Caribbean Stud Poker
The caribbean stud poker guide providing rules, strategy and how to play.› Caribbean Stud Poker Strategy
Strategy for Caribbean Stud poker is simple in most situations. If the player has a pair or better, then they should raise, as this will be a hand with a reasonable chance of winning and taking a decent amount of winnings. With less than a dealer qualifying hand, a player should fold, as while the dealer may not qualify, the payout for that is not worth the risk of losing, which is quite likely.
Where Caribbean Stud Poker strategy becomes challenging is when the player has an Ace and a King. This is a dealer qualifying hand, but it may not always have a decent chance of winning.
The perfect strategy is somewhat difficult and requires a reference table. It reduces the house edge to 5.224%, however.
| Player's other three cards |
Dealer's up card | ||||||||||||
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | J | Q | K | A | |
| Q-J-10 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| Q-J-9 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| Q-J-8 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| Q-J-7 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| Q-J-6 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| Q-J-5 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| Q-J-4 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| Q-J-3 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| Q-J-2 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | J | Q | K | A | |
| Q-10-9 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | 2 | R | R | R |
| Q-10-8 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | 3 | R | R | R |
| Q-10-7 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | 3 | R | R | R |
| Q-10-6 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | 4 | R | R | R |
| Q-10-5 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | 4 | R | R | R |
| Q-10-4 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | 4 | R | R | R |
| Q-10-3 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | 4 | R | R | R |
| Q-10-2 | R | R | R | R | 1 | 1 | R | R | R | 4 | R | R | R |
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | J | Q | K | A | |
| Q-9-8 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F | 3 | R | R | R |
| Q-9-7 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F | 3 | R | R | R |
| Q-9-6 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F | 4 | R | R | R |
| Q-9-5 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F | 4 | R | R | R |
| Q-9-4 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F | 4 | R | R | R |
| Q-9-3 | R | R | R | R | 1 | 1 | R | R | F | 4 | R | R | R |
| Q-9-2 | R | R | R | 1 | 1 | 1 | R | R | F | 4 | R | R | R |
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | J | Q | K | A | |
| Q-8-7 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F | F | 3* | R | R | R |
| Q-8-6 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F | F | 4 | R | R | R |
| Q-8-5 | R | R | R | R | 1 | 1 | R | F | F | 4 | R | R | R |
| Q-8-4 | R | R | R | 1 | 1 | 1 | R | F | F | 4 | R | R | R |
| Q-8-3 | R | R | R | 1 | 1 | 1 | R | F | F | 4 | R | R | R |
| Q-8-2 | R | R | R | 1 | 2 | 2 | R | F | F | 4 | R | R | R |
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | J | Q | K | A | |
| Q-7-6 | R | R | R | 1 | R | R | F | F | F | F | R | R | R |
| Q-7-5 | R | R | R | R | 1 | R | F | F | F | F | R | R | R |
| Q-7-4 | R | R | R | 1 | 2 | R | F | F | F | F | R | R | R |
| Q-7-3 | R | R | 1 | 2 | 2 | R | F | F | F | F | R | R | R |
| Q-7-2 | R | R | 1 | 2 | 2* | R | F | F | F | F | R | R | R |
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | J | Q | K | A | |
| Q-6-5 | R | R | R | R | R | F | F | F | F | F | R | R | R |
| Q-6-4 | R | R | R | 2 | R | F | F | F | F | F | R | R | R |
| Q-6-3 | R | R | 1 | 3 | R | F | F | F | F | F | R | R | R |
| Q-6-2 | R | R | 1* | 3 | R | F | F | F | F | F | R | R | R |
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | J | Q | K | A | |
| Q-5-4 | R | R | R | R | F | F | F | F | F | F | R | R | R |
