- Caribbean Stud Poker online, free Video Poker
- Caribbean Stud Poker Practice
- Caribbean Stud Poker online, free
- Caribbean Stud Poker online, free
One such site is MrGamez.com who've been generous enough to let us use the free Caribbean stud poker game featured above. Another free option is with a small software provider called NetEnt. Refer to their section on NetEnt Table Games where you can find a couple of different versions that are free to try out. The odds are tight but utilising smart game strategy, there is a possible route to success. Ultimately, Playtech's Caribbean Stud Poker is a fun and accessible way of playing stud poker in a friendly and enjoyable online space. Playtech's Take on Caribbean Stud. Playtech are famous for offering an eclectic and diverse range of casino games.
One such site is MrGamez.com who've been generous enough to let us use the free Caribbean stud poker game featured above. Another free option is with a small software provider called NetEnt. Refer to their section on NetEnt Table Games where you can find a couple of different versions that are free to try out. Our free Caribbean Stud Poker game is a fast-paced with rules which resemble those of Five Card Stud Poker. Unlike typical poker games, this online version is played against the casino house itself rather than other online players.
Table Of Contents
- Caribbean Stud Poker is a popular Casino card game
- You play against the house rather than other players
- You can improve your winning chances with the help of a few strategy tips
A friend once told me, 'You cannot call yourself a Poker player if you only know how to play one variant of Poker'.
And despite the fact we all grow with Texas Hold'em being our bread-and-butter, it may very well be true.
There are so many Poker variants out there that you should now limit yourself to only one game.
Take Caribbean Stud Poker, for example.
Caribbean Poker may not be the Casino game with the best odds, but it can help you to understand Poker a lot better than you do now.
That's what this guide is for.
Learn Caribbean Stud, practice the game online for free, and ace your Poker games. Starting today.
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Play NowHow to Play Caribbean Stud
Before you start to play Caribbean Poker online - even for free - you need to know how to play.
So, let's learn!
Caribbean Stud Poker Rules
In a game of Caribbean Stud Poker, the dealer uses a standard 52-card deck of French cards, the same you use to play NLH.
To join the game, you need to make an ante bet.
Most online games have the minimum bet set at $1. Keep this in mind when you decide the size of the bankroll to bring with you at the table.
Once your bet is on the table, the dealer gives you five cards.
A game of Caribbean Poker does not include community cards. What you land from the get-go stays with you until the end of the full round.
The dealer also gets five cards:
- One card is face-up
- Four cards are face down
So, you have two options at this point:
- Call (raise) - You continue to play. This requires an extra bet equal to 2x the ante bet;
- Fold - You leave the game. No further bets are required, but you forfeit the initial ante bet.
The goal of a Caribbean Poker game is to beat the dealer. To do so, your hand needs to be higher than theirs.
But their hand also needs to 'qualify' - which means it needs to be Ace-King or better. If the dealer's hand does not meet this requirement, you get paid 1 to 1 for your ante.
That's the only win. You get nothing extra for your Call bet.
Caribbean Stud Poker online, free Video Poker
Caribbean Poker Strategy Tip: The dealer's hand only qualifies when they have an Ace-King (both an Ace and a King in their hand) or higher hand.
If you want to have more chances to win a hand of Caribbean Poker online, make sure your hand beats an AK.
What happens when you play or fold?
When you fold, the run is over. You lose your ante and need to bet again if you want to continue playing Caribbean Poker.
When you call, it's showdown time.
Here's when three things may happen:
- The Dealer doesn't qualify. You get 1 to 1 for your ante bet and get your call bet back;
- The Dealer qualifies, and their hand beats yours. You lose both the ante and the call bets;
- The Dealer qualifies, and your hand wins. You win both the ante (1 to 1) the and call bets
What you get when you win a call bet?
In Caribbean Poker, the payout depends on your hand.
Your hand | Call bet payouts |
---|---|
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 Pair | 2 to 1 |
One pair | 1 to 1 |
Ace-King High | 1 to 1 |
Caribbean Stud Poker Progressive Jackpot Bet
There's one more bet you can place at Caribbean Stud Poker table.
Meet the Progressive Side Bet. When available, this bet is your only chance to activate (and perhaps win) a progressive jackpot.
In most games, this side bet is equal to the table's minimum bet.
Playing the Progressive side bet (or not) doesn't affect any of the other bets you make. You can place the side bet along with your ante bet.
If you do, you win the jackpot if your hand is a Flush or better.
In all other cases, you lose the bet before you even make your mind about folding or calling in the main game.
The jackpot bet is not affected by the dealer's hand either. Even if the dealer beats your hand, you may still win the jackpot bet.
As long as you have a Flush or more, of course.
