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Caribbean Stud Poker Optimal Strategy
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Introduction
- With a pair or higher, raise.
- With less than A/K (player has an ace and a king, plus three other singletons, excpet Q-J-10), fold.
- With A/K, the following table shows exactly when to stand on ace/king. Yourother three cards are along the left and the dealer's up card isalong the top. A key is after the table.
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Optimal Strategy for A-K Hands
| Player's other three cards |
Dealer's Up Card | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | T | J | Q | K | A | |
| Q-J-10 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| Q-J-9 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| Q-J-8 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| Q-J-7 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| Q-J-6 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| Q-J-5 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| Q-J-4 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| Q-J-3 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| Q-J-2 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | J | Q | K | A | |
| Q-10-9 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | 2 | R | R | R |
| Q-10-8 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | 3 | R | R | R |
| Q-10-7 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | 3 | R | R | R |
| Q-10-6 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | 4 | R | R | R |
| Q-10-5 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | 4 | R | R | R |
| Q-10-4 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | 4 | R | R | R |
| Q-10-3 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | 4 | R | R | R |
| Q-10-2 | R | R | R | R | 1 | 1 | R | R | R | 4 | R | R | R |
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | J | Q | K | A | |
| Q-9-8 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F | 3 | R | R | R |
| Q-9-7 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F | 3 | R | R | R |
| Q-9-6 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F | 4 | R | R | R |
| Q-9-5 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F | 4 | R | R | R |
| Q-9-4 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F | 4 | R | R | R |
| Q-9-3 | R | R | R | R | 1 | 1 | R | R | F | 4 | R | R | R |
| Q-9-2 | R | R | R | 1 | 1 | 1 | R | R | F | 4 | R | R | R |
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | J | Q | K | A | |
| Q-8-7 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F | F | 3* | R | R | R |
| Q-8-6 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F | F | 4 | R | R | R |
| Q-8-5 | R | R | R | R | 1 | 1 | R | F | F | 4 | R | R | R |
| Q-8-4 | R | R | R | 1 | 1 | 1 | R | F | F | 4 | R | R | R |
| Q-8-3 | R | R | R | 1 | 1 | 1 | R | F | F | 4 | R | R | R |
| Q-8-2 | R | R | R | 1 | 2 | 2 | R | F | F | 4 | R | R | R |
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | J | Q | K | A | |
| Q-7-6 | R | R | R | 1 | R | R | F | F | F | F | R | R | R |
| Q-7-5 | R | R | R | R | 1 | R | F | F | F | F | R | R | R |
| Q-7-4 | R | R | R | 1 | 2 | R | F | F | F | F | R | R | R |
| Q-7-3 | R | R | 1 | 2 | 2 | R | F | F | F | F | R | R | R |
| Q-7-2 | R | R | 1 | 2 | 2* | R | F | F | F | F | R | R | R |
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | J | Q | K | A | |
| Q-6-5 | R | R | R | R | R | F | F | F | F | F | R | R | R |
| Q-6-4 | R | R | R | 2 | R | F | F | F | F | F | R | R | R |
| Q-6-3 | R | R | 1 | 3 | R | F | F | F | F | F | R | R | R |
| Q-6-2 | R | R | 1* | 3 | R | F | F | F | F | F | R | R | R |
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | J | Q | K | A | |
| Q-5-4 | R | R | R | R | F | F | F | F | F | F | R | R | R |
| Q-5-3 | R | R | 2 | R | F | F | F | F | F | F | R | R | R |
| Q-5-2 | R | 1 | 2* | R | F | F | F | F | F | F | R | R | R |
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | J | Q | K | A | |
