Caribbean Stud Poker Rules

Caribbean Stud Poker is 5-card poker that puts you up against the dealer. The object of the game, put bluntly, is to produce a better hand than the dealer. Even if your online casino offers a public Caribbean Stud Poker room, it's still only you against the dealer, like Blackjack.

Caribbean Stud Poker begins when you place an 'Ante' bet, which allows you to receive your five-card hand, face up. The dealer also receives a five-card hand, but only one of the dealer's cards is face up - the other four will appear face down. The player must decide, by looking at his or her own hand and comparing it with the dealer's single face-up card, whether he or she has a better hand than the dealer's. If you think your hand is worse than the dealer's, you can fold by clicking on the 'Fold' or 'Surrender' button on your screen. Folding loses your ante bet. If you're feeling confident, you can bet on your hand by clicking the 'Challenge' button. This will automatically double your Ante bet. When you choose to challenge the dealer, the dealer's remaining four cards will be turned face up, and it's time to compare the results!

One important rule, however: in order to qualify for the challenge, the dealer's hand MUST contain an ace and a king. If it doesn't, the challenge is nullified and the player receives a 1 to 1 payoff on the original ante bet. If the dealer's hand does qualify, however, the hands are compared and you will either win or lose your challenge. In the event that both hands are equal, it's a push, and you get your money back.

Different combinations in the player's hands produce different payoffs. A royal flush, for example, will pay much more than two pair. Check with your online casino for the exact payoffs offered.