Frommer's Las Vegas 2004

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CHAPTER 8 . ABOUT CASINO GAMBLING
flush. Each player is dealt seven cards to arrange into two hands: a two-card
hand and a five-card hand. As in standard poker, the highest two-card hand is
two aces, and the highest five-card hand is a royal flush. The five-card hand must
be higher than the two-card hand (if the two-card hand is a pair of sixes, for
example, the five-card hand must be a pair of sevens or better). Any player’s
hand that is set incorrectly is an automatic loser. The object of the game is for
both of the players’ hands to rank higher than both of the banker’s hands.
Should one hand rank exactly the same as the banker’s hand, this is a tie (called
a “copy”), and the banker wins all tie hands. If the player wins one hand but loses
the other, this is a “push,” and no money changes hands. The house dealer or
any player may be the banker. The bank is offered to each player, and each player
may accept or pass. Winning hands are paid even money, less a 5% commission.
CARIBBEAN STUD POKER
Caribbean stud poker is yet another variation of poker that is gaining in popularity.
Players put in a single ante bet and are dealt five cards facedown from a
single deck; they play solely against the dealer, who receives five cards, one of
them faceup. Players are then given the option of folding, or may call by making
an additional bet that is double their original ante. After all player bets have
been made, the dealer’s cards are revealed. If the dealer doesn’t qualify with
at least an ace/king combination, players are paid even money on their ante and
their call bets are returned. If the dealer does qualify, each player’s hand is compared
to the dealer’s. On winning hands, players receive even money on their
ante bets, and call bets are paid out on a scale according to the value of their
hands. The scale ranges from even money for a pair, to 100 to 1 on a royal flush,
although there is usually a cap on the maximum payoff that varies from casino
to casino.
An additional feature of Caribbean stud is the inclusion of a progressive jackpot.
For an additional side bet of $1, a player may qualify for a payoff from a
progressive jackpot. The jackpot bet pays off only on a flush or better, but you
can win on this bet even if the dealer ends up with a better hand than you do.
Dream all you want of getting that royal flush and taking home the jackpot, but
the odds of it happening are astronomical, so don’t be so quick to turn in your
resignation letter. Most veteran gamblers will tell you this a bad bet, but considering
that Caribbean stud already has a house advantage that is even larger
than the one in roulette, if you’re going to play, you might as well toss in the
buck and pray.
LET IT RIDE
Let It Ride is another popular game that involves poker hands. You place three
bets at the outset and are dealt three cards. The dealer is dealt two cards that act
as community cards (you’re not playing against the dealer). Once you’ve seen
your cards, you can choose to pull the first of your three bets back, or “Let It
Ride.” The object of this game is to get a pair of 10s or better by combining your
cards with the dealer’s. If you’re holding a pair of 10s or better in your first three
cards, you want to let your bets ride the whole way through. Once you’ve
decided whether or not to let your first bet ride, the dealer exposes one of his or
her two cards. Once again you must make a decision to take back your middle
bet or keep on going. Then the dealer exposes the last of his or her cards; your
third bet must stay. The dealer then turns over the hands of the players and
determines if you’ve won or not. Winning bets are paid on a scale, ranging from
even money for a single pair up to 1,000 to 1 for a royal flush. These payouts