How to Play the “Let it Ride” Card Game

While I first saw this played in the Bellagio Casino in Las Vegas, this card game can be found worldwide. Let It Ride is based on poker. What makes Let It Ride unique is that you can actually take back some of your money as the cards are being dealt. And there’s a special twist – for an extra $1, you are eligible for a side jackpot, which amounts to $20,000 for a royal flush. It also gives you a chance to win million-dollar grand prizes in the Let It Ride tournament. Here is how Let It Ride is played.

Each player makes three equal bets, one in each of three betting circles at each seat at the table. The dealer then deals three cards to each player face down. He also deals two community cards face down in front of him.

Each player then looks at their own three cards. If you feel that your cards have the potential for a good hand then you can Let It Ride (so to speak). If you’re not pleased, signal the dealer and you can take back your first bet.

The dealer then turns over the first community card, which becomes the fourth card in your hand. Again, if you think you have a good hand you can let it ride, if not, signal the dealer and take back your second bet.

Finally, the dealer turns over the second community card, completing your hand. If you’ve pulled back your first two bets, the third bet has to play. If your five-card hand contains a pair of 10s or better, you win. The following are the pay outs for winning hands:

– pair of 10s or better pays even money
– two pair pays 2 to 1
– three-of-a-kind pays 3 to 1
– straight pays 5 to 1
– flush pays 8 to 1
– full house pays 11 to 1
– four-of-a-kind pays 50 to 1
– straight flush pays 200 to 1
– royal flush pays 1,000 to 1

Payouts on the royal flush are aggregate (if two or more players win on the same hand, the jackpot is divided proportionately).

Tournament Jackpot

The specially designed Let It Ride layouts feature illuminated betting spots, which allow you to participate in special payoffs when you make a straight or better. This is called the tournament spot, and it costs you an extra $1 per hand to play. All payouts are in addition to the regular Let It Ride awards, and are paid immediately.

– straight pays $20
– flush pays $50
– full house pays $75
– four-of-a-kind pays $200
– straight flush pays $2,000
– royal flush pays $20,000

The shot at the big payoff makes it tempting to bet that extra dollar, and to make it even more enticing there’s an additional incentive. With any royal flush or straight flush, you earn an entry into the Let It Ride playoffs at a Nevada host casino, where you have a chance to make some really big money.

All playoff participants receive a round-one buy-in of $2,000 in non-negotiable chips. At the end of this round, the six finalists get the following cash awards:

Sixth place…………. $25,000
Fifth place………….. $50,000
Fourth place……….. $75,000
Third place…………$100,000
Second place…….$200,000
Grand Prize……… $1 million.

The house edge at Let It Ride is 3.5%. Ninety-three percent of the time the player will take back the first bet, and 85% of the time the player will take back the second bet. The third bet is locked in. Expect to stay in the game with all three bets only about once every 16 hands.

When taking back one of the bets, wait for your turn to do so and then signal the dealer by scratching your cards on the felt like you do to take a hit in blackjack. (Never touch your money.) If you decide to Let It Ride, tuck your cards face down underneath one of your bets.

Staying in the game with all three bets is not advisable if you don’t have at least a pair of 10s. Having three high cards isn’t much better, unless you can use them in a straight flush or a royal.

While there may be a great draw to stay in with smaller pairs it is not advisable, however, on that note, in the end it is gambling and there is always potential for more. It’s your money and it’s your choice, just know what your odds are before sitting down at the table.