Understanding The Rules Of Caribbean Stud

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


Furthermore, Caribbean Stud is famous for offering a massive, life-changing progressive jackpot side bet that can reach millions of dollars.

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 upFolding immediately surrenders the Ante bet to the houseCalling requires placing a bet exactly double the size of the Ante
The Dealer Qualification Rule

To mathematically qualify, the dealer's five-card hand must contain an Ace and a King, or any higher standard poker combination (like a Pair).


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.

Player ActionConditionResultFoldAlwaysLose Ante bet immediatelyPlay (Call)Dealer does NOT qualifyWin Ante 1:1, Call bet pushes

By memorizing the simple "Pair or better" folding strategy, you can confidently sit at the table and enjoy hours of entertainment.