Caribbean Draw Poker
Caribbean Stud Poker has been among the most popular of the newer breed of table games. The combination of familiar poker action and a progressive jackpot side bet helped make it a favorite amongst many players, and you can still find the game at virtually any live or online casino you enter today.
But why does this style of game have to stick to stud poker? In online casinos, you can often find similar “Caribbean” poker games that emulate other types of poker. Among these great games is Caribbean Draw Poker, a variant that allows you to exchange cards in an attempt to improve your hand.
How to Play
Caribbean Draw Poker begins with the player making an initial bet known as the ante. After making that bet, the player will receive a five-card hand, as well the dealer. In order to help the player make decisions, one card from the dealer’s hand is revealed face up at the start of the hand.
The player then has the option to either fold their hand, forfeiting that initial wager, or to place a second bet known as the raise, which must be twice the size of the ante bet. If they choose to raise, they may then exchange two cards of their choosing, as you might do in a traditional draw poker game. After the exchange, the player will now have their final hand. The dealer will also have the opportunity to exchange up to two cards, based on rules set by the casino.
At this point, the dealer’s hand is revealed and compared to the player’s hand. In order for the dealer to play, they must make a qualifying hand, which is a pair of eights or better. If the dealer fails to qualify, all players win the ante bet at even money, and all raise bets are resolved as pushes.
If the dealer does qualify, then the two hands are compared. If the dealer wins, all player bets are lost. If the player wins instead, they once again win even money on the ante bet. The raise bet also pays, based on the quality of the player’s hand. While different casinos may have varying payout charts for this game, one typical payout scheme is as follows:
- Two Pair or Less: 1-1
- Three of a Kind: 2-1
- Straight: 3-1
- Flush: 5-1
- Full House: 7-1
- Four of a Kind: 20-1
- Straight Flush: 50-1
- Royal Flush: 100-1
In addition to the standard game, there will usually also be a progressive jackpot side bet. This progressive jackpot usually costs exactly $1 to play, and will pay you a prize based on the strength of your hand, regardless of the dealer’s hand. Lower hands will usually pay out a fixed amount, while the rarest and strongest hands could win some or all of the progressive jackpot. Again, the following is a typical payout structure, but could vary at different casino sites:
- Royal Flush: 100% of Progressive Jackpot
- Straight Flush: 10% of Progressive Jackpot
- Four of a Kind: $500
- Full House: $100
- Flush: $75
Why Play This Game?
If you enjoy Caribbean Stud Poker but want to try something just a bit different, this is definitely a game you’ll want to play. While the general gameplay is very similar, the strategies are completely different, and the game has a different feel as you play it. While the stud version sees your hand set from the time it is dealt to you, the fact that you can draw new cards adds more tension and excitement to this version, especially when you’re drawing to a monster hand. You may also enjoy this game a lot if you want to chase a progressive jackpot: often, all of the Caribbean-style poker games at the same casino will share and feed into a single jackpot.
Play Online
Caribbean Draw Poker is a great game, and we’re happy to say that many online casinos now offer it as a part of their table game selection. If you’d like to give this variation on classic poker action a try, we can recommend a number of great sites that host the game. Just open an account at any of our trusted online casinos, and you can be dealt your first hand in a matter of minutes.
