Caribbean Stud Poker Strategy

There are two different Caribbean Stud strategies listed below. One is a simple strategy that is very easy to follow while the other is only slightly more difficult to remember. The simple strategy will get you within one-tenth of one percent (1/10th of 1% or .001) of the minimum house edge, so it is acceptable to almost every Caribbean Stud poker player. The advanced Caribbean Stud strategy listed below is slightly better. Feel free to use whichever one you are most comfortable using.

Please realize that these strategies do not take into account any side bets on progressive jackpots. These are rarely a good bet. For a little more information about break even points on progressive jackpots, see the Caribbean Stud poker online page, linked from above and to the right.

Basic Caribbean Stud Strategy

There are only 3 rules to remember to play using basic Caribbean Stud poker strategy.

1. Always raise with a pair or better.
2. Always raise with a hand of A K J 8 3 or better.
3. Fold everything else.

To clarify rule number two above, you must have an Ace and a King. Then if you have a Queen, you should raise. If your third card is a Jack, your fourth card must be at least an 8. Anything above an eight, you should raise. If the fourth card is an 8, raise unless your fifth card is a 2. Examples of hands to raise with are: (x = any card)

• A K Q x x
• A K J T x
• A K J 9 x
• A K J 8 7
• A K J 8 6
• A K J 8 5
• A K J 8 4
• A K J 8 3

In the simple Caribbean Stud poker strategy, it does not matter what the dealer is showing as his or her up card. The advanced strategy listed below takes into account the dealers up card.

Advanced Caribbean Stud Strategy

The advanced Caribbean Stud poker strategy listed below will get you within a tiny tiny fraction of optimum return. The expected house edge on one pay table is 5.224% and this strategy plays at 5.225%, so the difference is very small.

This is the strategy I use when playing Caribbean Stud poker. I found it on the Wizard of Odds site and I keep it written down beside my computer for online play.

1. Any hand of a pair or better, raise.
2. Any hand less than A K x x x, always fold.
3. When your first 2 cards are A K

• If the dealers up card is an Ace or King, only raise if your third card is a Jack or Queen.
• If the dealers up card is a Queen or lower, raise if it pairs one of your cards. (This reduces the chance that they will form a pair.)
• If your third card is a Queen and your fourth card is higher than the dealers up card, raise.
• In all other instances, fold.

Perfect Caribbean Stud Poker Strategy

To actually play 100% perfect Caribbean Stud poker strategy I think you would have to be a complete genius, so I am not going to attempt to explain it here. Not that I could if I wanted to either. But the good news is that the Wizard of Odds has a page dedicated to perfect strategy. You can find it by clicking here. If you can memorize that and accomplish the feat of following it, let me know, as you are much smarter than I am.

Visit Poker-Tomorrow for general and specific Online Poker Tips. It is a site full of great poker information.

Caribbean Stud Poker Strategy

Caribbean Stud Poker Online