Let It Ride

Achieve a final five-card poker hand of a pair of tens or better using your three cards plus two community cards. You manage risk by withdrawing or letting bets ride.

1. Players: 1 to 7 players at the table.
2. Deck: Standard 52-card deck.
3. Bets: Each player places three equal bets in designated circles (commonly labeled 1, 2, and $).
4. Deal: Each player receives 3 cards face-down. Two community cards are placed face-down in front of the dealer.

1. First decision: After looking at their three cards, each player decides to pull back bet 1 or let it ride.
2. First community card: The dealer reveals one of the two community cards.
3. Second decision: Each player decides to pull back bet 2 or let it ride. The third bet (marked $) can never be withdrawn.
4. Second community card: The dealer reveals the final community card.
5. Payout: All remaining bets are paid according to the paytable if the player's five-card hand qualifies (pair of tens or better).

• Minimum qualifying hand: Pair of tens or better.
• Paytable: Pair of tens or better pays 1:1, two pair pays 2:1, three of a kind pays 3:1, straight pays 5:1, flush pays 8:1, full house pays 11:1, four of a kind pays 50:1, straight flush pays 200:1, royal flush pays 1000:1.
• Each remaining bet: Is paid independently, so letting all three bets ride with a big hand multiplies the payout significantly.

• Bonus bet: Many casinos offer an optional side bet that pays for strong hands regardless of the main game outcome.
• Three Card Bonus: A side bet based solely on the player's initial three cards.

• Let bet 1 ride if you have a pair of tens or better, three to a royal flush, or three suited cards in a row.
• Let bet 2 ride if you have a pair of tens or better, four to a flush, or four to an outside straight.
• The optimal strategy minimizes the house edge to about 3.5% — always withdraw marginal hands.