Ethan Clive Nov 14, 2025

Last Updated: 17 November 2025

Caribbean Stud Poker Guide: Rules, Gameplay, and Strategy

Caribbean Stud Poker is one of the most popular games you will find in any online casino. The game’s simple rules make it easy to master in a single day. This guide will teach you how to play Caribbean Stud Poker, which hands to play and fold, and how to adjust your strategy for the ... Caribbean Stud Poker Guide: Rules, Gameplay, and Strategy

Guides

How Caribbean Stud Poker Works?

Caribbean Stud Poker is a fairly simple casino game that utilizes familiar poker rules. While the game is played against the house, instead of among players, it resembles Five Card Draw in many ways. The player is dealt a five-card poker hand, which is compared to the dealer’s five-card hand. The best hand is determined in accordance with the typical poker hand rankings, which most poker players are already familiar with.

Rules of Caribbean Stud Poker Game

Each hand of Caribbean Stud Poker starts with the player placing an Ante bet, as well as an optional Progressive Jackpot bet. Once the five cards are dealt, you are given an option to play or fold your cards. If you choose to play, you must pay the Raise bet, which is worth 2x your Ante bet.

Payouts in Caribbean Stud Poker depend on a few key factors:

The dealer has to have at least Ace-King to qualify.
If the dealer doesn’t qualify, you win even money on your Ante bet, and your Raise bet is returned.
If the dealer qualifies, and your hand beats theirs, the Ante bet wins at even money, while the Raise bet wins according to the game’s paytable. For example, you will win 4:1 for a Straight, 5:1 for a Flush, and as much as 100:1 for a Royal Flush).

If you Raise, your cards are compared to the dealer’s. The dealer must have at least AK-high to qualify. If you win, you get double money on your Ante bet. If the dealer qualifies and you win, you also get paid on your Raise bet, depending on the value of your hand.

How to Play Caribbean Stud Poker: Step-by-Step Walkthrough

The best way to learn how to play Caribbean Stud Poker is through an example. If you have already played other casino poker games like Three Card Poker, you should already be familiar with the basic concepts. However, let’s take a look at a hand of Caribbean Stud Poker to see how it differs from other poker games.

Step 1: Place Your Ante Bet

Once you load up a Caribbean Stud Poker table, you have to place an Ante bet to get dealt into a hand. The Ante bet is the only obligatory bet in the game. Once you have placed an Ante, you can press the deal button to start the hand. In the live dealer version, you have a limited time to place your Ante before the cards are in the air.

Step 2: Cards Are Dealt

The dealer deals five cards to all active players and themselves. The dealer’s cards are dealt face down, except for one, while you get to see your five cards. In virtual Caribbean Stud Poker versions, the cards are automatically arranged to show hand strength. In the live dealer version, you are given time to assess the value of your hand before making your choice.

Step 3: Decide to Fold or Raise

The decisive moment in every Caribbean Stud Poker hand happens after the five cards are dealt. You must decide whether to fold your cards or place the Raise bet. If you decide to fold, you will no longer be able to win the hand. If you Raise, you will have to place a bet equivalent to 2x the Ante in the Raise area to stay in the hand.

Step 4: Dealer Reveals & Qualifies

If you have placed a Raise bet, the dealer will turn over their cards. The first thing to determine is whether the dealer qualifies. The dealer must have at least AK-high or better to qualify. If the dealer does not qualify, your hand wins. In this case, you get double money on your Ante bet, and your Raise bet is a push. If the dealer does qualify, your hand must be compared to theirs.

Step 5: Compare Hands & Get Paid

The final stage of a Caribbean Stud Poker hand is the hand comparison. This only happens if the dealer’s hand qualifies. In this case, you must have a better hand than the dealer to win. If you win, you get double money on your Ante bet and a varying payout on the Raise bet, depending on the strength of your hand.

Caribbean Stud Poker Bet Types

There are only three bet types in Caribbean Stud Poker. Two of them we already mentioned in the step-by-step walkthrough above, while the third one is an extra bet you can make in some versions of the game. Let’s take a look at each and shed a bit more light on them.

Ante Bet

Ante bet is the one bet in Caribbean Stud you can’t avoid, as you must place it to get cards. When deciding on the size of your Ante bet, remember that you will have to play 2x that amount if you decide to Raise. Make sure you adjust the bet size accordingly and don’t size it up like it’s the only bet you have to make in the hand.

Raise Bet

The Raise bet is optional, but you will have to place it to win a hand. For the most part, you will want to Raise with any Pair or AK-high, while folding most other hands. There are some situations when you will want to for your AK hands as well, but we will explain those in more detail in the strategy section.

Progressive Jackpot Side Bet

The Progressive Jackpot bet is available in some versions of Caribbean Stud Poker. If it is, you will have the option to place a small bet (usually $1) to qualify for the Progressive Jackpot. The Jackpot grows as players play the game, in a similar way to progressive jackpot slots. The entire amount is awarded to the first player who makes a Royal Flush, and the jackpot is reset each time it happens. Consolation prizes are also available for hands like Straight Flushes, Four of a Kind, and more. The higher the Jackpot, the more sense it makes to place this bet.

