dealer needs to qualify (Ace-King), you should fold.
- Always pay attention to your bankroll and avoid side bets (see a similar strategy in Craps and Bankroll Management in Craps).
Of course, this strategy also depends on the dealer's open card. The chances of winning are better if you have the card in your hand that the dealer reveals (which reduces the likelihood of a pair in his hand).
An optimal strategy to maximize the advantage of the casino is the following (after observing the rules mentioned above):
- Player raises the bet if the dealer's face-up card is between 2 and Queen and matches a card in the player's hand.
- The player raises the bet if the dealer's face-up card is an Ace or King and the player has a Queen or Jack in his hand.
- Player raises the bet if the dealer's face-up card does not match a player's card, but he has a Queen and the dealer's card is lower than the player's fourth highest card.
Caribbean Stud History
Although poker card playing dates back to the early 19th century, it was not until the 1980s that Caribbean Stud became popular.
Clearly, the beginnings of the game cannot be traced, but it is said that it was created on a cruise to Aruba. When the popularity within this cruise company increased, a casino on Aruba wanted to buy the game itself and trademark it.
In the Holiday Inn Hotel & Table (today: Excelsior) of that time, the easy-to-understand rules were laid down that could also deviate from the game on the cruise ship. However, this is no longer exactly comprehensible, which is quite strange for such a young game. The game is much more relaxed than the traditional poker game and also more relaxed than Pai Gow Poker or Bridge. That suited the holiday atmosphere. Also, the payout rates were much better, which led the players to prefer the Caribbean Stud.
People brought the game "home", and the demand for Caribbean Stud also grew in the local casinos. However, it took a while for it to really become popular elrange. Only when it was combined with a promising progressive bonus jackpot did it get really hot. Because the house advantage of the game was very high (far higher than Blackjack or later Video Poker), the players needed another incentive. The Progressive Jackpot was supposed to fix that.
The advantage of a progressive jackpot is that it pays for itself through the players' contributions. In slots this kind of playing was already known and popular, because the jackpot was a basic component of the machines. But it was the first time that a progressive jackpot was offered in a real time game at a real table.
Caribbean Stud Poker became one of the fastest growing poker games of the 90's and infected the whole world. Now, Caribbean Stud can be played not only on cruise ships in the Caribbean, but in any live casino in the world. Caribbean Stud is also very popular online (even if you have to miss the tropical climate).
Caribbean
Tropical Stud, Tropical Stud Poker, Caribbean Stud or Oasis Stud: these are all terms used to describe a Caribbean poker variation that is offered in almost every casino. The main difference between Caribbean Stud and other poker variations is that the player plays alone against the casino.
Essentially, there are no other participants for the player, which means that many of the delightful elements of traditional poker play (such as the bluff or psychological deception) disappear from the game.
Caribbean Stud Rules
Because Caribbean Stud is played alone (player versus house), the set-up is similar to Blackjack. It is typically played with a French pack of 52 cards. At a semi-circular table, seven people can sit opposite the dealer (croupier). In front of each player (pointeur) there are markers on which you can place your bets; a betting circle and an ante box. Each player also has a slot for the progressive side bets.
Players must place their bets before the game begins. The ante (the first minimum bet that the casino usually forces the player to make) is determined by the table limits. In addition, players can also place side bets on the progressive jackpot by throwing a chip into the corresponding slot. Then a light indicator goes on to indicate that the progressive jackpot is active.
The hand rating is similar to traditional poker, but the gameplay is similar to Blackjack. The dealer deals each player and himself five cards. One of the dealer's cards is dealt face up. Players can now rate their cards (but they cannot show them to other players) and decide whether to fold and lose their bet, or raise their bet and go to the next round. In addition, you can switch a single card with the dealer for an amount equal to the ante. For another bet, the bet must be twice as high as the initial bet.
When all the players have decided, they return their cards to the table and the dealer reveals his cards. The dealer must have a regular poker combination (Ace-King or higher) for the game to continue. If the dealer does not qualify, the player's original bet and a win equal to the stake are paid to the player and the game is over.
