CARIBBEAN STUD POKER RULES

The rules of this game depend on location, but in all cases you need to place a bet on the 'Ante' box first, in order to receive five cards. The dealer will also have five cards, with the last one showing.

When you have looked at the cards you must decide whether to play or fold. If you fold, you lose your 'Ante' and take no further part. If you decide to play you must place a bet on the 'Bet Box', which must be double the amount of the ante.

In the UK you must play (or fold) with the cards you are given, but in some countries you can change one or more cards.

With the adapted rules you can change one card for the cost of one ante, two cards for the cost of two antes, and all five cards for just one ante.

Let's say your initial ante bet was £5. if you wanted to change one of your cards, you would place the unwanted card on the table (face down) with an additional £5 on top (two cards £10 and all five £5). The dealer would then take your money and give you the required number of 'new' cards.

If you are happy with the result, you can then decide whether you wish to play the hand or not. If you fold, you lose the original ante and the money paid for changing cards. If you play, you need to place £10 on the 'Bet Box'

When everyone has completed their hands and bets, the dealer will then reveal his/her five cards. The dealer must obtain at least an Ace/King combination to qualify (the lowest recognised hand). If a player has something better, they will be paid the ante (1-1) and the bet at the odds applicable for their hand. These may vary, but generally you receive 1-1 for a winning Ace/King or Single Pair, 2-1 for Two Pairs, 3-1 for Three of a kind, 4-1 for a Straight, 5-1 for a Flush, 8-1 for a Full House, 20-1 for Four of a kind, 50-1 for a Straight Flush and at least 100-1 for a Royal Flush.

If the dealer does not qualify (has a hand less than an Ace/King), it is called a 'no game' and you only get paid your ante (1-1), regardless of what hand you obtained.

This is one of the most popular games in many European countries because it allows players to touch the cards and make decisions on whether to change cards or not.

The table below shows examples of the various hands previously mentioned.