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Let it Ride Poker – Rules Strategy & Tips

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Let It Ride is a poker-based game where the value of the hand is the important thing – you don’t need to beat other players or the house in this game.

How to Play Let It Ride Poker

It is based mostly on a five-card stud which includes three player cards and two community cards (these are cards used by all players). The most important aspect of Let It Ride is that you are given two opportunities to remove exactly one-third of your bet.

You have one chance to do this after you look at your three cards. but before the first community card is revealed, and you receive another opportunity after the first community card is revealed, but before the second is revealed. You can reduce your bet at either of these times, on both, or neither. If you decide not to withdraw any of your bets, you effectively “let it ride.”

In order to understand this game, you need to know the different poker hands, which one’s are the best and what they contain. Details of the hands you can make can be found at our Poker Hands section.

We have also listed them below in the order of the best to worst with the average payout next to them. Please note that the hand winnings vary from casino to casino and aren’t therefore set in stone. Although some casinos may pay higher than the odds listed, some may also pay less so it is worth checking before you start to play to ensure you get the best possible returns.

As in all poker, your hand is made up of 5 cards. Unlike Texas Hold’em and other forms of poker, you only get 5 cards to choose from. In Let It Ride Poker, not the 7 you are able to use in some types (For example, in Texas Hold ’em, you can use 5 cards from your own 2 hole cards and the 5 community cards).

Let it Ride Poker Rules

Let it Ride Poker Rules are fairly easy to remember.

  1. You pay 3 bets of equal size to start the hand.
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  3. The Dealer deals each player in the hand 3 cards face down, so only the Player can see their cards.
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  5. You then have the choice of retrieving your first bet, leaving just two-thirds of your initial bet or Let It Ride – leave the bet down and stay in the hand with the full amount as opposed to a reduced amount.
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  7. The Dealer adds another card to the table, a Community card that can be used by all Players. Remember though, you are not betting against the others, just trying to make the best possible hand for yourself.
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  9. You now have the choice of retrieving your second bet or Let It Ride again and stay in with that bet still in play.
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  11. The Dealer now deals the second Community card which gives you the 5 cards that make up your final hand. You then receive payouts according to the table below:

 

Let It Ride Poker Payouts & Odds

(Remember, the Let It Ride Poker Payouts listed below can vary from casino to casino, so ensure you check a few different casinos first if this is the game you wish to play):
 

HandPayout
Royal Flush1,000 to 1
Straight Flush200 to 1
Four of a Kind50 to 1
Full House11 to 1
Flush8 to 1
Straight5 to 1
Three of a kind3 to 1
Two pair2 to 1
Pair of Tens or better1 to 1
Anything elseLose

 
For more information on Poker Hands see our Poker Hand rankings guide

Let it Ride Poker Strategy

the best Let It Ride Poker Strategy is the following: After your first 3 cards have been dealt, you should only Let It Ride (stay in the hand) if you have:
 

  • Any paying hand, so a Pair of 10’s or better
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  • Any 3 cards that make up a Royal Flush
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  • Three suited cards in a row except for 2-3-4 or A-2-3
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  • Three cards that can make up a Straight Flush where the cards are only spread over 4 numbers* and at least 1 high card of 10 or higher
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  • Three cards that can make up a Straight Flush where the cards are spread over 5 numbers** and at least 2 are high cards of 10 or higher

 
After the first 4 cards have been dealt, you should only Let It Ride (stay in the hand) if you have:
 

  • Any paying hand, so a Pair of 10’s or better, 3 of a kind or 2 pairs
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  • Any 4 cards of the same suit
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  • Any 4 cards to an Outside Straight*** with at least 1 high card of 10 or higher
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  • Any 4 cards to an Inside Straight****

 
* Spread over 4 numbers means the cards in question spread out over no more than 4 numbers, so 6, 7 and 9 for example.

** Spread over 5 numbers means the cards in question spread out over no more than 5 numbers, so 6, 7 and 10 for example.

*** Outside Straight is one where the number needed is on the outside of the hand (so you have 4, 5, 6 and 7 for example – you need either a 3 or an 8 to complete a straight in this instance).

**** Inside Straight is one where the number needed is on the inside of the hand (so you have 4, 5, 7 and 8 for example, this is not as good as an Outside Straight as the only number which will complete the hand in this instance is a 6)

Side Games

Some casinos will offer side games for Let It Ride Poker based on the hand value after your own 3 cards have been dealt or after all 5 are known.

We strongly suggest you avoid these kinds of games as they are heavily favored by the casino and do not offer value for money.

They can add an extra fun element to the game, however, so if your primary goal is to relax and get maximum enjoyment out of playing, feel free to play any side games available. Just remember that the odds are more heavily stacked in favor of the casino as opposed to you.

 

Related Poker Articles:

Pai Gow Strategy
Chinese Poker Tips
How To Play Crazy Pineapple
Play Poker Online for Real

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About the author
Richard Grant
Say hello to Richard Grant! Armed with a Law and Business degree and 17 years of industry experience, he launched this platform in 2007 to be your ultimate guide to the casino world. Specializing in game guides, reviews, and strategic insights, Richard is devoted to helping you hit the jackpot. Come join us on this exciting journey toward big wins!

FAQ

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What is Let It Ride Poker?

Let It Ride Poker is a fairly popular casino table game. A variation on the classic card game Poker, the game was created by John Breeding.

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Is Let It Ride Poker popular?

Upon its initial creation Let It Ride Poker became an incredibly popular game. However, as time passed by the game’s fame has waned quite a bit. Today, you can still play the game in a few casinos around the world, as well as on some online gambling websites. However, it doesn’t come close to the popularity of Texas Hold ‘em, 7 Card Stud, or Omaha.

faq

How do I play Let It Ride Poker?

Let It Ride Poker is in many ways similar to Texas Hold ‘em. It involves matching cards dealt to players with community cards. Unlike Texas Hold ‘em, however, each player is dealt three cards and there are only 2 community cards on the board. The goal is to match the 3 hand cards with the 2 community cards for a certain value.

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What are the odds in Let It Ride Poker?

Let It Ride Poker has a house edge of around 3.51%. 3.51% is a bit higher than the average, which is probably why the game’s popularity has waned over the years.

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Can I play Let It Ride Poker in Las Vegas?

Yes. Las Vegas is not named the City of Sin for nothing. There is not a game that can’t be played in Vegas. Let It Ride is available in quite a few popular Las Vegas casinos. If you are further interested, all you need to do is Google the name of the casino with the key word “Let It Ride Poker”.

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Can I play Let It Ride Poker online?

Indeed, you can. Let It Ride Poker may not be as popular as some other Poker variants, however, there is still enough of a demand for the game that it is a staple of quite a few online casino libraries.

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Does the dealer burn cards in Let It Ride Poker?

Yes. Once each player has been dealt their three cards the dealer than burns the first card that is upcoming, and places two addition cards, face down, on the table.

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How many decks is Let It Ride Poker played with?

The game is quite simple to grasp. It is played with one standard 52-card deck. Jokers are not necessary.

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How many players can play Let It Ride Poker?

Usually, a game of Let It Ride Poker is played with 5-or-so players. However, games have been known to accept as much as 7 players, and a game can be played with only two players.

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Can I win real money playing Let It Ride Poker?

Yes, but there is a caveat to that. In theory, you can win money playing any gambling game, if you are good enough. So, if you are going to play Let It Ride Poker for real money, make sure that you are prepared for the worst. As the old saying goes, hope for the best, expect the worst.

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