If the dealer qualifies, the casino is called and the players' hands are compared individually and separately to the dealer's hand. If the dealer's hand is better, the player loses all his bets. If the player's hand is higher, he gets his bet back 1:1 and the bet on the bet area according to a specific table:
- A pair (or lower): 1 to 1
- Two pairs: 2 to 1
- Three of a kind: 3 to 1
- Straight: 4 to 1
- Flush: 5 to 1
- Full House: 7 to 1
- Four of a kind: 20 to 1
- Straight Flush: 50 to 1
- Royal Flush: 100 to 1
Play Caribean Stud Poker for free
In recent years, the Caribbean Stud variant has been able to establish a good reputation, especially online. Online casinos didn't exist when the game was developed and slowly gained attention, but now Caribbean Stud Poker games can be more profitable than live casinos due to the speed of the hands and the guaranteed higher payouts. Therefore, it is now much more often played virtually than in the typical stationary casinos.
Players typically get better chances online because more players are involved and the progressive jackpots are higher. However, there is no change in the way the game is played or the strategies used online.
The Progressive Jackpot at Caribbean Stud
Caribbean Stud achieves with the addition of the side bet on the progressive jackpot. With this feature, players can risk an extra dollar to get a shot at the progressive jackpot pool.
If a player who bets on the progressive makes a royal flush, he wins the progressive jackpot, which can reach up to hundreds of thousands of dollars. Even with a lower hand, such as a flush or a full house, you get a portion of the jackpot. This addition, which allows players the chance to win hundreds of thousands of dollars for just one dollar, helped make Caribbean Stud the phenomenon it is today. Payouts vary from state to state.
Strategy tips for beginners
As with any game of chance, there is no perfect strategy for Caribbean Stud Poker. But, unlike other poker games, as mentioned in the previous chapter, there are some asymmetries that favor the course of the game for the player. Caribbean Stud is suitable as a holiday game because the optimal strategy is very easy to keep in mind. In a nutshell:
- If you have a pair or higher in your hand, you should bet.
- If you have less in your hand than the dealer needs to qualify (Ace-King), you should fold.
- Always pay attention to your bankroll and avoid side bets (see a similar strategy in Craps and Bankroll Management in Craps).
Of course, this strategy also depends on the dealer's open card. The chances of winning are better if you have the card in your hand that the dealer reveals (which reduces the likelihood of a pair in his hand).
An optimal strategy to maximize the advantage of the casino is the following (after observing the rules mentioned above):
- Player raises the bet if the dealer's face-up card is between 2 and Queen and matches a card in the player's hand.
- The player raises the bet if the dealer's face-up card is an Ace or King and the player has a Queen or Jack in his hand.
- Player raises the bet if the dealer's face-up card does not match a player's card, but he has a Queen and the dealer's card is lower than the player's fourth highest card.
Caribbean Stud History
Although poker card playing dates back to the early 19th century, it was not until the 1980s that Caribbean Stud became popular.
Clearly, the beginnings of the game cannot be traced, but it is said that it was created on a cruise to Aruba. When the popularity within this cruise company increased, a casino on Aruba wanted to buy the game itself and trademark it.
In the Holiday Inn Hotel & Table (today: Excelsior) of that time, the easy-to-understand rules were laid down that could also deviate from the game on the cruise ship. However, this is no longer exactly comprehensible, which is quite strange for such a young game. The game is much more relaxed than the traditional poker game and also more relaxed than Pai Gow Poker or Bridge. That suited the holiday atmosphere. Also, the payout rates were much better, which led the players to prefer the Caribbean Stud.
People brought the game "home", and the demand for Caribbean Stud also grew in the local casinos. However, it took a while for it to really become popular elrange. Only when it was combined with a promising progressive bonus jackpot did it get really hot. Because the house advantage of the game was very high (far higher than Blackjack or later Video Poker), the players needed another incentive. The Progressive Jackpot was supposed to fix that.
The advantage of a progressive jackpot is that it pays for itself through the players' contributions. In slots this kind of playing was already known and popular, because the jackpot was a basic component of the machines. But it was the first time that a progressive jackpot was offered in a real time game at a real table.
