What is Caribbean Stud Poker?
Caribbean Stud Poker is a casino table game based on five-card stud poker. You play against the dealer (house) rather than other players, using standard poker hand rankings. It features a progressive jackpot side bet that can pay life-changing amounts.
Key Feature: Unlike regular poker, there's no bluffing or complex betting rounds. You simply decide whether to call or fold after seeing your cards and one dealer card.
Game Setup
Required Bet
- Ante: Your main bet against the dealer
- Must place to play each hand
- Typical minimum: $5-$25
- Determines your potential winnings
Optional Bet
- Progressive Jackpot: Side bet for big payouts
- Usually $1 regardless of ante size
- Pays for flush or better hands
- Royal flush wins entire jackpot
Hand Rankings
Caribbean Stud uses standard poker hand rankings from highest to lowest:
1. Royal Flush
A♠ K♠ Q♠ J♠ 10♠
2. Straight Flush
9♥ 8♥ 7♥ 6♥ 5♥
3. Four of a Kind
K♠ K♥ K♦ K♣ 5♠
4. Full House
Q♠ Q♥ Q♦ 7♣ 7♠
5. Flush
A♠ J♠ 9♠ 7♠ 3♠
6. Straight
10♠ 9♥ 8♦ 7♣ 6♠
7. Three of a Kind
8♠ 8♥ 8♦ A♣ 5♠
8. Two Pair
J♠ J♥ 4♦ 4♣ A♠
9. One Pair
9♠ 9♥ A♦ K♣ 7♠
10. High Card
A♠ K♥ Q♦ 8♣ 5♠
Basic Game Flow
Place Bets
Ante (required) + Progressive (optional)
Deal Cards
5 cards to you (face up), 5 to dealer (1 up, 4 down)
Evaluate Hand
Look at your cards and dealer's up card
Decision
Call (bet 2x ante) or Fold (lose ante)
Showdown
Dealer reveals cards, compare hands
Payouts
Win/lose based on dealer qualification and hand comparison