Caribbean stud poker hands: the details that matter

For "caribbean stud poker hands", much depends on which kind of poker is in question. Poker at a casino comes in two very different forms. In house games such as three card poker or casino hold'em, each player faces the dealer and a paytable. In room games such as hold'em or Omaha, players compete with each other and the casino takes a small cut of each pot. The hand rankings are shared by all of them, and the other rules vary from game to game.

House games and room games reward different things. In a house game the best strategy is fixed and printed in guides, and the long run result depends on the paytable. In a room game, skill against the other players decides the outcome over time, and the rake is the only certain cost. Knowing which kind a table belongs to, before sitting down, explains whether a strategy chart or practice will help more.

Casino hold'em and Caribbean stud follow the same ante and raise pattern against the dealer. In casino hold'em, the player sees two cards and the first three shared cards, then folds or calls with a bet of twice the ante. In Caribbean stud, five cards are dealt to each side and the raise is also twice the ante. Both games require the dealer to qualify, and both pay bonuses on strong hands.

Questions readers ask

How do the ante and play bet work in three card poker?

After posting an ante and seeing three cards, the player folds or adds a play bet equal to the ante to contest the dealer's hand.

Is there a fixed strategy for casino house poker games?

Yes, the best play in house games is fixed and printed in guides, such as playing any three card hand of queen, six, four or better.

How many private cards do hold'em and Omaha use?

Hold'em gives each player two private cards alongside five shared ones, while Omaha deals four private cards, exactly two of which must be used.

What does the pair plus bet pay on?

Pair plus pays on the strength of the player's own three cards, whatever the dealer holds, and sits apart from the ante and play contest.