Your hand | Jakpot bet payouts |
---|---|
Royal Flush | 100 percent of the jackpot |
Straight Flush | 10 percent of the jackpot |
Four of a Kind | 500x |
Full House | 100x |
Flush | 50x |
Is it worth it?
The progressive jackpot in Caribbean Stud Poker comes with its house edge. It depends on the amount that the jackpot will pay out. If the jackpot is above $352,146, you get an advantage at winning it.
Of course, that doesn't mean you will win, but it's the kind of odds you'd like to see at every Casino game bet.
If the jackpot is smaller, not only it will be less tempting, but the House will have the edge over you anyway.
Important: Progressive jackpot bet is not available at every Casino that offers Caribbean Stud Poker.
Want to play Caribbean Stud with a progressive jackpot?Check out these Caribbean Poker games online!
How to Win at Caribbean Stud Poker?
If you play table games for fun, you don't think that much about your winning prospects.
And that's fine.
But if you want to improve your chances, you can use the Caribbean Stud strategy.
Bonus: it's the most uncomplicated strategy you'll ever learn. Seriously.
Caribbean Stud Poker Strategy
Caribbean Stud Poker Practice
The Caribbean Poker strategy is pretty straightforward.
You can't bluff when you play against the House. So, if you want to call, you need to have a decent hand.
To win more than only your ante bet, your hand needs to be Ace-King or higher.
If the score of your hand is lower, you can only hope for the dealer's hand not to qualify - and that's a far too risky choice to 'only' double your ante.
Numbers at hand, the dealer qualifies 56 per cent of the time. So, it's not really in your favour to hope at this point.
How to play then?
Fold.
According to Peter Griffin and John M. Gwynn Jr.1, you have the best odds when you call on hand that's Ace-King-Jack-8-3 or better.
So, that's pretty much all you need to remember when making that one significant strategical move in the game.
1: [I]Based on Peter Griffin and John M. Gwynn Jr.'s analysis of Caribbean Stud Poker and its odds. You can read about it in the book '[I]Finding the Edge: Mathematical Analysis of Casino Games[/I]'.
Practice Caribbean Stud for Free or with 'Micro' Bets
You don't have to take my (or Griffin's and Gwynn's) word for it.
Try playing with the mentioned strategy yourself.
Thanks to the demo games available at some online Casinos, you can play Caribbean Stud Poker online for free.
>> Try the game here
Or you can try to play here and go for the real money action even if you are a low roller.
When the minimum bet is $1, you need at least $3 to play a full round of the game.
Unless you play the cheapest games of Caribbean Stud Poker online.
Few players know they can play as little as $0.01 per ante bet (or $0.03 for a full round of the game).
The micro-stakes games are a perfect option to practice and to play your first Caribbean Stud real money rounds.
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Caribbean Stud Poker
This variation of the legendary card game, Poker, may be one of the newest table games out there, but that doesn't make it any less appealing. In fact, ever since its inception, it has become one of the most-played variants of Poker across the net. As the name tells, it has its roots in the Caribbean, however, who coined it and how remains a mystery. Your opponent in the game is the house and a progressive jackpot has been added to make the game more attractive for players to join in. The downside of the game is that the house advantage is quite high compared to some of the other table games out there like Craps and Blackjack, but it's a lot easier to play and there aren't so many hands to remember.
Why play Caribbean Stud Poker?
- It's straightforward and easy to play
- It's a relatively new version of Poker
- No bluffing required
The History of Caribbean Stud Poker
This latest variation of Poker originated from the exotic Dutch Caribbean island off the coast of Venezuela, Aruba, during the 1980s. This is the only concrete piece of information associated with Caribbean Stud, as it is one of those games, just like Craps, which is shrouded in mystery. In this case, it is due to the fact that many a person has laid claim to being behind its invention. It is said to be based on the three-card Spanish game Primera (which has several different names such as Primero, Brag, Pochen, and Poque depending on your whereabouts; whether you're situated in the UK, France or Germany) which dates back to the 1500s. The early game already featured some winning poker hands, such as, Three-of-a-Kind, Pair, or three of the same suit which was known as a Flux back then (today it's known as a Flush). During the 1700s, the game changed so that placing bets and bluffing were added. Further on, you will see that it can be quite arduous to bluff your way through a game of Caribbean Stud.
