Caribbean Stud Poker

How to play Caribbean Stud Poker.

Caribbean Stud is a gambling card game with rather similar rules to the Five Card Stud Poker. The only difference in the Caribbean Stud Poker is that the players play against the dealer, and never with each other. In other words, deception or poker faces are never used in such a game, making it very suitable for beginners.

Although the norm is that different casinos impose their own rules to the game, there are a few basic guidelines to follow when playing the Caribbean Stud. To start off, every player places his ante on his designated wager layout before the croupier announces the closure of bets. Each player will then receive 5 face-down cards. The dealer will expose one of his cards and then push the stack of cards towards the players. At this point, the players will look at their own cards, and make a decision whether to fold or to play.

Folding means that the player has to surrender his cards and forfeit his ante, while playing means that the player carries on with the game by adding a wager twice his ante amount. When all the players have decided their individual course of action, the croupier will reveal his hand. For the croupier to win, his hand must include at least an Ace or a King. If his hand is lacking of such cards, all bet wagers are automatically deemed void, and players (even those who folded) will receive even money on their ante bets only. If the croupier’s hand is higher than any of the player’s hands, he collects both the ante and wager from that player.

If a player’s hand beats the croupier, that player will receive even money on his ante (1-1) and also a certain amount on his wager which varies according to the poker hand ranking showing in his cards.

The odds for poker rankings are as follows:

• One pair or less - 1 to 1 (even money)
• Two Pairs - 2 to 1
• Three of a Kind - 3 to 1
• Straight - 4 to 1
• Flush - 5 to 1
• Full House - 7 to 1
• Four of a Kind - 20 to 1
• Straight Flush - 50 to 1
• Royal Flush - 100 to 1