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Caribbean Stud Poker

Originally developed for Caribbean cruise ships, Caribbean stud poker has become popular in Las Vegas because of its progressive jackpot, which often reaches into six figures. The game is based on five-card stud poker and played on a blackjack-style table.

Players are dealt five cards face down after placing their ante bets - a minimum of $5 in most casinos - and their $1 progressive ante, if they choose to play for the escalating jackpot, the value of which is displayed on an electronic reader board at the table. The dealer receives four cards face down and one card up. If the player doesn't like his cards, he may fold and surrender his ante bet. If he thinks he can win, he places a "call bet" equal to double his original ante.

The house has an advantage because the dealer must have an Ace/King or higher to continue play. If he doesn't, the hand is over, and the players who remained in the game are paid even money on their original ante, but their call bets are returned.

If the game continues and the player's hand fails to beat the dealer's, he loses the ante and call bets. But if the player's hand beats the dealer's, he's paid even money on his ante, plus a bonus amount on his call bet according to the following schedule:

Ace-King high, 1-1
One pair, 1-1
Two pair, 2-1
Three of a kind, 3-1
Straight, 4-1
Flush, 5-1
Full house, 7-1
Four of a kind, 20-1
Straight flush, 50-1
Royal flush, 100-1
Whether or not the player's hand beats the dealer's, he wins the following payouts if he bet the $1 to enter the progressive pool:
Flush, $50
Full house, $75
4 of a kind, $100
Straight flush, 10 percent of progressive pool
Royal flush, 100 percent of progressive pool

Let It Ride Poker

This variation of five-card stud is interesting in that players don't compete against the dealer or each other. Instead, they try to get a good hand by combining three cards dealt to them with the dealer's two "hole" cards. To help their cause, players can remove up to two-thirds of their original bet during play to reduce the risk when chances for a winning hand seem bleak.

Here's how it works: Players make three equal bets and are dealt three cards. Then the dealer receives two cards face down. If the player's not happy with his deal, he can remove one of his bets or let it ride. The dealer then turns over one of his cards, which is counted as the player's fourth card, and the player must decide whether to withdraw his second bet or let it ride. In either case, the dealer then turns over his second card, and all the players lay down their cards. The players' hands are determined by combining their three and the dealer's two cards. The minimum winning hand is a pair of 10s or better, which pays even money. If the player has a winning hand, he is paid on all his remaining bets according to the following schedule:

Pair of tens or better, 1-1
Two pair, 2-1
Three of a kind, 3-1
Straight, 5-1
Flush, 8-1
Full house, 11-1
Four of a kind, 50-1
Straight flush, 200-1
Royal flush, 1000-1

Pai Gow Poker

Despite its name, Pai Gow Poker bears little resemblance to its ancient Chinese namesake, which is played with 32 domino-like tiles. Rather, it's a kind of seven-card stud in which players arrange their cards into a five-card and a two-card hand, then try to beat the dealer's similarly arranged hand.

The game is played with a standard 52-card deck, and hands are ranked the same as traditional poker. After bets are placed, the dealer deals seven cards face down to the players and himself. Each player arranges his cards into a two-card and five-card hand, making sure the latter outranks the former. If the value of the five-card hand isn't higher than the two-card hand, the player automatically loses.

Because the game frequently ends in a tie with no money changing hands, players find they can play longer with a given bankroll than at blackjack, which actually enjoys a slightly lower house advantage.

Three Card Poker

A new poker game has started to generate a following of players. It's called Three Card Poker, and it combines the head-to-head excitement of blackjack, where player goes against the dealer, and Caribbean Stud, in which players are paid for attaining a minimum hand.

Here's how it works:

The game is played with a standard deck of 52 cards on a blackjack-style table. Both the player and dealer get three cards face down.

There are actually two "objects" to the game. The first is to hope your poker hand beats the dealer's poker hand. The other object, which is also a separate bet, is that your three-card hand will be a least a pair or higher.

Prior to the deal, you must determine which bet or bets you want to make.

If you want to compete against the dealer's hand you make a bet on the Ante spot. If instead you want to bet that your three-card hand will be at least a pair or higher, then you would wager on the Pair Plus box. The betting spots for making these wagers are located directly in front of each player.

If you decide to play against the dealer and bet the ante, the play begins with the dealer giving you and he three cards face down. You pick up your cards, look at them, and decide whether you want to stay in the game or fold. If you want to stay, you must make another equal bet in the "Play" betting spot. If you decide instead to fold, you would place your cards face down on the layout toward the dealer, and you forfeit your ante bet.

After all the players have decided to play or fold, the dealer will look at his cards. If the dealer has a queen or higher, then his hand "qualifies" and play will continue against the remaining players.

If the dealer doesn't have a queen or higher, he will automatically pay each player who stayed in the game (i.e. wagered on the Play) even money on the Ante wager and return the Play wager to the player (it's a push).

When the dealer's hand qualifies but your hand has a higher poker rank than his, you win your Ante and Play wagers at even money. If instead the dealer's hand beats your hand, you lose both your Ante and Play wagers.

If you don't want to compete against the dealer's hand, your other betting option is to bet on the Pair Plus. You win if your three-card hand contains at least a pair or higher. The higher the poker rank, the greater the payout. You lose the Pair Plus bet if you end up with less than a pair. These are paid regardless of the dealer's hand.

Straight Flush 40 to 1
Three-of-a-Kind 30 to 1
Straight 6 to 1
Flush 4 to 1
Pair 1 to 1

The casinos' edge for the Pair Plus is 2.3 percent and for the Ante wager it's 3.4 percent based on the initial bet, or 2.0 and 2.3 percent respectively based on the total money bet.

Compared to the similar Caribbean Stud Poker and Let it Ride poker games, Three Card Poker is actually a better deal for the player. Of course, it always helps to be lucky, regardless of the house advantage!

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