A reader recently asked about the new two-way Bad Beat Bonus in Ultimate Texas Hold'Em. It's pretty easy these days to crunch out the numbers, so I took an hour to work this one out. After all, I might see the bet somewhere, and I'm becoming a sucker for bonus bets lately:) Well, at. If you know when to hold ’em and when to fold ’em, the house edge is 2.2 percent of your initial ante, or about 0.5 percent of your total bets. That means per $100 in antes, your losses will average $2.20. That’s on the low end for table games, so Ultimate Texas Hold’Em gives you a realistic shot to win.
This game gives you several advantages:
- The earlier you bet, the more you can bet.
- You don't have to fold until you see all the community cards.
- The Trips bonus pays odds if your final five-card hand is a three-of-a-kind or better. See layout for odds.
Getting Started
Make equal bets in the ante and blind circles. You may also make the Trips bonus bets. You will then receive two cards.
Bet Big...Or Small...Or Not At All
When you get your two hole cards, you can either check or bet 3x-4x your ante. The dealer then reveals the three-card flop. If you haven't already made a play bet, you have a choice: check or bet 2x your ante. The dealer then reveals the final two community cards. If you haven't already made a play bet, you have a choice: fold or bet 1x your ante.
Winning & Losing
The dealer then reveals their two hole cards and announces the hand. If your hand beats the dealer's your play and ante bets win even money. If the dealer's hand beats yours, your play, ante and blind wagers lose. If you tie, those bets push. The blind pays if your winning hand is at least a straight (see layout for odds). If you beat the dealer with less than a straight, it pushes.
Dealer Qualifying
The dealer needs a pair to qualify. When the dealer doesn't qualify, your ante will push and be returned. All other bets placed will receive action.
The objective of Texas hold ’em poker is to create the best five-card poker hand possible, using two cards you’re dealt in combination with the community cards in the five-card flop. You only have to beat the dealer’s hand to win, not the other players at the table.
The dealer needs at least a pair to “qualify.” If he qualifies, and your hand is better, your play and ante bets pay even money. If he does not qualify and your hand is better, your play bet pays even money, but your ante is a push. No win, no loss.
If the dealer’s hand beats your hand, your play, ante and blind wagers lose.
If your hand ties the dealer’s, all your bets push. No win, no loss.
If your hand is better than the dealer’s and you have at least a straight, the blind bet pays out according to the pay table. If you beat the dealer with less than a straight, the blind is a push. No win, no loss.
The “trips” bonus pays if your final five-card hand is a three of a kind or better. See the pay table for details.
| Hand value | Payout |
|---|---|
| Royal flush | 500-1 |
| Straight flush | 50-1 |
| Four of a kind | 10-1 |
| Full house | 3-1 |
| Flush | 3-2 |
| Straight | 1-1 |
| Hand value | Payout |
|---|---|
| Royal flush | 50-1 |
| Straight flush | 40-1 |
| Four of a kind | 30-1 |
| Full house | 8-1 |
| Flush | 6-1 |
| Straight | 5-1 |
| Three of a kind | 3-1 |
Place equal bets for the ante and blind. You can also add an optional “trips” bonus bet.
The dealer deals two cards to each player and to himself, all face down.
You can either check, or make a “play” wager, which must be either three or four times your ante.
The dealer reveals the three-card flop. If you have not yet made a play wager, you can do so now, by betting double your ante. Or you can check.
The dealer reveals the final two community cards. If you have not yet made a play wager, you must either fold or make a play wager equal to your ante. If you have already made a play wager, you can’t make another.
Create your best poker hand using your two cards and the community cards, and compare it to the dealer’s.
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