Welcome to our Caribbean Stud Poker review, covering all the essential details on Evolution Live’s fast-paced game. This is a live version of the classic casino game, played in a sleek studio with a glamorous dealer at the helm. Caribbean Stud Poker was launched in November 2015, the result of a partnership between Evolution Live and Games Marketing. At the time of its release, Caribbean Stud Poker was the only live version of this poker variant from a major licensed provider online. We will reveal the features and side bets, payouts, and highlights of Caribbean Stud Poker below, so read on for the full lowdown.
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When you load Evolution Live Caribbean Stud Poker, you’ll find yourself in a dimly-lit studio set with the sophistication and elegance of a real casino. The dealer stands at a poker table (marked with the game’s official logo), dressed smartly, with the cards ready to go.
The aim of the game is to get the best possible hand of five cards and beat the dealer’s hand. The dealer uses a standard deck of 52 cards (no jokers), and only one deck is used per game. The cards are shuffled between rounds.
The first step is to set your stake: you can wager from £0.50 to £1,000. Then, you need to make your first bet in the Ante spot.
Five up cards are dealt to you and one up card goes to the dealer, along with four down cards. Next, you choose whether to Play 2x or Fold. The former places a bet equal to double your Ante, while the latter forfeits your Ante and ends the current round.
After you choose either Play 2x or Fold, the dealer reveals their four down cards. Finally, the highest-ranking hand that may be created by your set of five cards (e.g. Royal Flush) is determined. This is compared with the dealer’s hand to identify the winner.
To qualify, the dealer must have at least an ace and a king or better. If the dealer fails to qualify and you win, even money is awarded. The same applies if you win and the dealer qualifies.
However, if the dealer qualifies and you tie, the Ante and Call Bet are pushed. If you lose and the dealer qualifies, your Ante bet and the Call Bet are lost. And the same outcome occurs if you fold.
Caribbean Stud Poker includes no bonus features — the focus is on the core gameplay only. Still, you can choose from two side bets: these add depth to the experience and offer the potential to take your winnings higher.
To qualify for the optional 5+1 Bonus side bet, your Ante bet must be equal to or greater than the minimum amount. If so, the 5+1 Bonus spot on the table will start to blink.
You win with the 5+1 Bonus side bet when your five cards and the dealer’s first up card make a five-card hand of Three of a Kind or better.
The Progressive Jackpot side bet is optional, but only available at certain online casino sites. You only need to pay £1 to take part. All wagers placed by players contribute to the jackpot, so it gets bigger and bigger as you play.
If you participate in the Progressive Jackpot side bet, you and anyone else who takes part will receive a share of the jackpot when someone achieves a Royal Flush. Smaller prizes, though, go to each player directly.
You can create a wide range of winning hands in Caribbean Stud Poker, and the payouts on offer vary significantly. Below, we’ll share the payouts for standard bets and the 5:1 Bonus side bet.
Hand | Payout |
Royal Flush | 100:1 |
Straight Flush | 50:1 |
Four of a Kind | 25:1 |
Full House | 10:1 |
Flush | 7:1 |
Straight | 5:1 |
Three of a Kind | 3:1 |
Two Pairs | 2:1 |
One Pair or less | 1:1 |
5+1 Bonus
Hand | Payout |
Royal Flush | 1000:1 |
Straight Flush | 200:1 |
Four of a Kind | 100:1 |
Full House | 20:1 |
Flush | 15:1 |
Straight | 10:1 |
Three of a Kind | 7:1 |
Caribbean Stud Poker’s dealers all speak English fluently and clearly. Though I looked extensively, I couldn’t find any options for changing the UI language to anything other than English.
At present, the game appears to be available 24/7.
Here are six key highlights for Caribbean Stud Poker:
Video streaming is high quality
Dealers are professional and friendly
Plenty of information on how to play is available for beginners
5+1 Bonus side bet offers a chance to play for higher payouts
When available, the Progressive Jackpot can award massive prizes
Clean, user-friendly UI
Evolution Live Caribbean Stud Poker is a high-quality live game with a good variety of prizes available, especially when playing with the 5+1 Bonus or Progressive Jackpot side bets. However, the latter isn’t available at all casinos, so choose carefully if you want to try it.
The atmosphere is fun and laid-back, with an authentic feel of a brick-and-mortar casino. Caribbean Stud Poker also moves along at a brisk pace, and includes a broad betting range to suit casual players and high rollers alike.
Rating: 8.0
Here are four of the most common questions we’re asked about Caribbean Stud Poker from Evolution Live.