Caribbean Stud Strategy

Caribbean Stud is a mellow form of casino gambling.

Game Play

After every player antes up, the dealer distributes sets of five cards to each player. The dealer is also dealt a set of five cards. One of the dealer’s cards is then overturned for all to see. Once you pick up your cards you have to decide whether or not to fold or call the second bet. This second bet is twice the ante. After everyone at the table has decided whether or not to stay in the hand, the dealer’s remaining four cards are turned over.

If the dealer has at least an ace-king, then the dealer’s poker hand qualifies, and play continues. If the dealer does not have a hand at all, every player at the table wins back their ante. Second bets are returned as well.

Since the object is to beat the dealer with a better five-card poker hand, players compare their cards to the dealer’s. If a player has a lower hand, they lose both their ante and their second bet. If a player has a higher hand, they are paid off according to this schedule:

Royal Flush: 100 to 1

Straight Flush: 50 to 1

Four of a Kind: 20 to 1

Full House: 7 to 1

Flush: 5 to 1

Straight: 4 to 1

Three of a Kind: 3 to 1

Two Pairs: 2 to 1

One Pair (or less): 1 to 1

Jackpot

Players can choose whether or not they want to make an additional side bet so that their hand can qualify for the progressive jackpot – both in live games and Caribbean stud online. While this progressive jackpot feature does attract plenty of players, it’s not really the wisest bet to make.

Strategy

If you have hopes of hitting it big, and you feel lucky, then go ahead and make the additional progressive jackpot side bet. If you want to increase your long term rate of return, then avoid this extra expense.

If you don’t have a hand, it’s time to fold. You can’t bluff the dealer or your fellow players, so don’t even try it. If you have nothing, don’t call the second bet. If you have a pair, make the call. If you have ace-king or better, make the call. Anything less than ace-king should be folded.

If you want to find a table game with a lower house advantage, there are plenty of them out there, especially in the best online casino rooms. If you are looking for a sociable, low-intensity card game, Caribbean Stud is the game for you.

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