Gameplay is like this. The player places a blind bet and an ante bet of the same stake before any cards are dealt.

Then you are dealt two cards, the dealer is dealt two cards face-down, and two possible scenarios play out. 

Firstly, you have the opportunity to bet 3X or 4X your ante stake. This will depend on the strength of your hand. You also have the option to check – not bet at all.

If you check, the dealer will now deal three community cards face up (the flop), and you have another betting opportunity. This time you can choose to bet 2X your ante amount or check again. 

If you check again, the fourth and fifth cards are dealt, and there is a final betting opportunity. Now you can only bet 1X your ante bet. If you don’t want to bet, you must fold. Folding means you lose all your bets.

If you had bet pre-flop, then the dealer deals all five community cards in one go and there are no more betting opportunities.

While it may seem complicated, just remember you can only bet once on your hand after the initial ante and blind bet have been placed. All bets made after the initial ante and blind bets are called play bets. 

How to remember your raise options

A quick way to remember what you can do is this:

• Make a 3X or 4X raise – after your first two cards have been dealt only.
• Do a 2X raise – only after the flop if you have not previously raised.
• Make a 1X raise – only after all five cards have been dealt and you’ve not previously raised.

When all cards are dealt, the position with the best hand using any combination of the two hole cards and five community cards wins. The dealer must have a pair or better to qualify. 

Dealer no pair gameplay

Here are the possible outcomes if the dealer does not have at least a pair:

1. Ante bets are a push – returned to the player
2. If the player’s hand is better than the dealer’s, the blind and play bets are paid out.
3. The player’s hand is worse than the dealer’s, the blind and play bets are lost.
4. If the player and the dealer have an equal hand, the blind and play bets are a push.

Dealer pair gameplay

Now here are the possible outcomes if the dealer does have at least a pair:

1. The player’s hand is better than the dealer; ante bet, blind and play bets are paid out.
2. The dealer’s hand is superior to the player; ante, blind and play bets are lost.
3. If the two hands are of the same value, the ante, blind and play bets are a push. 

Ultimate Texas Hold’em payouts

Here is how Ultimate Texas Hold’em bets are settled. Ante bets always pay 1/1.

Blind bets

Hand	Odds
Royal Flush	500/1
Straight Flush	50/1
Four of a kind	10/1
Full house	3/1
Flush	1.5/1
Straight	1/1
Any other	Bet pushes

Trips bets

Hand	Odds
Royal Flush	50/1
Straight Flush	40/1
Four of a kind	30/1
Full house	8/1
Flush	7/1
Straight	4/1
Three of a kind	3/1

Play bets

Action	Play bet	Payout
Raise 4X	Ante 4X	Ante X4
Raise 3X	Ante 3X	Ante X3
Raise 2X	Ante 2X	Ante X2
Raise 1X	Ante X1	Ante X1

Ultimate Texas Hold’em RTP

Ultimate Texas Hold ’em has an RTP of 99.47%, which is up there with blackjack as the best RTP of popular games you will find at casinos. Only some rare video poker games and a few craps bets have higher RTPs. 

Naturally, this high RTP makes Ultimate Texas Hold ’em a fantastic choice – not only a fun game to play with plenty of variety, but it won’t kill your bankroll.

But note that the RTP on the trips bet is only 96.50%, so that’s best avoided. Remember, you only get 50/1 for a royal flush with a trips bet – the obligatory blind bet pays 500/1 for a royal flush.

Ultimate Texas Hold ’em strategy

When played optimally, Ultimate Texas Hold ’em has a house edge of just 0.53%, making it similar to blackjack.

But to get anywhere near that figure, you need to play decent strategy. Here are our top tips, which revolve around maximizing value by making raises when you have certain hands.

As a general rule, a 3X raise should not be used.

When to raise 4X:

• You have an ace
• Any suited king and other card
• Any hand king five or better
• Queen six suited or better
• Queen 8 offsuit or better
• Jack eight suited or better
• Jack 10
• Any pocket pair greater than 2 2

When to raise 2X:

• Any hand with two pair or better
• 4 to a flush when you hold the 10 or better of that suit
• Any pair that uses one of your hole cards, except a pair of twos

When to raise 1X:

• Any pair that uses one of your hole cards
• When fewer than 21 cards can beat you. Work out how many cards can beat you and fold if it’s 21 or more. 

Which are the best Ultimate Texas Hold ’em crypto casinos?

Crypto casinos with a live casino host Ultimate Texas Hold ’em – Evolution delivers an exceptionally high-quality game. Sometimes it’s called Extreme Hold’em for licensing reasons. 

Ready to check it out? Play today on your mobile device or computer!

1. Join a recommended crypto casino  
2. Add crypto funds easily and instantly – no max limits!
3. Go beat the dealer!

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