For a game that is less than three decades old, making it a
mere infant among popular card games, Caribbean Stud Poker has found quite a
following, especially among the cruise ship casino faithful. Caribbean Stud
Poker is a derivative of the classic poker game 5-Card Stud, but it is played
on a special surface closely resembling a Blackjack table.
The Basics of Caribbean Stud Poker
The player first makes an ante bet, and then is allowed to place a second bet
called the progressive jackpot bet (which will be explained in greater detail
later). The dealer then gives five cards to each player, all face down, and
five to him or herself, with the fifth card remaining face-up. Once the gamer
evaluates his or her hand, he or she places a bet that is exactly double that
of the opening bet. Dealers must have at least an Ace and a King in this game
to challenge the players. If the dealer cannot play, the players win on the
ante bet and have the secondary bet returned to them. If the dealer is able to
play, then the player must possess a better hand than the dealer to win.
Winning hands are determined by normal poker progression, with payouts
typically increasing with improving hands (i.e. a Royal Flush pays more than a
Full House, which in turn pays out more than two pair). Should the dealer
emerge triumphant, the player or players lose both the ante and secondary bets.
Becoming a Stud at Caribbean Poker
So now you know how to play Caribbean Stud Poker. But how do you win at it? For
starters, experts recommend folding a hand if you do not have at least an ace
and a king or a pair. However, while you should always call if you have a pair,
you should not necessarily call if you have an ace-king combination. In these
cases, poker gurus recommend judging the strength of your entire hand and
acting accordingly. It also depends upon the strength of the dealer's visible
card. Basically, the dealer's face-up card should be lower than the
second-lowest card in your hand, provided you have also have at least a queen
or a jack in your hand. Ultimately, though, it is up to the individual player's
preferences how aggressive he or she wants to be.
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