Not the same as poker rooms
In a poker room you play against other people, and skill can make you a winner over time. Live casino poker is different. Everyone at the table plays against the dealer, the house sets the payouts, and the house edge applies to everyone. Skill still matters, but only to reduce the edge, not to overcome it.
The common pattern
Most dealer poker games work the same way:
- You place an ante.
- You and the dealer get cards.
- You decide whether to fold, losing the ante, or continue by placing a raise or call bet.
- The dealer reveals their hand. If it doesn't "qualify", some bets push or pay differently.
- If it qualifies, the better hand wins.
Dealer poker variants compared
| Variant | Cards | Decision | Dealer qualifies with |
|---|---|---|---|
| Casino Hold'em | Two hole cards plus five shared | Call or fold after the flop | Usually a pair of fours or better |
| Three Card Poker | Three | Play or fold | Usually queen high or better |
| Caribbean Stud | Five | Raise or fold | Usually ace and king or better |
These are the common rules. The table's help panel gives its exact qualifying hand and payouts.
Hand rankings, briefly
All three games use standard poker rankings, from high card at the bottom through pair, two pair, three of a kind, straight, flush, full house and four of a kind, to straight flush and royal flush at the top. Three Card Poker usually differs: with only three cards, a straight ranks above a flush, because it's rarer. The help panel shows the ranking each table uses.
Casino Hold'em
You and the dealer each get two cards, then three shared cards are dealt (the flop). You call, usually putting in double your ante, or fold. Two more shared cards follow and the best five-card hand wins. A simple guide used by many players is to call with most hands and fold only the weakest.
Three Card Poker
You get three cards and decide to play or fold. Many players follow a simple rule: play with queen, six, four or better, fold anything weaker. Three Card Poker tables usually offer a Pair Plus side bet that pays on your hand alone, whatever the dealer holds.
Caribbean Stud
You get five cards and see one dealer card. You raise or fold. The raise is usually twice the ante. A common simple rule is to raise with a pair or better and fold most weaker hands. Caribbean Stud often has a jackpot or bonus side bet; check its cost before playing it.
Side bets
Typical side bets
| Side bet | Game | Pays on |
|---|---|---|
| Pair Plus | Three Card Poker | Your hand being a pair or better |
| AA bonus | Casino Hold'em | Your two cards plus the flop making a pair of aces or better |
| Jackpot or bonus | Caribbean Stud | Strong hands, with set or progressive payouts |
Side bets are generally priced to cost more than the main game, and they're optional.
A worked example
Invented numbers. In Three Card Poker you ante 5 and get queen, seven, two. That meets the common "queen, six, four" guide, so you play by adding another 5. The dealer has jack high and doesn't qualify. Under typical rules your ante is paid and your play bet is returned. Had you folded, you would have lost 5. A simple guide helps, but it doesn't remove the edge.
Budget and the raise
In these games you need more than your ante for most hands, because the raise or call is usually a multiple of it. Invented numbers: in Caribbean Stud with a 5 ante, a raise costs 10 more, so a single hand can put 15 at risk. Size your ante so that the full hand, raise included, fits comfortably in your session budget. Our table limits guide explains how to pick a table by budget.
Play your first dealer poker hand
- Choose a variant and read the help panel.
- Place the ante during the window.
- Look at your cards.
- Use a simple strategy guide to play or fold.
- See the dealer's hand and the settlement.
Timers
Each decision has a timer. If you miss it, the table applies its default action, often a fold, as set out in the help panel.
Who it suits
Players who like poker hands and want a few decisions, without the pressure of facing other people. If you want the decision depth without poker hands, try live blackjack. For a no-decision card game, try baccarat. The live casino hub lists everything else.
Responsible play
Folding feels like losing and calling feels like hope, so it's easy to stray from your plan. Gambling can be addictive. Decide your rules before you start and set Stake's deposit limits. 18+ only, or the higher legal age where you live. Stake.com isn't available in the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Ontario or the other places on Stake's prohibited list, and the list can change, so check our availability page. Using a VPN to get around a block breaks Stake's terms.
FAQ
Can I win long term at casino poker?
No. The house edge applies to everyone, though good play lowers it.
What does "dealer qualifies" mean?
The dealer needs a minimum hand for some bets to be settled normally.
Are side bets worth it?
They cost more on average. Keep them small or skip them.
What if I miss my decision?
The table applies its default action, often a fold. The help panel says which.
Is this the same as a poker room?
No. You play against the dealer, not other players.