Invented in the 1980s specifically to attract poker players to the main casino floor, Caribbean Stud is a fantastic, fast-paced table game.

The game moves incredibly quickly, relying purely on standard poker hand rankings and a few simple, rigid strategic decisions.

The Basic Rules: Ante and Deal

The dealer then deals themselves five cards, but crucially, turns their very last card completely face up for the entire table to see.

They must either “Fold” and immediately lose their Ante, or “Call” (also known as “Play”) by placing a bet exactly twice the size of their Ante.

• The dealer always exposes exactly one of their five cards face up
• Folding immediately surrenders the Ante bet to the house
• Calling requires placing a bet exactly double the size of the Ante

Understanding the Dealer’s Hand

However, before the hands are even compared, the dealer’s hand must absolutely meet a minimum required strength known as “qualifying.”

If the dealer fails to qualify (e.g., they only have Queen-high), the player instantly wins even money (1:1) on their Ante bet.

The Massive Jackpot Side Bet

The golden rule is incredibly simple: Always fold any hand weaker than Ace-King, and always play any hand containing a Pair or better.

This massive jackpot pays out independently of the dealer’s hand, rewarding the player for hitting extremely rare combinations like a Royal Flush.

Just be prepared for the agonizing frustration of holding a Full House right as the dealer turns over a miserable, non-qualifying Jack-high hand.