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Caribbean
Stud Poker
By Greg Melikov
Posted: 6:00 am PDT 2007-02-19 |
Courtesy Of Internet Casino and Poker Room at WagerWeb.com |
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Caribbean stud poker was first
played on Aruba near a pristine powder white beach not far from a high-class designer
jewelry boutique. It was introduced in 1988 at Aruba's Holiday Inn Hotel and Casino, now
known as the SunSpree Resort and Excelsior Casino.
Las Vegas quickly took notice because the game is based on Five Card Stud, very popular in
the United States that many players easily recognize.
First, players ante up, receive their cards and get to view one of the dealer's. They just
play the hands dealt them. If players believe they can't beat the dealer, they fold. If
they think they have a better hand, they can increase their wager.
If your hand beats the dealer's, you receive even money for the ante wager while the call
bet is paid according to a pay table that ranges from even money for a pair or less to
100-1 for a royal flush. The house edge averages 5 percent.
U.S. casinos made it more attractive by adding a progressive jackpot, providing the
opportunity to win huge amounts with a $1 side bet, but the odds range up to 649,000-1.
Players who hold a winning hand wagering on the progressive jackpot can gain a bonus
ranging from $50 for a flush to 100 percent of the jackpot for a royal flush. If players
can't beat the dealer's hand, all bets are lost.
The average house edge for this wager is more than 25 percent. That qualifies as "one
of the worst bets," according to casino gambling guru Bill Burton, author and online
columnist who also writes for several national gaming magazines and newsletters.
"Luck determines the cards you are dealt," Burton says. "Knowledge and
skill determines how you play them. A lucky person finds a way to use his abilities to
come out ahead. This is true in casino games and is also a factor in the game of
life."
But he adds, "This game is slower paced than Blackjack. Many players like the slow
pace and relaxed atmosphere (in casinos) of Caribbean stud."
Simple Caribbean stud poker strategy: Play your hand containing an Ace-King or better.
Since players must act before the dealer, there will be times when they fold before the
dealer fails to qualify.
This doesn't mean you should play every hand because that would be very foolish since the
dealer qualifies about 12 percent more than not.
When the dealer doesn't have Ace-King or better, all players who called their bets are
paid the amount of their initial ante - even those with hands that don't qualify.
Consider these useful tips for Caribbean stud:
Read all you can about the rules and limits before playing at any online casino site.
Get the feel of the game by playing free. There are quite a few casino websites that offer
such opportunities without having to set up an account.
An Ace-King-Jack-8-3 or better no-pair hand is worth a gamble against any dealer up-card.
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