Caribbean Stud Poker

Caribbean Stud Poker is relatively a new casino game that has gained much popularity over recent decades and is currently offered in every land casino across the world and in most reputable online casinos.

Land casinos have introduced it as a means of enticing poker players to play more table games in casinos. The game is a variant of poker but unlike its predecessor players play against the house and not against other players.

There isn't a single version as to the origin of the game and several people claim to have invented it. The first was gambling professional David Sklansky who claimed he invented the game naming it 'casino poker' as it was to be played against the house.

Others have claimed it originated in the Caribbean islands of Aruba and some claim it was invented on a cruise ship that often traveled to Aruba.

The most credible version of its invention dates back to 1987 where poker player James Suttle bought the game from a down-on-his-luck gambler and sold it to casino owner and game developer Danny Jones, which in turn introduced it in his King International casino in Aruba.

Danny Jones then tried to market the game to cruise ships and other casinos in the Caribbean with little success due to the large house edge that exists in this game and only the involvement of computer software engineer Michael Titus, who linked the game to a progressive jackpot, propelled the game and increased its popularity.

The progressive jackpot is available not only when playing the game on electronic machines but also when playing at the table by the player announcing their participation in the progressive and dropping money into a special slot. A light will light up to signal this player's participation in the progressive game. This is done after all players place their antes and before the cards are dealt.

The game is played on a blackjack-styled table, with each player playing against the casino dealer. Players are not allowed to discuss their hands with other players.

The dealer will deal each player and themselves five cards faced down. The dealer will then turn one of their cards face up and push the five cards towards the center of the table so all players can see them.

Players can choose whether to play or fold. If they elect to play they need to place their bets that need to be double the amount of the ante. If they choose to fold they forfeit their ante. Players are advised to fold any hand that does have an Ace & King or at least a low pair.

After all players have placed their bets the dealer reveals all their hole cards and players compare their hands to the dealer's hand. The reveal process goes from the player on the right around the table up to the player on the left.

Any player that has a hand that beats the dealer's hand wins their bet regardless of whether another player had a higher hand as each player plays individually against the casino.