Key points
- You play one-on-one against the dealer with Texas Hold’em hands. Place an Ante, look at your two cards, then Bet 2x (add twice the Ante) or Fold (lose the Ante).
- On the flop and the turn you may add a bet equal to the Ante (Bet 1x) or Check. Checking does not fold; you play to the end.
- When you win, the Ante pays 1 to 1 only on a straight or better, and is returned below that. The added bets pay 1 to 1. The dealer does not qualify.
- The house edge with best play is about 2.04% per Ante.
How a hand goes
- Place an Ante (required). Bonus is optional
- You and the dealer get two cards face down
- Preflop: Bet 2x (put twice the Ante on FLOP; the circle is named FLOP, but the bet comes before the flop) or Fold (lose the Ante)
- The flop (the first three shared cards) is shown. Bet 1x (the Ante amount on TURN) or Check
- The turn (fourth card) is shown. Bet 1x (the Ante amount on RIVER) or Check
- The river (fifth card) is shown and the dealer turns over two cards. Best five of seven cards
- Settlement
Checking on the flop and turn does not fold; you play to the end. The dealer does not need to qualify (a rule that the hand only counts if the dealer’s hand is strong enough).
Example. Ante 10. With A♠ J♦ you Bet 2x and put 20 on FLOP. On a J♣ 7♥ 2♠ flop you bet 10, and on the 4♦ turn you bet 10 again. The dealer has king high and your pair of jacks is higher. FLOP 20, TURN 10 and RIVER 10 win 1:1; the Ante is returned because the hand is below a straight.
Settlement
| Result | Ante | FLOP · TURN · RIVER |
|---|---|---|
| You are higher, straight or better | Wins 1:1 | Wins 1:1 |
| You are higher, below a straight | Returned | Wins 1:1 |
| Dealer is higher | Loses | Loses |
| Same strength | Returned | Returned |
| Fold | Loses | ― |
Some casinos pay the Ante only on a flush or better.
Hands rank as in Texas Hold’em. From strongest: royal flush, straight flush, four of a kind, full house, flush, straight, three of a kind, two pair, one pair, high card.
Payouts
Bonus: decided by your two cards only, regardless of the dealer’s hand or a fold. Suited means the two cards share a suit.
| Your two cards | Pays |
|---|---|
| AA (dealer also AA) | 1,000 |
| AA | 30 |
| AK suited | 25 |
| AQ or AJ suited | 20 |
| AK | 15 |
| KK, QQ or JJ | 10 |
| AQ or AJ | 5 |
| 22 through TT | 3 |
| Other | Loses |
22 through TT means every pair from 22 up to TT (T is 10).