| Q-5-3 | R | R | 2 | R | F | F | F | F | F | F | R | R | R |
| Q-5-2 | R | 1 | 2* | R | F | F | F | F | F | F | R | R | R |
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | J | Q | K | A | |
| Q-4-3 | R | R | R | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | R | R | R |
| Q-4-2 | R | 2 | R | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | R | R | R |
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | J | Q | K | A | |
| Q-3-2 | R | R | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | R | R | R |
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | J | Q | K | A | |
| J-10-9 | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | R | R | R | F | R | R |
| J-10-8 | F | F | F | F | F | F | R | F | R | R | F | R | R |
| J-10-7 | F | F | F | F | F | R | F | F | R | R | F | R | R |
| J-10-6 | F | F | F | F | R | F | F | F | R | R | F | R | R |
| J-10-5 | F | F | F | R | F | F | F | F | R | R | F | R | R |
| J-10-4 | F | F | R | F | F | F | F | F | R | R | F | R | R |
| J-10-3 | F | R | F | F | F | F | F | F | R | R | F | R | R |
| J-10-2 | R | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | R | R | F | R | R |
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | J | Q | K | A | |
| J-9-8 | F | F | F | F | F | F | R | R | F | R | F | R | R |
| J-9-7 | F | F | F | F | F | R | F | R | F | R | F | R | R |
| J-9-6 | F | F | F | F | R | F | F | R | F | R | F | R | R |
| J-9-5 | F | F | F | R | F | F | F | R | F | R | F | R | R |
| J-9-4 | F | F | R | F | F | F | F | R | F | R | F | R | R |
| J-9-3 | F | R | F | F | F | F | F | R | F | R | F | R | R |
| J-9-2 | R | F | F | F | F | F | F | R | F | R | F | R | R |
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | J | Q | K | A | |
| J-8-7 | F | F | F | F | F | R | R | F | F | R | F | R | R |
| J-8-6 | F | F | F | F | R | F | R | F | F | R | F | R | R |
| J-8-5 | F | F | F | R | F | F | R | F | F | R | F | R | R |
| J-8-4 | F | F | R | F | F | F | R | F | F | R | F | R | R |
| J-8-3 | F | R | F | F | F | F | R | F | F | R | F | R | R |
| J-8-2 | R | F | F | F | F | F | R | F | F | R | F | R | R |
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | J | Q | K | A | |
| J-7-6 | F | F | F | F | R | R | F | F | F | R | F | R | R |
| J-7-5 | F | F | F | R | F | R | F | F | F | R | F | R | R |
| J-7-4 | F | F | R | F | F | R | F | F | F | R | F | R | R |
| J-7-3 | F | R | F | F | F | R | F | F | F | R | F | R | R |
| J-7-2 | R | F | F | F | F | R | F | F | F | R | F | R | R |
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | J | Q | K | A | |
| J-6-5 | F | F | F | R | R | F | F | F | F | R | F | R | R |
| J-6-4 | F | F | R | F | R | F | F | F | F | R | F | R | R |
| J-6-3 | F | R | F | F | R | F | F | F | F | R | F | R | R |
| J-6-2 | R | F | F | F | R | F | F | F | F | R | F | R | R |
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | J | Q | K | A | |
| J-5-4 | F | F | R | R | F | F | F | F | F | R | F | R | R |
| J-5-3 | F | R | F | R | F | F | F | F | F | R | F | R | R |
| J-5-2 | R | F | F | R | F | F | F | F | F | R | F | R | R |
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | J | Q | K | A | |
| J-4-3 | F | R | R | F | F | F | F | F | F | R | F | R | R |
| J-4-2 | R | F | R | F | F | F | F | F | F | R | F | R | R |
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | J | Q | K | A | |
| J-3-2 | R | R | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | R | F | R | R |
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | J | Q | K | A | |
| 10-9-8 | F | F | F | F | F | F | R | R | R | F | F | F | F |
| 10-9-7 | F | F | F | F | F | R | F | R | R | F | F | F | F |
| 10-9-6 | F | F | F | F | R | F | F | R | R | F | F | F | F |
| 10-9-5 | F | F | F | R | F | F | F | R | R | F | F | F | F |
| 10-9-4 | F | F | R | F | F | F | F | R | R | F | F | F | F |
| 10-9-3 | F | R | F | F | F | F | F | R | R | F | F | F | F |
| 10-9-2 | R | F | F | F | F | F | F | R | R | F | F | F | F |
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | J | Q | K | A | |
| 10-8-7 | F | F | F | F | F | R | R | F | R | F | F | F | F |
