Bovada: Caribbean Hold 'em

The Bovada site has a poker based game called Caribbean Hold 'em. Although I may have overlooked it, I could not find anything about the game on the Wizard of Odds site. Anybody have any info on this game?

It's listed under Casino Hold 'em, which was invented by follow WoV member, MrCasinoGames. Caribbean Hold 'em is the same rules.

https://wizardofodds.com/games/casino-hold-em/

That's impressive,

I was only playing around with it in practice mode but it certainly is a fun game. Now Bovada does utilize the pay table that yields a house edge of 2.16%, but there is also an optional progressive as well. How does this bet typically factor into the house edge?

Quote: gaming4tito

How does this bet typically factor into the house edge?

Usually badly.

Quote: gaming4tito

The Bovada site has a poker based game called Caribbean Hold 'em. Although I may have overlooked it, I could not find anything about the game on the Wizard of Odds site. Anybody have any info on this game?

beatingbonuses.com: CASINO HOLD'EM / CARIBBEAN HOLD'EM. Play for Free



Introduction

Casino Hold'em (also known as Caribbean Hold'em) is a variation of the game Texas Hold'em in which you play against a casino dealer.

The game is available at Playtech, Net Ent, Evolution Gaming, GamesOS (CTXM), RealTime Gaming, BGTECH G2 (Boss Media), Bodog, Bovada, World Match, Random Logic, 888.com, Dragon Fish, PKR, Viaden Media, Gale Wind, iPoker Network, Betsson AB, Gale Wind casinos...

The game's low expected loss per unit wagered makes it a useful alternative for clearing bonuses. Optimal strategy is complex, so game play can be slow.

Rules and Play

After placing an Ante bet, the player's two cards are dealt, as well as three of the five community cards (the Flop).

The player then must choose to either fold and forfeit the hand (losing ante bet), or raise and play the hand.
The raise bet must be 2x the size of the Ante bet. If the player raises, then there are several possible payouts.

If the dealer has a pair of 4s or better, the dealer "qualifies." Payouts depend on whether the dealer qualifies, as listed below.

1) Dealer Does Not Qualify -- Ante bet pays according to table below, raise bet pushes

2) Player Wins, Dealer Qualifies -- Ante bet pays according to table below, raise bet pays 1:1

3) Player and Dealer Tie, Dealer Qualifies -- All bets push

4) Player Loses, Dealer Qualifies -- All bets lose

Stephen, do you know if anyone has quantified a more detailed strategy for this game? The wizard just gave a simple raise/fold ratio. Basically unpaired lower hole cards is a fold.

Quote: tringlomane

Stephen, do you know if anyone has quantified a more detailed strategy for this game? The wizard just gave a simple raise/fold ratio. Basically unpaired lower hole cards is a fold.

Yes, will add it here soon.

Quote: tringlomane

Stephen, do you know if anyone has quantified a more detailed strategy for this game? The wizard just gave a simple raise/fold ratio. Basically unpaired lower hole cards is a fold.

Hi tringlomane,
Below is the detailed strategy for Casino Hold’em/Caribbean Hold’em.

Play Caribbean Hold'em™ for Free

beatingbonuses.com: Casino Hold’em/Caribbean Hold’em STRATEGY CALCULATOR.

discountgambling.net: Casino Hold’em/Caribbean Hold’em STRATEGY.

