Poker has become globally acclaimed lately, with televised events and celebrity poker game shows. The games popularity, though, arcs back in reality a bit farther than its TV ratings. Over the years many variants on the first poker game have been created, including a few games that are not quite poker anymore. Caribbean stud poker is one of the above-mentioned games. Regardless of the name, Caribbean stud poker is most closely affiliated with 21 than long-standing poker, in that the players bet against the casino rather than the other players. The succeeding hands, are the traditional poker hands. There is no bluffing or other kinds of concealment. In Caribbean stud poker, you are required to pay up before the dealer saying "No more bets." At that moment, both you and the casino and of course all of the other gamblers receive 5 cards each. After you have seen your hand and the casino’s first card, you need to in turn make a call wager or bow out. The call bet’s amount is akin to your beginning wager, which means that the stakes will have increased two fold. Bowing out means that your wager goes instantly to the house. After the wager is the showdown. If the dealer doesn’t have ace/king or greater, your wager is given back, plus an amount in accordance with the ante. If the house does have ace/king or better, you win if your hand defeats the casino’s hand. The casino pony’s up chips even with your ante and fixed expectations on your call bet. These odds are:
- Even for a pair or high card
- 2-1 for two pairs
- 3-1 for three of a kind
- 4-1 for a straight
- 5-1 for a flush
- seven to one for a full house
- twenty to one for a four of a kind
- 50-1 for a straight flush
- 100-1 for a royal flush