Caribbean Advanced Poker

Introduction

The concept behind Caribbean Advanced Poker is quite straightforward — it is Caribbean Stud Poker in such a way that players are able to view two dealer cards rather than just one. Typically, when a new rule is introduced that favors players, a corresponding rule is altered to balance things out, but this particular game does not follow that pattern. Aside from this change, the rules and payout structure remain unchanged from Caribbean Stud Poker.

You can enjoy Caribbean Advanced Poker at online casinos that utilize Gamesys N.V. software.

Rules

As noted earlier, the gameplay follows the same rules as Caribbean Stud Poker, with the exception of revealing two dealer cards instead of one. For those who may not know how Caribbean Stud works, here’s a detailed overview of the rules:

1. Players begin by placing an Ante bet along with the option for a Bonus side wager.
2. Each participant, including the dealer, receives five cards. All cards are dealt face down, except for two dealer cards which are made visible.
3. Player must fold or raise.
4. If a player decides to fold, they lose their cards along with any Ante and Bonus bets they might have placed.
5. Should a player choose to raise, they must make a Raise bet that is exactly double their Ante.
6. The dealer will then reveal the remaining three cards.
7. To qualify, the dealer must hold at least an ace and a king. To clarify, the minimal qualifying hand for the dealer is a hand that is less than a pair but includes both an ace and a king.
8. If the dealer fails to qualify, the player wins their Ante bet back even money, while the Raise will neither win nor lose.
9. If the dealer qualifies and has a better hand than the player, both the Ante and Raise bets will be lost.
10. If the dealer qualifies but loses to the player, the player will receive even money on the Ante bet and the Raise will pay out according to the payout table provided below.
11. In the event of a tie between the player and dealer, both the Ante and Raise bets will remain unchanged.
12. The Bonus side bet will be evaluated solely based on the poker hand value held by the player. The corresponding payout table is displayed below.

The next table outlines the odds associated with both Ante and Bonus bets. Keep in mind that the payouts are represented on a 'to one' basis for Ante and 'for one' for Bonus bets.

Analysis

The following table details the chances and possible returns for each outcome, assuming the player employs an optimal strategy. The house edge is calculated as 0.62%, located in the bottom right cell.

It's crucial to remind readers that the house edge indicates the expected loss ratio relative to the initial stake. Approximately 69.6% of the time, players will place a 2x Raise bet, with the average final wager amounting to 2.39 units. Therefore, the expected loss ratio concerning the total wagers, also referred to as the Element of Risk, is 0.62% divided by 2.39, which results in 0.26%.

Strategy

Formulating an effective strategy for this game can be quite intricate. A nearly optimal approach is discussed in the first edition (a 223-page paperback) of Beyond Counting by James Grosjean, specifically on page 126, which examines scenarios where the dealer unintentionally reveals an extra card in Caribbean Stud Poker.

Both editions of Beyond Counting were released in limited numbers and are challenging to find. Your best bet to acquire a copy is through Ebay, where the first edition can range from $400 to $500. Please note that the strategy referenced is not included in the second edition (Exhibit CAA).

Bonus Bet

What poker game would be complete without a side bet? In Caribbean Advanced Poker, this additional wager is known as the Bonus Bet. Unlike many side bets that allow for sizable wagers, payouts here are structured on a 'for one' principle. The lower right corner indicates a return percentage of 94.08%, corresponding to a house edge of 5.92%.

Zero House Edge

Similar to various other Gamesys titles, there’s also a 'zero house edge variant' available in this case. The three key differences are:

• A full house pays 8 instead of 7.
• A four of a kind pays 25 instead of 20.
• Players are required to pay a 10% commission on any net gambling profits earned during a session. A session is defined as ending after either an hour-long break between hands or after a cumulative total of 24 hours, whichever comes first.

The following table illustrates the probability and returns for all potential events according to the Zero House Edge payout structure.

From the summary in the bottom right cell of the table above, it’s clear that the house edge is not entirely zero, but rather stands at 0.31%. The typical final wager averages out to 2.39 units, resulting in element of risk of 0.13%.

Written by: Michael Shackleford