About Caribbean Stud Poker
How to play Caribbean Stud Poker
Place an Ante before the deal. You may also place an optional 5+1 Bonus bet.
You and the dealer each receive five cards. You can see your own cards and one of the dealer’s cards. The dealer’s other four cards remain hidden while you make your decision.
Choose to fold or raise. Folding loses your Ante. Raising means placing an additional bet worth exactly twice your Ante.
The dealer then reveals their cards. They need Ace-King high or better to qualify. Ace, King, 4, 3, 2 is the lowest qualifying hand. Ace, Queen, Jack, 10, 9 is the highest unpaired hand that does not qualify.
If the dealer does not qualify, your Ante wins 1:1 and your Raise is returned.
If the dealer qualifies and you have the stronger hand, your Ante wins 1:1 and your Raise pays according to the Hand Rankings and Payouts table. If the dealer has the stronger hand, you lose both bets. If the hands tie, both bets are returned.
The optional 5+1 Bonus is settled separately using your five cards and the dealer’s exposed card.
Caribbean Stud Poker Hand Rankings and Payouts
The Raise payout applies when the dealer qualifies and your hand wins. The optional 5+1 Bonus uses your five cards plus the dealer's exposed card.
| Hand | Raise | 5+1 Bonus | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Flush | 100:1 | 1000:1 | 0.000154% |
| Straight Flush | 50:1 | 200:1 | 0.001385% |
| Four of a Kind | 20:1 | 100:1 | 0.024010% |
| Full House | 7:1 | 20:1 | 0.144058% |
| Flush | 5:1 | 15:1 | 0.196540% |
| Straight | 4:1 | 10:1 | 0.392465% |
| Three of a Kind | 3:1 | 7:1 | 2.112845% |
| Two Pair | 2:1 | No payout | 4.753902% |
| One Pair | 1:1 | No payout | 42.256903% |
| High Card | 1:1 | No payout | 50.117739% |
Frequencies are based on five randomly dealt cards, not the six-card 5+1 Bonus. Raise payouts apply only when the dealer qualifies and your hand wins. The Ante is settled separately.
Caribbean Stud Poker strategy and tips
Raise with a pair or better
Always raise when you have at least one pair. Fold hands weaker than Ace-King high.
Look closely at Ace-King hands
Ace-King high is the difficult decision. Raise if the dealer’s exposed card is a 2 through Queen and matches the rank of one of your cards. Also raise if the dealer shows an Ace or King and you hold a Queen or Jack.
Check one more Ace-King case
You can also raise when you hold a Queen, the dealer’s exposed card matches none of your cards, and it ranks below your fourth-highest card. Otherwise, fold an Ace-King high hand.
Remember the cost of raising
The Raise is twice your Ante. Continuing puts three Ante units at risk in total, so avoid raising weak hands simply because you have already placed the Ante.
Treat the 5+1 Bonus separately
The bonus bet does not improve your main hand. Under the analysed 5+1 paytable, its house edge is about 8.56%, compared with about 5.22% of the Ante for the main game using optimal decisions.
Caribbean Stud Poker FAQs
What does “5+1” mean in the bonus bet?
The bonus uses your five cards plus the dealer’s one exposed card to make the best eligible hand. You do not receive a sixth private card, and the dealer’s hidden cards are not used for this bet.
What happens if the dealer does not qualify?
The dealer needs at least Ace-King high to qualify. If they do not, your Ante wins even money and your Raise bet is returned, regardless of how strong your hand is.
Can I choose how much to raise?
No. If you continue rather than fold, the Raise is always twice your Ante.
How is Caribbean Stud different from Three Card Poker and Four Card Poker?
Caribbean Stud uses five-card hands, Ace-King dealer qualification and a Raise fixed at twice the Ante. Three Card Poker uses three cards and Queen-high qualification. Four Card Poker uses four-card hands, has no dealer qualification and allows a choice of raise amounts.
Can players discuss their hands at a casino table?
Casino rules generally prohibit sharing information about your cards during an active hand. In Caribbean Stud, knowing other players’ cards could give you information about cards unavailable to the dealer.
Does a strong hand guarantee a large payout?
No. If the dealer does not qualify, only your Ante wins even money and your Raise is returned. The Raise paytable applies only when the dealer qualifies and your hand wins.