Instructive Hands From Advanced Let It Ride Scenarios

Published: December 18, 2014

Let It Ride is a game based on a loose combination of video poker and casino poker. You're dealt actual cards in this game, but you make strategic decisions about which hands you want to bet on by basically having a chance to double or triple your original bet based on the first few cards that come. This decision has to be made on the cards that are in front of you, but it's not always clear what you should do if you have just three cards. These are the more advanced scenarios for the game, and we are going to look at some example hands here.

It's obvious that any pair of tens or better in terms of made hands will be a clear scenario to keep more money in the game. Three cards to a royal flush is always going to be strong enough as well. However, the straight flush scenarios are difficult to figure out, and there are some basic rules you have to follow with them. If your three cards are consecutive and in the same suit, then you always raise except with A23 and 234. With three-card straight flush draws that include gaps, it gets complicated. However, if you remember that the high cards are ten and up, it gets a little easier.

If you have a hand like 7c9cTc you're going to raise. The key here is that you have one gap and one high card. Along similar lines, with 7cTcJc, you have two gaps (the eight and nine spots). Since you have two high cards, you can put the money in. As long as you have at least one high card for each gap, then you're fine to put in more money. However, this isn't always going to be the case, and it's easy to make mistakes.

Here's a good example: Suppose you have Jc9c7c. You have one high card here, but you have two gaps, so you don't have enough coverage to justify keeping the money in. It's a fine line to follow, but it's a rule that works well. If you keep this rule in mind, then you'll be able to play all of your straight flush draws correctly a high percentage of the time when you have only three cards, and this will add a good bit of value to your payout rate.