How To Play

Place three equal bets (1, 2, 3). You receive three cards and the dealer places two community cards face down. After looking at your three cards, you either pull back bet 1 or "let it ride." After the first community card is revealed, you decide on bet 2. Bet 3 always rides. Final 5-card hand pays per the schedule, starting at a pair of 10s.

House Edge

With perfect strategy the house edge is 3.51% on the total initial wager (about 2.85% on the average bet because you pull back losing units). The $1 side bets and three-card bonuses add 13-25% edges and should be skipped.

Basic Strategy

After Three Cards - Let it Ride Only If You Have:

• A paying hand already (pair of 10s or better, three of a kind)
• Three to a royal flush
• Three to a straight flush, spread 5 (e.g., 5-6-7 suited) with at least one high card if spread is wider

After Four Cards - Let it Ride Only If You Have:

• Any paying hand
• Four to a flush
• Four to an open-ended straight with all cards 10 or higher
• Four to any open-ended straight with two high cards

Common Mistakes

Letting it ride on 4-card inside straights. Pulling back on a winning hand because it "only" pays even money - leaving the bet up costs you nothing in EV when you already have a covered winner. Playing the side bets without checking paytables.

Example Hand

You are dealt 10♠ J♠ Q♠. Let it ride on bet 1 - three to a royal flush is an easy hold. The community card comes 4♦. Pull back bet 2 - you no longer have a draw worth chasing.

Bottom Line

Let It Ride is a slow, low-decision game with a moderate edge. Memorize the two pull-back rules and you have played near-perfectly. Keep bets sized so a cold streak does not break your bankroll, and stop when you stop having fun.