Let It Ride Calculator: Optimal Strategy & Payouts (2026)
Let It Ride Calculator: Master the Pull-Back Decision
Let It Ride lets you control the action by pulling back bets when your hand looks weak. Our calculator shows optimal decisions for each street, helping you minimize the 3.51% house edge through proper bet management.
What Is Let It Ride?
Let It Ride is a poker-based table game where you place three equal bets, then can pull back up to two bets as community cards are revealed. Final hands pay based on poker rankings.
Quick Answer: In Let It Ride, you make two key decisions—whether to pull back bet 1 (after seeing your 3 cards) and bet 2 (after seeing the first community card). Let Bet 1 ride with: pair of 10s+, any paying hand, or 3-card royal. Let Bet 2 ride with: any made paying hand or 4-card open-ended draws to paying hands. House edge is 3.51%.
How to Use Our Let It Ride Calculator
Use the Let It Ride Calculator →
Enter your cards to see optimal bet decisions at each stage.
Step-by-Step Instructions
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Enter Your Three Cards: Your initial dealt hand
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View Bet 1 Decision: Let ride or pull back
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Enter Community Card 1: First revealed card
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View Bet 2 Decision: Let ride or pull back
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See Final Hand: Your poker ranking and payout
Input Fields Explained
| Field | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Your Cards | Three dealt cards | J♠ J♦ 7♣ |
| Bet 1 Decision | First pull-back | Let Ride |
| Community Card 1 | Fourth card | K♥ |
| Bet 2 Decision | Second pull-back | Let Ride |
| Community Card 2 | Fifth card | 2♠ |
| Final Hand | Poker ranking | Pair of Jacks |
Let It Ride Rules
Game Flow
- Place 3 equal bets in designated circles
- Receive 3 cards face down
- Decision 1: Pull back Bet 1 or let it ride
- Community card 1 revealed
- Decision 2: Pull back Bet 2 or let it ride
- Community card 2 revealed
- Final hand evaluated (5 cards total)
Key Understanding
- You can only pull back bets—never add
- Bet 3 always stays in play
- You need at least a pair of 10s to win
- Same 5-card poker hand rankings as Texas Hold'em
Let It Ride Payouts
Standard Pay Table
| Hand | Payout | Probability |
|---|---|---|
| Royal Flush | 1000:1 | 0.00015% |
| Straight Flush | 200:1 | 0.0014% |
| Four of a Kind | 50:1 | 0.024% |
| Full House | 11:1 | 0.14% |
| Flush | 8:1 | 0.20% |
| Straight | 5:1 | 0.39% |
| Three of a Kind | 3:1 | 2.11% |
| Two Pair | 2:1 | 4.75% |
| Pair of 10s+ | 1:1 | 16.86% |
| Less than 10s | Lose | 75.50% |
Payout Calculation Example
Bets: $10 × 3 = $30 total Hand: Full House Bets remaining: Let both ride (all 3 bets in play)
- Payout: $10 × 11 × 3 = $330
- Plus return of $30 bets = $360 total
If only Bet 3 remained:
- Payout: $10 × 11 = $110
- Plus return of $10 = $120 total
Optimal Strategy: Bet 1 Decision
After Seeing Your 3 Cards
Let Bet 1 Ride With:
| Hand Type | Examples |
|---|---|
| Pair of 10s or better | 10-10-x, J-J-x, etc. |
| Any 3 to a Royal Flush | A♠ K♠ Q♠, A♥ J♥ 10♥ |
| 3 to Straight Flush (spread 4) | 7♠ 9♠ 10♠ |
| 3 to Straight Flush (spread 5, 2 high cards) | 8♥ 10♥ Q♥ |
Pull Back Bet 1 With:
| Hand Type | Action |
|---|---|
| Pair of 9s or lower | Pull Back |
| Three random high cards | Pull Back |
| Three to a flush | Pull Back |
| Three to a straight | Pull Back |
Simplified Bet 1 Strategy
If unsure, use this simpler rule:
- Let ride: Pair of 10s+ or 3-card royal flush
- Pull back: Everything else
This costs ~0.1% compared to perfect play.
Optimal Strategy: Bet 2 Decision
After Seeing Community Card 1 (4 Cards Total)
Let Bet 2 Ride With:
| Hand Type | Examples |
|---|---|
| Pair of 10s or better | J-J-4-7 |
| Any paying hand made | Three of a kind, etc. |
| 4 to a flush | 4 cards same suit |
| 4 to an outside straight | 5-6-7-8 |
| 4 to a Royal Flush | A♠ K♠ Q♠ 10♠ |
| 4 to a Straight Flush | 7♥ 8♥ 9♥ 10♥ |
| 4 high cards | A-K-Q-J (non-paired) |
Pull Back Bet 2 With:
| Hand Type | Action |
|---|---|
| Pair of 9s or lower | Pull Back |
| Inside straight draw | Pull Back |
| Three to a flush | Pull Back |
| Random high cards | Pull Back |
Bet 2 Quick Reference
Let Bet 2 ride if you have:
- Any paying hand already made
- Four to any flush
- Four to an outside straight (both ends open)
- Four high cards (10-J-Q-K-A)
Real-World Let It Ride Examples
Example 1: Easy Let Ride
Your Cards: Q♠ Q♦ 5♣ Decision: Let Bet 1 Ride
Community Card 1: 8♥ Decision: Let Bet 2 Ride
Reasoning: Pair of Queens is paying hand—let everything ride.
Example 2: Easy Pull Back
Your Cards: K♣ 9♦ 4♠ Decision: Pull Back Bet 1
Community Card 1: 7♥ Decision: Pull Back Bet 2
Reasoning: No pairs, no draws, no value.
Example 3: 3-Card Royal
Your Cards: A♥ K♥ J♥ Decision: Let Bet 1 Ride
Community Card 1: 2♣ Decision: Pull Back Bet 2
Reasoning: 3-card royal qualifies for Bet 1. After missing with 2♣, only 3 high cards remain—pull back.
Example 4: Four-Card Flush
Your Cards: 8♠ J♠ 3♠ Decision: Pull Back Bet 1
Community Card 1: 6♠ Decision: Let Bet 2 Ride
Reasoning: Three to a flush isn't enough for Bet 1. Four to a flush qualifies for Bet 2.
Example 5: Outside Straight Draw
Your Cards: 5♦ 6♥ 7♣ Decision: Pull Back Bet 1
Community Card 1: 8♠ Decision: Let Bet 2 Ride
Reasoning: Three consecutive cards aren't enough for Bet 1. Four-card outside straight (4 or 9 completes) qualifies for Bet 2.
House Edge Breakdown
Base Game: 3.51%
| Component | Edge Impact |
|---|---|
| Minimum qualifying hand (10s) | Primary edge |
| Pull-back option | Reduces edge |
| Bonus payouts | Slight reduction |
Compared to Other Games
| Game | House Edge |
|---|---|
| Blackjack (basic strategy) | 0.5% |
| Craps (pass line) | 1.41% |
| Let It Ride | 3.51% |
| Three Card Poker | 3.37% |
| Caribbean Stud | 5.22% |
Bonus/Side Bet Analysis
Typical Bonus Payouts
| Hand | Common Payout |
|---|---|
| Royal Flush | Progressive/25000:1 |
| Straight Flush | 2500:1 |
| Four of a Kind | 400:1 |
| Full House | 200:1 |
| Flush | 50:1 |
| Straight | 25:1 |
| Three of a Kind | 5:1 |
Bonus Bet House Edge
| Pay Table | House Edge |
|---|---|
| Best | 13.77% |
| Typical | 25%+ |
| Worst | 36%+ |
The bonus bet is always -EV. Only play for entertainment.
Variance Considerations
Understanding Volatility
| Scenario | Variance Level |
|---|---|
| Pull both bets | Low (only Bet 3 at risk) |
| Let both ride | High (3x exposure) |
| Average play | Moderate |
Session Bankroll
| Risk Tolerance | Recommended Bankroll |
|---|---|
| Conservative | 100 units |
| Moderate | 75 units |
| Aggressive | 50 units |
One unit = your base bet amount (e.g., $10)
Common Let It Ride Mistakes
1. Letting Small Pairs Ride
Mistake: "I have a pair, let it ride" Reality: Pairs under 10s don't pay—you're betting on improvement Fix: Only let ride with 10s or better
2. Chasing Inside Straights
Mistake: Letting Bet 2 ride with 4-5-7-8 Reality: Only 4 outs for gutshot; outside straights have 8 Fix: Pull back inside straight draws
3. Three-Card Flush = Let Ride
Mistake: Thinking 3 suited cards warrant letting ride Reality: Not enough equity at Bet 1 stage Fix: Need 4 to a flush for Bet 2 decision
4. Ignoring the Math
Mistake: "Feeling lucky" with marginal hands Reality: Strategy is derived from cold probability Fix: Follow the chart regardless of feelings
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do I need 10s or better to win?
The minimum qualifying hand creates the house edge. Lower pairs happen often but don't pay.
Should I ever pull back with a made hand?
Never. If you have a pair of 10s+ already, let all bets ride.
Is card counting possible?
Minimal benefit. Each hand is dealt from fresh shuffle at most tables.
Why is the bonus bet so bad?
It has no strategic component and pays based on rare hands. The math always favors the house heavily.
Can I bet different amounts per spot?
No—all three bets must be equal. This prevents manipulating bet sizes based on hand strength.
What's the best Let It Ride strategy?
Follow the charts: Bet 1 requires strong 3-card hands; Bet 2 requires made hands or open-ended draws.
Pro Tips for Let It Ride
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Memorize both decision points: Different criteria for Bet 1 vs Bet 2
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Skip the bonus bet: 25%+ house edge is terrible
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Don't chase pairs: Only 10s+ pay
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Use the pull-back: It's your edge-reducer—use it properly
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Set session limits: 3.51% edge adds up over time
Related Casino Calculators
- Three Card Poker Calculator - Similar poker variant
- Caribbean Stud Calculator - Five-card poker
- Mississippi Stud Calculator - Similar structure
- Pai Gow Poker Calculator - Split-hand poker
- Casino House Edge Calculator - Compare games
Conclusion
Let It Ride gives you control through the pull-back mechanic—use it wisely. Our calculator shows optimal Bet 1 and Bet 2 decisions for any hand. With proper strategy, you'll minimize the 3.51% house edge while enjoying the poker-style gameplay.
Calculate Your Let It Ride Decisions Now →
Master the two decision points: Bet 1 requires premium 3-card hands; Bet 2 opens up to made hands and draws. Pull back when the math says pull back, let it ride when you have equity, and avoid the bonus bet entirely.
