Let It Ride

By Will Veda

Let It Ride is another casino table game influenced by poker.  This time it’s the ever-popular Texas Hold‘em game, because community cards are used.  Each player has to make three bets of equal amounts in boxes marked 1 -- 2 -- $, bets 1 and 2 can actually be pulled off leaving the third in action (it can’t be pulled).  Each player is dealt three cards that eventually will be made into a standard poker hand by combining their three cards and the dealer’s two community cards -- used by each player.  In essence the dealer is now your ally. 

Here’s how it works and you’ll understand the name.  After the three cards are dealt to each player the dealer receives two cards face down.  Each player looks at his three cards and decides if he wants to let the first bet (1) ride; that is, stay in action.  If he does, he places his cards face down under the first bet.  If he decides to pull back his first bet he makes a swiping motion with his cards or fingers and the dealer pushes the bet back to him.  He still has two bets remaining on the table. 

The dealer now turns over his first community card and the players decide if they want the second bet to ride or be pulled back.  One thing that confuses a lot of players is the fact that you can let the first bet ride and pull back the second and visa versa. 

The same signals are given by the players as with the first bet, except if you let the second ride you place your cards under the $ bet.  The dealer now turns over his second community card and goes around the table turning over each player’s cards to determine the winners, if any. 

The payouts are based on poker rankings and are as follows: 

Pair of Tens or Better -- even money
Two Pair -- 2 to 1 
Three of a Kind -- 3 to 1 
Straight -- 5 to 1 
Flush -- 8 to 1 
Full House -- 11 to 1 
Four of a Kind -- 50 to 1 
Straight Flush -- 200 to 1 
Royal Flush -- 1000 to 1 

Let It Ride is an easy game to play with a very limited strategy to provide optimum chances of winning.  If you are dealt a pair of tens within the first three cards; uh, you win automatically.  Should you pull back your first bet?

Let the first bet ride only with the following:
Any winning hand (pair of tens being the lowest);
Three cards to the Royal Flush;
Three suited cards with no more than one gap;
Three suited cards with no more than one gap and one high card (ten or higher);
Three suited cards with no more than two gaps and two high cards. 

Let the second bet ride only with the following:
Any winning hand (pair of tens being the lowest);
Four cards to a Flush, a Straight Flush, or Royal Flush;
Four cards to a Straight, no gaps;
Four high cards.

LET IT RIDE BONUS: There is also a game widely available that allows the player to place a $1 side bet to receive a bonus payout for certain hands.  The typical pay table follows:

Three of a Kind -- $5  
Straight -- $25
Flush -- $50 
Full House -- $200  
Four of a Kind -- $400  
Straight Flush -- $2,000  
Royal Flush -- $20,000  

BETTING CIRCLES - The betting areas marked 1 -- 2 -- $, the three bets have to be of equal value (am I repeating myself?). 

COMMUNITY CARDS - Two cards the dealer has that is used by each player to complete their poker hand. 

“NO BRAINER” - What us Let It Ride enthusiasts say when our dealt three cards contain a pair of tens or better; you are already a winner. 

SHUFFLE MASTER CORPORATION - The company that invented Let It Ride.  A shuffle master machine is a device that automatically shuffles the cards to free the dealer from having to.  This allows increased action in a given period of time and entitles the casino to take more of your money quicker!