What Is Let It Ride?
Let It Ride is a casino table game based on five-card poker. Unlike traditional poker, you don't play against a dealer — you're simply trying to make the best possible five-card hand using your three cards and two community cards. The unique feature: you start with three equal bets, and after seeing each new card, you can "let it ride" or pull back one bet. The more you let ride, the more you can win — but you control the risk.
Let It Ride Rules — How to Play
📋 Step 1: Place Three Equal Bets
Place three equal chips in the designated circles (labeled 1, 2, and 3). This is your total wager for the hand.
📋 Step 2: Receive First Three Cards
You receive three cards face down. The dealer's two community cards remain face down. You can look at your cards.
📋 Step 3: First Decision — Pull or Let It Ride
Based on your three cards, decide:
Let It Ride: Keep all three bets active.
Pull Back: Remove the first bet. You now have two bets remaining.
📋 Step 4: Dealer Reveals First Community Card
The dealer turns over one community card. You now have four cards total. Evaluate your four-card hand.
📋 Step 5: Second Decision — Pull or Let It Ride
Based on your four cards, decide again:
Let It Ride: Keep your remaining bets.
Pull Back: Remove the second bet. You now have one bet remaining.
📋 Step 6: Dealer Reveals Final Card
The final community card is revealed. Your five-card hand is complete. Your remaining bet(s) are paid according to the paytable.
Let It Ride Hand Rankings — Five-Card Poker
Let It Ride uses standard five-card poker rankings (Royal Flush is highest). The paytable varies by casino, but a typical paytable is:
🎯 FIVE-CARD POKER RANKINGS
- Royal Flush — A-K-Q-J-10 same suit
- Straight Flush — Five consecutive cards same suit
- Four of a Kind — Four cards of same rank
- Full House — Three of a kind + pair
- Flush — Five cards same suit
- Straight — Five consecutive cards
- Three of a Kind — Three cards same rank
- Two Pair — Two different pairs
- Pair of 10s or Better — 10s, Jacks, Queens, Kings, Aces
Let It Ride Strategy — Optimal Pull Decisions
The optimal Let It Ride strategy is mathematically proven. Follow these rules to minimize the house edge to 3.5%:
🎯 FIRST DECISION (After 3 Cards)
ALWAYS LET IT RIDE with:
• Any paying hand (pair of 10s or better)
• Any three cards to a Royal Flush
• Any three cards to a Straight Flush with at least one high card (10 or higher)
PULL BACK with:
• All other hands (including low pairs under 10s)
🎯 SECOND DECISION (After 4 Cards)
ALWAYS LET IT RIDE with:
• Any paying hand (pair of 10s or better)
• Any four cards to a Royal Flush
• Any four cards to a Straight Flush
• Any four cards to a Flush
• Any four cards to an outside Straight (open-ended)
PULL BACK with:
• All other hands (including four cards to an inside straight)
📊 SIMPLIFIED RULE — THE "PAIR OF 10S" RULE
First Decision: Only let it ride if you have a pair of 10s or better, or a legitimate chance at a Royal or Straight Flush.
Second Decision: Only let it ride if you already have a paying hand or a strong draw (4 to Royal, Straight Flush, or outside Straight).
Let It Ride Paytable — What You Win
Paytables vary by casino. Always check the posted paytable before playing. A typical paytable (1-3-5-10-20-50-100-500-1000) is:
| Hand | Typical Payout (per bet) |
|---|---|
| Royal Flush | 1,000:1 |
| Straight Flush | 200:1 |
| Four of a Kind | 50:1 |
| Full House | 11:1 |
| Flush | 8:1 |
| Straight | 5:1 |
| Three of a Kind | 3:1 |
| Two Pair | 2:1 |
| Pair of 10s or Better | 1:1 |
⚠️ CHECK THE PAYTABLE BEFORE PLAYING
Some casinos use inferior paytables that increase the house edge. Look for a paytable that pays at least 1,000:1 for Royal Flush, 200:1 for Straight Flush, and 50:1 for Four of a Kind. Avoid tables with lower payouts.
Let It Ride Side Bets — Optional Bonus
Many casinos offer a $1 bonus side bet that pays for premium hands regardless of your pull decisions. Typical bonus payouts:
| Hand | Bonus Payout |
|---|---|
| Royal Flush | 100% of Progressive or $10,000+ |
| Straight Flush | $1,000 - $5,000 |
| Four of a Kind | $500 |
| Full House | $100 |
| Flush | $50 |
| Straight | $25 |
| Three of a Kind | $10 |
Let It Ride Strategy FAQ
What is the best Let It Ride strategy?
The optimal strategy is to let it ride on the first decision only with a pair of 10s or better, or a strong drawing hand (3 to Royal or Straight Flush). On the second decision, only let it ride if you have a paying hand or 4 to a Royal, Straight Flush, Flush, or outside Straight.
Should I pull on a pair of 9s?
Yes. Only pairs of 10s or better pay in Let It Ride. A pair of 9s is a losing hand — you should pull back your first bet and hope to improve with community cards.
What is the house edge in Let It Ride?
With optimal strategy, the house edge is approximately 3.5%. This assumes you're using a standard paytable (1,000:1 for Royal Flush). Inferior paytables increase the house edge.
Can I count cards in Let It Ride?
No. Let It Ride uses a continuous shuffle machine in most casinos, making card counting impossible. The game is designed to be a luck-based game with a fixed house edge.
What's the difference between Let It Ride and Three Card Poker?
Let It Ride uses 5 cards with 2 community cards and gives you two pull decisions. Three Card Poker uses 3 cards with a simple raise/fold decision. Learn about Three Card Poker →
Where to Play Let It Ride Online
Find Let It Ride tables at these US-friendly casinos:
More Resources
- Three Card Poker Guide → — Similar game with simpler strategy
- Caribbean Stud Poker Guide → — 5-card poker with progressive jackpot
- Pai Gow Poker Guide → — Slow-paced game where you split 7 cards
- Other Games FAQ → — Common questions answered
- Other Games Glossary → — Key terms explained
