Casino War and Caribbean Stud: Simple Table Card Games

Casino War is the fastest card game in the building and Caribbean Stud is one of the most atmospheric. Both trade flexibility for simplicity.

Casino War: highest card wins

You and the dealer each receive one card. The higher card wins even money; a tie triggers either surrender for half your bet or a raise to double your original wager for a second single-card clash.

Because so many hands tie, and because a tie is settled at half value when you surrender, the house edge is higher than it first appears – roughly 2.9% with a flat bet and slightly worse if you always go to war. The dealer wins ties after the raise, which is the core of the edge.

Caribbean Stud: dealer must qualify

You place an ante, receive five cards face up and the dealer receives five with one exposed. You then fold or raise exactly twice the ante. For your raise to be paid the dealer must hold ace-king or better; if the dealer fails to qualify you win even money on the ante and the raise is returned.

Playing every hand is close to optimal. The house edge is about 5.2% on the ante, and the game's attraction is the progressive jackpot side bet, which pays on a flush or better including a royal flush jackpot.

Where these games fit

Both are social, low-decision games. They suit players who want the table atmosphere without the study time that blackjack or poker demand. Neither rewards system play: the correct decision in Caribbean Stud is essentially fixed, and Casino War's tie rule is arithmetic rather than choice.

Frequently asked questions