As to who created the game or how it came into being, here are some possible hypotheses. One theory suggests that the game was first played on a cruise ship sailing to Aruba. Another points to the game originating in one of the hotel resorts on the island and spreading amongst the others, with the most popular games being played at the Dutch hotel, The King International, which is known today as the Excelsior Casino. One of the most famous men who firmly stands behind his claim to the game is the renowned author and gambling expert, David Sklansky. He allegedly invented the game in 1982 under the name Casino Poker, which differed slightly to the current Caribbean Stud, as in the early version, the dealer revealed two hole cards instead of one, and there was no attractive progressive jackpot feature. Apparently, he was unable to patent the game due to patenting laws at the time, so he trademarked it instead and brought it to Vegas World, the space-themed casino and hotel on the Las Vegas Boulevard. Due to unforeseen circumstances, he didn't follow it up, however, years after, he maintained that he was approached by a poker player who brought the game to Aruba, wherein they amended the rules and gameplay to what it is today and was finally patented. Magnate, Dennis King, who owned a hotel in Aruba, is another person who has made a claim to the invention of the card game. In actual fact, no-one knows which tale holds true. Subsequently, it reached land-based casinos in the US in the early 1990s.
Playing Online Caribbean Stud Poker
Caribbean Stud is typically played with a single deck of fifty-two cards. Similar to Casino Hold'em, in this card game your opponent is the casino represented by the dealer and not the other players around you, thus, it's for this reason that bluffing during the game is futile. Furthermore, the sole objective of the game is to beat the dealer by having a superior five-card poker hand.
As is standard with Poker, Caribbean Stud starts off with all players placing an initial wager, called the Ante, which is not your average bet, but is a forced one which you must make in order to receive your set of cards. At this stage, you can make an optional side bet called the Progressive Jackpot bet, however, at an extra cost of 1 credit. This is the only time you can make this wager. Once the betting round is over, everyone seated at the table, including the dealer, of course, is dealt five cards face down and the dealer exposes one of his cards. At this point, there are two things you can do; you can either fold, which will, in turn, cause you to lose your hand, along with your Ante and side bet (if any), or your other option is to raise, which means doubling the Ante with another wager. After a round of either folding and raising, the dealer turns over his four remaining cards and his hand is compared to each player's hand. The dealer must qualify with an Ace-King or better. If the dealer doesn't qualify, naturally it's considered a loss. If this is the case, you're paid back even money (1:1) on your Ante and your raise is refunded. If the dealer qualifies, yet you have the better hand, you'll also receive even money on the Ante. How much you get back on the raise bet depends on what type of hand you beat him with. If the dealer's hand surpasses yours, he takes both your bets. In the event of a tie, both Ante and raise bets push, meaning you get the money you placed on your wagers back. Below is a description of the different Poker hands you can win with and how the payouts work.
Royal Flush: Consists of A-K-Q-J-10 in the same suit and is unbeatable. This hand pays 100 to 1.
Straight Flush: Is made up of five cards in numerical order belonging to the same suit. It pays out 50 to 1.
Four of a Kind: Is when you have four same value cards. The fifth card is called the ‘kicker'. In the case of a tie, the highest Four-of-a-Kind wins. This hand pays 20 to 1.
Full House: Includes three same value cards and a pair of a different value. The player with the highest three matching cards wins during a tie. It pays 7 to 1.
Flush: Consists of five random cards in the same suit and pays 5 to 1. The highest ranked card determines the winner in the case of a tie.
Caribbean Stud Poker online, free
Straight: Is made up of five cards from different suits in numerical order. The person with the highest-ranking card is the winner during a tie. The Ace has a dual role and can be used at the beginning or at the end of the sequence. This hand pays out 4 to 1.
Three of a Kind: Consists of three matching cards of the same rank and two other random side cards. The payoff is 3 to 1.
Two Pair: Is a hand made up of two sets of different matching cards and one unrelated side card. Only the highest pair is counted to see who wins. e.g. KK227 beats QQJJA. The payout is 2 to 1.
One Pair: Having two cards of the same rank and three random cards, and pays 1 to 1 (even money).
The Progressive Jackpot side bet has little to do with your hand. In actual fact, it is an optional wager that the hand you will receive will be a Flush or better. If you put money on this bet, you'll be paid out as follows, as long as the outcome is a qualifying hand. Remember that payouts may vary from casino to casino.
Royal Flush pays 100% of Progressive Jackpot Metre
Joker poker strategy. Straight Flush pays 10% of Progressive
Four of a Kind pays 500 credits
Full House pays 100 credits
Flush pays 50 credits
Beginners' Tips
Now that you know the crux of the game, there are a couple of other things you need to be aware of. These rules apply during both online and offline play wherever you are.
Caribbean Stud Poker online, free
- First of all, in this game, only one hand is allowed per player, as having two hands will give the player an unfair advantage in knowing when to fold or raise.
- Secondly, no player is to discuss their hands with other players. This is player collusion and if this occurs during the game, the end result is a dead hand and a loss of your bets. Not to mention it's technically cheating!
- When playing live in a brick and mortar casino, bear in mind that you can only look at your cards once throughout the whole game, so make sure you examine them properly. Once they're placed back down on the table, you cannot look at them again.
