Let It Ride Poker

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Let It Ride Poker Average ratng: 9,8/10 103 reviews

Let it Ride poker first appeared in land-based casinos in 1993. The poker-based table game was created by Shuffle Master Inc, the same company that creates those automatic-shuffling machines. Let It Ride has become so popular because you do not bet against the dealer or other players. The basic poker hand rankings pertain to Let It Ride, however, a pair must consist of 10s or higher to win. Your winning hand is based upon the three cards that are dealt to you plus the Dealer's two cards. To begin the game, the minimum table bet must be placed on each of three circles on the table. The circles will be labeled 1, 2 and $.


Let It Ride is a casino card game based (loosely) on poker. Instead of having to beat someone else’s hand, you play against a pay table. Your payout is based on the strength of your final hand.

If you get a big hand, like a royal flush, you can win 1000 to 1, depending on the casino where you’re playing.

If you’re new to the concept of casino games in general, it’s probably appropriate to explain what differentiates a poker game from a casino game.

In a real poker game, you’re competing with the other players at the table. You win the pot—which consists of money bet by you and the other players at the table—by having the best hand at the table, or by getting all your opponents to fold.

In a casino game, you and the other players are playing against the casino.

The dealer facilitates this action, but she’s not really risking her own money. She’s risking the casino’s money. This is called a “house-banked game.”

In some casino games, like blackjack, for example, you compete with the dealer to see who has the better hand. The other players at the table are doing the same—as long as they beat the dealer, they win, regardless of how their hands stack up against yours or the other players’ at the table.

Let It Ride falls firmly into the casino game, house-banked game category.

But like I mentioned, it doesn’t involve beating the dealer, because the dealer doesn’t even have a hand in Let It Ride.

How Do You Play Let It Ride Bonus Poker?

In some respects, Let It Ride resembles Texas holdem poker. You get 3 cards, and the dealer gets 2 cards. The 2 dealer cards are community cards that are shared by you and the other players at the table.

You get paid out based on the 5-card poker hand ranking from your 3 cards and the 2 dealer cards.

But if it were as simple as just dealing the cards and comparing them to the pay table, Let It Ride would be a boring game indeed.

Here’s what makes Let It Ride Bonus Poker interesting:

You start by placing 3 bets instead of just one. All 3 bets must be the same size. For the sake of this example, we’ll assume you’re betting $10, so you’d have to put $30 on the table before being dealt a hand.

The 3 cards are dealt face down, usually, but you get to look at them. The 2 dealer cards are also face down, but you don’t get to look at them yet.

After you look at your 3 face down cards, you have the option of taking back one of your 3 bets. After you’ve made this decision, the dealer exposes another of her cards, and you get the same opportunity—you can pull back one of your 3 bets, or you can leave it on the table.

This means that you have 3 possibilities once the dealer exposes her final card:

  1. You might have all 3 of your original bets in front of you. (In our example, $30.)
  2. You might only have 2 of your original bets in front of you. (In our example, $20.)
  3. You might only have 1 of your original bets in front of you. (In our example, $10.)

Once the final card is exposed, you get paid off based on the poker hand ranking of the final 5-card hand. In this respect, Let It Ride resembles video poker.

The Payouts for Let It Ride Poker

If you have anything less than a pair of 10s, you lose. The casino dealer collects your bet and moves on the next hand.

If you have a pair of 10s or better, you get paid off based on the strength of your hand, based on the following pay table:

  • A pair of 10s, jacks, queens, or kings pays off at even money. (If you have $30 still on the table, you win $30.)
  • 2 pairs pay off at 2 to 1. (If you have $30 still on the table, you win $60.)
  • 3 of a kind pays off at 3 to 1. (If you have $30 still on the table, you win $90.)
  • A straight pays off at 5 to 1. (If you have $30 still on the table, you win $150.)
  • A flush pays off at 8 to 1. (If you have $30 still on the table, you win $240.)
  • A full house pays off at 11 to 1. (If you have $30 still on the table, you win $330.)
  • 4 of a kind pays off at 50 to 1. (If you have $30 still on the table, you win $1500.)
  • A straight flush pays off at 200 to 1. (If you have $30 still on the table, you win $6000.)
  • A royal flush pays off at 1000 to 1. (If you have $30 still on the table, you win $30,000.)