Caribbean Stud Poker became one of the fastest growing poker games of the 90's and infected the whole world. Now, Caribbean Stud can be played not only on cruise ships in the Caribbean, but in any live casino in the world. Caribbean Stud is also very popular online (even if you have to miss the tropical climate).
Caribbean
Tropical Stud, Tropical Stud Poker, Caribbean Stud or Oasis Stud: these are all terms used to describe a Caribbean poker variation that is offered in almost every casino. The main difference between Caribbean Stud and other poker variations is that the player plays alone against the casino.
Essentially, there are no other participants for the player, which means that many of the delightful elements of traditional poker play (such as the bluff or psychological deception) disappear from the game.
Caribbean Stud Rules
Because Caribbean Stud is played alone (player versus house), the set-up is similar to Blackjack. It is typically played with a French pack of 52 cards. At a semi-circular table, seven people can sit opposite the dealer (croupier). In front of each player (pointeur) there are markers on which you can place your bets; a betting circle and an ante box. Each player also has a slot for the progressive side bets.
Players must place their bets before the game begins. The ante (the first minimum bet that the casino usually forces the player to make) is determined by the table limits. In addition, players can also place side bets on the progressive jackpot by throwing a chip into the corresponding slot. Then a light indicator goes on to indicate that the progressive jackpot is active.
The hand rating is similar to traditional poker, but the gameplay is similar to Blackjack. The dealer deals each player and himself five cards. One of the dealer's cards is dealt face up. Players can now rate their cards (but they cannot show them to other players) and decide whether to fold and lose their bet, or raise their bet and go to the next round. In addition, you can switch a single card with the dealer for an amount equal to the ante. For another bet, the bet must be twice as high as the initial bet.
When all the players have decided, they return their cards to the table and the dealer reveals his cards. The dealer must have a regular poker combination (Ace-King or higher) for the game to continue. If the dealer does not qualify, the player's original bet and a win equal to the stake are paid to the player and the game is over.
If the dealer qualifies, the casino is called and the players' hands are compared individually and separately to the dealer's hand. If the dealer's hand is better, the player loses all his bets. If the player's hand is higher, he gets his bet back 1:1 and the bet on the bet area according to a specific table:
- A pair (or lower): 1 to 1
- Two pairs: 2 to 1
- Three of a kind: 3 to 1
- Straight: 4 to 1
- Flush: 5 to 1
- Full House: 7 to 1
- Four of a kind: 20 to 1
- Straight Flush: 50 to 1
- Royal Flush: 100 to 1
Play Caribean Stud Poker for free
In recent years, the Caribbean Stud variant has been able to establish a good reputation, especially online. Online casinos didn't exist when the game was developed and slowly gained attention, but now Caribbean Stud Poker games can be more profitable than live casinos due to the speed of the hands and the guaranteed higher payouts. Therefore, it is now much more often played virtually than in the typical stationary casinos.
Players typically get better chances online because more players are involved and the progressive jackpots are higher. However, there is no change in the way the game is played or the strategies used online.
The Progressive Jackpot at Caribbean Stud
Caribbean Stud achieves with the addition of the side bet on the progressive jackpot. With this feature, players can risk an extra dollar to get a shot at the progressive jackpot pool.
If a player who bets on the progressive makes a royal flush, he wins the progressive jackpot, which can reach up to hundreds of thousands of dollars. Even with a lower hand, such as a flush or a full house, you get a portion of the jackpot. This addition, which allows players the chance to win hundreds of thousands of dollars for just one dollar, helped make Caribbean Stud the phenomenon it is today. Payouts vary from state to state.
Strategy tips for beginners
As with any game of chance, there is no perfect strategy for Caribbean Stud Poker. But, unlike other poker games, as mentioned in the previous chapter, there are some asymmetries that favor the course of the game for the player. Caribbean Stud is suitable as a holiday game because the optimal strategy is very easy to keep in mind. In a nutshell:
- If you have a pair or higher in your hand, you should bet.
- If you have less in your hand than the dealer needs to qualify (Ace-King), you should fold.
- Always pay attention to your bankroll and avoid side bets (see a similar strategy in Craps and Bankroll Management in Craps).