| 10-8-6 | F | F | F | F | R | F | R | F | R | F | F | F | F |
| 10-8-5 | F | F | F | R | F | F | R | F | R | F | F | F | F |
| 10-8-4 | F | F | R | F | F | F | R | F | R | F | F | F | F |
| 10-8-3 | F | R | F | F | F | F | R | F | R | F | F | F | F |
| 10-8-2 | R | F | F | F | F | F | R | F | R | F | F | F | F |
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | J | Q | K | A | |
| 10-7-6 | F | F | F | F | R | R | F | F | R | F | F | F | F |
| 10-7-5 | F | F | F | R | F | R | F | F | R | F | F | F | F |
| 10-7-4 | F | F | R | F | F | R | F | F | R | F | F | F | F |
| 10-7-3 | F | R | F | F | F | R | F | F | R | F | F | F | F |
| 10-7-2 | R | F | F | F | F | R | F | F | R | F | F | F | F |
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | J | Q | K | A | |
| 10-6-5 | F | F | F | R | R | F | F | F | R | F | F | F | F |
| 10-6-4 | F | F | R | F | R | F | F | F | R | F | F | F | F |
| 10-6-3 | F | R | F | F | R | F | F | F | R | F | F | F | F |
| 10-6-2 | R | F | F | F | R | F | F | F | R | F | F | F | F |
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | J | Q | K | A | |
| 10-5-4 | F | F | R | R | F | F | F | F | R | F | F | F | F |
| 10-5-3 | F | R | F | R | F | F | F | F | R | F | F | F | F |
| 10-5-2 | R | F | F | R | F | F | F | F | R | F | F | F | F |
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | J | Q | K | A | |
| 10-4-3 | F | R | R | F | F | F | F | F | R | F | F | F | F |
| 10-4-2 | R | F | R | F | F | F | F | F | R | F | F | F | F |
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | J | Q | K | A | |
| 10-3-2 | R | R | F | F | F | F | F | F | 1* | F | F | F | F |
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | J | Q | K | A | |
| 9-8-7 | F | F | F | F | F | R | R | R | F | F | F | F | F |
| 9-8-6 | F | F | F | F | R | F | R | R | F | F | F | F | F |
| 9-8-5 | F | F | F | R | F | F | R | R | F | F | F | F | F |
| 9-8-4 | F | F | R | F | F | F | R | R | F | F | F | F | F |
| 9-8-3 | F | R | F | F | F | F | R | R | F | F | F | F | F |
| 9-8-2 | R | F | F | F | F | F | R | R | F | F | F | F | F |
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | J | Q | K | A | |
| 9-7-6 | F | F | F | F | R | R | F | R | F | F | F | F | F |
| 9-7-5 | F | F | F | R | F | R | F | R | F | F | F | F | F |
| 9-7-4 | F | F | R | F | F | R | F | R | F | F | F | F | F |
| 9-7-3 | F | R | F | F | F | R | F | R | F | F | F | F | F |
| 9-7-2 | R | F | F | F | F | R | F | R | F | F | F | F | F |
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | J | Q | K | A | |
| 9-6-5 | F | F | F | R | R | F | F | R | F | F | F | F | F |
| 9-6-4 | F | F | R | F | R | F | F | R | F | F | F | F | F |
| 9-6-3 | F | R | F | F | R | F | F | R | F | F | F | F | F |
| 9-6-2 | R | F | F | F | R | F | F | R | F | F | F | F | F |
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | J | Q | K | A | |
| 9-5-4 | F | F | R | R | F | F | F | R | F | F | F | F | F |
| 9-5-3 | F | R | F | R | F | F | F | R | F | F | F | F | F |
| 9-5-2 | R | F | F | R | F | F | F | R | F | F | F | F | F |
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | J | Q | K | A | |
| 9-4-3 | F | R | R | F | F | F | F | 1 | F | F | F | F | F |
| 9-4-2 | R | F | R | F | F | F | F | 2 | F | F | F | F | F |
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | J | Q | K | A | |
| 9-3-2 | R | R | F | F | F | F | F | 4 | F | F | F | F | F |
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | J | Q | K | A | |
| 8-7-6 | F | F | F | F | R | R | R | F | F | F | F | F | F |
| 8-7-5 | F | F | F | R | F | R | R | F | F | F | F | F | F |
| 8-7-4 | F | F | R | F | F | R | R | F | F | F | F | F | F |
| 8-7-3 | F | R | F | F | F | R | R | F | F | F | F | F | F |
| 8-7-2 | R | F | F | F | F | R | R | F | F | F | F | F | F |
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | J | Q | K | A | |
| 8-6-5 | F | F | F | R | R | F | R | F | F | F | F | F | F |
| 8-6-4 | F | F | R | F | R | F | R | F | F | F | F | F | F |
| 8-6-3 | F | R | F | F | R | F | R | F | F | F | F | F | F |
| 8-6-2 | R | F | F | F | R | F | R | F | F | F | F | F | F |
