Caribbean Stud

Basic Rules Overview

Unlike in regular Poker, in Carribean Stud the player plays against the dealer. The object, however, remains the same; the player tries to bet with a hand that is better than that of the dealer. After the antes are put in play, each player and the dealer are dealt five cards. One of the dealer's cards is dealt face-up for every player to see. After a first round of betting, the dealer turns over the remaining four cards. The dealer's hand must contain at least Ace-King high in order to "qualify". If this isn't the case, the players each get their antes back and the bet is a push (tie). If the hand qualifies it is compared to the players' hands and the player gets paid according to a set chart. If not, the player's bet goes to the house.

Bankroll Management

Carribean Stud is a game where a strict bankroll management is key to success. Stud can be played for various amounts of money. Good bankroll management takes into account not only if a player can comfortably make bets of a particular size, but also if the bankroll is able to withstand the losses due to the house edge, which is somewhere around 5%. Just like regular Poker, knowing when to quit is a crucial skill for a successful player. This includes stopping when a player is winning but evidently also when he is losing. Although this may sound easy, it is not simple for many players. Many have the tendency to go into a state called "tilt" when they are losing to chase their losses. Being on tilt frequently makes a player increase his bets when losing, which is a huge mistake and should be avoided at any cost.

Strategy

A solid strategy is the only way to beat this game. However, almost nobody knows the perfect strategy for Carribean Stud. In a very simplified manner, there is one basic rule: raise with a pair or higher and fold with less than ace-king high. If you stick to this basic rule you should be fine.