In This Guide
98.19%Optimal RTPAs reported by Evolution
91.44%5+1 Bonus RTPSide bet
2x AntePlay Bet Cost
AKDealer QualificationAce-King minimum
EvolutionProvider
Introduction & Game Flow
Caribbean Stud Poker by Evolution Gaming is a five-card poker variant played against the house. You receive five face-up cards; the dealer receives one face-up and four face-down. Based on your hand and the dealer's upcard, you decide to Play (2x Ante bet) or Fold. The dealer then reveals all cards and hands are compared.
1. Place Ante
Place the Ante bet. The optional 5+1 Bonus bet can be placed at the same time.
2. Deal
Five cards dealt face-up to you. Dealer receives one face-up, four face-down.
3. Play or Fold
Decide to Play (place 2x Ante as a Play bet) or Fold (forfeit the Ante).
4. Reveal
Dealer reveals all four face-down cards. Hands are compared if dealer qualifies.
5. Outcome
Dealer must have Ace-King or better to qualify. If not, Ante pays 1:1 and Play bet is returned.
Dealer Qualification
Dealer must hold Ace-King or better to qualify. If the dealer fails to qualify, the Play bet is returned as a push regardless of hand strength. The Ante pays 1:1 on any hand when the dealer does not qualify. This creates edge cases where even a weak hand wins if the dealer misses qualification -- but relying on dealer non-qualification is not a sustainable strategy.
Optimal Strategy
Optimal RTP is 98.19% when the following Play/Fold rules are followed consistently. Deviating from this strategy reduces your return over time.
Play/Fold Decision Table
| Hand | Action | Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| Any Pair | Play | Inherent strength; potential to improve |
| Ace-6 or Better (with Ace) | Play | Competitive against dealer qualifying hand |
| Ace-2 to Ace-5 (no pair) | Fold | Low kicker reduces competitiveness |
| King-7 or Better (no Ace) | Play | Strong enough kicker to compete |
| King-2 to King-6 (no Ace) | Fold | Weak kicker insufficient |
| Queen-high or Lower (no Ace/King) | Fold | Lacks strength to overcome dealer range |
Hand Rankings
Standard Poker Hand Rankings (High to Low)
| Rank | Hand | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Royal Flush | A K Q J 10 same suit |
| 2 | Straight Flush | Five consecutive cards same suit |
| 3 | Four of a Kind | Four cards same rank |
| 4 | Full House | Three of a kind + pair |
| 5 | Flush | Five same-suit cards, not sequential |
| 6 | Straight | Five consecutive cards, mixed suits |
| 7 | Three of a Kind | Three cards same rank |
| 8 | Two Pairs | Two different pairs |
| 9 | One Pair | Two cards same rank |
| 10 | High Card | No qualifying combination |
Payouts
Play Bet Payouts (When Dealer Qualifies)
| Hand | Payout | |
|---|---|---|
| Royal Flush | 100:1 | |
| Straight Flush | 50:1 | |
| Four of a Kind | 25:1 | |
| Full House | 10:1 | |
| Flush | 7:1 | |
| Straight | 5:1 | |
| Three of a Kind | 3:1 | |
| Two Pairs | 2:1 | |
| One Pair or Less | 1:1 |
5+1 Bonus Bet
The 5+1 Bonus bet is evaluated on your five cards plus the dealer's one face-up card, forming a six-card combination. Pays out on Three of a Kind or better regardless of your Play/Fold decision or the main hand outcome. RTP is 91.44% -- materially lower than the main game's 98.19%.
5+1 Bonus Payouts
| Hand | Payout | |
|---|---|---|
| Royal Flush | 1,000:1 | |
| Straight Flush | 200:1 | |
| Four of a Kind | 100:1 | |
| Full House | 20:1 | |
| Flush | 15:1 | |
| Straight | 10:1 | |
| Three of a Kind | 7:1 | |
| Below Three of a Kind | Loss |
RTP
| Bet | RTP |
|---|---|
| Ante + Play (optimal strategy) | 98.19% |
| 5+1 Bonus Bet | 91.44% |
FAQ
What is the optimal RTP of Caribbean Stud Poker?
As reported by Evolution, the optimal theoretical RTP is 98.19% when applying the correct Play/Fold strategy.
When should I Play vs Fold?
Play any pair or better, Ace-6 or better with an Ace, and King-7 or better without an Ace. Fold Ace-2 through Ace-5 with no pair, King-6 or lower without an Ace, and anything Queen-high or below.
What does the dealer need to qualify?
Ace-King or better. If the dealer does not qualify, Ante pays 1:1 and the Play bet is returned as a push.
Is the 5+1 Bonus Bet worth placing?
The 5+1 Bonus carries a 91.44% RTP vs 98.19% on the main game. It is a higher-variance side bet appropriate for players who want large payout potential at lower frequency.