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | J | Q | K | A | |
| 8-5-4 | F | F | R | R | F | F | R | F | F | F | F | F | F |
| 8-5-3 | F | R | F | R | F | F | R | F | F | F | F | F | F |
| 8-5-2 | R | F | F | R | F | F | R | F | F | F | F | F | F |
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | J | Q | K | A | |
| 8-4-3 | F | R | R | F | F | F | 1 | F | F | F | F | F | F |
| 8-4-2 | R | F | R | F | F | F | 2 | F | F | F | F | F | F |
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | J | Q | K | A | |
| 8-3-2 | R | R | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F |
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | J | Q | K | A | |
| 7-6-5 | F | F | F | R | R | R | F | F | F | F | F | F | F |
| 7-6-4 | F | F | R | F | R | R | F | F | F | F | F | F | F |
| 7-6-3 | F | R | F | F | R | R | F | F | F | F | F | F | F |
| 7-6-2 | R | F | F | F | R | R | F | F | F | F | F | F | F |
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | J | Q | K | A | |
| 7-5-4 | F | F | R | R | F | R | F | F | F | F | F | F | F |
| 7-5-3 | F | R | F | R | F | R | F | F | F | F | F | F | F |
| 7-5-2 | R | F | F | R | F | R | F | F | F | F | F | F | F |
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | J | Q | K | A | |
| 7-4-3 | F | R | R | F | F | R | F | F | F | F | F | F | F |
| 7-4-2 | R | F | R | F | F | 1* | F | F | F | F | F | F | F |
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | J | Q | K | A | |
| 7-3-2 | R | R | F | F | F | 4 | F | F | F | F | F | F | F |
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | J | Q | K | A | |
| 6-5-4 | F | F | R | R | R | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F |
| 6-5-3 | F | R | F | R | R | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F |
| 6-5-2 | R | F | F | R | R | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F |
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | J | Q | K | A | |
| 6-4-3 | F | R | R | F | R | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F |
| 6-4-2 | R | F | R | F | 1 | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F |
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | J | Q | K | A | |
| 6-3-2 | R | R | F | F | 2* | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F |
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | J | Q | K | A | |
| 5-4-3 | F | R | R | R | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F |
| 5-4-2 | R | F | R | R | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F |
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | J | Q | K | A | |
| 5-3-2 | R | R | F | 1 | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F |
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | J | Q | K | A | |
| 4-3-2 | R | R | R | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F |
| Key to table: | |
| R | Always raise. |
| 1 | Raise if the suit of dealer's card matches the suit of one or more of your cards. |
| 2 | Raise if the suit of dealer's card matches the suit of two or more of your cards. |
| 3 | Raise if the suit of dealer's card matches the suit of three or more of your cards. |
| 4 | Raise if the suit of dealer's card matches the suit of four of your cards. |
| F | Always fold |
There are simpler strategies that can still have a marked effect on the house edge, however. The simplest is to only raise on pairs or better, which leaves a house edge of 5.47%. A slightly more complex strategy is to raise on Ace/King/Jack/8/3 or higher, which reduces the house edge to 5.316%. For those who do not wish to use perfect strategy, this one should be sufficient.
The dealer up card is a vital part to high-level Caribbean Stud Poker play. More advanced players will rely on knowledge of it, their hand, and the probabilities on the other four dealer cards in order to choose the best times to raise and when to fold. Players who become adept at choosing the right times to play or fold may also be interested in games like three card poker, where similar choices must be made.
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