Evolution Gaming
Caribbean Stud Poker: Progressive Jackpot Rules and Dealer Qualification Strategy
By M8BET Editorial · Updated March 2025 · 7 min read
Caribbean Stud Poker is a heads-up game with a progressive jackpot and a single call/fold decision. The dealer qualification rule shapes everything. Here is how it works.
How Caribbean Stud Works
You post an ante and receive five cards; the dealer receives five with one exposed. You then either fold or raise (exactly double your ante). If you raise, the dealer's hidden cards are revealed and hands are compared.
Dealer Qualification
The dealer must qualify with Ace-King or better. If the dealer fails to qualify, your ante is paid even if you would have lost, and your raise is returned. If the dealer qualifies, you win or lose on hand comparison, with a pay table for strong hands.
- Five cards each, one dealer card exposed
- Call (double) or fold after seeing the up-card
- Dealer must qualify with Ace-King or better
- Winning hands pay according to a fixed table
Progressive Jackpot
The progressive jackpot is a separate side bet that pays out on increasingly rare hands, with a share of each wager feeding the ever-growing top prize. It carries a high house edge, so treat it as lottery-style entertainment.
Playing Well
A standard play/fold chart exists for Caribbean Stud, so learning it removes most of the guesswork. Keep the progressive bet small and remember that the main game is where the lower house edge sits.