Ultimate Texas Hold’em is a casino table game where you play a hand of Texas Hold’em against the dealer rather than other players. It was invented by Roger Snow of Shuffle Master and is a fixture in casinos across the US. Online versions exist too, but real-money online play in the US is limited to the states that license online casinos. With correct strategy, the house edge is about 2.19% of the ante.
How to play Ultimate Texas Hold’em
You start by making two equal bets, the Ante and the Blind, and can add an optional Trips side bet. You and the dealer each get two cards, and five community cards are dealt in stages. Your one decision on each round is whether to make a Play bet, and the earlier you make it, the bigger it can be:
- Before the flop: check, or bet 3x or 4x your ante.
- After the flop: if you checked, check again or bet 2x your ante.
- After the river: if you checked twice, bet 1x your ante or fold.
You can make only one Play bet per hand. Once you bet, you just watch the rest of the cards come out. If you fold, you lose your Ante and Blind.
How bets are paid
Both you and the dealer make the best five-card hand from your two cards plus the five community cards. The dealer needs at least a pair to qualify. If the dealer does not qualify, your Ante is returned and your other bets are settled as usual.
- Play bet: pays even money if you beat the dealer.
- Ante: pays even money if you win and the dealer qualifies.
- Blind: pays only if you win with a straight or better, according to the table below. If you win with less, it pushes.
| Blind bet: winning hand | 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 less | Push |
The Trips side bet pays on your own final hand of three of a kind or better, whether or not you beat the dealer. Its pay table varies by casino. A common table pays 50 to 1 for a royal flush, 40 to 1 for a straight flush, 30 to 1 for four of a kind, 9 to 1 for a full house, 7 to 1 for a flush, 4 to 1 for a straight and 3 to 1 for three of a kind.
Basic strategy
The most common mistake is checking too often before the flop. The big 4x bet is where you earn most of your return, so use it on strong starting hands:
- Before the flop, bet 4x with your strongest starting hands, as listed on a full strategy chart.
- After the flop, bet 2x with two pair or better, a hidden pair (a pair that uses one of your hole cards) other than pocket deuces, or a four-card flush draw that includes a hidden 10 or better.
- After the river, bet 1x with a hidden pair or better, or when fewer than 21 of the dealer’s possible hole cards beat you. Otherwise, fold.
The simplified strategy above, published by the Wizard of Odds, gives a house edge of about 2.43% of the ante, close to the 2.19% you get with perfect play. Playing by feel costs much more.
Playing Ultimate Texas Hold’em online
Ultimate Texas Hold’em is made for online casinos both as a digital table game and in live dealer form, where a real dealer runs the game on a video stream from a studio. In the US, real-money play is only legal in the states that license online casinos, and game lists differ from site to site, so check whether your licensed casino carries it. The rules follow the casino version, but the Trips pay table can differ from site to site, so check the help screen before you play. Free-play versions are also available online for practice.
Offshore sites that accept US players are not licensed by US state regulators, and many do not carry the licensed version of the game.
Ultimate Texas Hold’em FAQ
What is the house edge in Ultimate Texas Hold’em?
About 2.19% of the ante with optimal strategy. Because you often bet several times your ante, the edge as a share of all money bet is lower, about 0.53%.
Can you play Ultimate Texas Hold’em online for real money?
Only in states that license online casinos, and only at sites that carry the game. Digital and live dealer versions both exist, so check the game list at your state-licensed casino.
Is the Trips bet worth it?
It depends on the pay table. The house edge on Trips ranges from about 0.9% to 6.2% of the bet across the common tables, so check the posted pays before you add it.
Gamble only with money you can afford to lose. If gambling stops being fun, call or text the National Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-MY-RESET.