Rules

The rules of Caribbean Draw poker are not hard to learn. In fact the rules at the beginning of the game are almost similar to a traditional 5 Card draw poker game. The goal of the game is still to make a better hand with 5 cards than the dealer to win the game. But one of the different rules with Caribbean Draw Poker is that you as a player are allowed to draw cards to improve your hand. This can make a more complex strategy but will also make your chances on winning bigger.

What are the rules of Caribbean Draw poker

At the beginning of the game the rules are almost the same as with a traditional game of 5 Card Draw poker. The only difference at the beginning is that online Caribbean Draw poker is played between the dealer and the player, there are no other players involved. That is one of the reasons why this game is so popular in online casinos.
First of all the player will place a first bet, also called the Ante. The size of the Ante is determined by the house rules. The player will receive 5 cards which are only available to the player. The dealer will also receive five cards but the fifth card is dealt face up.
Now the turn is to you as a player. You can choose to fold which means that you will lose your Ante bet. You can also choose to call with which you make a second bet which will double your initial bet.
Until now the game rules were almost the same as the traditional 5 Card Draw poker but from now on the game is really different.
With Caribbean Draw poker you can also choose to stand or draw. When you choose to stand you are satisfied with your hand and want to stay as you are. In the case you choose to draw you can discard up to two of your cards and receive up to two new cards. By doing this you have a bigger chance on a better hand which might beat the dealer. There is a strategy when to draw and when not to draw. You can find an explanation of this strategy on the page Strategy.

The dealers turn is when you are finished with your hand. The dealer now has also the option to draw up to two cards but there are specific rules for this. The dealer will need a pair of eights to qualify. In the case the dealer does not qualify you will win even money on your Ante bet and the call bet is being pushed. In the case the dealer does qualify his/her hand will be compared with your hand. When the dealer has the best hand you will loose your ante and call bets. But if you have the best hand you will win even money on the Ante bet and you will win the call bet. When it is a tie both the bets push.
A common pay chart used at Caribbean Draw poker is as follows:

Royal Flush: 10, Jack, Queen, King and Ace of the same suit, pays 100-1
Straight Flush: five cards of the same suit and in sequential order, pays 50-1
Four of a Kind: four cards of the same value, pays 20-1
Full House: three of the same kind plus a pair, pays 7-1
Flush: five cards of the same suit but not of sequential order, pays 5-1
Straight: five cards in sequential order not of the same suit, pays 3-1

<li>Three of a Kind: three cards of the same value, pays 2-1

Two Pair: one pair with the same value and another pair with another value (10/10 and Q/Q), pays 1-1
One pair: two cards of the same value, pays 1-1
High card: the highest cards of all of your five cards

Tips regarding Caribbean Draw poker

One tip is to never fold in the opening round as the dealer will only qualify about half the time. Even in the case you have the worst possible hand it is still worth to draw and improve your hand.
When you have a Three of a Kind it can be wise to discard the other two cards and with Two Pair it can be wise to discard the odd card.
When you have pairs there are several options which you can perform. The standard rules are to hold the pair together with the highest other card. But there are many exceptions to that rule. You can break up the pair when you have a chance on a Four-card royal or a straight flush. When the pair consists of tens or lower you can also break them up to try to get a four-card flush.
In the case you do not have pairs you should hold on to a four-card royal/straight, a four card open ended straight, a three card royal/straight flush, a three card flush and a four card inside straight. Or simply hold on to the three highest cards.
Do not break up: a flush (including a straight flush and royal flushes), Full house and a Four of a Kind. When you have a Straight only break it up when you hold KQJ10 of the same suit. This hand will give you the opportunity to improve to a flush, a straight flush or a royal flush.