Live Ultimate Texas Hold’em Review: Rules, Tips & Best South African Casinos

What is Live Ultimate Texas Hold’em? 

The short answer is that Live Ultimate Texan Hold’em plays out the same as the popular Texas Hold’em. Players have the same goal: to use 2 of their own cards and 3 of the community cards to make a winning hand. 

The twist comes in with the betting strategies. Unlike the original game, you have a lot more betting opportunities once you have played the Ante:

• Before the flop
• After the flop
• With the turn and the river

This means that you can raise up to 4 times the Ante. There can be dozens of players sitting at the table, but each bet is between the player and the dealer. 

Ultimate Texas Hold’em Rules & Core Mechanics 

Ultimate Texas Hold’em Rules & Core Mechanics 

The best way to explain how Ultimate Texas Hold’em works is to walk you through a typical hand.

• Initial Bets: Just like in almost every table game, you will have to buy your way into the game. At Ultimate Texas Hold’em, that means placing an Ante and Blind bet. You also have the choice of placing a Trips bet at this stage. 
• Pre-flop: The dealer deals 2 face-down cards to all the players and themselves. This is the point when you will have a chance to make your next bet (Play) or check. Betting here will cost you 3x or 4x your Ante. You can only raise once during a hand.
• Flop: Next, the community cards are dealt, otherwise known as the Flop. Three cards are dealt face down. You can either check or place your first bet. The Play Bet for this one is usually twice the Ante.
• Turn & River: Once all calls are made, the final 2 community cards are dealt. This is the last time you can bet. The choices here are to bet your Ante or fold.
• The Showdown: This is the final stage, and the dealer will now reveal their hand. The winner is declared, using standard poker ranking.  

You can push the Ante if the dealer doesn't qualify (usually needs a pair), while other bets settle according to the rules. There can be slight variations in raise options and settlement rules by table, so always check the in-game help.

Blind & Trips Side Bets 

Blind & Trips Side Bets 

Understanding the different bets is important. Here are the bets we find in Ultimate Texas Hold’em Live.

• Ante: The Ante is the money that you pay before a hand begins. Essentially, it buys you your way into the game.
• Blind Bet: This is a bet that is placed automatically, at the same time as the Ante, and has the same value. It's usually smaller hands that push, while stronger hands like straights or better trigger payouts. Some of the game's biggest wins come from here.
• Trips: These are optional. The dealer’s hand has no bearing on the outcome, and it is based completely on the strength of your hand. It pays out if your hand is a three of a kind, or better. They are very tempting bets, but they are also very high volatility.