Caribbean Poker Rules are very easy to grasp especially if you have knowledge of traditional Poker and Blackjack. The game offers a lot of excitement and a massive Progressive Jackpot which is just one of the reasons for the games popularity.
How to Play Caribbean Poker
There are some distinctive differences between Caribbean Poker and traditional Poker such as that the player plays against the Dealer and not other players. This said, with an understanding of Poker and Blackjack, learning How to Play Caribbean Poker is easy as pie.
Getting Started
The game begins with the Players needing to place the initial bet called an “Ante bet”. Once the bet has been placed the Dealer will deal the player five cards, all faced down. The Dealer will receive four cards faced down and one card faced up which will be visible to the player. Just like in Blackjack, you only get to see one card. However, unlike Blackjack, Caribbean Poker rules require that you also consider the dealer’s 4 face down cards.
Once you decide which cards you would like to keep, your next step would be to raise. There is no flat calling. This means that you either have to raise by double the Ante or you have to lay your cards down. If you decide to keep your hand, your only choice is to raise.
Since the raise has to be twice that of the Ante bet, the Ante bet limit is a third of your total chip stack. E.g. If your chip stack is $1000, the highest Ante bet you can place is $333. When you raise you will have to place double the Ante, $666. This totals $1000.
If you choose to stay in the game and raise you and the Dealer reveal your cards. The twist here is that you can only win real big money if you beat the Dealers hand when he has a qualifying hand.
Caribbean Poker Hand Rankings
For the Dealers’ hand to qualify, the hand must have an Ace and a King, or better. This does not mean either an Ace or a King; it means that the dealer has to have a high card, Ace, and a King, or a better hand. E.g. A, K, 4, 3, 2 would qualify; A, Q, J, T, 9 would not be a qualifying hand. If the Dealer is not holding a qualifying hand you would only benefit from your Ante and get your raise back as a Push, if the dealer’s hand does not qualify, you profit only from your ante and receive your raise back as a Push, regardless if you hand is better. To thoroughly understand Online Caribbean Poker Rules you also need to know the payouts;
Hand Rankings & Payouts;
| Hand | Payout |
| Royal Flush | 100:1 |
| Straight Flush | 50:1 |
| 4 of a kind | 20:1 |
| Full House | 7:1 |
| Flush | 5:1 |
| Straight | 4:1 |
| 3 of a kind | 3:1 |
| 2 Pair | 2:1 |
| One Pair | 1:1 |
| High card | 1: |
Referring back to the previous example on the Ante bet; if your chip stack is $1000 and the Ante is $333, and if you raised $666 and the Dealer did not have a qualifying hand, you would only double up your Ante and add $666 to your chip stack, leaving you with $1333. Caribbean Poker only gets really exciting when the Dealers’ hand does qualify and you still have a better hand… This is where the big wins come in.
What happens if the Dealers hand does not qualify?
This would seem pretty unfair… but luckily Caribbean Poker offers another reward that by far supersedes what you can win in a normal game of Poker.
Caribbean Poker – Progressive Jackpot
At the start of each betting round you have the option of posting a $1 bet in the Progressive Jackpot. Participating in the Progressive Jackpot means you can still make a lot of money on a good hand even when the dealer doesn’t qualify. The Progressive Jackpot is essentially a side bet on the quality of your cards, regardless of what the dealer’s cards are. Progressives typically pay hands of Flush and above, so they’re great security against a dealer’s hand that either doesn’t qualify or beats yours.
Progressive Caribbean Stud Poker payouts
The payouts could vary from one casino to the next but the most common payout structure is as follows;
| Hand | Progressive Jackpot Payout |
| Royal Flush | 100% of Jackpot |
| Straight Flush | 10% of Jackpot |
| 4 of a kind | $500 |
| Full House | $100 |
| Flush | $50 |
The Progressive Jackpot is shown on the Caribbean Poker Table and your winnings will be based on the jackpot at the moment of your win. As the jackpot is ever increasing, this really adds to the excitement.
YourCasinoWorld.com recommends playing Caribbean Poker for the “break away” from the usual that it offers. It is the only Poker game that offers a Progressive Jackpot and it is refreshing to play a game that adds a dash of unusual excitement to your gaming experience. Caribbean Poker Rules are simple and if you take part in the Progressive jackpot you might just walk away with a big smile on your face.