One of the less popular games at live casino online is Caribbean Stud poker. The rules listed here are the standard game rules for the live version of this amazing game. Note that it is still important to check any specific rules that may exist for the version of this poker game you are playing. Even though the main ones are the same and the Caribbean Stud game is easy to learn and understand, some variants of it might include tricky extra conditions and betting options.
Caribbean Stud Poker is a version of Texas Hold’em. The main difference between those two is that you play Hold’em against players, while Caribbean Stud is being played against casino dealer. The aims of these both games are, though, similar: to beat the hand of your opponent by getting the best possible card combination, no matter whom you are playing against – the house or the player.
Caribbean Stud Rules
The game Caribbean Stud starts in a classic way, as pretty much all poker games. Poker players are dealt five cards each. They compete against the live casino dealer or a software/virtual dealer. The opponent must have an Ace and a King or higher in order to qualify. Players have to decide whether to raise or to fold. The decision must be made before the final complete hand of the dealer is shown.
Good news for us who like both poker and large winnings is that Caribbean Stud Poker often comes with a progressive jackpot. It consists out of few different jackpots, including top-level Progressive Jackpot, where the value of the prize increases with every bet. You win if you get a Royal Flush. Furthermore, there is range of lower fixed prizes. This adds up to the enjoyment for poker hands from a Straight flush down to Three of a Kind.
Caribbean Stud Side Bets
5 + 1 Bonus Side Bet
The 5 + 1 Bonus in Caribbean Stud game is a so called optional side bet. In order to win money as 5 + 1 bonus bet, your 5 cards and the first face-up card of the casino dealer should create a five-card poker hand combination of the rank of at least Three of a Kind.
Every time you start a new Caribbean Stud poker round, you get an option to place a 5 + 1 bonus bet. First you place your Ante bet and then your 5 + 1 bet. It should be equal to or larger than the min amount. After the acceptance of your Ante bet, 5 + 1 bonus betting spot on the table within the live casino game will be enabled and start blinking.
The bets you make have to be placed before the time expires. After that, the casino dealer will deal five cards to you face-up plus the first face-up card to himself.
Then it’s your turn to make a decision – CALL or FOLD. Note that this decision of yours will not affect the outcome of your 5 + 1 Bonus bet.
At the end of the poker round, the casino dealer turns all his/her cards face up and then announces the result of the game.
Jackpot Side Bet
The jackpot bet is an optional side bet that allows you to win a share of the large progressive jackpot! The amount of the progressive jackpot grows steadily over time as more jackpot bets are placed by players at several different participating casinos. Eventually, the jackpot is hit when a player who has placed a jackpot bet at a participating table gets a Royal Flush.
All players who have placed a jackpot bet in the winning game round share the total amount of the progressive jackpot. The amount of your potential share of the progressive jackpot is thus based on all jackpot bets that have been placed by players at participating game tables in the current round.
The optional jackpot bet also allows you to win an additional prize of a fixed amount when you personally get a hand of Three of a Kind or better!
At the start of a new game round, place your optional jackpot bet in the circular field labelled JACKPOT after you have placed your ante bet and before betting time expires.
Once accepted, your jackpot bet will be added to the total amount of the progressive jackpot. Each participating player places the jackpot bet in the currency used at his/her casino, and the current amount of the progressive jackpot and your potential share of the progressive jackpot are displayed in your currency in the JACKPOT paytable. When you win a share of the progressive jackpot, you will be paid in your own currency.
The fixed prizes for getting a good hand (from Three of a Kind to a Straight Flush) are also displayed in your own currency.
Your decision to CALL or FOLD your hand does not affect your ability to win a share of the progressive jackpot in the game round.
If the game round is cancelled, your jackpot bet will be refunded along with your other bets. If you held a potential prize-winning hand according to the JACKPOT paytable in a cancelled game round, the decision to manually compensate you will be made by your game provider.
Caribbean Stud Winning Hands and Result
The individual cards in the game of Caribbean Stud Poker are just the same as in any other classic poker game. An Ace card can either have the top value in a Straight hand, or the lowest one. The casino dealer whom you are playing against must have at least an AK combo in order to qualify.
The lowest qualifying Caribbean Stud hand: A, K, 4, 3, 2.
The highest non-qualifying Caribbean Stud hand: A, Q, J, 10, 9
In case the live casino dealer has not managed to qualify, the player wins even money on his/her Ante bet with Push – return of the call bet.
When the dealer manages to qualify and wins, the player loses both his bets.
When the dealer manages to qualify and loses, you win even money on ante. The amount you also win on your Call bet depends on the paytable.
When you and the casino dealer tie, you get both of your bets returned to you.
Caribbean Stud Payouts
Call Hand Payout
Royal Flush 100:1
Straight Flush 50:1
Four of a Kind 25:1
Full House 10:1
Flush 7:1
Straight 5:1
Three of a Kind 3:1
Two Pairs 2:1
One Pair or less 1:1
5 + 1 Bonus Hand Payout
Royal Flush 1000:1
Straight Flush 200:1
Four of a Kind 100:1
Full House 20:1
Flush 15:1
Straight 10:1
Three of a Kind 7:1
Jackpot Hand Payout
Royal Flush 100% of Jackpot*
Straight Flush 2500
Four of a Kind 250
Full House 50
Flush 25
Straight 10
Three of a Kind 3
Ante bet payout is 1:1.
Caribbean Stud Poker Return to Player
The optimal theoretical return-to-player percentage in Caribbean Stud Poker is 96.30 per cent. For different wagers the RTP is as follows:
- On total wager is 98.19 per cent
- For 5 + 1 bonus bet is 91.44 per cent
- For jackpot bet is 81.84 per cent