Model used: The U.S. model uses one 52-card deck, a one-unit Ante, a two-unit Raise, one exposed dealer card, dealer qualification at ace-king or better, even-money Ante wins and the standard premium Raise table.
How a round works
Five-card dealYou see your hand plus one exposed dealer card.
DecisionFold and lose the Ante, or raise exactly 2× the Ante.
Qualification and comparisonIf the dealer fails to qualify, Ante wins and Raise pushes; otherwise both hands compare and winning Raises use the pay table.
Practical strategy
- Always raise with a pair or better and fold below ace-king.
- Ace-king hands are composition-dependent: dealer up-card rank, matching blockers and your queen/jack matter.
- Use the detailed rule set rather than a single memorized ace-king cutoff.
Rule-specific mathematics
| Model or rule | Figure | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. pay table · optimal strategy | 5.224% | House edge per Ante |
| Average total action | 2.045 units | Ante plus the conditional two-unit Raise |
| Element of risk | 2.555% | Expected loss divided by average total action |
| Raise every hand | 16.607% | Cost of ignoring the fold decision |
For Caribbean Stud Poker , calculated, the stated figures are not promises for a session. House edge is expected loss per initial unit unless the row explicitly uses total action or another denominator.
Standard schedule or comparison
| Outcome or item | Posted result |
|---|---|
| Royal / straight flush | 100:1 / 50:1 |
| Quads / full house | 20:1 / 7:1 |
| Flush / straight / trips | 5:1 / 4:1 / 3:1 |
| Two pair / all other wins | 2:1 / 1:1 |
Common expensive mistakes
- Raising every ace-high hand
- Comparing 5.224% directly with total-action denominators
- Assuming the progressive is favorable without the meter and pay table
- Ignoring maximum-payout caps
Frequently asked questions
Does Caribbean Stud Poker have one universal house edge?
No. The rules and denominator must match. Under the first documented model on this page, the relevant figure is 5.224%: house edge per ante.
What should I check before playing Caribbean Stud Poker?
Verify the complete rules and pay table. A common costly mistake is raising every ace-high hand.
Are Caribbean Stud Poker side bets included in the base-game figure?
For Caribbean Stud Poker , calculated, no unless a row explicitly says so. Optional bonus and progressive wagers require their own pay table, event probabilities and expected-value calculation.
Caribbean Stud Poker reference library
Caribbean Stud Poker Rules and Settlement→Caribbean Stud Poker Strategy and Decision Points→Caribbean Stud Poker Pay Tables and Payouts→Caribbean Stud Poker House Edge and Mathematics→Caribbean Stud Poker Variants and Side Bets→Caribbean Stud Poker Worked Examples→Caribbean Stud Poker Table-Selection Checklist→Caribbean Stud Poker Myths and Common Mistakes→
Rules and mathematical sources
Wizard of Odds — Caribbean Stud analysis ↗ · Galaxy Gaming title catalog ↗