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.

How to Start a Game of Caribbean Stud

Every round of Caribbean Stud begins with the player placing a mandatory initial wager known as the "Ante" bet.

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 game uses standard five-card poker rankings (e.g., Flush, Full House)
• Players only compete against the dealer, never against each other
• The initial mandatory bet is called the "Ante"

Understanding the Dealer's Hand

However, before the hands are even compared, the dealer's hand must absolutely meet a minimum required strength known as "qualifying."

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.

Optimal Strategy and the Progressive Jackpot

If you hold exactly Ace-King, the strategy becomes slightly more complex, depending entirely on the dealer's single exposed "upcard."

This massive jackpot pays out independently of the dealer's hand, rewarding the player for hitting extremely rare combinations like a Royal Flush.

Caribbean Stud offers a fantastic, low-stress bridge between the intense strategy of the poker room and the pure luck of the casino pit.