| Q-4-3 | R | R | R | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | R | R | R |
| Q-4-2 | R | 2 | R | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | R | R | R |
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | J | Q | K | A | |
| Q-3-2 | R | R | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | R | R | R |
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | J | Q | K | A | |
| J-10-9 | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | R | R | R | F | R | R |
| J-10-8 | F | F | F | F | F | F | R | F | R | R | F | R | R |
| J-10-7 | F | F | F | F | F | R | F | F | R | R | F | R | R |
| J-10-6 | F | F | F | F | R | F | F | F | R | R | F | R | R |
| J-10-5 | F | F | F | R | F | F | F | F | R | R | F | R | R |
| J-10-4 | F | F | R | F | F | F | F | F | R | R | F | R | R |
| J-10-3 | F | R | F | F | F | F | F | F | R | R | F | R | R |
| J-10-2 | R | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | R | R | F | R | R |
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | J | Q | K | A | |
| J-9-8 | F | F | F | F | F | F | R | R | F | R | F | R | R |
| J-9-7 | F | F | F | F | F | R | F | R | F | R | F | R | R |
| J-9-6 | F | F | F | F | R | F | F | R | F | R | F | R | R |
| J-9-5 | F | F | F | R | F | F | F | R | F | R | F | R | R |
| J-9-4 | F | F | R | F | F | F | F | R | F | R | F | R | R |
| J-9-3 | F | R | F | F | F | F | F | R | F | R | F | R | R |
| J-9-2 | R | F | F | F | F | F | F | R | F | R | F | R | R |
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | J | Q | K | A | |
| J-8-7 | F | F | F | F | F | R | R | F | F | R | F | R | R |
| J-8-6 | F | F | F | F | R | F | R | F | F | R | F | R | R |
| J-8-5 | F | F | F | R | F | F | R | F | F | R | F | R | R |
| J-8-4 | F | F | R | F | F | F | R | F | F | R | F | R | R |
| J-8-3 | F | R | F | F | F | F | R | F | F | R | F | R | R |
| J-8-2 | R | F | F | F | F | F | R | F | F | R | F | R | R |
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | J | Q | K | A | |
| J-7-6 | F | F | F | F | R | R | F | F | F | R | F | R | R |
| J-7-5 | F | F | F | R | F | R | F | F | F | R | F | R | R |
| J-7-4 | F | F | R | F | F | R | F | F | F | R | F | R | R |
| J-7-3 | F | R | F | F | F | R | F | F | F | R | F | R | R |
| J-7-2 | R | F | F | F | F | R | F | F | F | R | F | R | R |
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | J | Q | K | A | |
| J-6-5 | F | F | F | R | R | F | F | F | F | R | F | R | R |
| J-6-4 | F | F | R | F | R | F | F | F | F | R | F | R | R |
| J-6-3 | F | R | F | F | R | F | F | F | F | R | F | R | R |
| J-6-2 | R | F | F | F | R | F | F | F | F | R | F | R | R |
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | J | Q | K | A | |
| J-5-4 | F | F | R | R | F | F | F | F | F | R | F | R | R |
| J-5-3 | F | R | F | R | F | F | F | F | F | R | F | R | R |
| J-5-2 | R | F | F | R | F | F | F | F | F | R | F | R | R |
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | J | Q | K | A | |
| J-4-3 | F | R | R | F | F | F | F | F | F | R | F | R | R |
| J-4-2 | R | F | R | F | F | F | F | F | F | R | F | R | R |
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | J | Q | K | A | |
| J-3-2 | R | R | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | R | F | R | R |
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | J | Q | K | A | |
| 10-9-8 | F | F | F | F | F | F | R | R | R | F | F | F | F |
| 10-9-7 | F | F | F | F | F | R | F | R | R | F | F | F | F |
| 10-9-6 | F | F | F | F | R | F | F | R | R | F | F | F | F |
| 10-9-5 | F | F | F | R | F | F | F | R | R | F | F | F | F |
| 10-9-4 | F | F | R | F | F | F | F | R | R | F | F | F | F |
| 10-9-3 | F | R | F | F | F | F | F | R | R | F | F | F | F |
| 10-9-2 | R | F | F | F | F | F | F | R | R | F | F | F | F |
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | J | Q | K | A | |
| 10-8-7 | F | F | F | F | F | R | R | F | R | F | F | F | F |
| 10-8-6 | F | F | F | F | R | F | R | F | R | F | F | F | F |
| 10-8-5 | F | F | F | R | F | F | R | F | R | F | F | F | F |
