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Rules & Strategy

1. Let It Ride Poker
2. Let It Ride Casino Game Odds
3. Let It Ride Casino Card Game
4. Let It Ride Casino Game
5. Let It Ride Casino Odds By State
6. Best Casino Odds

Let It Ride Poker

Different Let It Ride hands trigger different payouts, due to the rarity of the hand. The best hand to get in Let It Ride is the royal flush, because it has the lowest odds of hitting and the highest payout. Most Let It Ride strategy deals with when to seek straights and flushes, and when to go for hands with better odds. Let It Ride is a relatively new addition in casino games, especially when compared to long-standing casino games like roulette, blackjack, and baccarat. Let It Ride Poker debuted in 1993 and has become a staple in both land-based and online casinos. And while the game is a derivative of poker, you don’t play against other players. Jan 04, 2020  Let it Ride is a simple poker-based game based on the poker value of a final five-card hand. Start by making three equal bets. This is done by clicking a chip and then clicking on the spot marked with a $ sign on the table.

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Let It Ride

Similar in nature (if not in practice) to Caribbean Stud, Let it Ride is another popular poker variant found in one form or another in most of the major land-based and online casinos. Again, it is exceedingly simple in theory, with only a few actions taken during each round of play. The rules are as follows:

• Play begins after each participant places three bets of equal size in the three wager circles typically marked 1, 2 and $.
• Each player is then dealt three cards face down. Two additional “community cards” are dealt face down in front of the dealer.
• Players next examine their cards and decide whether or not to let the bet #1 remain or remove it from risk.
• The dealer then reveals one of the two community cards.
• Again, each player may then let the remaining two bets ride, or remove bet #2. This action is regardless of the initial decision.
• Finally, the second community card is exposed and all players are paid according to the table’s payout schedule.

Let it Ride Standard Payout Schedule
Hand / Payout
Royal Flush / 1000-1
Straight Flush / 200-1
Four of a Kind / 50-1
Full House / 11-1
Flush / 8-1
Straight / 5-1
Three of a Kind / 3-1
Two Pair / 2-1
Pair of 10s or better / 1-1

Variations on a Theme

As with Caribbean Stud, there have been few changes to the general play structure for the online casino version of Let it Ride. The biggest changes include altered pay structures and, in some cases, the addition of a progressive jackpot feature. Alternative names are also common for online versions of Let it Ride and include Free Ride, Let ‘em Ride, and Let Them Ride.

Alternate payout structures found online include:

Let it Ride: Alternative Pay Structures
Hand / Table 1 / Table 2 / Table 3 / Table 4
Royal Flush / 500-1 / 500-1 / 250-1 / 200-1
Straight Flush / 200-1 / 100-1 / 50-1 / 100-1
Four of a Kind / 50-1 / 25-1 / 25-1 / 40-1
Full House / 11-1 / 15-1 / 12-1 / 15-1
Flush / 8-1 / 10-1 / 10-1 / 9-1
Straight / 5-1 / 5-1 / 8-1 / 5-1
Three of a Kind / 3-1 / 3-1 / 3-1 / 3-1
Two Pair / 2-1 / 2-1 / 2-1 / 2-1
Pair of 10s or better / 1-1 / 1-1 / 1-1 / 1-1

Some casinos also offer as part of the wagering options in Let it Ride a $1 progressive side bet similar to that of Caribbean Stud poker. The typical payout structure for that is:

Let it Ride: $1 Progressive Wager
Hand Payout
Royal Flush / 100%
Straight Flush / 10%
Four of a Kind / $500
Full House / $100
Flush / $50

Winning at Let it Ride

The strategy associated with Let it Ride centers around the first four cards, and the first two betting circles. It is here that the player must decide whether or not the cards are strong enough to warrant the aggressive play to “let it ride.”

The first decision comes after you have received the cards and can see their potential value. Since we know three fifths, or 60% of the possible hand, we can make some pretty good assumptions about the likely outcome for that hand. With these assumptions, we make the decisions concerning our bets.

Sometimes the decision is an easy one. For example, if dealt three kings, it doesn’t take a brain surgeon to figure out that it’s probably a good idea to “let it ride.” This is a winning hand, and has a guaranteed payout worth at least three times each bet, and with some luck, that hand may even improve to a full house, or better. On the other side of the coin, we may be dealt such a poor hand that it would be best to take back as many bets as possible, and wait for better cards.

Other times, we’re given hands that have yet to guarantee success, but hold enough potential to justify continued wagering—such as three cards to a royal flush. Here is the basic three-card strategy for Let it Ride.

