Caribbean Stud Poker

Caribbean Stud Poker is a popular casino table game, a variation of 5-Card Stud, where players compete directly against the dealer. As a form of progressive poker, the primary objective of caribbean stud is to form a five-card poker hand that outranks the dealer's qualifying hand, often enhanced by an optional jackpot side bet.

The Progressive Jackpot Side Bet

The optional jackpot side bet, typically a $1 wager, is a major draw in Caribbean Stud Poker. This bet offers a chance to win a portion or even 100% of a network-wide progressive pot, particularly for rare hands like a Royal Flush.

Caribbean Stud Poker Rules

Gameplay for caribbean stud generally follows these steps:

• Ante: Players place an Ante bet to receive five cards face down. The dealer also receives five cards, with one card revealed face up.
• Fold or Call: After reviewing their hand, players must decide to either Fold (forfeit the Ante) or Call (place an additional bet, typically 2x their Ante).
• Dealer Qualifier: The dealer must possess an Ace and a King qualifier (or a pair or higher) for their hand to "open" or qualify.
• If the dealer does not qualify: The Ante bet pays 1:1, and the Call bet is returned (pushes).
• If the dealer qualifies and the player's hand wins: The Ante bet pays 1:1, and the Call bet pays according to a predetermined paytable (e.g., a Royal Flush might pay 100:1).