About Let it ride
How to Play Let it ride
You're dealt three cards face up, with two shared cards placed face down. Look at your three cards and decide whether to keep bet 1 in play or take it back. If you pull it back, the chips return to your balance straight away.
The first shared card is then turned over, giving you four of the five cards that will make up your final hand. You now decide whether to keep bet 2 in play or take it back. This choice is independent of your first decision, so you can still let bet 2 ride even if you pulled back bet 1.
The second shared card is turned over, completing your five-card poker hand. The $ bet stays on the table throughout the round and cannot be pulled back.
A pair of 10s is the lowest hand that pays. Each bet still in play is settled separately according to the pay table, while anything below a pair of 10s loses. If you placed a 3-Card Bonus bet, that is settled using only your original three cards, regardless of whether you pulled back either of your main bets.
For example, suppose you put $10 on each spot, take back bet 1 and finish with two pair. Two pair pays 2 to 1, so bets 2 and $ each win $20. That's $40 in winnings, plus your two winning stakes. Your first $10 was already returned when you pulled back bet 1.
Let it ride Hand Rankings and Payouts
| Hand | Payout |
|---|---|
| Royal flush | 1,000 to 1 |
| Straight flush | 200 to 1 |
| Four of a kind | 50 to 1 |
| Full house | 11 to 1 |
| Flush | 8 to 1 |
| Straight | 5 to 1 |
| Three of a kind | 3 to 1 |
| Two pair | 2 to 1 |
| Pair of 10s or better | 1 to 1 |
| Below a pair of 10s | No payout |
Each payout applies separately to every bet still riding. Any bet you've pulled back is returned to your balance and is not included in the payout.
3-Card Bonus payouts| Hand | Payout |
|---|---|
| Mini royal (A-K-Q of one suit) | 50 to 1 |
| Straight flush | 40 to 1 |
| Three of a kind | 30 to 1 |
| Straight | 6 to 1 |
| Flush | 3 to 1 |
| Pair | 1 to 1 |
The 3-Card Bonus is based only on your original three cards, regardless of whether you pull back either of your main bets. In three-card hands, a straight beats a flush, and A-2-3 counts as a straight.
Let it ride Strategy and Tips
Most hands are better pulled back.
There's no penalty for taking a bet back, so you need a good reason to leave it on the table. With optimal play, bet 1 stays in only about 7% of hands and bet 2 about 15%. Pulling back is a normal part of the game.
Keep a paying pair.
If your first three cards include a pair of 10s or higher, you've already made a paying hand. The remaining cards can't take that pair away, so both optional bets are worth keeping in play.
Look carefully at your first three cards.
Three cards towards a royal flush or certain straight flush draws can justify keeping bet 1 in play. Other combinations may look promising without offering enough chance of a payout. The exact cards matter more than simply having three cards of the same suit or close in rank.
Your second decision is different.
With four cards showing, you have a clearer picture of what your final hand could be. Four cards towards a flush or certain open-ended straights can make bet 2 worth keeping, even if you pulled back bet 1. Treat each decision separately rather than sticking with your first choice.
A small pair isn't enough.
A pair of 2s through 9s doesn't qualify for a payout by itself. You would need the final cards to improve it to something like two pair or three of a kind.
Think about the total stake.
The amount you choose is placed on all three betting spots, so a $20 bet initially puts $60 in play. You can recover two of those bets during the round, but the third always stays. It's worth remembering when choosing how much to stake.
The Bonus has different odds.
The 3-Card Bonus is settled separately and can pay on hands as low as a pair. Its house edge is 7.10%, compared with 3.51% for the main game when played optimally. It doesn't affect your decisions on the three main bets.
Use the Hint when you're unsure.
With Coach switched on, Hint shows whether keeping or pulling back a bet is the better decision. It checks every possible remaining card rather than relying on a simple rule of thumb. You can turn Coach off when you'd rather make those decisions without help.
Let it ride FAQs
How do you play Let It Ride?
You start with three equal bets and three cards. You can take back your first bet before the first shared card is revealed, then decide whether to take back the second. Your final five-card hand determines what happens to the bets still on the table.
Can you pull back all three bets?
No. You can take back bets 1 and 2, but the $ bet always stays until the end of the round.
What is the lowest hand that pays?
A pair of 10s, which pays 1 to 1. Higher pairs pay the same amount, while two pair and stronger hands have higher payouts.
What is the house edge in Let It Ride?
The main game has a house edge of 3.51% of one bet unit with optimal play. The optional 3-Card Bonus has a house edge of 7.10%.
How does the 3-Card Bonus work?
It's a separate bet based on your first three cards. A pair pays 1 to 1, a flush 3 to 1, a straight 6 to 1, three of a kind 30 to 1, a straight flush 40 to 1 and a mini royal (A-K-Q of one suit) 50 to 1. The result doesn't depend on whether you pulled back either of your main bets.
Do you play against the dealer in Let It Ride?
No.