Let it Ride: Three Card Strategy
First Three Cards Let it Ride Remove Bet
Pair of 10’s higher / Yes No
Three of a Kind / Yes No
3 card Straight Flush / Yes No
3 card Royal Flush / Yes No
Flush/Straight with two 10 value cards / Yes No
J,9,8/10,9,7/10,8,7 (suited) / Yes No
K,Q,J/Q,J,10 / Yes No
Pairs 2-9 / No Yes
9,10,J / No Yes
A,K,Q / No Yes
All Others / No Yes

From three-card strategy, we move on to the next stage of the game and another round of decision making: four-card strategy.

Just as with three-card strategy, four-card strategy is based on the potential for completing a winning hand. We play only those hands where 1). We have already made a winning hand or, 2). We have a positive expectation for completing a winning hand. In any other situation the remaining questionable bet is removed. The rules for playable four-card hands are:

• Four of a Kind. Since this hand is a guaranteed winner, paying out at an optimal 50-1, there is no question that for this hand you should let your bets ride.
• Three of a Kind. Not only is this an excellent hand to be sitting with because of a guaranteed a payout of 3-1 for each of your bets, it also has room to become an even better hand, such as four of a kind, or a full house.
• Two Pair. Since this hand is also a definite winner (paying out at 2-1) it should be played.
• Pair of 10’s or Higher. This is one of the more common winning hands that you will see, occurring about 20% of the time. Let the bet ride.
• Four Cards to a Royal Flush. While not be a guaranteed winner, there are so many possibilities that it is best to let the bet ride in this case. Potential completed hands include a royal flush, straight flush, flush, straight or high pair.
• Four Cards to a Straight Flush. While this hand may not have the same extended possibilities as four to a royal flush, it still can yield some excellent results including a straight flush, flush, straight, and high pair, depending on the value of the cards.
• Four to a Flush. Since you’ve already beaten the 23-1 odds on filling a flush with three cards, and reduced the odds to about 4½ -1 for a hand that will pay 8-1, you’ve got the makings of a good statistical edge. This hand may also be assisted with any high cards that could result in a winning pair.
• Four Cards to an Open Ended Straight. This hand also has possibilities and should be played, though without any high cards there will be no winning pairs possible, eventually balance out mathematically in the long run. The odds for drawing the fifth card to an open-ended straight are 5-1, the exact odds that this hand pays out. Neither you, nor the casino has the edge for this hand.
• Four Cards to a High Straight. This is the most marginal of all the playable hands. The odds for drawing to an inside straight are 11-1 against you, but that value is buffered by the amount of high cards that comprise the hand, which could yield a winning pair.

These rules comprise the basic strategy for Let it Ride. Any hands that do not meet these guidelines should never be played, no matter how tempting or “attractive” they look; nor should you play them because of a “hunch.” To do so will send the house edge soaring.

Rules & Strategy – Let It Ride

Rules & Strategy Let It Ride Similar in nature (if not in practice) to Caribbean Stud, Let it Ride is another popular poker variant found in one form or another …

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Letting it ride on a low pair (9's or less) is definitely a bad bet. The house edge on a low pair with three cards is 6.37%. With four cards the house edge jumps to 45.83%. So don't be tempted to let it ride on low pairs.

Table game tournament strategy is very complicated. However, briefly, I would bide by time in the early hands of each round. Sometimes your opponents will all burn themselves out and you can advance without any effort. When it gets down to about five hands to go you'll need to make your move on any players way ahead of you. This is the time when you want to pull into first or go bust trying. It is also good to wait to save your big bets for when you act AFTER your biggest competitors.

This increases the house edge from 3.506% to 3.737%.

If you could see both the community cards, then your edge would be 42.06%. I don't know the advantage for one card, I'm afraid, but I am sure it would be high, especially if the second one were exposed.

Yes! In Mastering the Game of Let It Ride by Stanley Ko a section is devoted to this topic. Ko explains how the odds change if you have a 4-card straight or flush and can see extra cards. He does not indicate such adjustments at the three-card stage of the game. You can find this booklet at that Gambler's Book Club.

Let It Ride Casino Game Odds

There are 2 directions to complete a 2-3-4 straight (A-2-3-4-5, 2-3-4-5-6), yet 3 directions to complete a 3-4-5 straight (A-2-3-4-5, 2-3-4-5-6, 3-4-5-6-7).

Assuming you are not peeking at any other player's cards, it doesn't make any difference. Have a good time in Reno.