One of the reasons Let It Ride retains its popularity among the world of real money gambling is because of the possibility of getting those big payouts when you get a 4 of a kind or better.

How Does the Bonus Bet Work in Let It Ride?

I left something out of the original description of how to play Let It Ride poker. You have one other betting option besides the 3 bets that constitute the main game.

You can also place a bonus bet.

This is an optional bet—you can play without making the bonus bet.

In some casinos, the bonus bet pays off based on the final 5-card hand, but in most casinos, it pays off based on the player’s 3 cards only.

In casinos which off the bonus bet on the final 5-card hand, the payouts vary from casino to casino. For example, in some casinos, the 5-card bonus bet doesn’t pay off for a pair of 10s or better, but in others, they pay off even money on the bonus bet.

On the other end of the pay table, the payoff for a royal flush might be as much as 25,000 to 1, but it might also be as low as 10,000 to 1.

The payouts for flushes and straights are consistent on the bonus bet, though—50 to 1 or 25 to 1, respectively.

The 5-card bonus bet is a sucker bet, because it has a huge house edge compared to other bets in the casino—including the main bets in Let It Ride. Most casinos offering this version of the bonus bet limit your action to $1 per hand on this bet.

The more common version pays off based on the poker hand ranking of your 3-card hand. The payouts for these casinos can also vary, but here’s the most common version of that pay table:

Let
  1. A pair pays off at even money.
  2. A 3-card flush pays off at 3 to 1.
  3. A 3-card straight pays off at 6 to 1.
  4. 3 of a kind pays off at 30 to 1.
  5. A 3-card straight flush pays off at 40 to 1.
  6. A 3-card royal flush pays off at 50 to 1.

You’ll notice the lack of a payoff for 2 pairs. That’s because with 3 cards, it’s impossible to get 2 pairs. (You’d need at least 4 cards to have 2 pairs.)

Some casinos offer higher or lower payoffs for a 3-card flush or straight.

And a 3-card royal flush is strictly limited to a hand consisting of the queen, king, and ace of the same suit.

Is Let It Ride a Good Game to Play?

Yes, Let It Ride IS a good game to play, but only in certain respects. If you’re looking for the casino card game with the best house edge, Let It Ride isn’t it.

The house edge for the main action in Let It Ride is 3.5%.

The house edge in baccarat hovers around 1%, and the house edge in blackjack can be lower than that—as low as 0.3% under certain conditions.

But Let It Ride is still a better game than American roulette, which has a house edge of 5.26%.

And of course, the 3.5% house edge assumes that you make optimal decisions about pulling your bets back in and letting them ride.

Conclusion

The payouts on Let It Ride are easy enough to understand if you have some familiarity with poker and poker hand rankings.

It’s a good game if you avoid the bonus bet, which is a side bet with a relatively high house edge.

Let It Ride is a variation of five-card stud, based on a poker hand formed by three own cards and two community cards. The aim of each player at a Let It Ride poker table is to win the pot that contains all the wagers placed by the players.

This real money game is also commonly known as Let ‘Em Ride Poker at some online casinos. Due to the game’s nature and payout potentials, it rapidly became a favorite of gamblers.

Another reason why this game caught the attention of players is that it’s a game of luck more than skill. However, having a good strategy is an added advantage, especially if you are looking to limit your risks and receive high payouts.

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How To Play Let It Ride Poker

  1. Let It Ride features three betting spots for the same chip value. As the game progresses, players can either Continue without betting or Raise by betting the same amount as their initial wager.

