Invented in the 1980s specifically to attract poker players to the main casino floor, Caribbean Stud is a fantastic, fast-paced table game.

This completely eliminates the need to maintain a "poker face" or worry about someone aggressively raising your bets.
The Basic Rules: Ante and Deal
The dealer then deals themselves five cards, but crucially, turns their very last card completely face up for the entire table to see.

They must either "Fold" and immediately lose their Ante, or "Call" (also known as "Play") by placing a bet exactly twice the size of their Ante.
You cannot draw or exchange any cards; you play the five dealt to youPlayers are strictly forbidden from showing their cards to other playersThe entire game relies on one single "Fold or Play" decision The Dealer Qualification Rule
However, before the hands are even compared, the dealer's hand must absolutely meet a minimum required strength known as "qualifying."

Crucially, if the dealer does not qualify, the player's massive "Call" bet simply pushes (ties) and is returned, regardless of how strong the player's hand was.
Optimal Strategy and the Progressive Jackpot
The golden rule is incredibly simple: Always fold any hand weaker than Ace-King, and always play any hand containing a Pair or better.

This massive jackpot pays out independently of the dealer's hand, rewarding the player for hitting extremely rare combinations like a Royal Flush.
Dealer HandQualification StatusImpact on GameAce, King, 4, 3, 2QualifiesHands are compared directlyAce, Queen, Jack, 9, 8Does NOT QualifyPlayer wins Ante only
Just be prepared for the agonizing frustration of holding a Full House right as the dealer turns over a miserable, non-qualifying Jack-high hand.