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Ultimate Texas Hold'em strategy
Bet 4x before the flop with any ace, any pair of 3s or better, and the stronger kings, queens and jacks. If you checked, bet 2x after the flop with two pair or a hidden pair. At the river, bet 1x with a hidden pair or when fewer than 21 cards would give the dealer a better hand. Otherwise, check, and fold at the river.
Before the flop: bet 4x or check
Bet 4x with:
- Any pair of 3s or higher
- Any ace
- King with any suited card, and king-5 or better offsuit
- Queen-6 or better suited, and queen-8 or better offsuit
- Jack-8 or better suited, and jack-10 offsuit
Check everything else, including pocket 2s. The strategy never bets 3x: a hand worth betting before the flop is worth the full 4x. See it as a chart.
- A♣2♦ Any ace: bet 4x.
- K♠4♠ King-4 suited: bet 4x.
- K♠4♦ King-4 offsuit: check.
- Q♥7♥ Queen-7 suited: bet 4x. Offsuit, check.
- J♦10♣ Jack-10 offsuit: bet 4x.
- 2♣2♦ Pocket 2s: check.
Why bet big so early
A 4x bet puts the most money out when your hand is most likely to be ahead. An ace, a pair or two high cards win often enough against a random dealer hand that a big bet earns more than waiting. Hands that check here are not given up. You still see five more cards, and you can bet later if they help.
After the flop: bet 2x or check
If you checked before the flop, bet 2x with:
- Two pair or better
- A hidden pair, except pocket 2s
- Four cards to a flush, if you hold a 10 or higher of that suit
A hidden pair is any pair that uses at least one of your two cards. A pair that is only on the board doesn't count, because the dealer has it too.
- 9♠6♦ on a flop of 9♣K♥3♠: a hidden pair of 9s. Bet 2x.
- 10♥4♥ on K♥8♥2♣: four hearts with a hidden 10. Bet 2x.
- 7♥4♥ on K♥9♥2♣: four hearts, but your best heart is a 7. Check.
- Q♠5♦ on 7♣7♥J♦: the pair is on the board. Check.
At the river: bet 1x or fold
If you checked twice, bet 1x with a hidden pair or better. With less, count the dealer's outs: the unseen cards that would give the dealer a better hand than yours if the dealer held that card. There are 45 cards you haven't seen. If fewer than 21 of them beat you, bet 1x. If 21 or more do, fold.
How to count dealer outs
When neither you nor the board has a pair, count it in two steps:
- Each card on the board can be paired by three unseen cards. Five board cards give 15 outs.
- Add four for each rank that would out-kick your best high cards.
Then add any cards that would give the dealer a straight or a flush. Ties don't count as outs.
- K♣3♦ with a board of J♠9♥6♣5♦2♥: 15 pairing cards plus four aces is 19. Bet 1x.
- Q♣6♦ with K♠10♥8♣4♦2♥: 15 plus four aces is 19. Bet 1x.
- 9♣5♦ with K♠Q♥8♣4♦2♥: 15 pairing cards plus every ace, jack and 10 is 27. Fold.
What it is worth
Played with this strategy, the game has a house edge of about 2.4% of the Ante. The best strategy possible, worked out hand by hand by computer, gets it to 2.19%. The simple version gives up very little and fits on one card. Ultimate Texas Hold'em odds.
How often each decision comes up
| Decision | How often |
|---|---|
| Bet 4x before the flop | About 38% |
| Bet 2x after the flop | About 21% |
| Bet 1x at the river | About 23% |
| Fold at the river | About 18% |
Trips doesn't change the strategy
Trips pays on your hand, not on your bets, and it is still paid when you fold. So it has no effect on when to bet. The Trips bet.
Make it automatic
Our free table checks every bet, check and fold you make against this strategy and keeps your right-play rate in My Stats. Practice with the trainer.
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Questions
What is the best strategy for Ultimate Texas Hold'em?
Bet 4x before the flop with any ace, pairs of 3s or better and the stronger kings, queens and jacks. Bet 2x after the flop with two pair or a hidden pair. At the river, bet 1x with a hidden pair or when fewer than 21 cards beat you; otherwise fold.
When should you bet 4x in Ultimate Texas Hold'em?
With any pair of 3s or better, any ace, any suited king, king-5 or better offsuit, queen-6 or better suited, queen-8 or better offsuit, jack-8 or better suited, and jack-10 offsuit.
Should you ever bet 3x in Ultimate Texas Hold'em?
Not with this strategy. When a hand is worth a bet before the flop, it is worth the full 4x.
Should you raise pocket 2s in Ultimate Texas Hold'em?
No. Check pocket 2s before the flop and don't bet them 2x on the flop either. At the river, a hidden pair of 2s is a 1x bet.
What is a hidden pair in Ultimate Texas Hold'em?
A pair that uses at least one of your two cards. A pair that is only on the board doesn't count, because the dealer shares it.
How do you count dealer outs?
Count the unseen cards that would give the dealer a better hand than yours if the dealer held one of them. Fewer than 21, bet 1x. 21 or more, fold.
More: How to play Ultimate Texas Hold'em · Ultimate Texas Hold'em rules · Ultimate Texas Hold'em strategy chart · Ultimate Texas Hold'em payouts · Ultimate Texas Hold'em odds · The Trips bet in Ultimate Texas Hold'em · The Blind bet in Ultimate Texas Hold'em · Ultimate Texas Hold'em hands · How to win at Ultimate Texas Hold'em · Practice Ultimate Texas Hold'em