6 Card Poker

Caribbean Stud poker is played on a modified blackjack table. Just as in the game of Blackjack you are competing against the dealer and the dealer only. The other players at the table have no influence in how you decide to play your hand whatsoever. The table has clearly marked areas for Ante and Bet in front of each of the players.

Before play begins each player must Ante-up. It is at this time the player must decide whether to pay an additional $1 to qualify for the Progressive Jackpot should they hit a Royal Flush. Once the Antes are collected the players are each dealt five cards each. The dealer is then dealt five cards with one being visible to all players. Play then begins clockwise around the table with the players reviewing their cards and deciding whether they will remain in the hand.

If you choose to play your hand you will need to Call your Ante bet accordingly. The dealer will then acknowledge your bet and your cards will remain in play. In Caribbean Stud the Dealer must Qualify in order for the players to be paid off for their hand. In order to qualify the dealer must hold [A][K] or better. If not, the player wins even money for his made hand. If the Dealer does qualify then the player is paid out based on the assigned payout for that hand. If there is a tie between the dealer and the player the player is paid even money.

The game of Caribbean Stud is relatively easy to learn in just a few hands. It is a fast fun way to play poker and lends itself to being a very social game due to the fact that the players are not competing against each other. In Caribbean Stud there are usually bonus payouts for Flush or better hands with a Progressive payout for a Royal Flush.

The object of Caribbean Stud is to beat the dealer but in order to do so you have to be smart about how you play the game. Some would suggest that you simply need to be lucky in order to win at Caribbean Stud. I would suggest that you need to be both lucky and take a solid strategic approach to the game. For instance: If you are dealt a hand like [A][8][T][4][3] it may appear that this is not much of a hand at all. However, the dealer must get at least [A][K] to qualify which means if the dealer does not turn up an Ace you are likely holding the best hand if he does not have a pair. Conversely, if the dealer is showing [A][X][X][X][X] it is likely that you do not have the best hand and should relinquish your bet accordingly.

Feel for the game is key to being successful when playing Caribbean Stud poker as well as understanding the percentages of what possible hands can and cannot beat your own. Obviously you want to hold on to made hands like [A][A][X][X][X], [T][T][X][X][X] and the like because it is likely that you have the best hand regardless of what the dealer shows. Clearly we want the dealer to qualify when we have good hands with the potential for a big payoff. When this doesn’t happen for you don’t be discouraged. It’s part of the game and we all have to deal with it. When you do hit that big payout it more than makes up for the previous disappointments you may have had. So play smart and have some fun when you do. You will be glad you did and so will your bankroll.