CARIBBEAN STUD POKER

This is a game played on a semi-circular table with three to five players facing the dealer using a standard 52 card deck held in a card shoe. The aim of the game is to beat the dealer with the five cards you are dealt.

The Caribbean Stud table features a Progressive Jackpot which is usually displayed on a digital board. This jackpot may be linked to other Caribbean Poker tables in the same casino or chain of casinos. Each player sits behind a layout which begins with a slot for the Progressive Jackpot followed by an Ante and then a Bet box. The slot enables players wishing to participate in the Jackpot to do so for $1, which is a wager independent of the Ante and Bet which are the Stud Poker action.

RULES OF CARIBBEAN STUD POKER

The game begins with your stake which is set prior to the dealing of cards. Each player must decide how much to wager on the upcoming hand and place that bet on the "Ante" box. The players must also choose at this point whether they want to bet for the Progressive Jackpot, and if so they place a $1 coin (provided by the dealer in exchange for money or chips) in the slot. Players that are hoping to win the Jackpot or any part of it will be indicated by the lights which illuminate the slot of those particular players who are "in" for the next five cards.

Five cards are then dealt face down to each player by the dealer. The dealer also takes five cards, four of which are face down and one is placed face up for all to see. You then look at the five cards that you have been dealt and must decide whether to play them or fold. Players that fold lose their Ante bet and Progressive bet had they played one. There is therefore something of an incentive to play rather than sit on the sidelines waiting for the best cards. If you chose to play then you must place two times your Ante in the Bet box. This is known as your call.

Once all the players have decided whether they will play or fold, the dealer reveals his cards. You had the advantage of seeing one of his cards prior to betting so you have a slight advantage in that regard, but the dealer retains the overall advantage in that he must qualify for the call bets to count. To qualify the dealer must have Ace King or a higher hand. If the dealer does not qualify then regardless of what you held you receive double your Ante bet but your call bet will be returned to you with no further gain. If the dealer qualifies (has AK or higher) then your cards will be turned over by the dealer to see if you have a higher five card stud poker hand than the house. If you do then you receive a multiple of your call bet in accordance with the call bet payout table.

The Progressive Jackpot is an entirely separate game which pays out whether the dealer qualifies or not. A progressive win takes place is you have been dealt a five card flush or higher. Should you be lucky enough to get such a hand you will win the multiple shown in the progressive jackpot table displayed here, and also win as part of your Caribbean Stud bet, or call bet which as explained earlier is dependent on the dealer qualifying.

CARIBBEAN POKER STRATEGY

Like any casino game the house has an edge, but luck on any given day plays a large part in deciding the winner. As to strategy it is important to recognise the marginal plays where odds are actually in your favour. Most players are uncomfortable playing low pairs such as twos, threes and fours and are even less likely still to play AK because they often seem to lose. This is in fact a true statement - you will lose more often with these hands than with others but many people fail to realise is that folding is also a player loss. It is the case that with these types of hand the correct play is to bet them because that will turn out to be the best play over the long term.

The decision as to whether to play the Progressive Jackpot for $1 a hand should be made based on the value of the progressive. If the advertised jackpot is over $30,000 then in our opinion it becomes a good play. The problem with statistical analysis, however, is that if it is to be your lucky day then you can win very large sums by playing the progressive. I can honestly say I regretted not betting the progressive when dealt KKKK8 on one occasion - a feeling made worse by the fact that on this occasion the dealer did not qualify! Lesson learned I can assure you.