Caribbean Stud Poker - Strategy

Optimal strategy in Caribbean Stud is very complicated. The number of people who know it perfectly is probably zero. However, we can make two generalizations that cover most hands.

Always raise with a pair or higher.
Always fold with less than the dealer's qualifying hand (ace/king)

It is the ace/king hands that are tricky. In general it helps if the three singletons are high or the dealer's up card is jack or less and matches one of the player's cards (making is less likely the dealer will form a pair). I personally developed the following strategy, which results in a house edge of 5.225%, just 0.001% less than optimal.

The optimal strategy for Caribbean Stud Poker is relatively simple. First off, stay away from the optional side bet. The progressive pot can look awfully enticing, but it's generally a poor bet. For the raise bet, you should raise on any pair or better, fold on anything less than Ace/King, and should sometimes raise and sometimes fold on Ace/King. The Ace/King hand is the only time things get a little tricky. You should raise if the dealer's up card is a Two through Queen and matches one of your cards. You should also raise if the dealer's up card is an Ace or King and you have a Queen or Jack in your hand. Finally, raise if the dealer's rank does not match any of yours and is less than your forth highest card and you have a Queen in your hand. Fold under any other condition. If these rules are too much to remember then your best strategy is to simply raise on any pair or better and forget about the Ace/King.

Also note, that the $1 progressive jackpot wager is a sucker bet and should not be made until the jackpot meter exceeds $263,000.