Caribbean Stud Poker resembles five card draw except Caribbean Stud is played against the dealer and not against other players.
It’s an easy game to learn and the potential payouts are massive, especially if you play the optional progressive jackpot feature.
The rules are fairly simple but if you ever get lost, the dealer will help you out. The only decision you need to make in this game is whether to continue or to forfeit after seeing your hand. After that, the dealer checks your hand and payouts are awarded automatically.
How to Play Caribbean Stud Poker
Each player pays an ante at the beginning of the hand.
The dealer and players each receive five cards.
The dealer reveals one of his own cards and now the players may look at their own cards. Using this information, the players must decide if they wish to continue on or fold.
If the players wish to continue, they “call” by placing another bet equal to twice the size of the ante. If the players wish to fold, they must forfeit their antes but have no further obligation to the pot.
After all the players have made their decisions, the dealer reveals his hand. For the game to continue the dealer’s hand must contain an Ace-King or higher. If the dealer’s hand does not contain A-K or higher, the hand is voided and the players’ call bets are returned with no winnings but ante bets are paid out at 1 to 1. If the dealer’s hand qualifies with an A-K or better, the hand continues on as normal.
The dealer now compares his hand to each player’s hand. If the dealer’s hand is stronger than a player’s hand, that player loses both bets. If the player’s hand is stronger, the player is paid according to the following chart:
Caribbean Stud Poker Payouts
Winning Hand Payout
AK or Pair 1 to 1
Two Pair 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
Caribbean Stud Progressive Jackpot
Players also have the option of participating in a separate progressive jackpot feature by placing a $1.00 in the jackpot chip collector. In this game, the players are paid out special prizes for achieving certain hands. It does not matter if the player wins or loses against the dealer but if the player forfeits, the progressive jackpot bet is also forfeit.
The progressive jackpot is fueled by a percentage of every bet placed into the progressive jackpot feature. The longer it goes without being hit, the larger the jackpot grows. The payouts for hitting hands are as follows:
Hand Payout
Royal Flush 100% of Progressive Jackpot
Straight Flush 10% of Progressive Jackpot
Four of a Kind $500
Full House $100
Flush $50
Note – these payouts are in addition to your normal payouts.