Caribbean Stud is a poker variant played against the house rather than other players, which makes it far more approachable for players who find live poker tables intimidating.
How It’s Played
You and the dealer each get five cards; yours are face up to you only, and the dealer shows one card. You decide whether to fold, forfeiting your ante, or raise by placing an additional bet equal to double your ante. The dealer then reveals their hand.
The Dealer Qualifying Rule
The dealer’s hand must “qualify” with at least an Ace-King or better. If it doesn’t qualify, your ante pays even money and your raise pushes back regardless of your hand. If it does qualify, better hand wins.
House Edge
Played with optimal strategy — raising with any hand of Ace-King or better, or a pair — the house edge sits around 5.3%, higher than blackjack or baccarat but a reasonable trade-off for the format’s simplicity and the optional progressive jackpot side bet many casinos offer.
