Let It Ride
is a poker-style casino game. It is a variation of 5-card Stud
but differs in that players don't have to beat a dealer's hand
or other players. The goal is merely to compile a winning poker
hand, with a minimum of a pair of tens.
Objective
The objective of Let It Ride is
to compile the highest 5-card poker hand (containing at least a
pair of tens) from three dealt cards and two community cards
while keeping the maximum bet on the table.
Betting
The player opens a round by
placing three identical bets on the betting circles. The player
is dealt three cards and the dealer places two community cards
in the center of the table, face down. Based on the favorability
of the three hole cards, the player can withdraw the first bet
or "let it ride" and leave it on the table. The dealer then
reveals the first community card. Now the player decides whether
to withdraw the second bet. The second community card is then
revealed and the hand is scored. Note that the third bet stays
on the table with no option to withdraw. Also note that
withdrawing the second bet is independent of what was done with
the first.
Payoff and the True Odds
If the player qualifies with at
least a pair of tens, the payoff is determined by the quality of
the hand. The skill of the player is in knowing when to stay and
when to withdraw based on the cards known.
|
Let it
Ride |
|
Hand
|
Payoff
|
True
Odds |
Royal flush
Straight flush
Four of a kind
Full house
Flush
Straight
Three of a kind
Two pair
Winning pair |
1,000:1
200:1
50:1
11:1
8:1
5:1
3:1
2:1
1:1 |
649,350:1
72,220:1
4,165:1
694:1
509:1
255:1
47:1
21:1
6:1 |
While the odds are marginally
better for the player than in Caribbean Stud, Let It Ride still
carries about a three point edge for the casino even with
optimal play.
Betting Variations
Betting variations include
games where players can win a bonus on top of their payout if
they opt to place the additional $1 Bonus or Side bet and draw
Three-of-a-Kind or better. These are sucker bets and though the
specific odds vary from house to house they're all bad
and I say forget the bonus.
Optimal Strategy
Optimal play in Let It Ride is
a matter of deciding if you are going to "stay" at the two
decision points in the hand. Let's break down the decisions,
keeping in mind that 10-J-Q-K-A are "high" cards and a "skip" is
a card missing from a Straight:
Three cards up:
"Let It Ride" on the first bet if you have:
- a paying hand: High-Card
Pair or Three-of-a-Kind
- three consecutive,
same-suit cards valued 3-4-5 or better
- three of a Straight Flush
with one skip and at least one high card (eg. 8-9-J but not
7-8-J)
- three of a Straight Flush
with two skips and at least two high cards (eg. 8-J-Q but
not 7-9-J)
Four cards up:
"Let It Ride" on the second bet if you have:
- a paying hand: High-Card
Pair, Three-of-a-Kind or Two Pair
- four of any Flush
- four of a Straight, no
skips
- four high cards
How to play and win
Let It Ride
by Max Drayman