You make a good point. In terms of what to expect in the short run then you should ignore the highest hands. I know video poker players sometimes disregard royal flushes when determining their short-term expectations. However, as a mathematical purist, I can't help but consider every possible outcome, regardless of how unlikely.

No. Unless you can actually see the other player’s cards and use that information correctly in your strategy then the number of other plays makes no difference.

Good question. In full play Three Card Poker the house edge on Pairplus is 2.32% and on Ante & Play is 3.37%. However the element of risk on Pairplus is still 2.32% while in Ante & Play it is 2.01%. I believe if comparing one game to another the element of risk is more appropriate. In other words comparing the expected loss to the total amount bet. In this case Ante & Play has the lower element of risk and is thus the better bet. So I would disagree with the writer of the article you mention. According to my house edge index the element of risk in Let it Ride is 2.85%, higher than that of Ante & Play.

What is the increased house advantage for letting the following hands 'ride' on Let it Ride?

1) three unsuited cards (A-K-Q and K-Q-J for example)
2) low connected straight flush cards (3-4-5)
3) something like J-10-7 of diamonds, spread of 5.

Thanks Mike, great site as usual (I’ll say it every time)

Thanks for the compliment. First, you’re supposed to 'let it ride' with suited 3-4-5 (three consecutive suited cards) and suited 7-10-J (three to a straight flush with 2 high cards and 2 gaps). My own strategy states this. Here is the effect on your expected return for each of the other hands, measured in units. For example if you bet three units of $1 raising on unsuited A-K-Q would cost you 18.62 cents.

Unsuited A-K-Q: -0.186224
Unsuited K-Q-J: -0.104592

This pay table has a house edge of 13.07%, the lowest I have heard of for Let it Ride. Still a sucker bet though.

For the sake of simplicity let’s assume each hand is dealt from a fresh deck. The probability of a four of a kind is 13*48/combin(52,5) = 624/2598960. The probability of exactly 3 out of 40 four of a kinds is combin(40,3)*p³*(1-p)³⁷ = 1 in 7378135, where p = 624/2598960. So that is more like a 1 in 7 million shot.

In 'Mastering the Game of Let it Ride' Stanley Ko addresses this topic. Ko says, most of the value in seeing other player’s cards is when you have a borderline hand of 4 to an outside straight with no high cards or JQKA. Viewing a single card should not encourage you to 'let it ride' but seeing a card that won’t help you should cause you to 'let it ride.' Ko doesn’t indicate that this can result in a negative house edge, and I doubt this chips away at the house edge much at all.

With a low pair your expected value on the initial bet is -7.40%. So if your original bet was $10 then letting it ride with a low pair will cost you an extra 74 cents.

The probability of a four of a kind in any given hand is 13*48/combin(52,5) = 0.0002401. Let’s assume in two hours you can play 120 hands. The probability of exactly two four of a kinds would be combin(120,2) × 0.0002401² × (1-0.0002401)¹¹⁸ = 0.000400095 = 1 in 2499.41.

Let It Ride Casino Card Game

It plays just like the real thing. The casinos use a shuffling machine, which I understand to be very good. My program shuffles the deck after every hand too.

It will be difficult finding $5 blackjack on the Strip on a weekend. You’ll probably have to settle for a low-roller casino like the Riviera, Sahara, Frontier, or Circus Circus. It will be a lot easier downtown. Let It Ride is slowly fading away, but if you find it the minimum unit is usually $5.

Please see the following table. This table also shows the house edge assumed for player rating purposes. My source is an executive with a major Strip casino here in Vegas, who wishes to remain anonymous.

Let It Ride Casino Game

Hands per Hour and Average House Edge

Games	Hands/Hour	House Edge
Baccarat	72	1.2%
Blackjack	70	0.75%
Big Six	10	15.53%
Craps	48	1.58%
Car. Stud	50	1.46%
Let It Ride	52	2.4%
Mini-Baccarat	72	1.2%
Midi-Baccarat	72	1.2%
Pai Gow	30	1.65%
Pai Pow Poker	34	1.96%
Roulette	38	5.26%
Single 0 Roulette	35	2.59%
Casino War	65	2.87%
Spanish 21	75	2.2%
Sic Bo	45	8%
3 Way Action	70	2.2%

I had an interesting occurrence at a major high-end strip property and I was wondering how I should have handled the situation. A friend and I were the only players at a Let It Ride table. After playing for a while, the blue deck started getting stuck in the shuffler. After a while, the dealer asked the floor manager to replace the deck. Before replacing the deck, the dealer counted the cards, only 51 cards! Several recounts, looking all around, calling in another supervisor etc failed to produce the missing card.

