Caribbean Stud Poker Strategy

Caribbean Poker, or Caribbean Stud Poker, is not a game of deep thought and multiple rounds of strategic betting, as is found in most Stud poker games. In Caribbean Poker, strategy only comes into play two times.

The first strategic decision in Caribbean Stud is made before the hand even begins – whether to place a $1 bet on the Progressive Jackpot. The second aspect of  Caribbean Poker is whther to play the hand you are dealt, or simply Fold.

We’ll start by offering a brief description of how to play Caribbean Poker. If you are readily familiar with the rules, please skip to the next section, Caribbean Stud Poker Strategy.

Caribbean Stud Poker Overview

The game is very simple. You decide whether to place the $1 Progressive Jackpot bet, then must place an Ante Bet. You will then be dealt 5 cards face down. The dealer is also dealt 5 cards, but the last is face up for you to see.

You can find more about the rules, game play and pay out tables in the how to play Caribbean Stud Poker article.

Caribbean Stud Poker Strategy

There really isn’t much you can do in the way of a Caribbean Poker strategy, aside from making those two important decisions we mentioned above – whether to place the progressive bet and whether you should move on. You cannot bluff the dealer, as he isn’t given the option of making any decisions. So, let’s discuss the two Caribbean Poker strategy options you do have.

First, do you place the Progressive Jackpot bet or not? On the one hand, without this bet, there simply isn’t a way to make a significant profit at Caribbean Poker. Strategy would tell us to place the bet. But first, let’s make sure it’s worth it. We recommend a Jackpot of at least $30,000 in order to place the $1 Progressive bet. This is based on hand odds an probabilities of being dealt a Flush or better, ensuring that you’ll make a tidy profit if it does happen (i.e. you shouldn’t have to play 30,000 hands, with $1 bets, to hit one).

Next is the decision whether to move on or Fold. The first thing most players will say is “oh, this isn’t a great hand. I should fold it and wait for a better one”. Then again, let’s remember you placed an Ante Bet. Folding is a loss, too.

The fact is, in order to make the most profit over time, you should play every hand unless the following occurs:

• The dealer’s face-up card alone has you beaten.

The dealer’s chance of being dealt a qualifying hand is the same as your own, except that you are not required to qualify. It does not matter how terrible your hand is – if the dealer does not qualify, you still win 1:1 on your Ante.

If you wait for a great hand, you will often be terribly disappointed to find that you are not paid the substantial amount due according to the standard pay table, simply because the dealer did not qualify. The only way to push the odds closer to your favor is to play every hand (unless the dealer’s face up card has you beaten).

This is not a guaranteed strategy – there are no guarantees in casino games – but your chances of walking away a proud winner in the long run are much higher if you follow this Caribbean Stud Poker Strategy.