Ultimate Texas Hold’em
Like your poker with a little less competition? Ultimate Texas Hold’em offers a unique take on traditional Texas Hold’em by pitting players against the dealer, not one another.
How to Play
2. The dealer distributes two cards to both the dealer and player, face down.
3. After looking at their own cards, the player must decide to check (make no bet) or make a Play bet. A Play bet at this stage can be equal to three or four times the Ante. Keep in mind the Play bet can be made once. If you make it now, you can’t make another one later.
4. Next, the dealer deals “the Flop”—three community cards players can use as part of their five-card hands.
5. The player must again decide: check or bet. If they checked on the last round, they can make a Play bet equal to 2x the Ante. If they’ve already made a Play bet, they can’t make another.
6. Now, the dealer reveals the final two community cards.
7. If the player checked on the last two betting rounds, they have two options:
- Fold and lose all bets
- Make a Play bet equal to their Ante
Again, if they’ve already made a Play bet, they can’t make another.
8. With all community cards visible, the player and dealer now compare their hands to see whose is highest. The dealer needs at least a pair to qualify. If the dealer has no pair, the player wins.
Fold if you think your hand is too weak to beat the dealer’s hand. You’ll lose your current bets but avoid losing even more on Play bets.
Know the hands
Ultimate Texas Hold’em uses the same hand rankings as standard Texas Hold’em. Players who are familiar with those are one step ahead.
ROYAL FLUSH (ACE-HIGH STRAIGHT FLUSH)
The highest possible hand in many poker variants: A-K-Q-J-10 in the same suit.
STRAIGHT FLUSH
Five cards of the same suit in sequence.
FOUR OF A KIND
Four cards of the same value.
FULL HOUSE
Three of a kind and one pair.
FLUSH
Five cards of the same suit, not in sequence.
STRAIGHT
Five cards in numerical order with mixed suits.
THREE OF A KIND
Three cards of the same value.
TWO PAIR
Two sets of pairs.
ONE PAIR
Two cards of the same value.
HIGH CARD
Highest card out of five non-sequential, unmatched cards.
Odds
Unlike many poker games where the house takes a cut of each winning hand, in Ultimate Texas Hold’em a mathematical house edge is built into the game, similar to slots.
Want to know how poker odds work?
Strategies
Because of its unique betting structure, Ultimate Texas Hold'em offers a few strategies that may help have a fun time at the table.
The Four Times Play Bet
The first round of betting gives players the largest betting option of four times the Ante. Avoid maxing out unless you have the following in your hand:
- Any pair except deuces (twos)
- An Ace
- A King and any other card of the same suit
- A King with a five or better of a different suit
- A Queen and a six or better of the same suit
- A Queen and an eight or better of a different suit
- A Jack and an eight or better of a different suit
- A Jack and a ten or better of a different suit
The Two Times Play Bet
During the second round of betting, players that checked on round one can make a Play bet of 2x the Ante. The odds on this bet are more favourable on hands that contain:
- Two sets of pairs (“two pair”) or better
- A “flush draw” (one card short of a flush)
Call or Fold
Finally, once the dealer turns over the last two community cards, players need to call—make a bet equal to the Ante—or fold and lose all bets. The odds favour calling on hands with:
- A pair or better, using at least one personal “hole” card (cards players receive directly from the dealer)
- A straight or better using all five community cards (face up cards on the table)
