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Caribbean Stud Adventures: My battle with a game that can’t be beat

Often when I’m either stuck, tired or way up after playing poker, I like to enjoy some decompression time at the Caribbean Stud table game. For those of you unfamiliar with Caribbean Stud, it is a table game enjoys an enormous edge of 16%. Now I know what you are thinking: Why would anyone partake in a game where the house enjoys such an enormous edge?

The answer to that question is simple: The dream of hitting the Progressive Jackpot which is usually anywhere between $150,000 to as large as $500,000 (I saw it over $500,000 only 1 time at Resorts in Gary, IN.). If you put an extra dollar up for your hand, you qualify to win the Progressive Jackpot should you be lucky enough to hit a Royal Flush.

My strategy for the game is simple—if I have a pair or better, I stay. If I don’t have a pair, I fold. The tough part about this game is that if you are fortunate enough to hit a big hand like 2 pair, the dealer must have at least an AK or better in his hand for you to get paid on the back bet, which is double the ante. Since the dealer only opens 35% of the time, more often than not, the player will not get paid on the back bet.

Some players, such as a guy named Bubba from Arkansas who I met one morning at the Caribbean Stud table at the Gold Strike in Tunica, will attempt to exploit the fact that the dealer will not qualify 65% of the time. Players like Bubba will play what I have called “Bubba Style” Caribbean Stud, a very aggressive strategy that should only be attempted by Caribbean Stud professionals.

Bubba will put out his $10 ante, and then without looking at his cards, will proceed to put up the $20 bet behind in hopes that a) he will have a big hand or b) the dealer will not qualify. b) of course, is the more likely of the two. Bubba, and players like him, are risking $30 to win $10 (really only $9 if you count the $1 you lose for betting to win the progressive jackpot).

Bubba was a fun guy, and we had a blast at the Stud Table that night, bluffing the dealer on occasion and hitting the occasional two pair; HOWEVER, I do not recommend you play his strategy unless a) you have a handle bar mustache like he did or b) you hate money.

I mainly play Caribbean to get some time away from REAL poker and to perhaps luck into a large Progressive Jackpot of $200,000 or more by hitting a Royal Flush. My friends constantly remind me of how BAD of a bet it is sitting down at the Caribbean Stud table, and I know this. The odds of hitting the Royal Flush only being dealt 5 cards is about 1/650,0000, and the average progressive pot at any given table is usually only $175,000.

I like a tough challenge though, so Bubba, Brian, Christian & Chris, if you are reading this, mark my words: I will hit the Royal Flush before I die. I’ll only get paid a portion of the true odds, but man is it going to be satisfying…..

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