Online Caribbean Stud Poker

Caribbean Stud Poker is an exciting casino table game very similar to five-card stud poker in terms of its rules, so players who know one should have no problems getting to grips with the other. The main difference and the defining feature of Caribbean Stud Poker is that it’s played against the dealer, also known as the house, rather than against other players like with most casino table games.

That means that players don’t have to worry about bluffing, ‘poker faces’ or any other kind of deceptive tactics that are normally involved in poker – it’s just them against the dealer. This is why Caribbean Stud Poker is referred to as a casino game, not a poker game. This guide provides newcomers with some handy information on the rules and history of Caribbean Stud Poker, some tips on how to play the game and where to find the best Caribbean Stud Poker games online!

Finding the Best Caribbean Stud Poker Sites Online

Caribbean Stud Poker has grown in popularity over the years and gamblers have more choice than ever before when it comes to playing online. Many of the most popular online casino sites in the UK offer this particular variant of poker as part of their selection of table games. With so many sites to choose from, it's worth shopping around to find the best ones. Most online casino sites now offer welcome bonuses to new customers when they make their first deposit.

The bonus amount often has to be wagered a certain number of times before it can be accessed but nevertheless, this bonus is a handy safety net for new players while they’re picking up the game of Caribbean Stud Poker. There are other factors to consider too, such as the software provider behind the game and whether there’s the option to try the game for free before playing with real money.

Caribbean Stud Poker Strategy: When to ‘Always Bet’

Caribbean Stud Poker strategy essentially comes down to the question of whether a player should call or fold. The general consensus is that players should always call when they're dealt any pair or better and always fold anything less than Ace to King. It’s also advisable to make the bet when a player has Ace King and at least one of their cards matches the dealer’s upcard, or if they have Ace King Queen or Ace King Jack and any of their cards match the upcard. Remember, players should always consider the value of the dealer’s upcard before making their decision.

Caribbean Stud Poker Rules: How to Play Online

The game starts with players placing an initial bet known as the ‘ante’. At this point players can also opt into the progressive jackpot side bet. Each player and the dealer then receive five cards face down. The dealer will turn over one of their cards, at which point the players can look at their hand and decide whether to bet or fold. Once the players have made their decisions, the dealer then reveals their hand and tries to ‘qualify’.

They qualify if their hand contains Ace King or any other higher ranking poker hand. If the dealer qualifies, players then compare their hands to the dealer’s to see if they’ve won. If a player wins, they get even money on their ante bet plus a payout on their second bet. If they lose, the house gets both their ante and their bet. If it’s a tie, the players get their bets back but no winnings.

If the dealer doesn’t qualify, the players who stayed in win their ante bet but the other bet is returned (or ‘pushed’), so the dealer has to qualify for bets to be paid out. There are a few other rules that have to be observed during the game. For example, players cannot discuss their hand with other players. Only one hand per game is allowed and players must keep their five cards in view of the dealer at all times.

Caribbean Stud Poker Progressive Jackpot Games

The only way to get paid off if the dealer doesn’t qualify in Caribbean Stud Poker is through the progressive jackpot game. If a player opts in to this side bet at the start of the game, they’ll automatically qualify for the jackpot if they possess a flush or higher. The winnings vary from casino to casino but a royal flush will always return 100% of the jackpot – and these jackpots can typically reach up to $100,000. If more than one player qualifies, the jackpot is normally split but the chances of this happening are very slim.

History of Caribbean Stud Poker

As the name suggests, the game of Caribbean Stud Poker originated in the Caribbean. There’s not a huge amount of concrete information about Caribbean Stud Poker history but it’s thought that the game was introduced in the early 1980s and spread throughout the Caribbean as well as becoming popular on cruise ships. In the 1990s it was adopted by Las Vegas casinos who added the progressive jackpot element to make the game more appealing.