Of course, this strategy also depends on the dealer's open card. The chances of winning are better if you have the card in your hand that the dealer reveals (which reduces the likelihood of a pair in his hand).
An optimal strategy to maximize the advantage of the casino is the following (after observing the rules mentioned above):
- Player raises the bet if the dealer's face-up card is between 2 and Queen and matches a card in the player's hand.
- The player raises the bet if the dealer's face-up card is an Ace or King and the player has a Queen or Jack in his hand.
- Player raises the bet if the dealer's face-up card does not match a player's card, but he has a Queen and the dealer's card is lower than the player's fourth highest card.
Caribbean Stud History
Although poker card playing dates back to the early 19th century, it was not until the 1980s that Caribbean Stud became popular.
Clearly, the beginnings of the game cannot be traced, but it is said that it was created on a cruise to Aruba. When the popularity within this cruise company increased, a casino on Aruba wanted to buy the game itself and trademark it.
In the Holiday Inn Hotel & Table (today: Excelsior) of that time, the easy-to-understand rules were laid down that could also deviate from the game on the cruise ship. However, this is no longer exactly comprehensible, which is quite strange for such a young game. The game is much more relaxed than the traditional poker game and also more relaxed than Pai Gow Poker or Bridge. That suited the holiday atmosphere. Also, the payout rates were much better, which led the players to prefer the Caribbean Stud.
People brought the game "home", and the demand for Caribbean Stud also grew in the local casinos. However, it took a while for it to really become popular elrange. Only when it was combined with a promising progressive bonus jackpot did it get really hot. Because the house advantage of the game was very high (far higher than Blackjack or later Video Poker), the players needed another incentive. The Progressive Jackpot was supposed to fix that.
The advantage of a progressive jackpot is that it pays for itself through the players' contributions. In slots this kind of playing was already known and popular, because the jackpot was a basic component of the machines. But it was the first time that a progressive jackpot was offered in a real time game at a real table.
Caribbean Stud Poker became one of the fastest growing poker games of the 90's and infected the whole world. Now, Caribbean Stud can be played not only on cruise ships in the Caribbean, but in any live casino in the world. Caribbean Stud is also very popular online (even if you have to miss the tropical climate).
Caribbean
Tropical Stud, Tropical Stud Poker, Caribbean Stud or Oasis Stud: these are all terms used to describe a Caribbean poker variation that is offered in almost every casino. The main difference between Caribbean Stud and other poker variations is that the player plays alone against the casino.
Essentially, there are no other participants for the player, which means that many of the delightful elements of traditional poker play (such as the bluff or psychological deception) disappear from the game.
Caribbean Stud Rules
Because Caribbean Stud is played alone (player versus house), the set-up is similar to Blackjack. It is typically played with a French pack of 52 cards. At a semi-circular table, seven people can sit opposite the dealer (croupier). In front of each player (pointeur) there are markers on which you can place your bets; a betting circle and an ante box. Each player also has a slot for the progressive side bets.
Players must place their bets before the game begins. The ante (the first minimum bet that the casino usually forces the player to make) is determined by the table limits. In addition, players can also place side bets on the progressive jackpot by throwing a chip into the corresponding slot. Then a light indicator goes on to indicate that the progressive jackpot is active.
The hand rating is similar to traditional poker, but the gameplay is similar to Blackjack. The dealer deals each player and himself five cards. One of the dealer's cards is dealt face up. Players can now rate their cards (but they cannot show them to other players) and decide whether to fold and lose their bet, or raise their bet and go to the next round. In addition, you can switch a single card with the dealer for an amount equal to the ante. For another bet, the bet must be twice as high as the initial bet.
When all the players have decided, they return their cards to the table and the dealer reveals his cards. The dealer must have a regular poker combination (Ace-King or higher) for the game to continue. If the dealer does not qualify, the player's original bet and a win equal to the stake are paid to the player and the game is over.
