Let it Ride Basics

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Let it Ride is a game that appears to be a mixture of Blackjack, Poker and Solitaire. It is played on a table very similar to a Blackjack table although the betting is completely unique. It uses hand rankings that are similar to the hand rankings used when playing Poker and you will also end up with a total of 5 cards, trying to make your best 5 card Poker hand. However, we also mentioned that it is similar to Solitaire. That is because unlike most casino table games like Blackjack where you are playing against the dealer(or the house), you are not playing against the house, in fact, you are not even playing against the other players as you would in Poker. Instead, when playing Let it Ride, you are only playing against yourself, which means that it doesn't matter what other players are holding, this is where the Solitaire comes in.

So now you know what kind of table it is played on and who you are playing against, now you need to know what you are playing for. Because you don't have to beat any other hands, it is similar to video Poker where there are certain payouts for different Poker hands. The lowest paying hand is a pair of tens, any single pair 9 or below does not count. Like Poker, Let it Ride is played with a single standard 52 card playing deck. Another way it is like Poker is that you are looking for your best 5 card Poker ranked hand and like Texas Holdem and Omaha, there are community cards in which the whole table will share. Now that you know all about the game, it's time to lay down the rules so that you better understand the Let it Ride strategy on this page.

Before the cards are dealt, each player will be required to put 3 bets of like amount on the table. Then, it is time for the dealer to start passing out cards until all players at the table have 3 cards each. At this point, you will have the chance to let it ride and keep all 3 bets on the table, or to fold and take back one of their bets. After the action has passed to all players at the table, the dealer will then deal the first community card on the table for the remaining players to use with their 3 card hand. Once the first community card has been dealt, players will again have the choice to let it ride, or to fold and take back one of their bets. Once all players have made their decision, the dealer will lay the second and last community card on the table, at this point you will need to show your best 5 card Poker hand and in order to win it must be a high pair(10's) or higher ranking hand in order to win. Again, it doesn't matter what other players hands are, you are not playing against them but against yourself.

For those of you that are already familiar with Poker games and the hand rankings, you should have an easy as pie time learning the simple but winning strategies on this page. If you do not know Poker hand rankings, be sure to familiarize yourself with them and the order that they rank to know what you have. Once you have the hand rankings and the rules down, the next thing you need to know is when to hold and when to fold. Like the old Kenny Rogers song, 'You gotta know when to hold'em, know when to fold'em, know when to walk away and know when to run'. Luckily, as mentioned before, you will have 2 chances to fold out and take one of your bets back with you. This is one of the coolest things about Let it Ride Poker is that even though you start with 3 like bets on the table, you will have two different chances to opt out of the rest of the hand and take back one of your three wagers.

Below we will give you a cheat sheet outline on different hand possibilities that you can have that you should stay in with and play. The first list of hands will be hands that if you have at the first chance to opt out, you should let it ride. The second list are hands you should 'let it ride' with when the dealer has dealt the first community card and allows players their last chance to fold and take back a piece of their bet without finishing the hand.

Let it Ride Step by Step Strategy

You have already placed your 3 wagers and the dealer has dealt you your 3 hole cards. At this point you will need to evaluate your hand and decide whether or not it is worth it to you to let it ride. Knowing when to let it ride and when to roll out is one of the most important factors in creating a successful Let it Ride strategy, which is what you need to lower the house edge and boost your own! If you look down and find these cards in your hand when the dealer asks whether you want to let it ride, you should stay in.

- If you have 3 cards to a double belly buster straight flush draw, you should let it ride. A double belly buster straight draw means that you need 2 card in the middle of the straight to complete the straight, for example; Q, 10, 8. Of course you should only do this is 2 or more of your cards are 10's or higher. A flush means that there are 5 cards of the same suit, or however many cards are available at that point when discussing draws.

- If you have 3 cards to an gut shot straight flush draw and at least 1 of the cards are a 10 or higher you should let it ride. A gut shot straight draw means that you have 3 cards in towards a straight with one in the middle missing like; 7, 8, 10.

- Any time you look down and find 3 cards that are suited and connected like 3, 4, 5, of the same suit, you should let it ride.

- If you have 3 cards towards a royal flush you will of course let it ride. A royal flush is the highest flush possible meaning not only are all of the cards the same suit, but a straight flush is A, K, Q, J, 10 of the same suit, so obviously letting it ride when you have 3 of these cards is the smart and strategic thing to do.

- Quite obviously, if you already have a winning hand such as a pair of 10's or higher or a three of a kind, you should clearly let it ride to the end as you are guaranteed a win!

Now if you had one of the above hands and you decided to let it ride, the dealer will give the entire community of players a card face up that everyone will share, this is your first community card. At this point you will need to again evaluate your hand as the dealer will go around the table and give each player still in the hand the opportunity to fold and take back one of the wagers, or to let it ride and finish out the hand as this is your last chance to fold without giving up all your wagers. Now you need to know what hands are worth letting ride and which ones you should take your one wager and fold out.

- Any 4 high cards (10 or higher) you should let ride.

- If you have a 4 card open ended straight draw which means you only need one card on either side to complete your straight giving you twice the outs as a gut shot straight draw.

- If your 3 hole cards and the community card are all the same suit regardless of rank you should let it ride.

- Any 4 cards that give you a straight flush draw whether it be open ended or a gut shot and you should let it ride.

- Any 4 cards of the cards that are needed to make a royal flush and you should let it ride.

- Like above, you obviously will let it ride if you already have a pair of 10s or higher, 2 pair, 3 of a kind or any of the above mentioned hands.

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