Free Casino Games / Ultimate Texas Hold'em / Ultimate Texas Hold'em rules
Ultimate Texas Hold'em rules
In Ultimate Texas Hold'em you bet an Ante and an equal Blind, then make one Play bet: 4x or 3x the Ante before the flop, 2x after the flop, or 1x after the river. If you don't bet by the river, you fold. The dealer needs a pair or better to open, and the better five-card hand wins.
The deck and the deal
The game uses one standard 52-card deck with no jokers, shuffled before every hand. You get two cards face up and the dealer gets two face down. Then five community cards are dealt to the middle of the table: three on the flop, then two more, the turn and the river, together. You and the dealer both use all five.
The bets
| Bet | When | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Ante | Before the deal | Your bet against the dealer. Required. |
| Blind | Before the deal | Same size as the Ante. Required. Pays extra on a straight or better. |
| Trips | Before the deal | A bet on your own hand making three of a kind or better. Optional. |
| Play | During the hand | 4x, 3x, 2x or 1x the Ante, depending on when you make it. |
The three decisions
- Before the flop: bet 4x or 3x the Ante on Play, or check.
- After the flop: if you checked, bet 2x the Ante, or check.
- After the river: if you checked twice, bet 1x the Ante, or fold.
You make only one Play bet per hand. Once you bet, you make no more decisions. You can't fold before the river.
When the dealer opens
The dealer opens, or qualifies, with a pair or better in the best five of seven cards. A pair that is only on the board counts. A straight or flush counts too, even without a pair. When the dealer doesn't open, the only change is that your Ante pushes. The Play and Blind are still settled against the dealer's hand.
How every bet settles
| Result | Ante | Blind | Play |
|---|---|---|---|
| You win, dealer opens | 1 to 1 | Pay table, or push | 1 to 1 |
| You win, dealer doesn't open | Push | Pay table, or push | 1 to 1 |
| Tie | Push | Push | Push |
| Dealer wins, dealer opens | Lose | Lose | Lose |
| Dealer wins, dealer doesn't open | Push | Lose | Lose |
| You fold | Lose | Lose | No bet |
The Blind pay table
When you beat the dealer, the Blind pays by this table. With anything less than a straight, it pushes.
| Your hand | Blind pays |
|---|---|
| Royal flush | 500 to 1 |
| Straight flush | 50 to 1 |
| Four of a kind | 10 to 1 |
| Full house | 3 to 1 |
| Flush | 3 to 2 |
| Straight | 1 to 1 |
| Anything else | Push |
The Trips pay table
Trips is paid on your best five of seven cards, win or lose against the dealer, and even if you fold. The table played here:
| Your hand | Trips pays |
|---|---|
| Royal flush | 50 to 1 |
| Straight flush | 40 to 1 |
| Four of a kind | 30 to 1 |
| Full house | 8 to 1 |
| Flush | 6 to 1 |
| Straight | 5 to 1 |
| Three of a kind | 3 to 1 |
| Anything less | Lose |
Ties and kickers
Only the best five cards count. The sixth and seventh cards never break a tie. Suits never rank. If your best five match the dealer's best five rank for rank, it is a tie, and the Ante, Blind and Play all push. This happens most often when the five cards on the table are the best hand for both of you. How hands compare.
Folding
Folding is only possible after the river, and only if you haven't made a Play bet. When you fold, you lose the Ante and the Blind. Your Trips bet stays on the table and is settled on your hand at the end of the round, so it can still win.
The table layout
Each seat has a Trips spot, an Ante spot and a Blind spot side by side, and a Play spot for the bet you make during the hand. The community cards go in the middle, and the dealer's two cards sit in front of the dealer until the showdown.
What "to 1" means
"3 to 1" means you win three times your bet and keep the bet. A 10 Blind on a flush at 3 to 2 wins 15.
Where to go next
The rules leave you three chances to bet. Knowing which one to use is the whole game. Ultimate Texas Hold'em strategy.
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Questions
What does the dealer need to qualify in Ultimate Texas Hold'em?
A pair or better, using any of the dealer's seven cards. If the dealer doesn't qualify, your Ante pushes and the Play and Blind are still settled.
Do you lose the Blind if the dealer doesn't qualify?
Only if the dealer's hand beats yours. When the dealer doesn't open, the Blind is still settled against the dealer: it loses if you lose, and pays or pushes if you win.
What happens on a tie in Ultimate Texas Hold'em?
The Ante, Blind and Play all push. Trips is paid on its own table either way.
Can you fold before the river in Ultimate Texas Hold'em?
No. Before the river you can only bet or check. Folding is only possible after all five community cards are out.
Does the Trips bet pay if you fold in Ultimate Texas Hold'em?
Yes. Trips is settled on your hand whether you fold or not, so three of a kind or better still pays.
Can you bet 3x before the flop?
Yes. Before the flop you can bet 4x or 3x the Ante. The usual strategy uses 4x, because a hand worth betting is worth the bigger bet.
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