Ultimate Texas Hold'Em Rules/Stats

I am now a huge fan of Ultimate Texas Hold'Em. If you're not familiar with the game, visit the Wizard's website for an in-depth look. Basically, it has a Crazy Four setup, but plays like Hold'Em.

Anyways, I have a question regarding the Trips bet. If I make a bet on the blind/ante (you must bet both), do I have to make a PLAY wager in order to win the TRIPS bet? The question really only applies to three-of-a-kind and four-of-a-kind.

Example: If the board shows Ah, As, Ad, 2d, 3d, and I'm holding 5s,6h then I'm pretty much playing the board. If the dealer has ANY card higher than 7, I cannot beat him. The question is, can I surrender the ANTE/BLIND, and still win on the Trips bet? Every casino seems to have different rules. I challenged the rule recently to the gaming commissioner on site, who spent an hour looking up the rule to find out that indeed I could surrender and still win on the Trips bet.

By the way, Bally's/Paris in Vegas and MGM Grand Detroit all have an optimal bonus payout on the Trips bet. Kudos to those properties!

My analysis of the Trips bet assumed the player gets paid even if he folds. The next time I see the game in a casino, I'll ask about that. However, it wouldn't surprise me if the dealer didn't know either. For what its worth, if you fold in Three Card Poker you would lose your Pairplus bet, but only a fool would do so.

Quote: Wizard

My analysis of the Trips bet assumed the player gets paid even if he folds. The next time I see the game in a casino, I'll ask about that. However, it wouldn't surprise me if the dealer didn't know either. For what its worth, if you fold in Three Card Poker you would lose your Pairplus bet, but only a fool would do so.

ill have an answer for you on friday. im going to jerry's nugget and silver nugget this friday. i got another 50% slot rebate promotion for silver nugget and am gonna play bingo there with my dad too. we usually go over to jerry's nugget afterwards and he likes to play that game while im playing craps so ill be sure to ask when we get there.

I appreciate the effort.

My belief is that the Trips bet is a separate bet that is based on the value of the five card hand. If the five cards are on the board, then those should be the only ones that play. As I mentioned before, it really only applies on three-of-a-kind and four-of-a-kind on the board, when your kicker would play.

Funny story though: Last time I played, I was dealt pocket aces. I went 4x the ante, and the flop came three kings. I got very excited as I flopped a boat, and then got even more excited when the King came on the turn with a deuce. Normally, I would have warned the player with pocket threes to get out of the hand (he did NOT make the bet before the flop or even on the flop), but I was too excited to say anything. Two cards at that point tied my hand, and wouldn't you know, the dealer had one of the two remaining Aces. I was upset, as my ten dollar bet on the ante/blind did not get paid. People could not understand, since I was getting 30-1 on top... but it's the principle (and the fact that the odds were HIGHLY in my favor).

Anyways, your website is fantastic. Keep up the great work!

You get paid on the trips even if you fold your ante bet. Just say fold, and then slide your cards underneath your trips bet. I see it done often. But why would you ever fold your hand when you have a trips hand? I guess in your situation when there is a four of a kind on the board and you have really bad kickers ... By the way, that push was a bad beat, but I have seen much worse, like quads beating full houses and such. At least you got to keep your money.