Ultimate Texas Hold'em Strategy Guide

Ultimate Texas Hold'em is a heads-up hold'em game against the dealer. You and the dealer each get two hole cards and share five community cards, making the best five-card hand.

The twist is timing: the earlier you commit your Play bet, the bigger it can be — 4× pre-flop, 2× after the flop, or just 1× at the river — so strong hands want an early, large raise.

How to Play

• Post equal Ante and Blind bets (plus an optional Trips side bet). You and the dealer each get two hole cards, and five community cards are dealt.
• Pre-flop you may check or bet 3× or 4× your ante. After the flop you may check or bet 2×. After the river you must bet 1× or fold.
• At showdown the best five-card hands are compared. The Play bet pays even money on a win and pushes on a tie.
• The dealer must make a pair or better to open — if not, the Ante pushes. The Blind pays a bonus only for a straight or better (it pushes on a win below that).
• Trips pays on your final hand by itself, regardless of the dealer, even if you fold.

Pay Tables

Strategy

• Pre-flop, raise the max 4× with any pair of 3s+, any Ace, and strong two-card combos (e.g. K-5o+, K-2s+, Q-8o+, Q-6s+, J-T, J-8s); otherwise check.
• After the flop, bet 2× with two pair or better, any pair using a hole card, or four to a flush; otherwise check.
• After the river, call 1× with a hidden pair (one that uses a hole card) or better; fold only when your best hand is just the board.
• Raising 4× pre-flop on qualifying hands is the biggest edge in the game. (Simplified from the full strategy chart.)

House Edge

With correct strategy the house edge is about 2.2% of the ante, or roughly 0.5% of total action (element of risk) — one of the better bets in the casino.

Tips

• Raise 4× pre-flop with any pair, any ace, and strong two-card combos — that early commitment is where the value is.
• Don't slow-play a good hand hoping for a bigger raise later; bet it early.
• At the river, fold only when your hand can't beat the board.