All About Caribbean Stud Poker

Its that time again folks! Time for another "All About" entry. This time we are taking a look at one of the most fun ways to pass time in the casino, Caribbean Stud Poker. This game is based on simple stud poker, but it has a nice tempo to it, that same relaxed tempo you find in the Caribbean.

If you enjoy that relaxed and pleasant lifestyle, that easy-going pace, or if you just like learning about a new table game, stop on in and learn All About Caribbean Stud Poker.

Our first brush with Caribbean Stud Poker happened in fact, to take place in the Caribbean! We were aboard a Carnival cruise, and we were checking out the on-board casino for fun and excitement. We liked poker, and we liked the Caribbean, so we figured, hey, why not check it out! We figured the game out after only a few hands, and from then on it was smooth sailing.

Here's Wikipedia's info on how the game works:

Caribbean stud poker is a casino table game with rules similar to five card stud poker. However, unlike standard poker games, Caribbean stud is played against the house rather than against other players (and, like most such games, it cannot be beaten in the long run). There is no bluffing or other deception. For these reasons, most poker players do not consider it to be a form of poker. (They do not necessarily feel that it should not be called poker, but means merely that they will not refer to it as simply "poker". For instance, a gambler might say "I played poker" if he played seven card stud, but probably would not if he played Caribbean stud.)
The following rules are typical of U.S. casinos, but some of the details (the payouts and limits) vary from casino to casino.

To play, every player places his ante on the layout where indicated; all ante wagers must be placed prior to the dealer announcing "No more bets". Each player and the dealer will then receive 5 cards, face down. The dealer will turn over one of his cards, then push the cards toward the players, after which the players may look at their cards. They may only look at their own cards, and may not discuss what they have with any other player at the table.

Players have the option to play or fold; if they choose to play, they place their bets (twice the amount of their respective ante) in the bet box. If they choose to fold, they forfeit their ante. After all the players have made their decisions, the dealer reveals his hole cards. The dealer only plays with an ace/king or higher; he then compares his cards to the players' cards (individually, right to left), and the best poker hand wins.

Sounds simple right?

Payouts are done based on the hand you have when you beat the dealer. The kicker here is, you have to beat the dealer to make your payout. So if you get a royal flush, and the dealer doesn't qualify, then you have an excellent reason to whine, but no more than even mony on your ante to take home with you.

One other bet present in most casinos is the progressive jackpot bet. This bet is typically a $1 bet placed in a special location on the table. If you win your hand, with the dealer qualifying of course, and if your hand happens to be one of the paying hands (royal flush, straight flush, 4 of a kind, full house, or a flush), then you will win a chunk of the progressive pot. Now of course its unlikely you will ever even get a straight flush, let alone beat the dealer when you have it, but the chance to win 10% or 100% of a massive progressive pot is great fun.

Once you understand the basics of the game you can learn the basic strategy to keep the casino's edge to its minimum. The Wizard of Odds, as always, can come through with how the numbers break down. You can read about their optimum strategy there, but it breaks down mostly to this:

If you have a pair or better, you bet. If you have less than Ace King, you surrender. And if you have Ace King, we have this handy mnemonic:

Two through Queen, you bet when its seen.
Ace or King, Queen Jack's the thing.
If non of these pairings decide to come forth,
Bet with a Queen and his worse than you're fourth.

What this nmemoic reminds you is: If the dealer's shown card is one you also have then you bet. If the dealer shows an ace or a king, only bet if you have a queen or a jack. If neither of those happen, then only bet if you have a queen AND, the dealer's card is lower than you're fourth highest card.

According to the wizard, By plaing that strategy, you can cut the house's edge to roughly 5.2%. And that means you can enjoy your Dark n Stormys all evening. In our testing, we found that an optimum amount of money to bring to a $5 minimum table is about three hundred bucks. The swings can go up and down about a hundred dollars, but that much should last you for a good long time.

For your Home game, we can reccommend this CSP felt top. The opposite side also has a Texas Hold'Em trainer, though we've never had use for that side.

We normally toss out a couple of books that we like, but to be honest, we havn't come across any we thought were worth it. Most were simple to the point of being pointless, and they all seem to come to a similar conclusion about the best way to play the game.

Where we like to Play:

Carnival Cruise Ships -- Its a good game to play to while away the hours. If its a cruise in a warm locale, it only adds to the flavor of the game. Get a drink, relax, and enjoy. As far as what cruises, we like Carnival in particular for its excellent mix of fun and relaxation.

Atlantis Resort and Casino, Bahamas -- again, the warm climate makes the game feel right at home. Atlantis itself is a wonderland of gaming, relaxation, and activites. This property has stunnign decor, amazing resturaunts, and a fantastic casino. Playing CSP here is like traveling to a magical undersea world away from the mundane. We also found the staff ot be particularly fun and friendly.

Links

Casino Cocktail Friday -- The drink we think matches Caribbean Stud Poker perfectly.

Wizard of Odds -- the numbers, the strategy, and the lowdown on this fine form of poker

Wikipeida's Caribbean Stud Poker Page -- basic information about CSP.

Collusion in Caribbean Stud Poker -- This is an interesting article that basically explains how collusion can affect the odds of CSP. But don't try to practice collusion for real, its against the rules, and you could find yourself in very hot water.

October 21, 2006

All About Caribbean Stud Poker