AnteWin pay-table
Royal Flush 100:1
Straight Flush 20:1
Quads 10:1
Full House 3:1
Flush 2:1
Others 1:1

Basic Strategy
The basic strategy for Carribean/Casino Hold’Em with the above AnteWin pay-table is as follows:

For a 3-of-a-kind flop, bet the following hands:

bet a full house or better
bet 7th nut kicker or better
bet any runner-runner flush draw
Paired Flop

For a paired flop, you should bet the following hands:

bet any two pairs or better
bet any straight or flush draw (including gutshots)
if the board does not qualify, bet 6th nut kicker or better
if the board does not qualify, bet any runner-runner flush draw
if the board qualifies, bet 3rd nut kicker or better
if the board qualifies, bet 4th nut kicker if the board singleton is below your low card
if the board qualifies, bet runner-runner flush draw with 5th nut kicker or better
Suited Flop

For a suited flop, you should bet the following hands:

bet any pair
bet any flush draw
bet any open-ended straight draw
bet any gutshot straight draw when your cards are above the entire board
bet a gutshot draw with 4th nut kicker unless idiot end
bet nut kicker if no possible straight on board
bet nut kicker if any board cards are below your low card
bet 2nd nut kicker when at least two board cards are below your low card
Offsuit Flop

For an offsuit and unpaired board, you should bet the following hands:

bet any pair
bet nut kicker
bet any flush or open-ended straight draw
bet when both your cards are above the entire board
bet any gutshot when either (a) the board has a gap, (b) your low card is above any board card, or (c) you have 4th nut kicker, or (c) you have a runner-runner flush draw, or (d) your drawing to the high end of the straight
bet 2nd nut kicker when your low card is above any board card
bet 2nd nut kicker when the board is rainbow, with at most 1 possible straight
bet 3rd nut kicker or better when you have a runner-runner draw to an AKQJT straight
bet when 2 board cards are under your low card, and your high card is 8 or better
bet when 3 board cards are under your high card, no possible straight on rainbow board, and your low card is 4 or higher
bet 95 or better when 2 board cards are below your high card, and 1 board card is below your low card
bet a runner-runner flush draw with 3rd nut kicker or better
bet a runner-runner flush draw with 2 board cards below your low card
bet a runner-runner flush draw with 1 board card below your low card, and your high card is 8 or better
bet a runner-runner flush draw with 95 or better

Thanks Mr.CasinoGames,

It's a great game and I appreciate all the useful information.

I didn't realize Stephen How got around to analyzing the game. Great stuff! Thanks for pointing that out, Stephen.

But one word of warning Tito, it looks like Caribbean Hold'em only offers an even money win on the ante when the dealer doesn't qualify (like Caribbean Stud). I can't believe Bovada uses that rule, it's probably one of the most annoying rules of all time. This ups the house edge to about 3.09% and Stephen How's basic strategy runs about a 3.5% house edge according to his testing.

Excellent point Tringlomane,

I was playing around with the game in practice mode and I was getting frustrated with that rule. I can only imagine how I would feel if there was real money involved.

I stopped playing Caribbean Stud almost 10 years ago specifically because of that rule. I'm only going to get a few RF's in my lifetime, if ever (not yet in a bit over 20 years of playing RF bonus games, but I'm hopeful) and I sure as x%&$ am not going to play for one on a game where they might not pay it if I do get it. (Lost trips, straights, and flushes on CS with the dealer not qualifying; gave up before I hit something really good.) The frustration I felt not getting paid for those legitimate hands was enough to spoil the entire experience. Now, in 3 card, if the dealer doesn't qualify, it doesn't affect my pair plus bonus, so that's fine (not really worried about the ante plus on big hands), and in UTH, they kick back the ante which doesn't pay more than 1:1 in any case, so neither is enough to spoil the fun. PGP also isn't affected by a dealer push, but I'd have to review EZPG to be sure there's not a penalty w/Qhigh (don't think there is). I want to be bonus paid for my good hands regardless of dealer pushes/qualifications. So that's a big sales tool in getting me to sit still for, say, the UTH blind bet.

I think there's a lot to be said for the method of creating the house edge, even if the overall % is very similar. Not paying odds on bonus hands when dealer doesn't qualify might be the worst choice ever in game structures, because you KNOW you've got a great hand, you're already enjoying the multiplier, and then they take it back. Auggghhhh. I don't even want to know, except that I have to act first. Terrible game.