Caribbean Stud Strategy Guide
The mathematically optimal strategy for Caribbean Stud strategy is incredibly complex. In fact, it's so complex that it's not even worth using at the table. Instead, there are much simpler strategies out there that lower the house edge to just 2.55%, which is almost as good as using a much more complex strategy.
No matter what strategy you use for the game, it is not possible to gain an advantage over the casino. If you're willing to accept that and just want to have fun while still giving yourself pretty decent odds, the following strategy will keep the house at 2.55 percent:
- Play any pair
- Play any hand containing A-K-J-8-3 or better
- Fold everything weaker
When you use this strategy, you'll end up folding about half your hands right off the bat. That might sound a little boring but that's how you give yourself the best chances of winning. With a house edge of just 2.55%, you may see wild swings in momentum during the short term but will slowly lose money over the long term.
Cost of Playing
Again, on any given night your results could swing quickly in any direction but over the long run you'll lose money at a pretty even rate. Your average cost of playing with $10 bets and a 2.55% house advantage would be about $19 per hour. If you only bet $5 per hand, you'll end up paying about $9.50 per hour.
That might sound expensive but it's really not too bad for a casino game. There are much more expensive games than that in the casino. Keep in mind that this is just a long term average.
Progressive Jackpot Bet
The optional jackpot bet is a terrible bet in Caribbean Stud Poker. Avoid this one at all costs. The house edge on the progressive jackpot differs from casino to casino but it's not uncommon to see a house edge of 25% or more on this bet.
The payouts appear generous but they are actually terrible when compared to the odds of getting those hands. You'll have to decide if it's worth taking a 25% disadvantage for your peace of mind with this bet. There are potentially huge payouts but they come at a great cost. I personally never take this bet but I'm sure some people do just to spare themselves the pain of missing out on a big payout.
Just keep in mind that if you bet $1 on the progressive jackpot every time, you'll lose an average of $23 per hour when the jackpot is worth $100,000. There may be occasional wins of course, but this is the average lifetime loss you'll experience including those occasional wins.
The progressive jackpot can get large enough, however, to make it worth betting on. This can vary from casino to casino depending on the rules of the game and the how the jackpot is paid out but if you see the jackpot is greater than $300,000; it might be worth betting on.
Find a Good Casino
As with every game, it's important to find a good casino to play at. Different casinos have different bonuses, promotions and pay tables. Do a little research before you pick your casino or use our online casino reviews to find the best casino for you. Luckily, we have done the research for you. We recommend Rushmore Casino to all players. Or, take a look at our casino sites page to get additional information about the top rated casinos.
Some numbers on this page came from: http://renzey.casinocitytimes.com/articles/7695.html