- Any misdeals will result in dead hands, apart from when the dealer receives four cards instead of five. In this scenario, the dealer may give himself an additional card.
- Just because you have an Ace high, for example, A-Q-J-T-2 doesn't mean you should raise. This is a common misconception. Ultimately, you can win on the Ante bet because the dealer won't pay the call bet without an A-K or better. Although Ace high hands can look good on paper, you should still fold unless you yourself have an A-K or better.
- The progressive jackpot side bet is one best to be avoided due to its high house edge of 26.46%. On the flip side, you might be fuming if you were dealt a Royal Flush without placing a side bet. That said, the odds of this happening are 649,739:1.
Variations of Caribbean Stud Poker
Caribbean Draw doesn't fall far from the stud game, yet is more complex and requires more strategy. It comes close to Oasis Poker, wherein you have the alternative to replace one or two of the five cards in your possession so as to create a finer hand (keep in mind that the dealer can also do so if he chooses to). The dealer's qualifying hand also differs in this variation as a pair of eights or higher is required.
Caribbean Hold'em is one of the most recent versions of Caribbean Stud which is pretty much a photocopy of the famous Texas Hold'em, minus the bluffing or raising. The dealer gives players and himself two cards and then deals five community cards face up, three of which the players will use to form their best hands. The house edge is reduced from 2.5% to 2.0% making the payouts less advantageous in the Hold'em variation.
Casino Five-Card Stud Poker is the variation commonly found in the UK and other European countries. Not all feature a jackpot side bet, but those that do, promote the game as Casino Jackpot Five Card Stud Poker. It's only the payouts that differ between the American and English versions; the max bet's usually 100 credits on the Ante, 200 credits on the raise, and the jackpot doesn't often exceed 10,000 credits. additionally, a Royal Flush pays 50 to 1 (same as a Straight Flush). Furthermore, if the dealer doesn't show A-K, the hands playing the jackpot must be turned face up – otherwise, the cards aren't shown.
Oasis Poker has the same rules as Caribbean Stud, except that the players have the option to exchange cards before they decide whether to raise or fold, at an extra cost of course! Should you wish to exchange one or five of your cards, it will cost you 1x your Ante bet. Changing two or four of your cards will cost 2x your Ante bet, and three cards will set you back 3x. One more thing, if you switch all five cards you must also raise. Moreover, the bonus will be paid on the value of your original hand and not on your new set of cards.
Playing Caribbean Stud Poker for Real Money
Playing Caribbean Stud Poker online is a solo game handled by the online casino's software which you can play for free right at the top of the page or for real money at one of our top five trusted casinos (which can also be found at the top of the page). They are all licensed, safe and regulated. Before you delve into all the action the Caribbean styled Poker game has to offer, it's best to familiarise yourself with the rules and gameplay and practise playing for free where you have nothing to lose instead of gambling away your hard-earned cash. If free play is not your thing and you feel that you've got the game covered, you should start yourself off with a small deposit into the online casino of your choosing. On the other hand, if a big cash-out is what you want, you should adopt the strategy described in the upcoming section, place a side wager and watch the money roll in. Whatever you choose, Caribbean Stud Poker is readily available on mobile, Android and Apple tablet devices all over the world; in the USA, UK, Canada and Australia. And if you crave that real-life casino feel, you should try the insanely popular live Caribbean Stud Poker wherein you interact with other players and live dealers. Despite its growing popularity, not all casinos will have the option for this type of gameplay as they tend to dedicate their money and resources to the more favoured table games like Blackjack, Baccarat and Roulette.
FAQ
Is there a strategy for winning at Caribbean Stud Poker?
There is an optimal strategy for winning at this Poker game, however, it's quite intricate. To keep it simple, the basis of this strategy is to always raise with a pair or higher and to always fold with less than an Ace-King (which is also the dealer's qualifying hand). It is with these hands that the strategy can get a bit more complex. You should only raise on a hand of Ace-King if the dealer's card ranges between a 2 and Queen and matches one of yours. You should also raise against the dealer's Ace-King hand with a Queen-Jack in your possession. Furthermore, it's ideal to raise if the dealer's rank doesn't match yours, having a Queen in your hand, and the dealer's card is less than your fourth highest card. This strategy results in bringing down the house edge down from 5.225% to 2.38%.
Is there a strategy for winning the Progressive Jackpot side bet in Caribbean Stud?
Good question! Ideally, the masters of the game don't suggest playing the side bet at all. However, there is, in fact, a small strategy you can use when placing this bet. There always comes a time during the game when the jackpot becomes so large that the house edge is constantly in your favour for every bet you make. The tip is to find the highest jackpot you can (this might prove difficult to find online). The bigger the jackpot, the better the odds, consequently the more lucrative the bet becomes.