Poker table games have some of the lowest minimum bets in a casino. With the explosion of 6:5 blackjack and the disappearance of many craps tables, these table games have become a great option for players looking for value.
However, there are several key points to keep in mind, including the requirement of needing more than the posted minimum in most cases to complete a hand.
Poker Table Games Require Extra Bets
When a baccarat or roulette table has a posted minimum bet, that is exactly the lowest amount the player can wager. That is not the case with most poker pit games. These tables require raises or other additional bets. A $10 table game can be $20, $30, $60, or even $100 by the end. It is important to keep that in mind.
A player short in funds will be required to play for less, or in some cases, forced to fold. Never start a hand without enough chips to play to the end.
Texas Hold’em Games Have the Highest Player Returns
The best poker pit games to play are related to Texas hold’em. These are also the most difficult to learn due to the complex strategy. Players must understand the proper moves preflop, after the flop, and on the river.
Ultimate Texas Hold’em
The most common version of this type of game is Ultimate Texas Hold’em. Players post an Ante and a Blind. Players and the dealer receive two cards face down. Players must decide to check or raise three or four times the Ante. Three cards are shown, known as the flop. If the player checked preflop, the options here are raise double the Ante or check. Two more cards are shown, known as the turn and river. If the player did not raise in either of the first two rounds, the only options here are to raise an amount equal to the Ante or fold.
The player combines the two dealt cards with five community ones to make the best five-card hand. The player wins the Ante and all raises when their hand beats the dealer. The Blind bet adds a bonus on winning straights or better. Side bets, like Trips Plus, are also offered. If the dealer beats the player, the Ante, Blind, and Raise lose. A tied hand pushes. A total of six bets is needed to cover the maximum raise amount.
Heads Up Hold’em
Heads Up Hold’em is like Ultimate Texas Hold’em in most ways. The exceptions are that the player may only raise three times the Ante preflop. To make up for this, a Bad Beat Bonus is added to the game. It pays when the player loses a straight or better. The hand may be on the board and beaten by one dealer card. For example, a 6-7-8-9-10 is on the board and the player makes that straight. If the dealer has a jack, the Bad Beat Bonus is paid. Players need five bets to make the maximum raise.
Three Card Poker
Three Card Poker is another popular poker pit game. Its strategy is much simpler than the Texas Hold’em games. The betting options are Ante and/or Pair Plus. Players and the dealer receive three cards face down. If the player only bets the Pair Plus, there is no strategy. The hand is paid if it contains a pair or higher. When the Ante is wagered, the player is asked if they would like to raise or fold after seeing their three cards. A raise is equal to the Ante.
Raise with any hand of queen-six-four or better. This means raise all pairs and better, all hands that include a king or ace, and most queens as long as a card of seven or higher is with it, or a six with a five or four. Note that straights beat flushes in Three Card Poker. Players only need one bet to play Pair Plus alone. The Ante and Play bets require two total bets.
Pai Gow Poker
Pai gow poker has changed over the years. In the past, players were allowed to bank like the house as the dealer button moved around the table. Wins required a 5% commission. Today, most live pai gow poker is dealt face-up. Players may not bank. No commission is charged on wins at these games as a dealer ace-high pai gow pushes the table. The dealer sets the house hand first, so players see what they need to beat before setting their cards.
Online casinos still use the old 5% method but do not permit player-banking. A handful of live casinos and card clubs still deal the old version. Only one bet is needed to play a hand.
Pai gow poker players set seven dealt cards into two hands. The goal is to beat both banker hands. The high hand is five cards. The low hand is two cards. A joker is in the game that may be used to complete straights, flushes, and straight flushes. Otherwise, it is an ace. The player wins by beating the banker with both hands and loses if both player hands lose to the banker. If one hand wins and the other loses, it is a push. The banker wins all ties, known as a copy.
Mississippi Stud
A hand of Mississippi Stud starts with an Ante bet. It must meet the posted minimum. Two cards are dealt to the player. The house does not get a hand as the payouts are entirely based on the hand’s strength.
The player must raise one to three times the Ante bet to stay in the game. Similar betting rounds occur after the first and second community cards are shown. If the player does not raise, the hand is folded. A total of three community cards are used and played with the two dealt to make a five-card hand. A pair of sixes to tens push. A pair of jacks or better gets paid. The best hand is a royal flush, which pays $500 for every dollar wagered across all stacks.
Let It Ride
Let It Ride is declining in popularity, but is still dealt in many casino markets. Like Mississippi Stud, there is no house hand. Players win based on the hand’s strength. A pair of tens or better gets paid.
Players start the hand with three cards and three equal bets on the table that must be at least the posted minimum. After seeing three cards, players decide to pull a stack back or let it ride. One community card is shown, and the same decision to pull a stack or let it ride occurs. The second community card is then shown. The player makes a five-card hand from their three dealt ones and the two on the board. Since two of the three stacks can be removed from action, only one is ever at risk.
High Card Flush and I Luv Suits
High Card Flush and I Luv Suits are the same game. Players and the dealer get seven cards. An Ante bet is made. If the player wants to stay in the hand, a raise is required. Otherwise, the player folds. Suits are the only things that matter. The higher the number of suited cards, the better.
The tiebreaker is the strength of the flush. For example, any four-card flush beats any three-card flush. If the dealer and the player have the same number of suited cards, the highest card in the flush breaks the tie, followed by the next one, until a winner is decided. A total tie is a push.
The dealer needs a nine-high three-card flush to qualify. Raises push when the dealer fails to qualify. Players should raise any three-card flush of ten-eight-six or higher and all four-card and larger flushes. Make sure to have four total bets when the hand starts to get the most value.
Crazy 4 Poker
A Crazy 4 Poker hand starts with the player making an Ante and Super Bonus bet. Both bets must be equal and meet the posted minimum. Five cards are dealt to the player and dealer. The player may raise up to three times the Ante on a pair of aces or better. All other hands have a maximum raise equal to the Ante. The best four cards are played. The Super Bonus pays on a straight or better. The dealer must have at least a king-high to qualify. The Ante pushes if the dealer fails to qualify. Five bets are required for the maximum value.
Play Table Games Responsibly
It is important to have a proper bankroll at live table games. Sitting with only a few bets will almost certainly end with the bankroll busting. If your stack dwindles below the minimum number of bets needed to raise in poker pit games, it is imperative to leave the game to avoid being forced to fold or make a strategic error.
If your budget is close to the bottom, it is time to stop for the day. These games will still be available during your next casino trip.
