Caribbean Stud Poker - strategy and know how

Caribbean Stud, as many of you have already read in our first article about it, is another great newer form of poker that mixes a table game like blackjack with regular poker games. This game is social and has a laid back atmosphere to it because the players at the table are not playing against each other, but against the dealer and the house. If you are totally new to this game, we recommend that you read the article that precedes this one on our main poker article page first – it goes over the introduction to this game and how it is played.

Now, speaking of the house, why does Caribbean Stud Poker have such a sizeable house edge (about 5%)? After all, the dealer doesn’t have any real advantage in terms of cards – it is a 50-50 chance as to who will have a better hand - the dealer or the player. The house edge comes in because the disadvantage for the player comes from the actual structure of wagers in this game. Players must bet three times their ante wager in order to stay in a hand. On the occasions where the dealer doesn’t qualify (which is about 44% of the time), players only get paid even money if they win. Additionally, players must sacrifice their ante wager if they choose to fold. The bonus payouts for winning hands don’t even offset the betting inequalities either.

Some Caribbean Stud Poker players feel that they can win a few extra dollars by bluffing on occasion. Okay – first of all, players have to understand that there really is no such thing as true bluffing in this casino game. Remember, nothing you do can affect the dealer’s play. The dealer will qualify 56% of the time. If a player assumes that playing a bluff hand is always weaker than an A, K (the dealer’s qualifier), then the bluffer will lose 56% of the time. This is a bad idea because the bluffer will lose the ante and the bet wager in this case. This is worth double the ante.

Basic Strategy

The burning question, as it is with many online casino games, is - does a strategy around that will make the house’s edge a reasonable one? In this game, no – unless the progressive jackpot is at a very high amount. However, basic strategies have been made by experts and mathematical types that are explained here. One expert based his analysis of the game as such: The most manageable strategy is to make the bet wager with a hand of A-K-J-8-3 or higher. By following this strategy, the house edge is 5.32%.

There are also five other rules that you can follow in order to bring the house edge down to 5.22%. They are:

-          Always fold if you have nothing.

-          Always make the bet wager if your hand contains a pair or better,

-          If your poker hand holds an A-K, make the bet wager if one of your other three cards matches the dealer’s exposed card.

-          You want to make the bet wager if your hand contains an A-K-Q or A-K-J when the dealer’s exposed card is of your five cards.

-          You want to make the bet wager if you are holding an A-K-Q-x-y.(x being higher than y) when the dealer’s exposed card is less than your x card.

The above five rules of thumb to bring the house edge down to 5.22% is not hard to understand at all. Theses are simple rules. But, these rules are only saving you a minuscule amount of a percentage, so it will probably be the easiest to remember the first strategy we mentioned – stay with A-K-J-8-3 or higher. Remember, the house edge will give you a beating in your bankroll. Keep in mind; we are talking about the house edge for your ante wager. For your average total wager (this includes when you make the play bet), the house edge is about 2.8%. Because the ante wager is the amount you will commit to on each and every hand, it is probably for ideal to think in terms of 5.32% as your real disadvantage in this game.

Summary

With all this being said, you must understand that it is the progressive pot that attracted players to Caribbean Stud Poker. All in all, this is a great game, it is different than most other table games. It combines the great game of poker and other casino table games all in one. Below, we will summarize the game in total for you:

-          Caribbean Stud Poker is a slower table game. It is social, because the players at the table are not playing against each other, but against the dealer and house.

-          It is a casino game that promises large payouts, but has a big house advantage.

-          To shrink the house edge to 5.23%, always make the bet wager if you are holding an A-K-J-8-3 or higher.

-          Never bluff in this game. It is a bad idea. If you do, b sure your hand is at least A-K high.

-          The progressive pot’s side bet is the main attraction to this casino game. But, many times it carries a huge house edge. You really need to factor in the table minimum and the jackpot payouts before you can possibly know whether the side bet is a good move or not.

-          You will have the edge in the side bet if the progressive pot is $352,150 or higher. This is a statistic, it does not mean that you will win the pot – it is just the best time to play it.

-          If you do not like the house edge in this game, look to other table games that come with better house edges. Think blackjack, craps, and baccarat.

Caribbean Etiquette

Because this game is social players may cross the lines (unknowingly) by showing each other their cards and such. This is actually considered cheating as it may affect the house edge when done. Here are a few guidelines that must be practiced when playing this stable game anywhere:

-          Players cannot exchange or let each other know what their holding in their hands. No information regarding hands can be exchanged between players.

-          Each player can only play one hand for each round of game play.

-          All players must keep all five of their cards in plain view of the dealer at all times.

-          After each player has checked their hand to see what it is, they must be placed face down and remain untouched.

This may seem strict, but it really isn’t.

 

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