Caribbean Holdem
The rules of Caribbean Holdem are similar to those of Caribbean Stud.
This version of the game is a little newer and plays on the recent popularity of Texas Holdem. If you like the concept of Texas Holdem but want to avoid the pressure of playing against a table of opponents, this is the game for you. It’s not terribly complicated but it is endlessly entertaining.
How to Play Caribbean Holdem
The object of Caribbean Holdem is to end up with a better five card poker hand than the dealer. After placing an ante bet, each player in Caribbean Holdem receives two cards (the “hole cards”).
Next, three community cards are dealt face up in the middle of the table. You can then use any combination of your hole cards and the community cards to make the best possible five card poker hand. You now have two options:
Stay in the hand. If you wish to stay in, you must place an additional wager equal to twice the size of your ante wager. This wager is called the “raise bet.”
If you stay in the hand, two more community cards are dealt face up in the middle of the table. You can now use any combination of your two hole cards and the five community cards to make the best possible poker hand. There are three possible outcomes:
The dealer does not qualify by ending up with a pair of 4s or better: you win even money on your ante bet but your raise bet is returned to you with no winnings.
The dealer qualifies and your hand beats the dealer: your ante bet is paid according to the pay table listed below and your raise bet is paid even money.
The dealer qualifies and beats your hand: you lose your ante bet and raise bet.
Winning and Payouts
If your final hand beats the dealer’s hand, you will be paid according the pay chart listed below. However, there is one caveat: the dealer must qualify by getting a pair of 4s or better. If the dealer does not qualify, you receive even money on your ante wager but you do not receive a payout on your raise wager.
Winning Hands and Payouts
Royal Flush – 100:1
Straight Flush – 20:1
Four of a Kind – 10:1
Full House – 3:1
Flush – 2:1
Straight – 1:1
Three of a Kind – 1:1
Two Pair – 1:1
One Pair – 1:1
(If you’re not familiar with poker hands, check out our poker hand rankings page.)
Progressive Jackpot
Caribbean Holdem also includes an optional progressive jackpot side bet. At the beginning of each hand, you may place a $1.00 bet to participate in the jackpot. The jackpot is then paid out if you catch any of the hands listed below.
This jackpot is paid out regardless of whether or not the dealer qualifies or if you beat the dealer. However, you must hit one of these hands on the flop, not after all five cards have been dealt.
Poker Hand and Payout
Royal Flush – 100% of the jackpot
Straight Flush – 10% of the jackpot
Four of a Kind – $500
Full House – $100
Flush – $75
A portion of every $1.00 side bet goes towards the progressive jackpot. In this manner, the jackpot grows constantly until it is hit. At that point, the jackpot starts over at some preset amount and begins growing all over again. Most casinos combine the Caribbean Holdem and Caribbean Stud jackpots to make the jackpot grow even faster.
Caribbean Holdem Game Play
Each player places an ante bet.
Two cards are dealt face up to each player and two cards are dealt face down in front of the dealer.
Three community cards (the “flop”) are dealt face up in the middle of the table. These cards are used in combination with your hole cards to determine your current poker hand.
You must now decide if you wish to stay in the hand or fold.
If you stay in, you must now place a raise bet equal to twice the size of the ante bet. If you fold, you must forfeit your ante bet and the hand ends now.
Two more community cards are dealt in the middle of the table.
You can now use any combination of your hole cards and the community cards to create the best possible five card poker hand. Caribbean Holdem uses the same hand rankings as standard poker. Note – the casino automatically identifies the best hand possible for you.
The dealer reveals his hand and compares it to your hand.
Winning players are paid according to the above pay table.
