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Download on Google Play- 1 or more players against the dealer.
- Standard 52-card deck.
- Place a bet before cards are dealt.
- Dealer deals two face-up cards and determines the spread.
- Consecutive cards push; pairs draw a third for possible trips.
- If a spread exists, choose to raise or stand.
- Third card is dealt; if between the two, you win.
- Spread 1 pays 5:1, spread 2 pays 4:1, spread 3 pays 2:1, spread 4+ pays 1:1.
- Three of a kind on a pair pays 11:1.
Rules
Red Dog, also known as Red Dog Poker or Acey-Deucey, is a casino banking game where players bet on whether a third card will fall in rank between two initially dealt cards. The wider the spread between the two cards, the better the odds for the player. It is a simple, fast-paced game of pure chance.
Objective
Bet that a third card dealt will have a rank that falls between the ranks of two previously dealt cards.
Setup
- Players: 1 to multiple players against the dealer.
- Deck: Standard 52-card deck (some casinos use multiple decks).
- Bet: Each player places a wager before the cards are dealt.
Gameplay
- Two cards dealt: The dealer places two cards face-up on the table.
- Spread determined: The spread is the number of card ranks between the two cards. For example, a 4 and 9 has a spread of 4 (5, 6, 7, 8).
- Consecutive cards: If the two cards are consecutive (e.g., 7 and 8), the hand is a push and bets are returned.
- Pair: If the two cards are a pair, a third card is dealt immediately. If it matches for three of a kind, the player wins 11:1. If not, the hand is a push.
- Raise option: If there is a spread, the player may raise by placing an additional bet up to the original amount.
- Third card: The dealer draws a third card. If it falls between the two cards in rank, the player wins. If not, the player loses.
Scoring
- Spread of 1: Pays 5:1.
- Spread of 2: Pays 4:1.
- Spread of 3: Pays 2:1.
- Spread of 4 or more: Pays 1:1 (even money).
- Three of a kind: Pays 11:1.
Variations
- Multiple decks: Some casinos use multiple decks which slightly changes the odds and house edge.
- Acey-Deucey home game: Players contribute to a pot and bet on whether their card falls between two dealt cards, with the pot growing when players miss.
Tips and Strategies
- Only raise when the spread is 7 or greater, as this is when the odds shift in your favor.
- The house edge varies by spread — smaller spreads heavily favor the house.
- Red Dog is a high-variance game; set strict win and loss limits before playing.
Tips & Strategy
Only raise your bet when the spread between the two cards is 7 or more, as narrower spreads give the house a significant edge.
The mathematics are straightforward: with a spread of 7 or more, the probability of the third card falling in between exceeds 50%, making a raise profitable.
Trivia & Fun Facts
Despite being called Red Dog Poker, the game has nothing to do with poker — it is purely a banking game based on the random rank of a single card.
What happens in Red Dog when the first two cards dealt are consecutive in rank?
History & Culture
Red Dog originated as a home gambling game in the 19th century and was introduced to casinos in the 1980s, though it has become increasingly rare on modern casino floors.
Red Dog represents a category of simple banking games that thrived in American gambling culture before poker and blackjack dominated the casino landscape.
Variations & House Rules
The home game version, Acey-Deucey, uses a communal pot where players who miss add to the pot, creating potentially large jackpots over multiple rounds.
For home games, play Acey-Deucey with a communal pot where missed bets build the pot, making for exciting rounds when someone hits a narrow spread.
