Invented in the 1980s specifically to attract poker players to the main casino floor, Caribbean Stud is a fantastic, fast-paced table game.

This completely eliminates the need to maintain a “poker face” or worry about someone aggressively raising your bets.

The Basic Rules: Ante and Deal

Once all Antes are firmly placed on the table, the dealer distributes exactly five cards face down to every participating player.

Players are now allowed to pick up their five cards and quietly examine their hand to determine its poker strength.

• The dealer always exposes exactly one of their five cards face up
• Folding immediately surrenders the Ante bet to the house
• Calling requires placing a bet exactly double the size of the Ante

Why the Dealer Must Qualify

To mathematically qualify, the dealer’s five-card hand must contain an Ace and a King, or any higher standard poker combination (like a Pair).

If the dealer fails to qualify (e.g., they only have Queen-high), the player instantly wins even money (1:1) on their Ante bet.

Optimal Strategy and the Progressive Jackpot

The golden rule is incredibly simple: Always fold any hand weaker than Ace-King, and always play any hand containing a Pair or better.

While the house edge on this specific side bet is astronomically high (often over 25%), the lure of a multi-million dollar payout makes it incredibly popular.

Caribbean Stud offers a fantastic, low-stress bridge between the intense strategy of the poker room and the pure luck of the casino pit.