By
J. Phillip Vogel
Rules for Non-Playable Hands
1. Inside or one-way straight.
These hands just do not have the mathematical likelihood to
be considered a good hand. A straight pays off at 5-1 in this
game, and the chances of drawing to an inside straight are 11-1.
The casino odds do not justify letting this bet ride, even if
there is a high card involved.
2. Low Pairs. Low pairs should never be played, especially
when 80% of the cards are visible. The chances of you improving
a low pair to make two pair is 5-1, and to make three of a kind
is 12-1. Since two pair only pays 2-1 and three of a kind will
only pay 3-1, this is not a good bet in a comparison between
the true and casino odds. Take them when they come, but don't
leave any more money in action than you have to.
3. Limited hands. Hands where you have no possibilities
for a flush, straight or there combination, or pairs have such
a limited (often nonexistent) chance for success that they should
under no circumstances be played. For example, if you were dealt
a hand like 2, 4, 7, with the dealer showing a 9, all of different
suits, there is no possibility for a win, and to let this bet
ride would be nothing more than a gift to the casino.
Those rules comprise the total
strategy for the fourth card in Let it Ride. Any of the "junk"
hands should never be played, no matter how tempting or pretty
they look, nor should you play them because you have a "hunch".
To do so will, once again, send the house edge soaring just
as much as if you were to take back your bets on a guaranteed
winner.
Four
Card Strategy
Rules
for Playable Hands
Rules
for Non-Playable Hands
