How to Play Caribbean Poker

Caribbean poker, otherwise known as Caribbean stud poker, is not like other traditional poker game. Conventional poker is fundamentally about playing against each other, whereas in Caribbean poker all players have the bank as an opponent rather than each other. The aim of the game is to land up with better cards than the bank. This game is played both off and online and regardless of where you are playing, it will always be you against the bank.

The first step of the game is to place an ‘ante’ bet, which refers to you receiving five cards face up and the bank receiving five cards, with only one facing up and the rest lying face down. You need to use the banker’s one card lying face up as a clue as to whether or not he has a better hand than you. If you feel you would loose the hand you can decide to fold – if you are playing online you would press either the ‘fold’ or ‘surrender’ button on your screen meaning that you have lost your ante bet.

On the other hand, if things are looking more positive and you are feeling that luck is on your side, then you can place another bet, which will double your ‘Ante’ bet. If you are playing online, then you would press the ‘Challenge’ button displayed on your screen. By challenging the bank or dealer, his cards will be turned face up for you to see who the winner is.

There is a rule to this game that makes it that although makes it that much harder to win is where the challenge and fun lies. This rule outlines that the dealer’s one card that is being shown face up has to consist of either an ace or a king. This means that should this card display anything else, it is null and void; a new set of cards need to be dealt while the player receives a 1 to 1 payoff on the initial ante bet.

If the dealer’s card does qualify however, the game will commence as described above. By pure chance that both packs are equal, then the player gets their money back. As one would expect, different hands on the player’s side will have the potential for different winnings, such as a royal flush paying out more than most others.