Let it Ride Poker Overview
Introduction
Best Lit It Ride Poker Online Casinos
It is not for nothing that Let it Ride Poker, a variation of five stud poker, was once voted the third most popular casino game (after blackjack and slots). This game includes elements of classic poker, but is actually not a communal game. Instead, Let it Ride Poker is played against the house and the other players are of no importance to the game.
Let is Ride is played with a standard deck of 52 cards and can be played in its traditional form or in multiplayer tournament format. The game is also popular because of the slower pace than the average casino games – making it a firm favorite with beginners, older players or simply those who want to take a break from the fast-paced action of other types of games.
History
Let it Ride Poker is one of the many games that is based on the game of poker – which can trace its history back hundreds of years - without actually including some of the typical elements such as communal playing, bluffing, and so forth. However, the game does take the idea of forming the best five-card hand using classic poker hand rankings.
Let it Ride Poker was created by the industry-leading games machine manufacturer, Shuffle Master and first appeared in Reno, Nevada gambling houses in 1993. The game was actually created to combine two of Shuffle Master’s products – the blackjack sized games table and their famous automatic shuffler. However, Shuffle Master did not market the game as a blackjack variation – instead, it created Let it Ride in order to appeal to a wide audience of players who enjoyed poker with a twist! Shuffle Master still maintains the trademark to the game’s name and logo.
Let it Ride Poker quickly appeared online and found its way near the top of the list of favorite casino games. Today it is widely played and multiplayer tournaments have become a very popular pastime on the internet.
Objective
The objective of Let it Ride Poker is to get the highest poker hand possible, which contains at least one pair of tens and to keep the maximum bet on the table.
Glossary
Ante: The initial bet/s placed on the Let it Ride Poker table.
Bonus Bet: Optional side bet
Community Cards: Cards that are dealt that can be used by all players to make the best poker hand.
Four of a Kind: (Also known as quads). Four cards of the same rank in a poker hand.
Full House: A poker hand consisting of three cards of one rank and two cards of another.
One Pair: A poker hand consisting of one pair of cards.
Nothing: A poker hand that has no matching cards.
Royal Flush: Considered the best possible poker hand. An Ace-high straight flush.
Straight: Five cards of consequent rank or in a sequence.
Straight Flush: A poker hand consisting of five cards of the same suit and consecutive ranks.
Three of a Kind: A poker hand consisting of cards of the same rank.
Two Pair: A poker hand consisting of two different pairs and a single card.
How to Play/Game Rules
Let it Ride Poker Basics
Let is Ride Poker is played around a custom table with a single deck of cards. The table can hold up to seven players. The player plays against a pay schedule, with the sole objective of creating the best poker hand possible. Players place their bets on specially marked spots on the table, numbered 1, 2 and $. There is also a spot to place the bonus side bet, which is optional.
Game Format
Each player makes three different bets of equal size. For example, on a $3 table, the player will bet $9 altogether (3 x $3).
The optional side bet is also placed at this stage.
Three cards are dealt to each player face down.
The dealer takes two community cards.
The remaining cards are discarded by the dealer.
Players examine their three cards and decide whether to take back their first bet or to continue playing (Let it Ride).
When all the players have decided, the dealer turns up the first community card which is used as the fourth card in the player’s bid to create the best poker hand.
Again, players have an option to take down their second bet or to Let it Ride.
When all the players have decided, the second community card is turned over.
The five card poker hand is now complete.
All winning bets are paid out according to a specific payout chart.
Let it Ride Payouts
Your winning hand will be paid out according to a payout schedule, similarly to video poker. Note that some Let it Ride games at casinos will have a maximum payout which means that if you hit one of the higher hands, you may land up being paid less than what you actually are due.
Hands that contain….. get paid out…..
Tens or Better – 1:1
Two Pairs – 2:1
Three of a Kind – 3:1
Straight – 5:1
Flush – 8:1
Full House – 11:1
Four of Kind – 50:1
Straight Flush – 200:1
Royal Flush – 1000:1
Payouts on the Bonus Side Bet with a $1 wager
Straight - $20
Flush - $50
Full House - $75
Four of a Kind - $200
Straight Flush - $2,000
Royal Flush - $20,000
Note: Bonus side bet payouts are independent of the payouts on winning hands in Let it Ride Poker.
House Edge
If Let it Ride Poker is played with the optimal strategy (outlined below), the house edge is 3.5%, another reason why this game is such a popular choice among players.
Tips and Strategies
Let it Ride combines elements of luck and skill and the main optimal strategy that players should learn is when to take back the two bets if necessary in order to minimize their losses. Essentially, experts advise that players should always let their hands ride if they have tens or better at any time of the game.
Optimal Strategy I: Players should let the first bet ride if: They have been dealt a winning hand consisting of tens or better and three of a kind OR they have a three card royal flush OR they have a three card straight flush. The bet should be removed if the player’s hand does not contain any of these.
Optimal Strategy II: Players should let the second bet ride if: They have been dealt a winning hand consisting of a pair of tens or better and three of a kind OR a four card flush OR a four card royal or straight flush OR a four card open ended straight OR four high cards.
Think twice before taking the side bet. You qualify for payoffs from this bet – which has a house edge ranging from 15 – 30% - if you are dealt a royal flush, a straight flush, a flush, a full house, four of a kind or a straight. With that in mind, you should consider whether you want to put your money on a bet with such unfavorable odds or not, even if it is just a dollar.
Recognize that luck also plays a part in the outcome of this game. It is impossible to rely on the optimal strategy alone.
In order to avoid losing out on payments due to you because of the casino’s maximum payout policy, learn to divide the maximum pay by 3000 and use that amount to make the three equal bets at the table.
Practice online. Although the rules of Let it Ride Poker are relatively easy to follow, it is always a good idea to play the game for free at an online casino to get a feel for the format and rules. Playing for free allows you to gain practical experience and learn how to apply all the theory that you are learning about the game, without risking your own bankroll. When you are ready, you can always jump in to the real-money gaming action.
Conclusion
Let it Ride Poker was created with one thing in mind – to provide players with hours of fun. It has all the elements of a successful casino game, is slower paced than blackjack and has simple enough rules to follow. The game also has good odds if played with the optimal strategy and some excellent payouts are to be had.
Sites of Interest
Reviews of the Best Online Casinos, Sportsbooks, Poker Rooms by playersjet.
Also here is some information about playing online let it ride poker.
See our Poker Resources page for further links to useful all kinds of Poker sites.
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