Caribbean Stud Strategy
Though Caribbean Stud is termed as a Poker game, the strategy is quite a bit different than a game of 7-card Stud or Hold 'Em Poker, as you will see from this strategy guide.
The hierarchy of hands in Caribbean Stud is the same as any Poker, with one exception- an Ace-King high is the lowest hand possible. Therefore, you must base your strategy on how strong your hand is according to this hierarchy. Here are some tips:
If your hand does not have at least an Ace-King high that the dealer must qualify with, you should fold immediately. Betting further is foolish since you would lose both your ante and your bet if the dealer does qualify.
If your hand contains the bare minimum A-K high, the choice to call could depend on the dealer's up card that they have exposed. If the up card is either an Ace or King, there is a better chance that they would qualify than if they had a 2 showing. If you only have A-K high and the dealer qualifies with the same hand, your bet is a push, meaning you don't win or lose but simply keep your ante and bet. If they qualify and are higher than you, you lose everything. For this reason, most Caribbean Stud players will not call with an A-K high, especially if the dealer is showing either of those high cards.
If your hand contains at least a pair, you should always play. Pairs, no matter how low, will win more often than not (about 58% of the time). Higher pairs are always a plus, but most any pair should be played with and not folded.
Most Caribbean Stud games have a Progressive Jackpot that can be bet on in addition to the actual hand being played out. If you want to win that jackpot, you absolutely must put this side bet in. However, be warned that the jackpot only pays off with very high hands that are hard to hit. If you don't hit one of those huge hands, your side bet is collected, regardless of whether you won the hand by beating the dealer or not. Since the house odds are astronomically high for this side bet, it is not advisable to place it, as you will lose more money quicker this way. Of course, if your intention is to win it big, then you would likely place the bet. Just beware that it is extremely hard to hit on.