| 10-8-4 | F | F | R | F | F | F | R | F | R | F | F | F | F |
| 10-8-3 | F | R | F | F | F | F | R | F | R | F | F | F | F |
| 10-8-2 | R | F | F | F | F | F | R | F | R | F | F | F | F |
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | J | Q | K | A | |
| 10-7-6 | F | F | F | F | R | R | F | F | R | F | F | F | F |
| 10-7-5 | F | F | F | R | F | R | F | F | R | F | F | F | F |
| 10-7-4 | F | F | R | F | F | R | F | F | R | F | F | F | F |
| 10-7-3 | F | R | F | F | F | R | F | F | R | F | F | F | F |
| 10-7-2 | R | F | F | F | F | R | F | F | R | F | F | F | F |
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | J | Q | K | A | |
| 10-6-5 | F | F | F | R | R | F | F | F | R | F | F | F | F |
| 10-6-4 | F | F | R | F | R | F | F | F | R | F | F | F | F |
| 10-6-3 | F | R | F | F | R | F | F | F | R | F | F | F | F |
| 10-6-2 | R | F | F | F | R | F | F | F | R | F | F | F | F |
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | J | Q | K | A | |
| 10-5-4 | F | F | R | R | F | F | F | F | R | F | F | F | F |
| 10-5-3 | F | R | F | R | F | F | F | F | R | F | F | F | F |
| 10-5-2 | R | F | F | R | F | F | F | F | R | F | F | F | F |
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | J | Q | K | A | |
| 10-4-3 | F | R | R | F | F | F | F | F | R | F | F | F | F |
| 10-4-2 | R | F | R | F | F | F | F | F | R | F | F | F | F |
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | J | Q | K | A | |
| 10-3-2 | R | R | F | F | F | F | F | F | 1* | F | F | F | F |
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | J | Q | K | A | |
| 9-8-7 | F | F | F | F | F | R | R | R | F | F | F | F | F |
| 9-8-6 | F | F | F | F | R | F | R | R | F | F | F | F | F |
| 9-8-5 | F | F | F | R | F | F | R | R | F | F | F | F | F |
| 9-8-4 | F | F | R | F | F | F | R | R | F | F | F | F | F |
| 9-8-3 | F | R | F | F | F | F | R | R | F | F | F | F | F |
| 9-8-2 | R | F | F | F | F | F | R | R | F | F | F | F | F |
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | J | Q | K | A | |
| 9-7-6 | F | F | F | F | R | R | F | R | F | F | F | F | F |
| 9-7-5 | F | F | F | R | F | R | F | R | F | F | F | F | F |
| 9-7-4 | F | F | R | F | F | R | F | R | F | F | F | F | F |
| 9-7-3 | F | R | F | F | F | R | F | R | F | F | F | F | F |
| 9-7-2 | R | F | F | F | F | R | F | R | F | F | F | F | F |
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | J | Q | K | A | |
| 9-6-5 | F | F | F | R | R | F | F | R | F | F | F | F | F |
| 9-6-4 | F | F | R | F | R | F | F | R | F | F | F | F | F |
| 9-6-3 | F | R | F | F | R | F | F | R | F | F | F | F | F |
| 9-6-2 | R | F | F | F | R | F | F | R | F | F | F | F | F |
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | J | Q | K | A | |
| 9-5-4 | F | F | R | R | F | F | F | R | F | F | F | F | F |
| 9-5-3 | F | R | F | R | F | F | F | R | F | F | F | F | F |
| 9-5-2 | R | F | F | R | F | F | F | R | F | F | F | F | F |
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | J | Q | K | A | |
| 9-4-3 | F | R | R | F | F | F | F | 1 | F | F | F | F | F |
| 9-4-2 | R | F | R | F | F | F | F | 2 | F | F | F | F | F |
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | J | Q | K | A | |
| 9-3-2 | R | R | F | F | F | F | F | 4 | F | F | F | F | F |
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | J | Q | K | A | |
| 8-7-6 | F | F | F | F | R | R | R | F | F | F | F | F | F |
| 8-7-5 | F | F | F | R | F | R | R | F | F | F | F | F | F |
| 8-7-4 | F | F | R | F | F | R | R | F | F | F | F | F | F |
| 8-7-3 | F | R | F | F | F | R | R | F | F | F | F | F | F |
| 8-7-2 | R | F | F | F | F | R | R | F | F | F | F | F | F |
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | J | Q | K | A | |
| 8-6-5 | F | F | F | R | R | F | R | F | F | F | F | F | F |
| 8-6-4 | F | F | R | F | R | F | R | F | F | F | F | F | F |
| 8-6-3 | F | R | F | F | R | F | R | F | F | F | F | F | F |
| 8-6-2 | R | F | F | F | R | F | R | F | F | F | F | F | F |
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | J | Q | K | A | |
