The Frustrations of Caribbean Stud Poker

We get letters...F. B. writes: "I always enjoy your column and put as much of your advice to use as possible. In the future, would you put together a column devoted to the best ways to play Caribbean Stud?"

I would very much like to outline a detailed strategy for Caribbean Stud, but unfortunately, like most casino games, there really is none. There are a couple of things to keep in mind while you are playing it, but the real key is to use good money management and just hope to get lucky.

It would probably be wise at this point in the column to admit I am not a big fan of Caribbean Stud for a variety of reasons which I will get into later. With that out of the way, here are the two widely accepted strategies:

First, bet on any pair or higher, and second, if you are holding Ace-King, make a bet only if one of your remaining cards matches the dealers up card.

Thats about it. But really, what more could there be? No matter how much you analyze the game, the basic premise is that each player at the table is dealt five cards out of a single 52-card deck. Those are the cards you must play. The only other clue you have is the dealers up card. If you could peek at the hands of the other players you would have another edge, to be sure, but such practice is strictly prohibited.

You just have to hope to be lucky enough to be dealt a good hand. But even if you are, there is still no guarantee that you can capitalize on it. That is the big reason I seldom play the game. Let me explain why:

You must remember that even though Caribbean Stud poker is a variation of 5-Card Stud poker, you are playing your hand against the dealers hand and not against the other players at the table.

Say you are dealt a pair of deuces, the low end of so-called playable hands. In addition to the $5 that you have already put up as your ante to be dealt a hand, you now are obliged, according to the rules of play, to make a bet that is double your ante, which means you now have $15 riding on a couple of twos! The only way you can win your ante and bet is for the dealer to flip over an Ace-King. A pair of threes or better beats you. If the dealer has nothing (a non-qualifying hand), you win even money on your ante and you take back your bet. I consider that a paltry return for having $15 at risk on the table.

It can be tiresome being dealt a series of hands that contain nothing. You sit there folding time after time and losing your ante money. Sure, you can bet with your feelings or on a hunch, hoping that the dealer comes up with nothing as well, and you will at least win even money on your ante. But Ace-King or better in the dealers hand will wipe out your $15, and believe me, it hurts to lose that much money when you are holding "garbage".

Lets consider the frustration of getting a good hand, say a high pair or even three of a kind. It is difficult enough to be dealt a hand like that, but in Caribbean Stud, you have to sweat out hoping the dealer will qualify with Ace-King or better if you hope to win a nice little pot. Your three of a kind will pay 3-1 on your bet if the dealer qualifies. If not, you will win even money on your ante and nothing on your bet. It is maddening waiting for a good hand, and when you finally get one the dealer turns over zilch...but when you had deuces, he flipped over a pair of threes to beat you!

The real attraction of Caribbean Stud is the progressive jackpot the game includes for hitting a royal flush. Minor awards are paid out of the progressive pot, including bonuses for getting a flush, full house, four of a kind, or straight flush. You must play a side bet of $1 on the hand to participate in the progressive pot. The dealer doesnt have to qualify for you to win a bonus hand if you have made the side wager.

But even if you are fortunate enough to be dealt a bonus hand and you have played your extra dollar to participate, you have to hope the dealer qualifies so that you will be paid extra for your bet, which can mean hundreds of dollars. If the dealer does not qualify, you will get a bonus all right, but your bet money will be returned.

Aside from the two components of Caribbean Stud strategy we mentioned earlier (incidentally, the reason you bet Ace-King if the dealers up card matches one of your other cards is because it lessens the chances of the dealer holding a pair), the other decision a player must make is where to play the game.

The bigger the progressive pot, and it can easily get up into the hundreds of thousands of dollars, the better. Why play a game where the jackpot is $25,000 when you could be playing one with a $250,000 pot? The odds against being dealt a royal flush, as astronomical as they may be, are the same in both games.

One other thing to remember: Caribbean Stud carries a hefty house edge of about 5.6 per cent. It can be a fun game, but as we have learned, also very frustrating. The strategy is minimal, and the luck factor huge.