Page 21 - September 2002 • Southern California Gaming Guide

September 2002
Page 21
The Game
Caribbean Stud Poker is dealt with a 52-card deck, in which one to seven players and the Dealer each receive a 5-card hand. Caribbean Stud Poker combines elements of both Poker and Blackjack. Like Blackjack, the objective is to beat the dealer with a higher-ranking hand. Like Poker, you are dealt ve cards, and the rankings of Poker hands apply. But Caribbean Stud Poker has a few twists that you won’t nd in either Blackjack or Poker.
The Rules
There are two bets in Caribbean Stud Poker. The rst bet is the ante—you make this wager before any cards are dealt. After the ante, each player is dealt ve cards face down, and the dealer is dealt four cards face down and one card face up. Players then decide whether to fold and forfeit their ante, or to raise two times the ante and continue playing out the hand.
If the player chooses to continue and raises the bet, the dealer exposes her hand. If the dealer’s hand does not qualify with at least an Ace/King or better poker hand, the player wins the ante bet, and the raise bet is returned. If the dealer does qualify with an Ace/King or better hand, the highest-ranking hand wins all bets—and if the player is the winner, the raise bet also earns bonus odds based on the ranking of the hand.
The Strategy
The only decision in Caribbean Stud Poker is whether to fold or to raise. The basic strategy is that if your hand is A-K-J-8-3 or better, you should raise. If you can’t beat that hand, you should fold.
What makes Caribbean Stud Poker a sometimes frustrating proposition is the rule that no matter how good your hand is, if the Dealer’s hand does not qualify, you will only win 1-to-1 odds on your ante bet. While you don’t actually lose money, you also don’t get the big payouts, and this is why the house edge in Caribbean Stud Poker seems so signi cant.
The SIDE BET
Many casinos offer a side bet in Caribbean Stud Poker. This bet (usually $1) goes towards a progressive jackpot which pays signi cant bonuses if a player wins a round with a high-ranking hand (usually a straight or higher). While this may seem a tempting bet, the experts say to avoid the side bet because the house odds are enormous.
Where to Play
In San Diego County, play Caribbean Stud Poker at Barona, Sycuan, Viejas and Pala Casinos. In the Inland Empire, play at Agua Caliente and Fantasy Springs Casinos.