Caribbean Stud Poker has been played on cruise ships and in the Caribbean casinos for many years. It has only been within the last couple of years that the game has gained wide acceptance in casinos in the United States.

Unlike regular poker, all players compete against the dealer (or house), eliminating some of the intimidation that participants may feel when competing against other players.

The game is played on a table similar to a blackjack table, with up to seven player spots. One standard deck of fifty-two cards is used. Play begins with all players making a mandatory ante wager (usually $5 minimum) in the designated box in front of each player (see diagram at the end of this book). The dealer deals five cards to each player, usually from a deck that has been shuffled by an automatic shuffling machine. The dealer also receives five cards, but the last dealer card is dealt face-up for all of the players to see. Each player then picks up his five cards and makes a decision to either call or fold his hand.

After looking at the cards, if the player believes he has very little chance of beating the dealer-ending up with a better five-card poker hand than the dealer-the player can fold by throwing the cards facedown on the table (hopefully, in such a manner as to not offend the dealer!). When the player folds, the player's ante bet is taken by the dealer and the player loses.

If the player believes he has a chance to beat the dealer, he must make a secondary bet equal to twice the size of the initial wager. Thus, a player that made a $5 ante bet must make a $10 call bet, which is placed behind the original wager in the box provided.

After all of the players have decided to either fold or call, the dealer exposes his cards on the layout. In order for this round of play to continue, the dealer's hand must "qualify" by having at least an Ace and King, or higher. Let's examine the two scenarios of when the dealer's hand qualifies and when it doesn't.