Let it Ride: a Poker Game Anyone Can Play

One reason why some people shy away from Poker is that it can be a very complicated game, with numerous strategies and number crunching needed to win. Well, if you want to play without any of the intricacies, Let it Ride is your game.

Let it Ride is a relatively new Poker variant, introduced by casinos in 1993, but its simple rules have turned it into one of the most widely played versions of the card game. Even if you have little or no experience, understanding the basic concepts will be easy.

When you go to play Let it Ride Poker for the first time in a casino, what you'll immediately notice is how similar the table setup is with those used in Blackjack. There are several seats (up to seven can play), and there are marked spots where you can place your bets (labeled 1,2 and $).

As with other games, Let it Ride Poker begins with the players making their bets, the range being $5 to $15. Similar to 5 Card Draw, each player is given three hole cards, and then two shared cards are laid down on the table. All the participants will then attempt to make the highest hand by combining their hole cards with those on the table. At no point are players allowed to converse, and one cannot draw or replace a card.

The rules of Let it Ride Poker state that a winning hand must be at least a pair of tens. If you make this combo, you will get paid out 1:1. The payout for the other hands are: two pair (2:1), three of a kind (3:1), straight (5:1), flush (8:1), full house (11:1), four of a kind, or quads (50:1), straight flush (200:1) and for the Royal Flush 1,000: to 1.

There a couple of things that you need to remember: the first is that the payout listed are a generalized; some casinos or gambling sites may offer more or less. Second, the amount you can bet will differ; some like to play with as few competitors as possible, believing it will increase their chances of winning.

Whether that works or not is something for you to determine, but it is worth knowing just how some people approach the game.

As you can see, there is no need to do any pot odd calculations, nor attempt to conceal tells and read other players. In Let it Ride Poker, it's just about trying to get the best possible combination. So if you are the type who just wants a piece of the action without the complications, this will definitely suit you.