| 8-5-4 | F | F | R | R | F | F | R | F | F | F | F | F | F |
| 8-5-3 | F | R | F | R | F | F | R | F | F | F | F | F | F |
| 8-5-2 | R | F | F | R | F | F | R | F | F | F | F | F | F |
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | J | Q | K | A | |
| 8-4-3 | F | R | R | F | F | F | 1 | F | F | F | F | F | F |
| 8-4-2 | R | F | R | F | F | F | 2 | F | F | F | F | F | F |
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | J | Q | K | A | |
| 8-3-2 | R | R | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F |
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | J | Q | K | A | |
| 7-6-5 | F | F | F | R | R | R | F | F | F | F | F | F | F |
| 7-6-4 | F | F | R | F | R | R | F | F | F | F | F | F | F |
| 7-6-3 | F | R | F | F | R | R | F | F | F | F | F | F | F |
| 7-6-2 | R | F | F | F | R | R | F | F | F | F | F | F | F |
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | J | Q | K | A | |
| 7-5-4 | F | F | R | R | F | R | F | F | F | F | F | F | F |
| 7-5-3 | F | R | F | R | F | R | F | F | F | F | F | F | F |
| 7-5-2 | R | F | F | R | F | R | F | F | F | F | F | F | F |
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | J | Q | K | A | |
| 7-4-3 | F | R | R | F | F | R | F | F | F | F | F | F | F |
| 7-4-2 | R | F | R | F | F | 1* | F | F | F | F | F | F | F |
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | J | Q | K | A | |
| 7-3-2 | R | R | F | F | F | 4 | F | F | F | F | F | F | F |
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | J | Q | K | A | |
| 6-5-4 | F | F | R | R | R | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F |
| 6-5-3 | F | R | F | R | R | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F |
| 6-5-2 | R | F | F | R | R | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F |
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | J | Q | K | A | |
| 6-4-3 | F | R | R | F | R | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F |
| 6-4-2 | R | F | R | F | 1 | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F |
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | J | Q | K | A | |
| 6-3-2 | R | R | F | F | 2* | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F |
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | J | Q | K | A | |
| 5-4-3 | F | R | R | R | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F |
| 5-4-2 | R | F | R | R | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F |
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | J | Q | K | A | |
| 5-3-2 | R | R | F | 1 | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F |
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | J | Q | K | A | |
| 4-3-2 | R | R | R | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F |
Key to table:
| R | Always raise. |
| 1 | Raise if the suit of dealer's card matches the suit of one or more of your cards. |
| 2 | Raise if the suit of dealer's card matches the suit of two or more of your cards. |
| 3 | Raise if the suit of dealer's card matches the suit of three or more of your cards. |
| 4 | Raise if the suit of dealer's card matches the suit of four of your cards. |
| F | Always fold |
Footnotes:
*: Extremely borderline play. Correct strategy depends not only on the number of suited cards but which ones are suited. See table below for how to play these situations.
Borderline Hands
| Player's | Up card | Suited cards |
Raise on the following suited card(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| A/K/Q/5/2 | 4 | 2 | A/K, A/Q, A/5, A/2, K/Q, K/5, K/2 |
| A/K/Q/6/2 | 4 | 1 | A, K |
| A/K/6/3/2 | 6 | 2 | 3/2 |
| A/K/Q/7/2 | 6 | 2 | A/K, A/Q, A/7, A/2, K/Q, K/7, K/2 |
| A/K/7/4/2 | 7 | 1 | 4, 2 |
| A/K/10/3/2 | 10 | 1 | 3, 2 |
| A/K/Q/8/7 | J | 3 | A/K/Q, A/K/8, A/K/7, A/Q/8, A/Q/7, A/8/7, K/Q/8, K/Q/7, K/8/7 |
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I would like to thank Stanly Ko and Professor John M. Gwynn, Jr. foralerting me to these borderline plays.
Go back to Caribbean Stud Poker.
Michael Shackleford, ASA