Online Let It Ride Poker

Online Let It Ride Poker

Let it ride poker is the casino’s twist on the old standard. Instead of playing against other gamers everyone plays against the house. This game is slower than normal poker and is a perfect way to cut your teeth at the tables. Think of Let It Ride Poker as five card stud for beginners.

The player places his bet based on the 3 cards in his possession and the two community cards held by the dealer. Payouts work much like five card stud with Royal flushes being top dog and pairs rounding out the bottom. Bets are placed in three parts on the table in the designated areas (marked 1, 2 and $). Player gets his cards dealt face down and the dealer cards are placed with one card face up for everyone to see.

Let it Ride Poker Basics

The basic poker hand rankings pertain to Let It Ride, however, a pair must consist of 10s or higher to win. Your winning hand is based upon the three cards that are dealt to you plus the Dealer's two cards.

To begin the game, the minimum table bet must be placed on each of three circles on the table. The circles will be labeled 1, 2 and $. For example, if the minimum table bet is $5, you will be initially betting $15. You are then dealt three cards face down and the Dealer receives two cards that he places face down in front of him. You may then pick up your cards (yes, it's OK to use both hands in this instance). Now, don't get any delusions of discarding cards and getting new ones. You are stuck with these three cards.

Once you take a look at your cards, you need to decide whether you have a chance to win with your own cards plus what the Dealer's two cards might reveal. If you don't really have much of a hand to begin with, scratch your cards on the table and the Dealer will return your first wager. That is, the bet you placed on the 1 circle. If you think you might have a winning hand, place your cards face down under the 1 wager and all of your bets will remain.

The Dealer then turns over one of his cards. You now have a chance to re-evaluate your hand with all four cards. If you still have a losing hand, scratch your cards again and the Dealer will return the second wager (2 circle) to you. If you feel you might win with the four-card hand plus the unknown fifth card, and since this is the last decision to make, place your cards under the $ circle. The Dealer then reveals his last card and determines the winners.

If you happen to have a winning hand with your first three cards (for example, a minimum of a pair of 10s or three-of-a-kind), just place your cards under the $ wager and leave all three of your bets. There are no more decisions to make and everyone knows you are in the game until the end.

The Basic Let it Ride Strategy

With three cards you should only "let it ride" if you have:

• Any paying hand (tens or better, three of a kind)
• Any three to a royal flush
• Three suited cards in a row except 2-3-4, and ace-2-3
• Three to a straight flush, spread 4, with at least one high card (ten or greater)
• Three to a straight flush, spread 5, with at least two high cards

With four cards you should only "let it ride" if you have:

• Any paying hand (tens or better, two pair, three of a kind)
• Any four to a royal flush
• Any four to a straight flush
• Any four to a flush
• Any four to an outside straight with at least one high card
• Any four to an outside straight with no high cards (zero house edge)
• Any four to an inside straight with 4 high cards (zero house edge)