2 Caribbean Stud Royal Flushses

Mark Pilarski 05:32 Nov 23rd, 2006 Caribbean Stud

Dear Mark: What would happen if two players both made the progressive side bet in Caribbean Stud, and both get a Royal Flush? Is the pot split down the middle? I asked a dealer this question and he said he’s never seen it happen , nor was he sure exactly how the jackpot would be split. The dealer then called over the pit boss and she said it’s never happened in their casino nor has she ever heard of two royals in one hand. She too wasn’t quite sure on how the progressive would be split, but she didn’t think it would be down the middle. What are your thoughts on how the pot would be split? Chuck D.

The reason, Chuck, that both the dealer and pit boss have never eye-witnessed two royals in one hand is because the odds of that happening are over 20 billion to one. To be exact, it’s one in 20,103,110,301.Very few have ever played that many hands, and anyway, after the ten billionth, one’s memory begins to fade.

I’m frowning deeply here, and if wrong I’m sure I’ll hear about it, but I believe the player on the right gets the progressive jackpot and the other player wins a measly $10,000. Reason being, with Caribbean Stud, players get paid right to left, so the player on the right gets paid first, which would be the progressive jackpot, then the meter is reset to $10,000, and then the gone berserko second player would then get paid.

Settling this squabble could get ugly, but luckily, and I’m guessing here again, it’ll never happen in our lifetimes.

Gambling Wisdom of the Week: “Industry executives and analysts often mistakenly talk about strategy as if it were some kind of chess match. But in chess, you have just two opponents, each with identical resources, and with luck playing a minimal role. The real world is much more like a poker game, with multiple players trying to make the best of whatever hand fortune has dealt them. In our industry, Bill Gates owns the poker table until someone proves otherwise.” -- David Moschel