Caribbean Stud Poker Hand Rankings

Hand rankings in Caribbean Stud Poker are the same as those in traditional poker games like Seven Card Stud. Unlike Three Card Poker, where three-of-a-kind and straight both beat a flush, the hand order is more typical in Caribbean Stud. If you have played poker with your friends before, you probably know the hand rankings already, but here is a quick look at all the different hands you can get in Caribbean Stud, from the strongest to the weakest:

Poker Hand	Example
Royal Flush	A♦K♦Q♦J♦T♦
Straight Flush	9♥8♥7♥6♥5♥
Four of a Kind	K♣K♥K♠K♦8♠
Full House	Q♣Q♥QT♦T♠
Flush	A♣J♣8♣6♣4♣
Straight	QJ♥T♦9♣8♥
Three of a Kind	9♠9♥9♦5♥2♦
Two Pair	Q♥Q♣7♠7♦4♠
One Pair	7♣7♠4♥3♠2♦
High Card	A♦K♠8♥6♠3♣

Caribbean Stud Poker Payouts & House Edge

Caribbean Stud Poker gives players several opportunities to win money in each hand. You can win double money on the Ante bet anytime you win a hand, up to 100:1 on your Raise bet, and huge Progressive Jackpots if you get lucky and spike a Royal Flush. Despite all these payout opportunities, Caribbean Stud carries a house edge of 5.2%, with only 94.8% of all bets made returned to the players.

Here is a look at all the payouts available in Caribbean Stud Poker:

Hand	Ante Payout	Raise Payout	Jackpot Payout
Royal Flush	1:1	100:1	100% of the jackpot
Straight Flush	1:1	50:1	10% of the jackpot
Four of a Kind	1:1	20:1	$500 – $5,000
Full House	1:1	7:1	$100 – $1,500
Flush	1:1	5:1	$50 – $1,000
Straight	1:1	4:1	N/A
Three of a Kind	1:1	3:1	N/A
Two Pair	1:1	2:1	N/A
One Pair	1:1	1:1	N/A
High Card	1:1	N/A	N/A

History of Caribbean Stud Poker

Caribbean Stud Poker first appeared in the 1980s. The game was inspired by Five Card Stud, a poker game that was still very popular in that era. However, its rules were adapted to make it compatible with casino play, as Five Card Stud is played among players.

While some claim the game was invented spontaneously on cruise ships in the Caribbean, others credit a popular poker player and casino executive, David Sklansky, with inventing the game. In either case, the game was eventually patented by Howard Lederer and Danny Jones in Aruba in the 1990s.

Caribbean Stud Poker quickly spread across the Caribbean and made it to the US shores in just a few years. Casinos across the country adopted the game, and the progressive jackpot component was also introduced. Today, most live and online casinos in the world offer Caribbean Stud as one of their staple table games.

Best Strategies for Caribbean Stud Poker

The strategy you need to know to do well in Caribbean Stud Poker is simple, but many players ignore it and inadvertently increase the house edge. If you want to have the best odds and win the most money possible with your hands, follow these strategy tips every time.

When to Fold

You should always fold your hand if you don’t have at least AK-high or better. For example, if the highest card in your hand is a Q or a K, fold your hand every time, as playing such a hand causes you to lose you more money over the long run than simply folding it. If you do have an AK, you should still fold if the dealer is showing an A or a K, while you can Raise in most other cases.

When to Raise

You should always Raise if you have a pair or better, which is simple enough. If you have AK-high exactly, you should raise anytime your third highest card is higher than the dealer’s up card. Even if the dealer’s up card is an A or a K, you should raise it if you have a Q or J to go with your hand.

Side Bet Strategy

Some versions of Caribbean Stud Poker offer side bets such as Power Play, Super Power, and Fuego. Like most side bets, these come with a reduced RTP and a higher house edge than the regular bets. If you decide to place any chips on them, make sure it’s significantly less than your Ante, as these bets won’t make you any extra money in the long run.

If you enjoy structured poker table games, you can also explore Mississippi Stud, a completely different format where you’re paid purely from a payout table rather than beating a dealer hand.

Common Mistakes to Avoid when Playing Caribbean Stud Poker

We have taken a look at the basic Caribbean Stud Poker strategy and explained the main rules you should follow. Here is a look at a few common mistakes players make in this game, which you should remember and avoid when you play it:

Ignoring the AK-High Rule: While it can be tempting to Raise with a hand weaker than AK when the dealer shows a small card, the expected value of this play is negative. Always fold hands weaker than AK, regardless of the dealer’s up card.
Betting Too Much on Side Bets: The house edge of side bets in Caribbean Stud is very high, and they should mostly be avoided. If you bet too much on these, you will mostly lose even if you get a decent string of cards.
Misranking Hands: Misreading your hand and Raising when you should fold is another common mistake. Make sure to read your hand carefully and always be sure what you have before you play.
Chasing Losses: Chasing after your losses by increasing bets and playing past your budget is never recommended. Set your limits before you start playing, and quit if you are not running well. There’s always another day to play again.

Start Playing Real Money Caribbean Stud Poker Online Today

Now that you have mastered the Caribbean Stud Poker rules and basic strategy, all that’s left is to play a round yourself. Join CoinPoker to try Caribbean Poker for real money, and take a seat at our live dealer table to experience the full thrill of the game.

FAQs

What is the best strategy in Caribbean Stud Poker?

The best Caribbean Stud Poker strategy is to fold all hands weaker than AK-high, and only play your AK when you have a good kicker or the dealer is showing a low card.

How does the dealer qualify?

The dealer qualifies by having AK-high or a better hand in Caribbean Stud Poker.

What hands should I raise with Caribbean Stud Poker?

You should raise with a pair or better. If you have AK, you should raise if your third card is a Q or J if the dealer shows an A or a K, or with any AK if your third card is higher than the dealer’s up card.

What is the house edge in Caribbean Stud Poker?

The house edge in Caribbean Stud Poker is 5.2%.

Is the progressive jackpot bet in Caribbean Stud Poker worth it?

Generally speaking, all side bets are negative value. However, if the progressive jackpot is exceptionally high, it may be worth trying to win it by placing a few side bets.

Ethan Clive