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Caribbean Hold 'em
Introduction
Caribbean Hold 'Em is the same thing as Casino Hold 'Em, except the Ante bet pays even money only if the dealer doesn't qualify. It also adds a progressive jackpot side bet. This version can be played only at Internet casinos using Realtime Gaming software.
If you wish to be paid the full way on the Ante bet, then look for Casino Hold 'Em, which can be found in land casinos in Egypt, Russia, South Africa, Holland, Latvia, Estonia, Ireland, Morocco, Malta, Ukraine, Panama and Romania. It is also available to play online at casinos using Net Gaming, Real Time Gaming, Playtech, and Galewind Software.
Rules
The Realtime Gaming rules are as follows:
- Play begins with each player making an Ante wager.
- The dealer gives the player and himself two hole cards and three community cards face up on the table.
- Each player must decide to either fold or call. If the player folds, then he gives up his cards and his Ante bet. If the player calls, then the Call bet must be equal to two times the Ante bet.
- The dealer will then deal two more community cards, for a total of five. The dealer will then turn over his own two cards.
- Both hands shall be scored according the highest poker value of the two hole cards and five community cards.
- The dealer must have a pair of fours or better to qualify. If the dealer does not qualify, then the Ante will pay even money and the Call bet will push.
- If the dealer qualifies and beats the player, then the player will lose both the Ante and Call.
- If the dealer qualifies and the player beats the dealer, then the Ante will pay according to the Ante pay table below and the Call bet will pay 1 to 1.
- If the dealer qualifies and the player ties the dealer, then both Ante and Call bets will push.
The following is the Ante pay table. Remember, under Realtime Gaming rules, this pay table is followed only if the dealer qualifies. Otherwise, the Ante pays even money.
Ante Pay Table
| Hand | Pays |
|---|---|
| Royal flush | 100 to 1 |
| Straight flush | 20 to 1 |
| 4 of a kind | 10 to 1 |
| Full house | 3 to 1 |
| Flush | 2 to 1 |
| All other | 1 to 1 |
House Edge
The following table shows the number of combinations, probability, and contribution to the return of all possible outcomes. The lower right cell shows a house edge of 3.09%.
Comparison to Casino Hold 'Em
The following table compares the house edge and element of risk between Casino Hold 'Em and Caribbean Hold 'Em. As you can see, the inferior Caribbean Hold 'Em rules cost the player 0.93% of every Ante bet made.
Ante Pay Table
| Hand | House Edge | Element of Risk |
|---|---|---|
| Casino Hold 'Em | 2.16% | 0.82% |
| Caribbean Hold 'Em | 3.09% | 1.17% |
The probability of being shortchanged with a flush or better and the dealer not qualifying is 0.702%, or 1 hand in 142.
Strategy
I have not quantified strategy for Caribbean Hold 'Em. However, we can see from the return table above that the player raises 81.9% of the time.
Side Bets
There is also a $1 progressive side bet that pays based on the player's two hole cards and the flop only. The following is the pay table:
- Royal flush: 100% of jackpot
- Straight flush: 10% of jackpot
- Four of a kind: $500
- Full house: $100
- flush: $75
This pay table returns 41.152%, plus 2.9242% for each $10,000 in the jackpot meter. The break even point, with zero house edge, is at a jackpot of $201,241.58.
Other Information
- To document that the player gets paid even money on the Ante with a flush and the dealer doesn't qualify, please see a video I took of my play and posted on YouTube. The hand in question is the last one, which starts at the 5:29 point.
- The web site for Casino Hold'em, as well as other games, is www.casinopokergames.com.
- The rule about paying even money on the Ante when the dealer doesn't qualify is also documented at calculator at beatingbonuses.com.