    You will find these spots labeled as ANTE, RAISE, and RAISE at some online casinos. They may be named (1), (2), and ($) at other casinos.

  2. After placing your initial bet on the ANTE spot, players are dealt three cards face down. These are your specific player cards and are important for making decisions during the round.

    The dealer will place two community cards face down. Players will use their three cards, plus the two community cards to make a 5-card poker hand.

  3. After the player has made their second round of betting based on their initial three cards, the dealer will reveal the first community card. The player can make the same choices once again, Continue or Raise.
  4. After this final decision, the dealer will then reveal the second community card. At this point, the potential five-card hand is decided and the winnings are paid out. Depending on the type of poker hand you have, you will get a different payout.

Two Chances To Fold & Recover Partial Bets

A feature that makes Let It Ride Poker unique from other poker variation is that players are given two chances to withdraw one-third of their initial budget.

  • A player gets the first opportunity after he looks at his hand before the first community card is revealed. If the player feels that his hand value is not strong for the bets on the table, he could withdraw his bets.
  • The second chance comes after the first community card is revealed. On either of the two occasions, players can reduce or withdraw their bets. However if a player chooses not to withdraw or return a bet, the player is said to be “letting it ride”.

Let It Ride Pay Table

When a player has a winning hand after the second community card is face-up, his remaining wager is paid based on a payout table.

HANDPAYOUT
Royal Flush1,000:1
Straight Flush200:1
Four of a Kind50:1
Full House11:1
Flush8:1
Straight5:1
Three of a Kind3:1
Two Pair2:1
Pair of 10s or Better1:1

There may be little variations in how casinos pay-out. Usually a Royal flush is the highest win, and a pair of 10s represents the lowest paying hand. Anything below it, like a pair of nines, is a losing hand and you would lose your bet.

Where To Play Let It Ride Poker Online

The most important factor for you to check when choosing a casino to play Let It Ride online is legitimacy.

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Let It Ride Odds

Let It Ride has two different odds systems for the general gameplay and side bet featured in the game; five-card hands and three-card hands.

The chances of a player hitting the winning combinations on the paytable depend on the card hands you bet on.

We have made these odds calculations easier for you by presenting them in a detailed way below.

Let It Ride Odds On Five-Card Hands

Playing on the 5-card poker hand means you are expected to get your winning hand with your three own cards and the two community cards. Here are the Let It Ride odds you will be working with:

HANDODDS
Royal Flush1 in 649,704
Straight Flush1 in 72,193
Four of a Kind1 in 4,165
Full House1 in 694
Flush1 in 509
Straight1 in 255
Three of a Kind1 in 47
Two Pair1 in 21
Pair of 10s or Better1 in 4
Any Pair1 in 2

Let It Ride Odds On Three-Card Hands

Let It Ride features a side bet that allows you to stake on your three hold cards. You can bet that the three cards you are dealt would be a winning hand on a payable that starts from a pair, up to a mini royal flush.

Let It Ride Poker Odds

Here are the odds of winning with a three-card hand:

HANDODDS
Mini Royal Flush1 in 5,200
Straight Flush1 in 460
Three of a Kind1 in 425
Straight1 in 31
Flush1 in 20
Pair1 in 6
High Card1 in 2

Let ‘Em Ride Side Bets

Most casinos offer $1 chips that allow you to place a side bet in Let It Ride. The side bet qualifies you for bonus payouts.

The two main side bets on Let It Ride Poker include three-card and five-card bonus bets. Here is more information on the two types of side wagers.

Three Card Bonus Payouts

The three-card bonus bet shares a distinct similarity with the “pair plus” wager. It rewards players based on the strength of their first three cards; if it’s a pair or better.

