Playing table

Let It Ride is played on a table that is very similar to a blackjac1 and is usually located in or near the blackjack area. In most casinos is easy to find because there is an elevated sign at the table identifying the game. The table has six or seven player positions around the curved side of the table (see illustration). The dealer stands at the flat side with a chip rack directly in front of her and a card-shuffling machine to her right.

 

At each player position are three betting circles. In most casinos they are marked, from left to right: “$“, “2,” and “1” (some casinos reverse the order). These circles are where the three mandatory bets are placed prior to dealing a hand. There is also a red-lighted spot above the three betting circles where an optional $1 bonus side bet may be placed. The spot will light up to indicate which players are qualified for the bonus.

Directly in front of the chip rack are two rectangular boxes, sometimes marked with the numbers “1” and “2.” This is where the dealer places the two community cards (initially face down).

How the game is played

 

The most important goal in Let It Ride is to end up with a five card poker hand that is at least as good as a pair of tens. For players who invested an extra dollar to qualify for the bonus payout, the secondary goal is to get a hand that is equal or better than the minimum bonus payout. Depending on the particular pay table, this may be a pair of tens, two pair, or three-of-a-kind.

 

Start

 

At the start of each game, you have to place equal bets in each of the three betting circles. Most Let It Ride tables have either a $5 or a $10 minimum bet requirement. This is a little misleading because a $5 minimum means you must bet at least $15 ($5 in each circle). However, if you are unhappy with how your hand develops, you can pull back as much as $10 of your initial $15 bet. When you place your three bets, you may also put a dollar on the red bonus spot. This is entirely optional; however, if you do not invest the dollar, you will have no chance of winning the extra bonus, regardless of how good a hand you might have.

 

 

Once all the bets are placed, the dealer distributes three face-do cards to each player from a shuffling machine. The dealer also places two face-down cards on the two rectangular boxes at the center of the table. These are the two community cards that will ultimately be a part of each player’s hand. In some casinos, the community cards are not dealt out until each player has made the first betting decision. You may now look at your three cards, but you aren’t supposed to show them to anyone else.

 

 

Sure winner

 

If your hand is a sure winner (has a pair of tens or better), or if you believe the addition of the two community cards will make your hand a winner, you should let the first bet ride. Do this by squaring up the cards and laying them face down directly behind the center bet.

 

 

Looser

 

 

If the hand appears to be a loser, you should lightly scratch the cards on the table (similar to asking for a hit in blackjack). The dealer will then push the first bet out of the circle so that you may retrieve it. Note that pulling back your bet is not the same as folding your hand. You continue to play—you just have less money riding on the hand. After all the players at the table have made their betting decisions, the dealer turns over the first of the two community cards, and the entire process is repeated. You re-evaluate your hand just as before except that you now have four cards on which to base your judgment. At this time, you can pull back your second bet if the hand does not look good, or “let it ride” if it does. Keep in mind that you may pull back your second bet even if you let the first bet ride.

Poker Hand Ranking

   Below is a list of winning Poker hands, and how they rank, including an example for each type.This hand ranking applies to all kinds of poker games, including Texas Holdem.

The High card: The highest ranked card in the deck is an Ace, and the ranking runs from the Ace down through the cards all the way to 2. 

Pair:Any two cards of the same kind, for example: two kings.

Two Pairs:Two sets of cards of the same kind, for example: two nines and two fours.

Three of a Kind:Three cards of the same kind, for example: three jacks (also called trips or a set when you have a pocket pair and the flop comes with that same card).

Straight:Five cards in sequential order, for example: 10, Jack, Queen, King and Ace (Note: the ace can be used both as the lowest and highest card).

Flush:Any five cards of the same suit, for example: 2, 4, 7, 9 and 10 of spades.

Full House:A combination of three of a kind and a pair, for example: three kings and two tens.

Four of a Kind:Four cards of the same kind, for example: four nines.

Straight Flush:Five cards in sequential order of the same suit, for example: 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 of hearts.

Royal Flush:The best poker hand, a royal flush, is a straight flush containing: 10, J, Q, K and Ace of the same suit, for example: 10, J, Q, K, and Ace of spades.

Setting hands

Pai Gow Poker uses a standard 52-card deck plus one joker. The joker may only be used as an ace or to complete a straight, a flush, or a straight flush. When used in a straight or straight flush, the joker becomes the rank and suit of the card needed to complete the hand. When used in a flush, it becomes the highest ranking missing card of the flush suit. It can never be used as part of a pair, three-of-a-kind, four-of-a-kind, or five-of-a-kind for any card other than an ace. If it is used alone, the joker becomes an ace. In poker parlance, such a joker is known as a bug. To reiterate, you are dealt seven cards, which you arrange to make two hands: a two card hand and a five card hand. The poker value of the five card hand must be higher than the two card hand. Since this can be done in more than one way, the object is to set the two hands so that they have the best chance of beating the banker’s two hands. The highest possible five card hand is five aces, which consists of the four aces and the joker. The highest two card hand is a pair of aces. The two card hand cannot be a straight or a flush. When you first receive your cards, the best procedure is to arrange them in order, from the highest rank to the lowest rank. Then look for the possibility of a flush or a straight. If you were dealt the joker, check to see if it can complete a flush or straight, or make a pair of aces. Finally, look for pairs and triplets.

                                                                            

Once you have reviewed the hand and are aware of all the possible combinations, set it according to the strategy rules shown in the Playing Strategy section, below. When you have decided how to set your hand, place the cards face down in two stacks with the two card hand above the five card hand. At every player position, there are two boxes. The one marked HIGH is where the five card hand goes, and the one marked 2nd HIGHEST is where the two card hand goes. The five- card hand is sometimes referred to as the back hand, and the two card hand is sometimes called the low hand or the front hand. You should be very careful and deliberate when setting your hand. This is especially true when it contains the joker. The basic idea is to make the two card hand as high as possible without exceeding the value of the five card hand. If you don’t have good enough cards to make two winning hands, you should try for a push by forming one hand that will not lose. For example, if you are dealt the following cards: Dealer assistance If you can’t figure out the best way to set your cards, you may ask the dealer for assistance. The dealer will suggest how to set them according to the house rules, but will not take responsibility for winning or losing hands. If one of the other players is the banker, you should avoid doing this because seeing your cards will give that person a distinct advantage in setting his own hand (he knows what he has to beat), especially if there are few players at the table.