How To Play Let It Ride

Let it ride not let it slide

This is a shout out to any and all hard-core poker aficionados out there. One question: have you devoted a sufficient portion of your recent gambling time to the classic variant known as Let It Ride? If you can only provide an honest answer to that question in the negative, we need to talk. There may be some out you out there who are unwilling to admit that you've never even bothered to learn how to play Let It Ride, which is just sad.

There's no need to fear the unknown. Anyone who has a natural affinity for the more traditional forms of poker - whether it be 7-Card Stud, Texas Holdem, Omaha, or Little California - is bound to take a quick shine to Let It Ride. This is a game that thrives on action, which can be deceptive to novices who are easily lulled by the relatively languid pace. How can a game be slow and action-packed at the same time? That's a respectable question, one which merits a thoughtful answer.

The first thing you want to know about Let It Ride is that you will always be playing against the casino rather than the other players. Essentially, this is a variation on the venerable 5-Card Stud, where you bet on a hand consisting of three cards in your hand and two community cards held by the dealer.

I think it's important to take a moment to dispel an ugly misconception that has seeped like some kind of foul, swampy goo into the minds of far too many young gamblers. Namely, that Let It Ride is a game best suited for the Geritol & Depends age bracket. This is just baloney. Of course, the fact that many Vegas dealers contemptuously refer to the game as "Let It Die" has not done much to help matters. Maybe Generation Y is a lost cause in the battle to keep Let It Ride alive and kicking, but the rest of you geezers should pay attention.

In order to play, each gambler places equal bets in three spaces labeled 1, 2 and $, respectively. You may find an optional $1 side bet in some casinos, but it's not the norm. If your first three cards contain a winning hand, you automatically collect on the side bet. Just remember that the house edge is usually more than 13 percent here, making it an even worse bet than the $1.50 shrimp cocktails you'll find in most casinos.

Each player get three cards, face-down. The dealer gets two. You compare your hand with a payout schedule, rather than comparing it to the other players' hands, or the dealer's hand. Your total hand consists of your three cards and the dealer's two.

After checking out the three cards, you can pull back the first bet (sort of like hitting the panic button many of you keep near your beds at night) or act like you've got some true grit and just "let it ride." Can you guess which move will buy you more respect from the showgirls?

Regardless, the dealer will turn over the first community card, then you have the same choice to make all over again. The dealer proceeds to flip the second community card, followed by the three cards of each player. All losing bets are collected, and then all winners get paid according to the payout chart.

Please remember that you do not have the option to pull back your third bet. Thus, you will end up letting it ride whether you like it or not at that point. And don't believe any of the naysayers. This game needs to be played, optimally after at least two adult beverages, in order to be fully appreciated.