In many countries, Caribbean Poker is one of the most popular types of casino poker. The house edge is 5.2%, provided that gamblers use the optimal strategy. It is pretty much, but yet customers like it.
Caribbean Poker Description
The rules are simple.
The aim is to collect the highest-ranking hand and beat the dealer.
The player cannot draw any card. This decreases his chances of winning.
The hands are available in the following table:
Names of hands |
Description |
Winning |
Royal Flush |
Five suited high cards in sequence |
100 to 1 |
Straight Flush |
Five suited cards in sequence |
50 to 1 |
Four of a kind | Four cards of the same rank | 20 to 1 |
Full house | Three cards of one rank combined with two cards of the other rank | 7 to 1 |
Flush | Five cards of one suit | 5 to 1 |
Straight | Five cards in sequence. | 4 to 1 |
Three of a Kind | Three cards of the same rank | 3 to 1 |
Two pairs |
Two cards of one rank with two cards of the other rank |
2 to 1 |
One Pair |
Two cards of one rank (jacks or better) |
1 to 1 |
Ace+King |
A king and an ace of any suit |
1 to 1 |
No hand |
Nothing |
0 |
Caribbean Poker Gameplay
Like all games, Caribbean Poker starts with the player's bet called the ante.
The croupier deals five cards to gamblers and himself. He reveals his last card.
As soon as the cards are dealt, the player should evaluate his cards to check for winning hands and make a decision: to call or to fold.
- If the customer folds, his ante loses.
- If he calls, he should make a bet equal to two antes.
As soon as all gamblers decide what to do, the dealer reveals his cards. The winner is determined by the comparison of hands.
- If the dealer has no hand, the player receives the ante 1 to 1, regardless of his cards.
- If both participants have poker hands, the owner of a higher rank will become the winner.
- If the player wins, his ante is paid 1 to 1. His bet is paid according to the paytable.
The hands of both participants may be equal. In this case, the winner is determined by the cards that do not participate in the formation of hands or by the highest-ranking card in five-card hands:
- Ace-King. The winner is determined by the rank of the third card. If they are equal, the fourth cards are compared, and so on.
- Pair. The winner is determined by the rank of the third card. If they are equal, the fourth cards are compared, and so on.
- Two pairs. The winner is determined by a higher pair. If they are equal, the fifth cards are compared.
- Straight. The winner is determined by the highest-ranking card in a straight.
- Flush. The winner is determined by the highest-ranking card in a flush.
Caribbean Poker Progressive Jackpot
Many online casinos offer players the opportunity to make a particular bet on the highest-ranking hand, namely a royal flush. If the player wins, he will get the jackpot.
This bet cannot exceed one dollar, and it is necessary to place it on the field located above the ante. It has been calculated that this bet can be profitable for gamblers if the jackpot size exceeds $220,000. This does not mean that the player will surely win by betting on a royal flush. In this case, he will have higher chances.
Caribbean Poker Strategy
As stated above, Caribbean Poker brings the maximum profit to casinos since the payout percentage is relatively low. Nevertheless, we will still offer strategies for fans of this game.
The strategy is based on the fact of whether to call or fold after a deal:
- It is necessary to call if you have a pair or higher;
- You should fold if your hand is lower than an ace or a king;
If you have an ace or a king, you should call in the following cases:
- If the upcard varies from a deuce to a queen and you have at least a card of the same rank.
- If the dealer has a king or an ace and you have a jack or a queen.
- If the upcard does not match your card, you have a queen, and your fourth card is higher than the dealer’s card.
More tips on playing poker are available in other articles on Casinoz.