If the dealer qualifies, the casino is called and the players' hands are compared individually and separately to the dealer's hand. If the dealer's hand is better, the player loses all his bets. If the player's hand is higher, he gets his bet back 1:1 and the bet on the bet area according to a specific table:
- A pair (or lower): 1 to 1
- Two pairs: 2 to 1
- Three of a kind: 3 to 1
- Straight: 4 to 1
- Flush: 5 to 1
- Full House: 7 to 1
- Four of a kind: 20 to 1
- Straight Flush: 50 to 1
- Royal Flush: 100 to 1
Play Caribean Stud Poker for free
In recent years, the Caribbean Stud variant has been able to establish a good reputation, especially online. Online casinos didn't exist when the game was developed and slowly gained attention, but now Caribbean Stud Poker games can be more profitable than live casinos due to the speed of the hands and the guaranteed higher payouts. Therefore, it is now much more often played virtually than in the typical stationary casinos.
Players typically get better chances online because more players are involved and the progressive jackpots are higher. However, there is no change in the way the game is played or the strategies used online.
The Progressive Jackpot at Caribbean Stud
Caribbean Stud achieves with the addition of the side bet on the progressive jackpot. With this feature, players can risk an extra dollar to get a shot at the progressive jackpot pool.
If a player who bets on the progressive makes a royal flush, he wins the progressive jackpot, which can reach up to hundreds of thousands of dollars. Even with a lower hand, such as a flush or a full house, you get a portion of the jackpot. This addition, which allows players the chance to win hundreds of thousands of dollars for just one dollar, helped make Caribbean Stud the phenomenon it is today. Payouts vary from state to state.
Strategy tips for beginners
As with any game of chance, there is no perfect strategy for Caribbean Stud Poker. But, unlike other poker games, as mentioned in the previous chapter, there are some asymmetries that favor the course of the game for the player. Caribbean Stud is suitable as a holiday game because the optimal strategy is very easy to keep in mind. In a nutshell:
- If you have a pair or higher in your hand, you should bet.
- If you have less in your hand than the dealer needs to qualify (Ace-King), you should fold.
- Always pay attention to your bankroll and avoid side bets (see a similar strategy in Craps and Bankroll Management in Craps).
Of course, this strategy also depends on the dealer's open card. The chances of winning are better if you have the card in your hand that the dealer reveals (which reduces the likelihood of a pair in his hand).
An optimal strategy to maximize the advantage of the casino is the following (after observing the rules mentioned above):
- Player raises the bet if the dealer's face-up card is between 2 and Queen and matches a card in the player's hand.
- The player raises the bet if the dealer's face-up card is an Ace or King and the player has a Queen or Jack in his hand.
- Player raises the bet if the dealer's face-up card does not match a player's card, but he has a Queen and the dealer's card is lower than the player's fourth highest card.
Caribbean Stud History
Although poker card playing dates back to the early 19th century, it was not until the 1980s that Caribbean Stud became popular.
Clearly, the beginnings of the game cannot be traced, but it is said that it was created on a cruise to Aruba. When the popularity within this cruise company increased, a casino on Aruba wanted to buy the game itself and trademark it.
In the Holiday Inn Hotel & Table (today: Excelsior) of that time, the easy-to-understand rules were laid down that could also deviate from the game on the cruise ship. However, this is no longer exactly comprehensible, which is quite strange for such a young game. The game is much more relaxed than the traditional poker game and also more relaxed than Pai Gow Poker or Bridge. That suited the holiday atmosphere. Also, the payout rates were much better, which led the players to prefer the Caribbean Stud.
People brought the game "home", and the demand for Caribbean Stud also grew in the local casinos. However, it took a while for it to really become popular elrange. Only when it was combined with a promising progressive bonus jackpot did it get really hot. Because the house advantage of the game was very high (far higher than Blackjack or later Video Poker), the players needed another incentive. The Progressive Jackpot was supposed to fix that.
The advantage of a progressive jackpot is that it pays for itself through the players' contributions. In slots this kind of playing was already known and popular, because the jackpot was a basic component of the machines. But it was the first time that a progressive jackpot was offered in a real time game at a real table.
Caribbean Stud Poker became one of the fastest growing poker games of the 90's and infected the whole world. Now, Caribbean Stud can be played not only on cruise ships in the Caribbean, but in any live casino in the world. Caribbean Stud is also very popular online (even if you have to miss the tropical climate).