By
J. Phillip Vogel
Below I have listed the various
hands where you will let the second bet ride. These are the
only hands where it is to your benefit to keep as much money
as you can in action. Since this game is by design favorable
to the house, and deviation from this strategy will result in
a further increase of the vigorish, you must follow this strategy
to the letter. Afterwards, we are going to take a look at those
hands which people make mistakes on most often, and discuss
why playing them works against the players.
Rules for Playable Hands
1. Four of a Kind. This
is an easy one for a decision. Since this hand is a guaranteed
winner, paying out at 50-1, there is no question that for this
hand you should let your bets ride.
2. Three of a Kind. Not
only is this an excellent hand to be sitting with because you
are guaranteed a payout of 3-1 for each of your bets, it also
has room to become an even better hand, such as four of a kind,
or a full house. Let the second bet ride.
3. Two Pair. This hand is also an instant winner, paying
out at 2-1, and it, too, can be improved upon to a full house.
Do not remove the second bet.
4. Pair of 10's or Higher. This is one of the more common
hands that you will see, occurring about 20% of the time. It
is a classic no-brainer that can even be improved on. Let the
bet ride.
5. Four Cards to a Royal Flush. While this bet may not
be a guaranteed winner, there are so many possibilities that
it is to your advantage to let the second bet ride. You have
a hand where you have a possible royal flush, straight flush,
flush, straight or high pair, most of which will pay extended
amounts.
6. Four Cards to a Straight Flush. While this hand may
not have the same extended possibilities as the four to a royal
flush, it still can yield some excellent results. You have a
possible straight flush, flush, straight, and high pair if you
have any high cards.
7. Four to a Flush. Since you've already beaten the 23-1
odds on filling a flush with three cards, and reduced the odds
to about 4½ -1 for a hand that will pay 8-1, you've got
the makings of a good statistical edge. This hand may also be
assisted with any high cards that could result in a winning
pair, though this is not necessary. The hand should always be
played.
8. Four Cards to an Open Ended Straight. This hand also
has possibilities and should be played, though without any high
cards in the hand there will be no winning pairs possible, and
it will eventually balance out in the long run. The odds for
drawing the fifth cards to an open-ended straight are 5-1, the
exact odds that this hand pays out. Neither you, nor the casino
has the edge for this hand.
9. Four Cards to a High Straight. This is the most marginal
of all of the hands that we will play. The odds for drawing
to an inside straight are 11-1 against you, but that value is
buffered by the sheer amount of high cards that comprise your
hand, which could yield a winning pair. This bet should ride.
Now
lets look at Rules for Non-Playable Hands
Four
Card Strategy
Rules
for Playable Hands
Rules
for Non-Playable Hands
