Casino Poker

Casino Poker Basics

This poker was one of the most popular games in land-based casinos. It is still in demand at online casinos. This version, also called Caribbean stud or Oasis poker, is characterized by the absence of opportunity to exchange cards.

The game is played against the dealer, so bluffing and other common strategies for other types of poker are inappropriate in this version.

A standard 52-card deck without jokers is used in this game. The cards are shuffled before each deal. A semi-circular table is also used for playing. The number of bet spots on the table layout limits the number of players.

The aim of the playing Oasis Poker is to beat the dealer.

Collecting a poker combination with a higher rank than the dealer's hand is necessary. It is also possible to win without any hand if the dealer does not have it.

Poker Combinations

Standard poker hands are valid in the game. We are enumerating them in descending order below.

• Royal flush is a hand consisting of the cards A, K, Q, J, and 10 of the same suit.
• Straight flush is a hand that contains five cards in sequence, including A, 2, 3, 4, and 5.
• Four-of-a-kind (quad) is a hand with four cards of one rank.
• Full house is a hand made up of three matching cards of one rank and two of another rank (a three-of-a-kind and a pair).
• Flush is a hand that contains any five cards of one rank.
• Straight is a hand consisting of any five cards in sequence.
• Three-of-a-kind (tris) is a hand of three matching cards of one rank.
• Two pairs is a hand that contains two matching cards of one rank and two matching cards of another rank.
• Pair is a hand that consists of two cards of one rank.
• Ace King is a hand containing an ace and a king of suits.
• No Hand is the absence of any hand mentioned above in the cards.

Comparison of Hands

If the player and the dealer have hands of the same rank, the comparison occurs by the casino rules. However, there are traditional rules.

The suits of cards are usually not taken into consideration.

• If two ace-king hands are compared, the high card that does not form a hand is considered. Some casinos have the rule that a player's ace-king always wins.
• Identical pairs are compared to the value of cards that don't form hands (up to the third card). For example, 2, 2, 3, 4, 7 beats 2, 2, 3, 4, 5.
• Identical two pairs are compared according to the value of a card that does not form pairs (up to the third card). For example, 2, 2, 3, 3, 7 beats 2, 2, 3, 3, 5.
• Straights and straight flushes that consist of cards of the same rank are not compared. In this case, a draw is announced. The same rule is valid for royal flushes that can be consisted only of cards of the same rank.
• Flushes are compared according to the high card.
• Full houses are compared by the cards that form three of a kind. For example, 2, 2, 4, 4, 4, beat 10, 10, 3, 3, 3.
• Two different hands of three-of-a-kind and four-of-a-kind can not contain cards of the same rank, so their comparison does not cause any difficulty. 5, 5, 5 beats 3, 3, 3.

We will remind you that the popularity of this poker has led to the fact that some casinos have the rules of the game with their nuances, so we recommend that you clarify them in each new establishment.

Casino Poker Gameplay

Sometimes the dealer cuts the top card and puts it in the discard tray for security purposes before the deal and each betting round.

At most casinos, the dealer reveals his last card. However, there are some establishments where the first card is face-up, and the others are placed below it. This helps to struggle against card sharps who mark cards since it is almost impossible to notice the marked cards. If the dealer accidentally reveals one of the cards, it remains face-up, and the other cards are dealt face-down.

Having received the cards, the player can select three options:

1. fold,
2. bet,
3. exchange cards.

In the first case, the player refuses to keep playing, losing his ante.

If he believes that his hand can be higher than the dealer's, the player can bet, i.e., he can make a bet equal to two antes. After that, the dealer reveals his cards and compares the resulting hand with the player's. If the rank of the croupier's hand is higher, the player loses both his bets. If the player wins, he receives a payout, depending on the rank of his hand. If the dealer does not have any hand, he pays out the ante to the player without considering the player's hand (at some casinos, in this case, the showdown does not occur.)

Also, the player has the opportunity to exchange cards. Conditions and costs of this exchange vary at different casinos. Almost everywhere, users can exchange one card for one ante.

It is also possible to exchange five cards for one ante in most land-based casinos. Some clubs offer an opportunity to exchange two or four cards for two antes or three cards for three antes. Sometimes, two rounds of exchanges are provided for players, but during the second exchange, the prices are doubled.

At some casinos, it is necessary to make a bet after exchanges.

Payouts in Casino Poker

• Royal flush - 100:1
• Straight flush - 50:1
• Four of a kind - 20:1
• Full house - 7:1
• Flush - 5:1
• Straight - 4:1
• Three of a kind (tris) - 3:1
• Two pairs - 2:1
• Pair- 1:1
• Ace King - 1:1

Multi-Hand Poker

The number of boxes on which the player can reveal cards differs in various casinos. Usually, it is allowed to get a keep of cards located on at most two hands; on the other hand, the player makes blinds. The bet sizes can be different on various boxes. The decisions should be made individually, limiting the opportunity to exchange information.

If a few players participate in the game at the table, players may not exchange information. It may even lead to the appearance of special rules for exchange. For example, cards are exchanged in turn.

Extra Features

There can be additional rules.

• Sometimes the player can draw a sixth card (it usually costs two antes.) Then the player should discard one of his cards.
• Insurance against the absence of a dealer's hand is a common rule in land-based casinos. It allows players to ensure the straight or higher amount of at least one ante and no more than the payout for this hand without taking an ante into account. If the dealer does not have a hand, insurance is paid 1:1. If the dealer has a hand, insurance loses, and hands are compared.
• Bonus bets. According to this rule, the player can place a fixed bet on a particular field at the beginning of each round. It wins if the player initially receives (sometimes after the exchange of five cards) a hand established by the rules. In this case, he gets a specific payout, which does not depend on the presence of the dealer's hand and its rank. Sometimes a progressive jackpot, accumulated from bonus bets, is drawn this way. It is paid for the highest-ranking poker hands.
• Joker. Rounds with the participation of a joker usually occur at a specified time. It replaces any card. All other nuances are discussed in the rules of casinos.

Do not forget to check out all options.

Casino Poker Basic Strategy

Poker is an interesting but not the most profitable game for visitors. Below we offer our readers the basic rules to follow that will allow them to reduce the house edge significantly.

• Never make blinds.
• Never make bonus bets. An exception is when a huge progressive jackpot is available, and the size of your antes is significantly superior to the size of the bonus bet.
• Don't play at the tables where there is no card exchange.
• Don't play at the tables where it is prohibited to fold after the exchange.
• Make a bet if you have a pair or higher.
• Fold if you have no hand.
• If you have an ace-king, call if the dealer's upcard is the same as one of your cards, and if you have a queen or jack, the dealer has a face-up ace or king.
• Exchange a card in the following cases: you have four cards in sequence for a straight (don't split a pair), four cards in sequence for a flush (don't split a pair), straight flush, or royal flush (in any case).

These rules can not be called traditional because any rules change (exchange of several cards, second rounds of exchange, the sixth card, the joker, and so on) affect the strategy. In addition, you should always consider all available cards you have or the dealer has revealed, those discarded, and so on.

We will examine such situations and determine what to do in these cases. Our findings will be available in a separate article on Casinoz.