Caribbean Stud Poker
By: PlaytechPlay for Real
Review of Caribbean Stud Poker
There are lots of ways you can play poker but all versions revolve around once concept – the ability (eventually) to either gain a better poker hand than your opponents or to bluff your way into making them believe that you have the best hand in the game.
Such versions are not for everyone, especially when you are playing online. They may not look like it if you are watching a high-stakes real-life poker game on TV or via streaming, but each player is performing mental gymnastics within their skulls to ascertain the true value of their hand. You don’t have to be a mathematical genius to succeed in the poker sphere, but it helps!
If this all sounds too intense to you and you don’t want to risk losing your poker bankroll in the blink of an eye, then perhaps casino poker is most suitable for you. Here, you are playing against a software-controlled dealer instead of a table full of poker sharks.
Caribbean Stud Poker by Playtech is a popular form of poker that relies on the simple evaluation of the cards you are dealt, as opposed to choosing five cards from the seven available as with Hold’em. Stud poker is a version of the classic draw poker. It is called ‘stud’ as you had to be a bit of a stud to playing it successfully. This was because some of your cards were dealt face up, making it even harder to out-bluff your opponents or conceal that you have a very good hand.
You can play a form of stud poker online thanks to Caribbean Stud Poker as developed by Playtech – a leading software giant.
How to Play Caribbean Stud Poker
First up, to play this game you need to understand your poker hands. There are eight in total: Pair, Two Pair, Three-of-a-Kind, Straight, Flush, Full House, Four-of-a-Kind and a Straight Flush (some people count a Royal Flush as a ninth hand, but a Royal Flush is simply the highest-ranked Straight Flush and, unless you are playing with jokers or wildcards, the highest-ranked hand in the game).
The game starts by the player placing their ‘Ante’ bet. This is a required, pre-deal bet. Choose your chips accordingly then click on the ‘Bet’ button to add them to the table. When you are happy with your ante bet, click on ‘deal’.
You will be dealt five cards, all face up. The dealer is dealt one card face up and four cards face down. You can at this stage, if you wish, fold your hand, losing your ante bet. The alternative to folding is calling.
Unlike most forms of poker, you do not draw any further cards while you are playing this game. If you choose to call, then a bet will be made that is double your ante bet. It is now time for the dealer to reveal their cards. If the dealer does not have a qualifying poker hand and they have a hand that does not contain an ace or a king, then you automatically win back your bet and double your ante bet no matter the value of your hand.
If the dealer has a hand that qualifies and is better than yours, then you lose both your ante bet and your bet. If however, you have the better hand, then you win back double your ante bet and payment in line with the returns indicated via your bet according to the following table.
| Your Hand | Return |
| Royal Flush | 100:1 |
| Straight Flush | 50:1 |
| Four of a Kind | 20:1 |
| Full House | 7:1 |
| Flush | 5:1 |
| Straight | 4:1 |
| Three of a Kind | 3:1 |
| Two Pair | 2:1 |
| One Pair | 1:1 |
| High Card | 1:1 |
For example, say you bet $5, obtained three of a kind and beat the dealer. You will be paid back double your ante bet ($10) plus your bet (which was double your ante bet) at a return of 3:1 ($30), winning $40 in total.
Some versions of this game will have a progressive jackpot and side bet feature. Here, if you place a minimum side bet as indicated by the game, you may win either the complete jackpot (for a Royal Flush), a percentage (for a Straight Flush), or a multiple of your side bet (for Four of a Kind, a Full House or a Flush).
Once all cards have been dealt, just click the ‘Rebet & Deal’ button or, if you want to change your bet, click on the chips.
Game Rules
- Game is played with a normal deck of cards
- Hand ranking is done via normal poker rules
- Progressive Jackpot side bet is optional when offered
- No drawing of cards is offered
Graphics and Sounds
You do not need flashy graphics to enjoy this game. Such is the pace of play (once you’re accustomed to the game) that flashy graphics would simply be an annoyance, and a hindrance. It’s easy to work the interface, see how much you have bet and the value of the cards. Nothing else is needed.
Audio is unnecessary too. All that you will hear during play is the dealing of the cards, the clicking of the chips and a female voice telling you whether you or the dealer holds the winning hand.
Final Thoughts
This game is decent enough, but it suffers from one stellar drawback – you have no chance to draw cards and potentially improve your hand. This is a fundamental concept of all poker games (even video poker) so it’s a surprise that it’s missing here.
If you are new to poker though this game is ideal as it gives you the perfect learning platform before you move onto other forms of the game, should you choose to do so.
15 May. 2018, by Ari Waknine
