Caribbean Stud Poker Strategy...know the beacon hand

Even played optimally, Caribbean Stud has a house edge of over 5% so it isn't exactly a great returning game.  Buy is you are going to play, then this is how you should do it...

• Raise on A-K-J-8-3 or better 
  

• Fold otherwise. 

A-K-J-8-3 is the lowest break-even hand in the game and is known as the "beacon hand". While this won't make you a long-term winner, it will help slow your losses. It's the paying hands, a pair or better, that will net you the good wins. Trouble is that the dealer must qualify (A-K) in order for you to get the real payoffs and this only 54% of the time.  This means that 46% of the time you'll only get paid for your Ante bet at 1-1 no matter how good your cards are.

If you are going to play Caribbean Stud, then good luck...you'll need it!