Best Poker Table Games to Play at US Casinos

Ultimate Texas Hold'em table at Plaza in Las Vegas, NevadaUltimate Texas Hold'em table

There are dozens of casino table games. The most popular are blackjack, craps, and roulette. Most of the others are based on poker. Some of these games have a lower house advantage than blackjack. 

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Three Card Poker

Three Card Poker is the most popular poker table game in a casino. If a casino only deals one poker pit game, it is usually Three Card Poker. 

Its advantages include being easy to learn, a simple strategy, and a minimum bet that can be as low as $2, and often not more than $5. There are even a few $5 Three Card Poker tables on the Las Vegas Strip

In Three Card Poker, the player and dealer receive three cards. The player hopes to make a better hand. There is an optional Pair Plus side bet. A straight beats a flush. The house edge when accounting for the raise is about 2%. Read more in our Three Card Poker guide

Ultimate Texas Hold’em 

Another popular poker table game is Ultimate Texas Hold’em. In some markets, it has more tables than Three Card Poker. 

In Ultimate Texas Hold’em, the player makes a blind and ante bet. Each must be at least equal to the table minimum bet, which is usually $5 or $10. There are optional side bets. 

The player and dealer receive two cards. The player has the opportunity to raise one time during the hand. The options are four times the ante preflop, double the ante after the flop, or an amount equal to the ante after the river. 

If the player does not raise during the hand, it is a fold. The ante and blind lose. The house advantage is about 0.5% when accounting for raises. Read more on our Ultimate Texas Hold’em strategy page.

Heads Up Hold’em 

Heads Up Hold’em is offered in place of Ultimate Texas Hold’em in some casinos. It is based on the same concept. However, there are two major differences

In Heads Up Hold’em, the raise before the flop is only three times the ante. In exchange for this, there is a bad beat bonus. The house advantage is about two-thirds of a percent when accounting for the raises. Our Heads Up Hold’em page has more details. 

Heads up Hold'em table game at the Strat in Las Vegas, Nevada

High Card Flush and I Luv Suits

High Card Flush and I Luv Suits are the same game with different names. The goal in each is to get the most suited cards out of the seven dealt. Players go up against the dealer, which must qualify with at least a three-card nine-high flush. The strategy is simple and its house when including raises is about 1.5%. Our High Card Flush/I Luv Suits page has more information.

Pai Gow Poker 

Pai Gow Poker is one of the oldest poker pit games. The original version, known as Fortune or Emperor’s Challenge, has a 5% commission on wins and the ability for players to bank the table. Newer versions deal the banker’s hand face up. We cover all the versions of the game in our Pai Gow Poker Review

Let it Ride

Let it Ride is one of the oldest poker table games. The payouts are based solely on the strength of the player’s hand. There is no dealer hand to beat. The player wins with a pair of tens or better.

There are three chip stacks placed on the felt. These must be equal amounts that are at least the table minimum. The player receives three cards with two placed in the center. There are two opportunities to pull back a stack, meaning the player only risks one bet. With a house advantage of 2.85% when accounting for all chip stacks played correctly, Let it Ride has one of the highest house edges in a casino pit. Read more in our Let it Ride guide

Let It Ride table

DJ Wild

DJ Wild is not a common table game. However, when available, it is one of the best to play when considering the house advantage. DJ Wild is available at Flamingo and Harrah’s in Las Vegas, in some regional casino markets, and on legal online casinos

The player is against the dealer. An ante is placed and five cards are dealt. The options are to raise double the ante or fold. The house edge is about 1% when including the proper raises. Read more in our DJ Wild review.