Payouts for this bet include:

HANDPAYOUT
Mini Royal Flush50:1
Straight Flush40:1
Three of a Kind30:1
Straight6:1
Flush4:1
Pair1:1

Just like the “pair plus bet”, the 3-card bonus bet is referred to as a sucker bet because it’s bonuses aren’t as high as ones you get for playing standard let it ride. Besides the house edge for this bonus bet is higher.

Five Card Bonus Payouts

The five-card bonus bet is based on standard five-card poker paytable. In most casinos, the 5-card bonus, any hand less than a 3 of a kind like a pair of 10s or better is a loss.

You could also get up to a 20,000:1 payout (Royal flush) which is equivalent to many slot jackpots.

Here is what you will find on a 5-card bonus paytable:

HANDPAYOUT
Royal Flush20,000:1
Straight Flush2,000:1
Four of a Kind400:1
Full House200:1
Flush50:1
Straight25:1
Three of a Kind5:1

Let It Ride Strategy & Tips

Let It Ride is mainly a game of luck since you won’t be playing against the dealer nor the players. However, having a good strategy with your three hole cards and the first community card will be very helpful in increasing your success rate at the game.

First Three Cards Strategy

The best strategy you can apply after you have been dealt your first three cards is to hold and let it ride if:

  • Any paying hand (a pair of 10s or better)
  • Any three cards that make up a royal flush
  • Three consecutive suited cards, except for 2-3-4 and A-2-3
  • Three cards that can make up a Straight Flush, one gap, with one or more high cards
  • Three cards to a straight flush, two gaps, with two high cards of 10 or higher

First Community Card Strategy

After being dealt four cards, you should let it ride if you have;

  • Any paying hand, like a pair of 10’s or better, 3 of a kind or two pairs
  • Any four suited cards
  • Any four cards to an Outside Straight, with at least one high card of 10 or better
  • Any four cards to an outside straight, with no high card
  • Any four cards to an inside straight, with four high cards

Terms You Should Know When Playing

Inside straight: where one card is missing in the middle

Outside Straight: Straight draw with four consecutive cards.

High card: 10s or higher

One gap: 3-card draw with one gap in between

Two gaps: Three-card draw with two gaps

Practice Playing Let It Ride

What Makes Online Let It Ride A Great Game

Let It Ride

Playing Let It Ride at online casinos comes with its perks that you would not likely get at a land-based casino.

You can stake as little as $1 per hand. That’s the lowest minimum bet you will get at a Let It Ride poker table, and it’s only available online.

While playing online, you get to control your game speed; you get to decide when your three cards are dealt. Also, playing let it ride online opens you up to a whole lot of bonuses and rewards like welcome bonuses, cashback and free spins.

You can withdraw your winnings using various easy and secure payment methods online.

Let It Ride FAQ

Is it safe to play Let It Ride online?

Yes, there are several sites online that offer you a safe and secure environment to enjoy the game of Let It Ride. We recommended some online casinos that are licensed, have security encryption in place, and upholds fair play.

How do I win in Let It Ride?

You mainly secure a win in Let It Ride when you have a winning a 5-card poker hand with your three cards and two community cards.

Do I need a strategy to win?

Though not compulsory, using a proper strategy while playing Let It Ride can help you reduce the house edge. We have covered the best strategy to use while holding three cards and four cards in our strategy section.

What is the lowest paying hand in Let It Ride?

The lowest paying hand in Let It Ride across all online casinos is a pair of 10’s or better at 1:1.

What are the side bets available in Let It Ride?

Let It Ride features two main side bets, mainly the Three Card Bonus Payouts and Five Card Bonus Payouts. We explained them in detail above.

Let It Ride Poker Game

Start Playing Let It Ride Today!

Let It Ride Poker is an interesting game and can be really rewarding too when you get the knack of it.

Since it’s a game of luck, you don’t need much skill. Having a good strategy can go a long way in determining whether you get a payout or not.

It is also important to only play at safe and legitimate online casinos. Our list of recommended online casinos is a great option to pick from.