Caribbean Stud Rules
As the name suggests, Caribbean Stud has its origins in the islands of the Caribbean. Caribbean Stud was originally introduced at the Holiday Inn Hotel and Casino in Aruba. The game is a relatively new poker variation. In the 1980s, Caribbean Stud started making its way on to cruise ships that sailed to the region.
As the popularity of this game grew on the cruises, the demand for Caribbean Stud in casinos also increased. By the 1990s, Caribbean Stud wasn't just confined to the open seas. The game made its way to Vegas, and it is now one of the fastest growing casino games all around the world.
The Basics
Caribbean Stud is played on a table that's similar to blackjack. The table can accommodate up to seven players. Like blackjack, players battle the dealer directly in Caribbean Stud. There is no competition among the players sitting at the table. In front of each player there are two places at the table that are marked for wagers; a bet circle and an ante box. Above both of these betting spots, each player has a slot for side bets.
Players must ante up before the game begins. The ante is set by the table limits. When players put in their ante, they also have the option of placing an additional side bet on the progressive jackpot. Caribbean Stud was the first table game to include a progressive bonus jackpot as a side bet.
If blackjack mated with five-card stud, Caribbean Stud would be the offspring. Hands are valued using traditional poker rankings, but the game plays much more like blackjack than poker. The dealer distributes sets of five cards to each player. The dealer is also dealt five cards, and one of these cards is dealt face up. Players at the table have the opportunity to fold (and lose their original ante) or call the second bet (which is twice size of the original ante). The dealer's four remaining cards are then revealed.
The dealer must have a qualifying hand (ace-king or higher) for play to continue. If the dealer fails to qualify, the original ante of each remaining player will be paid even money. The seconds bet is a push. If a player's hand beats the dealer's hand, that player will receive a predetermined payoff based on this pay table.
Payout Schedule
One Pair (or lower): 1 to 1
Two Pairs: 2 to 1
Three of a Kind: 3 to 1
Straight: 4 to 1
Flush: 5 to 1
Full House: 7 to 1
Four of a Kind: 20 to 1
Straight Flush: 50 to 1
Royal Flush: 100 to 1