Caribbean stud poker is a casino table game with rules similar to five card stud poker. However, unlike standard poker games, Caribbean stud is played against the house rather than against other players (and, like most such games, it cannot be beaten in the long run). There is no bluffing or other deception. For these reasons, most poker players do not consider it to be a form of poker. (They do not necessarily feel that it should not be called porker, but means merely that they will not refer to it as simply "poker". For instance, a gambler might say "I played poker" if he played seven card stud, but probably would not if he played Caribbean stud.) This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Games available in most casinos are commonly called casino games. ... For the domestic fireplace tool, see fireplace poker. ... Seven-card stud is a poker variant. ...

Rules

The following rules are typical of U.S. casinos, but some of the details (the payouts and limits) vary from casino to casino.

To play, every player places his ante on the layout where indicated; all ante wagers must be placed prior to the dealer announcing "No more bets". Each player and the dealer will then receive 5 cards, face down. The dealer will turn over one of his cards, then push the cards toward the players, after which the players may look at their cards. They may only look at their own cards, and may not discuss what they have with any other player at the table. The game of poker as played today requires that players agree before play on allowable amounts for betting (called limits), and the use and amount of forced bets. ... Look up dealer in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

Players have the option to play or fold; if they choose to play, they place their bets (twice the amount of their respective ante) in the bet box. If they choose to fold, they forfeit their ante. After all the players have made their decisions, the dealer reveals his hole cards. The dealer only plays with an ace/king or higher; he then compares his cards to the players' cards (individually, right to left), and the best poker hand wins.

There are some major rules in Caribbean Stud Poker that must be observed at all times while playing:

• Only one hand per player. Players cannot hold or wager on multiple hands at the table.

• Players choosing to play the Progressive Payout feature are responsible for ensuring their $1 wager has been inserted into slot and the "Indicator Light" is ON.

• Players may not exchange or communicate information regarding their hands to other players or the dealer. Player violation will result in a dead hand and forfeiture of all wagers.

• Incorrect amount of cards to the player constitutes a dead hand (or push) for that player only.

• The decision of the table/casino supervisor is final.

• If the dealer is dealt four cards of the five-card hand, the dealer shall deal an additional card to complete the hand. Any other misdeal to the dealer shall result in all hands being void and the cards shall be reshuffled.

• Each player shall be required to keep the five cards in full view of the dealer at all times. Once each player has examined his or her cards and placed them face down on the layout, they may not touch the cards again.

• If a hole card is exposed prior to the dealer announcing No More Bets, all hands shall be void.

Payout

If a player's cards beat the dealer's cards, the player will receive even money (1-1) on the ante, and the following on his bet (with a maximum payout of $5,000 U.S. Dollars per hand on each bet wager): Even money is a gambling term describing a wagering proposition in which the odds are even -- in other words, if one were to lose the bet, one stood to lose the same amount of money that the winner of the bet would win (less, of course, the vigorish or juice... ISO 4217 Code USD User(s) the United States, the British Indian Ocean Territory,[1] the British Virgin Islands, East Timor, Ecuador, El Salvador, the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Palau, Panama, Turks and Caicos Islands, and the insular areas of the United States Inflation 2. ...

If the dealer does not have at least ace/king, all bet wagers will be void, and players will receive even money on their ante bet only. If the dealer's cards beat a player's cards, the dealer collects both the ante and bet. A straight flush is a poker hand such as Q♠ J♠ 10♠ 9♠ 8♠, which contains five cards in sequence, all of the same suit. ... Four of a kind is a poker hand such as 9♣ 9♠ 9♦ 9♥ J♥, which contains four cards of one rank, and an unmatched card. ... Two examples of a full house: The three kings on the right beats the three queens on the left A full house is a poker hand such as 3♣ 3â™  3♦ 6♣ 6♥, which contains three matching cards of one rank, plus two matching cards of another rank. ... A flush is a poker hand such as Q♣ 10♣ 7♣ 6♣ 4♣, which contains five cards of the same suit, not in rank sequence. ... A straight is a poker hand such as Q♣ J♠ 10♠ 9♥ 8♥, which contains five cards of sequential rank, of varying suits. ... Three of a kind is a poker hand such as 2♦ 2â™  2♥ Kâ™  6â™ , which contains three cards of the same rank, plus two unmatched cards. ... A poker hand such as J♦ J♣ 4♣ 4â™  9â™ , which contains two cards of the same rank, plus two cards of another rank (that match each other but not the first pair), plus one unmatched card, is called two pair. ... One pair is a poker hand such as 4♥ 4♠ K♠ 10♦ 5♠, which contains two cards of the same rank, plus three unmatched cards. ...

In addition, in Caribbean stud poker, players can also bet on their poker hands and win the "progressive feature"; this is done by dropping a 1.00 dollar (or $20 HKD/MOP in Macau casinos) gaming chip into the chip acceptor on the table after placing the ante. Players with a flush or higher win, regardless of the outcome of their table bets:

Winning progressive payout hands are paid in accordance with the amount on the meter when it is the player's turn to be paid. However, if more than one player at a table has a royal flush progressive payout hand, each player shares equally in the amount on the meter when the first player with a royal flush is to be paid.

Caribbean Stud Poker in the United Kingdom

Caribbean Stud Poker differs slightly in the United Kingdom, and most parts of Europe, from the US. The game is officially known as "Casino Five Card Stud Poker", and not all casinos have the jackpot prize. Those which do have the prize, usually the large chain groups, officially call the game "Casino Jackpot Five Card Stud Poker". In both instances, the game is commonly referred to as "Casino Stud Poker".

The basic rules are the same in the UK as the US, although the payouts differ - the maximum bet is generally £100 on the ante and £200 on the raise, and all payouts are paid on the raise, meaning the maximum payout can potentially be £10,000 (a Royal Flush pays at the same odds, 50:1, as a Straight Flush).

Casinos offering the jackpot generally have the card shuffled by a card shuffling machine - the cards are then removed and dealt out by the dealer, or croupier. Independent and small casinos generally have the croupier shuffle the cards by hand.

British casinos do not use the chip dropper system; instead, a £1 chip is placed on a small plastic circle on the table, which lights up. The croupier then presses a button on a panel in front of them, which keeps the lights lit up once the chips are removed. The dealer removes the chips, and can then tell which players are playing the jackpot game and which are not.

If the dealer does not show an Ace/King, hands playing the jackpot must be turned over, face up, and shown to the dealer and table. If the player is not playing the jackpot prize, the cards are not shown.

Player Strategy

Using optimal strategy the house edge is 5.224% of the player's ante bet. This strategy can be complicated and does not lend itself to practical use in a casino. Using a strategy of raising with Ace/King/Jack/8/3 or better the house edge is 5.316%, very close to the optimal strategy house edge.

Knowledge of what other players hold can decrease the house edge. It has been estimated with the knowledge of 6 other player's hands (30 cards) and associated optimal strategy the player can gain an edge of 2.3%. Given that sharing information is against the rules and that a computer would be needed to calculate the appropriate strategy it is unlikely this could ever be achieved in a real life casino.

See also

• Poker
• Stud poker
• Five-card stud

For the domestic fireplace tool, see fireplace poker. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Five-card stud is the earliest form of the card game, stud poker, originating during the American Civil War,[1] but is less commonly played today than many other more popular poker games - clear from its absence from the World Series of Poker. ...

External links

• Wizard of Odds detailed analysis
• Caribbean Stud Poker Tips
• Effects of collusion article