Online Casino Stud Poker is immensely popular in Europe, especially in the UK. It is a 5 card variant played against the dealer and has a lot in common with the game of Caribbean Stud Poker. One of the best features of Casino Stud Poker, irrespective of whether it is played at land based casinos or online casinos, is that it is associated with a progressive jackpot. Players, however, are required to place an additional fixed bet of $1 if they want to win it.

So, how do you play Online Casino Stud Poker? A typical game of Online Casino Stud Poker begins with each player placing Ante bets, after which they will be dealt a hand of five face-down cards each. Simultaneously, the dealer is dealt four face-down cards and one face-up card. Players can then view their cards and decide to fold and forfeit their Ante bets or to place a Raise bet, which is double the value of the Ante bet and continue playing. When players finish making their decisions, the dealer reveals the rest of his cards. The dealer’s hand should now have an Ace – King combination or better to qualify for the game. If the dealer’s hand does not qualify, players will get back their Raise bets and receive even money on their Ante bets.

If the dealer’s hand qualifies and if it turns out to be stronger than the players’ hands, poker players will lose both their bets; however, if the players’ hands are stronger than the dealers, they will receive payouts as per the payout structure at the casino! Players need to place the additional bet and create a Royal Flush if they want to scoop up the progressive jackpot.

And as for payouts, Casino Stud Poker pays 50 to 1 for a Straight Flush, 20 to 1 for a Four of a Kind, 7 to 1 for a Full House and 5 to 1 for a Flush. You will also be able to get 4 to 1 for a straight, 3 to 1 for a Three of a Kind, 2 to 1 for a Two Pair and 1 to 1 for a One Pair of Less.

Players should understand that Casino Stud Poker is not really poker and that the only similarity between Poker and Casino Stud Poker is the way in which the hands are ranked. Unlike a game of poker, in which players play against one another, Casino Stud Poker is played against the house and is, therefore, similar to Blackjack.

Beginners might feel that Casino Stud Poker is basically a game of chance; however, this is not the case and players do have the opportunity to enhance their odds of winning by employing a few simple strategies and plenty of common sense. Luck also has a role to play, but strategy has an ever greater role to play in Casino Stud Poker. Expert players advise beginners to place the Raise bet only if they have a good hand. If they wish to raise on their hand irrespective of the strength of it, they must only hope that the dealer’s hand is not good enough.

Casino Stud Poker is available at almost all European online casinos and land-based casinos.