Caribbean Stud Poker
Caribbean Stud is a casino poker game played against the dealer, not other players. You place an ante, see your five cards, then fold or raise. The dealer needs Ace-King or better to qualify, and the house edge on the ante is around 5.2%.
| Played Against | The dealer (house game) |
|---|---|
| Dealer Qualifies | Ace-King or better |
| House Edge | ~5.2% on the ante |
| Side Bet | Optional progressive jackpot |
A house game, not a player game
Caribbean Stud looks like poker but plays like a table game: you compete against the dealer’s hand, not other players, and there is no bluffing. After an ante you receive five cards and one of the dealer’s is shown. You then fold (losing the ante) or place a raise bet of twice the ante to see the showdown.
Qualifying and the edge
The dealer only ‘qualifies’ with Ace-King high or better. If the dealer doesn’t qualify you win even money on the ante and the raise pushes; if they qualify, the best hand wins with the raise paying on a scale by hand strength. Correct strategy (raise on roughly Ace-King-Jack or better) leaves a house edge of about 5.2% on the ante — and the optional progressive side bet carries a much higher edge.
Frequently asked questions
Do I play against other players in Caribbean Stud?
No. It is a house game played only against the dealer, with no bluffing or interaction with other players.
What is the house edge?
About 5.2% on the ante with correct strategy. The progressive jackpot side bet has a far higher edge and is a long-shot bet.
Sources
- Published Caribbean Stud rules
- House-edge analysis