Caribbean Poker, often called Caribbean Stud Poker, started gaining popularity on cruise ships and later on in South Pacific clubs. It made it's way to Vegas casinos quickly and is now a very popular game at casino all over the world. Caribbean Poker is dead easy to learn, and is very similar to 5-card stud. Needless to say, most online casinos offer a variation of Caribbean Stud Poker, and some even have a progressive jackpot attached to the game.

Game Basics

The game starts with an ante bet from each player seated at the table (typically up to 6 players are seated at a table). The antes will vary at online casinos. Each player is dealt five cards, face up, and the dealer also received five cards but only one is turned face up. Now each player can make a bet, depending on their hand. This is referred to as the "call bet". The table will have a maximum you can bet. You may also elect to surrender, in which case you lose your ante bet.

Once you have decided to call, the dealer turn over their cards. The dealer has to qualify, meaning he has to hold an Ace-King combination or better. In the case of the dealer not qualifying, you win the ante bet, but your call bet is simply return4ed to you.

If the dealer in fact qualifies, it becomes a simple showdown for the best hand. If your hand wins with a pair, you get paid even money on your ante bet. If you win with a hand better than a pair, you get paid a multiple of your call bet, based on a game payout table. The better your hand on the rankings, the higher your payout. Always remember that if you elected to not call, you will lose the ante.

Payout Table

Here is a basic payout table. Remember these may vary from casino to casino, and the same applies online. these payouts are multiples of your call bet.

Hand Payout
Royal Flush - 100:1
Straight Flush - 50:1
4 of a Kind - 20:1
Full House - 7:1
Flush - 5:1
Straight - 4:1
3 of a Kind - 3:1
2 Pair - 2:1
1 Pair - 1:1
If you lose against the dealer you forfeit both your bets.

Conclusion

Caribbean Stud Poker is a lot of fun to play, and very popular. Be aware that the house edge on this game is around 5.22% which is higher than blackjack but much lower than many other casino games.