My friend was down about $300 and I was up around $150 when all this happened. Since we are both ’full comp’ at the property, I did not raise a stink about this. The dealer seemed very worried about her job and we did not joke around at all. The supervisors and floor person did not say anything to us or offer any compensation. More or less, after a while, they replaced the deck and continued the game.

Personally, I figured that the odds say the missing card was a low card and it probably helped our odds of winning. My friend (who was down) thinks differently, that he should have been compensated. In the end, we did not raise the issue with the floor person. Was that correct? Should we have been aggressive given the situation? And, I am curious, assuming it was a random card, likely a low card, wouldn’t that actually have helped out odds during the time it was gone missing? Regards!

If you take a single card out of the deck randomly, the odds of Let it Ride do not change. This would be true of any casino game I can think of, where the cards are shuffled between hands. Without knowing the missing card, the effects of removal of bad cards and good cards exactly cancel one another out. So, complaining is not mathematically justified. Even if they found that it was a high card that got lost, it was still accidental. It could have just as easily been a low card that got lost. If it happened to me, I would have let it slide. I think an apology from somebody would be called for, but they probably didn’t want to, lest it give you more bargaining power if you did make a big scene over it.

For the benefit of other readers, in Let it Ride the player starts with three bets, and may pull back two of them if his cards don’t look good. If the minimum were $10, he would start with $30 in bets. If the player has a possible royal flush, proper strategy says to always stay in the game. A royal flush pays 1000 to 1. With a royal flush, the player would win 1000 to 1 on three bets of $10, or a total of $30,000 on bets of $10. However, the maximum aggregate payout is $25,000, so the 1000 to 1 is impossible to achieve, unless the player deviates from proper strategy, and doesn’t raise with hopes of royal.

Let It Ride Casino Odds By State

I completely agree with your point. In my opinion it is false advertising to offer a win that is impossible to get under proper strategy. So, to Harrah’s I say “shame on you.” They can afford to pay a $25,000 jackpot.

Here in Nevada, an aggregate payout rule must be in plain view, and it cannot apply to wins less than 50 to 1 (Nevada Revised Statute 5.190). So, unless there is another statute I don’t know about, this would be legal here too. However, I am not aware of the same kind of impossible jackpot here. The maximum payout is also usually $25,000, but some of the classier casinos have higher maximum payouts. For example, the Wynn is at $75,000. The minimum bet here is usually $5, so as long as you stay at bets of $8 or less, the win for a royal will stay under $25,000. With a $1 side bet, the win would be exactly $25,000, so they would be allowed to deduct any wins of other players against you. My advice is to never bet so much that the aggregate payout rule might apply, on principle alone.

I use your great site quite often, thanks! I found a new pay table at the Borgata in Atlantic City, for the Three Card Bonus bet in Let It Ride. They implemented these very recently, to the point the dealers were struggling to remember the new odds. Here is the new pay table:

Mini Royal: 50 to 1
Straight flush: 40 to 1
Three of a kind: 30 to 1
Straight: 6 to 1
Flush: 4 to 1
Pair: 1 to 1

I am curious how it impacts the overall house edge.

That is not bad for a side bet. I show the house edge is 2.14%.

I asked two Las Vegas casino executives about this. The first one said their policy on all games with a jackpot-based side bet is to first pay the primary bets (i.e. not the side bets) to the full odds. The aggregate cap only applies to the side bets. In the event the side bet wins exceed the aggregate maximum, then winners are paid on a pro-rata basis, according to their win. For example, if the aggregate is $50,000, player 1 won $50,000, player 2 won $10,000, and player 3 won $100, then each player would get paid $50,000/($50,000+$10,000+$100)=83.19% of what he would get without the limit. The second casino executive, with another company, said the same thing except they pay the side bets in full and pro-rate the primary bets.

Let's assume 60 hands per hour, and a total of four players at the table. So, in 90 minutes that would be 1.5×60×4=360 hands. The probability of a straight flush is 4×9/combin(52,5) = 36/2,598,960 = 0.000013852. The probability of exactly two straight flushes in 360 hands is combin(360,2)* 0.000013852²×(1-0.000013852)³⁵⁸ = 1 in 81,055. Stranger things have happened.

Best Casino Odds

According to Beyond Counting (Exhibit CAA) by James Grosjean, if you can see every player card in a 7-player game, and make perfect use of the information, the house edge drops, but not more than the 3.51% house edge. As I state in my Let It Ride page, I would eyeball the table for the cards you need in the two borderline plays, four to an outside straight with no high cards, and four to an inside straight with four high cards. That would be of very marginal help.