Let it Ride is a relatively new poker game that has
gained popularity since 1993. It is really a variation of
5-card stud poker. Sometimes referred to as Let Them Ride,
the game is played with a standard 52
card deck. The game is played on a table similar to
blackjack and up to seven players can play at the same time.
In let it ride poker, your primary and only goal is to get a
good poker hand. There are three circles in front of each
player on the table. The circles are marked with the numbers
1, 2 and $ and are the spots where you place your three
bets. The first and second bet are bets you can take back
later in the game.
Each player receives three cards and the dealer receives two
community cards but the dealer does not have a hand of
his/her own. A player is not allowed to show or discuss
his/her cards with other players at the table. Each player
will be required to keep the three cards (face down) in full
view of the dealer at all times.
How to Play Let Them Ride
The object of the game is to get a pair of 10s or better
using three cards dealt to the player and two community
cards given to the dealer. After each player receives
his/her cards the dealer discards one card leaving two cards
face down in front of the dealer.
To start with, each player makes three bets of equal amount
(a $5 table requires $15 to start play) and places them on
the three bet circles 1, 2, $. The Bonus bet on the bonus
circle is an optional side bet and is normally $1 (see "The
side bet" below). Then the dealer gives each player three
cards and takes two community cards, all placed face down.
The remaining cards are then placed in the discard tray.
When this is finished the players are allowed to look at
their three-card hand. At this point each player has the
option to take back the bet in circle number one or Let It
Ride. After all the players have made their decisions the
dealer will turn up the first of the two community cards
which is in front of the dealer. This card is used as the
fourth card for all the players' hands.
You now have the option of taking down your second bet or
Let It Ride irrespective of your first decision. You may
take down the second bet even if you let the first bet ride
but you cannot take down or put the first bet back up.
After all the players make their decision for the second
bet, the dealer will turn up the second community card,
which completes the five-card hand for every player. At this
point the dealer will pay all the winning bets. Players
without paying hands lose whatever bets still remain in
play. Winners are paid based on hands which have a pair of
10s or better with a pair of 10s paying even money, as
follows:
Tens or better 1 to 1
Two pair: pays 2 to 1
Three of a kind: pays 3 to 1
Straight: pays 5 to 1
Flush: pays 8 to 1
Full house: pays 11 to 1
Four of a kind: pays 50 to 1
Straight flush: pays 200 to 1
Royal flush: pays 1,000 to 1
Note: Some let-it-ride poker tables have a maximum payout,
say, of $25,000. In this case you could be paid less than
what you have actually won. A $15 three-circle bet total
($5+$5+$5) for a dealt royal flush will net you the table
maximum of $25,000 instead of $45,000.
House advantage 3.5%
Let it Ride Strategy:
The basic object of the game is to take back your circle 1
and circle 2 bets if you don't think you are going to get
tens or better and let them ride if you have a good hand.
Since you need at least a pair of tens to get paid, you
should let your bets ride any time you have tens or better.
Let bet 1 ride if you have:
A winning hand (pair of tens or better - three of a kind)
A three-card royal flush
A three-card straight flush
Let bet 2 ride if you have:
A winning hand (pair of tens or better - two pairs, three of
a kind)
A four-card flush
A four-card royal or straight flush
Four high cards
A four-card open-ended straight
The side bet:
There is an extra side bet you can make for a dollar when
playing let it ride. The chip is placed in the red circle
above the 3 betting circles. The side bet can be made for a
bonus payoff when certain hands are made. The pay table for
the bonus varies from casino to casino.
Basically, you can qualify for bonus payoffs for the side
bet if you are dealt a straight, four-of-a-kind, a full
house, a flush, a straight flush or a royal flush. The
'house edge' on the side bet ranges from 15% to 30%. As with
most side bets offered by the casino, these are not
favourable bets and should be avoided.
Here is a screenshot of a typical online let it ride game:
