Let It Ride Poker Calculator: Optimal Strategy Guide (2026)
Let It Ride Poker Calculator: Strategic Bet Withdrawal
Let It Ride gives you control—withdraw two-thirds of your bet or let it ride based on your cards. Our calculator shows exactly when each decision is optimal, minimizing the house edge to 3.51%.
What Is Let It Ride?
Let It Ride is a poker-based table game where you start with three equal bets. You receive three cards, then can withdraw your first bet or "let it ride." A community card is revealed, and you decide on your second bet. The final community card determines your outcome—you need 10s-or-better pair to win.
Quick Answer: Let bet #1 ride with: any paying hand (10s+), 4-card flush, 4-card outside straight, 3 high cards same suit, or 3-card royal. Let bet #2 ride with: any paying hand, 4-card flush, 4-card outside straight, or 4 high cards. Pull back everything else. Optimal strategy reduces house edge to 3.51%.
How to Use Our Calculator
Use the Let It Ride Calculator →
Enter your three cards to see optimal first-bet decision, then add the community card for second-bet decision.
Step-by-Step Instructions
-
Enter Your 3 Cards: Your dealt hand
-
View First Decision: Bet 1 - ride or pull
-
Enter 4th Card: First community card
-
View Second Decision: Bet 2 - ride or pull
-
See Final Outcome: Win or lose
Input Fields Explained
| Field | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Your Cards | Three dealt cards | Q♠ J♠ 10♠ |
| Community Card 1 | First reveal | K♠ |
| Community Card 2 | Second reveal | 9♥ |
| Bet 1 Decision | First bet | LET IT RIDE |
| Bet 2 Decision | Second bet | LET IT RIDE |
| Final Hand | Result | Straight |
Pay Table
Standard Payouts
| Hand | Payout |
|---|---|
| Royal Flush | 1,000:1 |
| Straight Flush | 200:1 |
| Four of a Kind | 50:1 |
| Full House | 11:1 |
| Flush | 8:1 |
| Straight | 5:1 |
| Three of a Kind | 3:1 |
| Two Pair | 2:1 |
| Pair of 10s or Better | 1:1 |
| Pair of 9s or Less | Loss |
| High Card | Loss |
Pay Table Variations
| Hand | Standard | Bonus |
|---|---|---|
| Royal | 1,000:1 | 1,000:1 |
| Straight Flush | 200:1 | 200:1 |
| Four of a Kind | 50:1 | 100:1 |
| Full House | 11:1 | 11:1 |
| Flush | 8:1 | 8:1 |
First Bet Strategy (3 Cards)
Let Bet #1 Ride With
| Hand | Description |
|---|---|
| Made winner | 10s+ pair, trips, etc. |
| 4-card flush | Wait, only 3 cards... |
| 3-card royal | Any 3 royal flush cards |
| 3 suited high cards | 10-J-Q suited, etc. |
| 3-card straight flush | Open-ended only |
Detailed First-Bet Chart
| Your 3 Cards | Action |
|---|---|
| Pair of 10s+ | LET RIDE |
| Three of a Kind | LET RIDE |
| 3 to a Royal | LET RIDE |
| 3 to Straight Flush (suited, consecutive) | LET RIDE |
| All other | PULL BACK |
Three-Card Analysis
With only 3 cards visible:
- Can't have 4-card draws
- Focus on made hands or strong draws
- Most hands should be pulled back
Pull back percentage: ~70%
Let ride percentage: ~30%
Second Bet Strategy (4 Cards)
Let Bet #2 Ride With
| Hand | Description |
|---|---|
| Made winner | 10s+ pair, two pair, trips, etc. |
| 4-card flush | Any 4 suited cards |
| 4-card straight | Open-ended only |
| 4 high cards | 10-J-Q-K or better |
Detailed Second-Bet Chart
| Your 4 Cards | Action |
|---|---|
| Pair of 10s+ | LET RIDE |
| Two Pair or Better | LET RIDE |
| 4-Card Flush | LET RIDE |
| 4-Card Outside Straight | LET RIDE |
| 4 High Cards (10+) | LET RIDE |
| All other | PULL BACK |
Four-Card Analysis
With 4 cards visible:
- Flush draws: 9 outs (19.6% hit)
- Straight draws: 8 outs (17.4% hit)
- High card draws: Weak
Pull back percentage: ~85%
Let ride percentage: ~15%
Real-World Examples
Example 1: Strong Draw
Cards dealt: Q♠ J♠ 10♠ First decision:
Analysis:
- 3 to a royal flush
- Also 3 to a straight flush
- Multiple ways to make big hands
Action: LET BET #1 RIDE
4th card: A♠ Second decision:
Analysis:
- 4 to royal flush
- Also 4 to flush
Action: LET BET #2 RIDE
Example 2: Marginal Hand
Cards dealt: K♥ Q♦ 8♣ First decision:
Analysis:
- No made hand
- No flush draw (different suits)
- No straight draw (gaps)
- Not 3 to royal (different suits)
Action: PULL BET #1 BACK
4th card: K♦ Second decision:
Analysis:
- Pair of Kings (paying hand!)
Action: LET BET #2 RIDE
Example 3: Inside Straight
Cards dealt: 9♥ 10♦ Q♣ First decision:
Analysis:
- No made hand
- Inside straight draw (need J)
- Not flush draw
Action: PULL BET #1 BACK (inside straights don't qualify)
4th card: J♠ Second decision:
Analysis:
- Now have 4-card outside straight (8-J-Q or 10-J-Q-K)
- Wait—9-10-J-Q is outside straight!
Action: LET BET #2 RIDE
House Edge Analysis
Edge by Strategy
| Strategy | House Edge |
|---|---|
| Optimal strategy | 3.51% |
| Always let ride | 25%+ |
| Always pull back | Higher |
| Random decisions | Variable |
Element of Risk
You always bet 1 unit
You may bet 2 or 3 units based on decisions
Average units bet: ~3.67 units per hand
House edge per initial bet: ~3.51%
House edge per unit wagered: ~2.85%
Comparison to Similar Games
| Game | House Edge |
|---|---|
| Let It Ride | 3.51% |
| Caribbean Stud | 5.22% |
| Three Card Poker | 3.37% |
| Mississippi Stud | 4.91% |
| Pai Gow Poker | 2.84% |
Common Strategy Mistakes
1. Letting Inside Straights Ride
Mistake: K-Q-10 let ride for J Problem: Only 4 outs, ~8% to hit Fix: Only open-ended straights qualify
2. Pulling Back High Pairs
Mistake: "Pair of 10s seems weak" Problem: 10s+ pays even money—guaranteed win Fix: Any paying hand should ride
3. Chasing Low Pairs
Mistake: Let ride with 7-7 Problem: Small pairs don't pay (need trips) Fix: Pull back—need 10s or better
4. Not Understanding 3-Card Strategy
Mistake: Let ride with K-Q-J offsuit Problem: Need to be suited for 3-card draws Fix: Only suited high cards qualify
Bonus Bet Analysis
Typical Bonus Pay Table
| Hand | Payout |
|---|---|
| Royal Flush | $20,000 |
| Straight Flush | $2,000 |
| Four of a Kind | $100 |
| Full House | $75 |
| Flush | $50 |
| Straight | $25 |
| Three of a Kind | $8 |
| Two Pair | $6 |
| Pair of 10s+ | $5 |
| Pair of 9s or less | Push |
Bonus Bet House Edge
Typical bonus bet: 13-25% house edge
Much worse than base game (3.51%)
Avoid bonus bet for optimal play
Variance and Bankroll
Volatility Characteristics
Let It Ride has moderate variance:
- Frequent small losses (1-3 units)
- Occasional medium wins (5-11 units)
- Rare big wins (50-1000+ units)
Bankroll Recommendations
| Risk Level | Bankroll |
|---|---|
| Conservative | 50× min bet |
| Standard | 30× min bet |
| Aggressive | 20× min bet |
Session Expectations
100 hands, $15 total bet ($5 × 3):
Total base wagered: ~$1,500
Average units at risk: ~$550 (3.67 × $5 × 30 hands)
Expected loss: ~$19 (3.51%)
Actual range: -$150 to +$100 typical
Advanced Concepts
Hand Probability
| Final Hand | Probability | Return |
|---|---|---|
| Royal Flush | 0.0015% | 15.4% |
| Straight Flush | 0.011% | 2.2% |
| Four of a Kind | 0.024% | 1.2% |
| Full House | 0.14% | 1.6% |
| Flush | 0.20% | 1.6% |
| Straight | 0.39% | 2.0% |
| Three of a Kind | 2.11% | 6.3% |
| Two Pair | 4.75% | 9.5% |
| 10s or Better | 16.88% | 16.9% |
| No Win | 75.39% | -75.4% |
Return Distribution
~24% of hands win something
~76% of hands lose
But you withdraw bets 70-85% of the time
Actually lose less per hand than raw odds suggest
Composition Strategy
Some marginal decisions depend on exact cards:
J-10-9 suited: LET RIDE (straight flush draw)
J-10-9 offsuit: PULL BACK (no flush potential)
Strategy accounts for these nuances
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I look at other players' cards?
Technically against rules, but some casinos are lax. Doesn't significantly affect strategy since you can't change community cards.
Should I ever let all three bets ride?
Only with a made paying hand (10s+ pair or better) on your first three cards. Otherwise, pull back at least one bet.
Is the bonus bet worth it?
No. 13-25% house edge vs 3.51% base game. Avoid for optimal play.
What if I forget strategy?
When in doubt, pull back. Riding too often costs more than pulling too often.
Does card counting help?
Marginally. Tracking exposed cards at multi-player tables provides tiny edge. Not practically useful.
What's the minimum hand to win?
Pair of 10s or better. Lower pairs, high cards, and missed draws all lose.
Pro Tips
-
Master 3-card decisions: Most value is here
-
Don't chase inside straights: Open-ended only
-
Skip the bonus bet: 13%+ edge is terrible
-
Suited matters for 3-cards: K-Q-J suited rides, offsuit doesn't
-
Any paying hand rides: Don't overthink 10s+ pairs
Related Calculators
- Caribbean Stud Calculator - Similar game
- Three Card Poker Calculator - Alternative
- Poker Odds Calculator - Hand probabilities
- House Edge Calculator - Edge comparison
- Expected Value Calculator - EV analysis
Conclusion
Let It Ride offers player agency through bet withdrawals, reducing house edge to 3.51% with optimal strategy. Our calculator shows exactly when to let ride and when to pull back, maximizing your expected value. Master the 3-card and 4-card decision points, avoid the bonus bet, and enjoy this unique poker variant.
Calculate Let It Ride Strategy Now →
The power in Let It Ride is knowing when to retreat. Our calculator eliminates guesswork, showing optimal decisions for every hand combination. Learn when draws are worth riding and when to salvage your bets—strategic withdrawals separate winning players from those who let too much ride.
