In this article, I’ll explore whether the strategies learned from hours of online poker gameplay are transferable to playing Live Casino Hold'em and examine if it’s a viable alternative to traditional Texas Hold'em.
Overview of Texas Hold'em
Texas Hold'em is the most popular form of poker. Ideally, up to 8 players can sit at a table, with the primary goal being to beat all other players and claim the "pot."
Positioning at the table is crucial; after each player receives two cards, the dealer reveals up to five community cards. Players place bets, bluff, and exploit weaknesses to win the pot by forming the best possible five-card hand.
Texas Hold'em is simple in concept but can take years to master. Many players dedicate their lives to honing their skills in land-based and online tournaments that can last days.
Fortunately, there are other games based on Texas Hold'em’s principles that are faster-paced and easier to play.
Casino Hold'em: How It Differs
Casino Hold'em is one of these alternative versions. Unlike Texas Hold'em, which pits players against each other, Casino Hold'em is played against the dealer. Your objective is simply to beat the dealer's hand.
You can play an automated RNG version, though I wouldn’t recommend it. Alternatively, you can play live dealer Casino Hold'em, where you face off against a real dealer.
The game begins with each player and the dealer receiving two cards. After the first three community cards are dealt, players can choose to fold or call to continue, with the call bet costing twice the initial Ante wager.
The remaining two community cards are then revealed, but unlike Texas Hold'em, these two cards do not have specific names (like "turn" and "river"). The best five-card hand is determined for both the player and the dealer, with the winner being the one holding the best combination.
This makes Casino Hold'em quicker and removes the need for bluffing. It’s a straightforward showdown between player and dealer.
Some of the hand strength and probability skills learned in Texas Hold'em can also be applied to Casino Hold'em. Therefore, understanding these aspects can help improve your winning odds.
Casino Hold'em Payouts
Unlike regular Texas Hold'em, the payout system in Casino Hold'em resembles that of video poker.
You’ll win a predetermined multiple of your wager; you won’t win the pot. For more detailed information, you can refer to my review of Indibet Live Casino Hold'em, where I break down the payout structure.
Here’s a quick summary:
To be eligible for a payout, the dealer must qualify, or their hand must rank lower than yours.
A straight or lower yields a 1:1 payout; a flush yields 2:1, a full house 3:1, and so forth, with a royal flush paying a hefty 100:1.
The theoretical RTP (Return to Player) for Indibet Casino Hold'em is 97.84%, which is standard for similar live dealer games from other developers, with a house edge typically around 2-2.5%.
The Thought Process Behind Casino Hold'em Betting
In Texas Hold'em, you make your first bet after receiving your initial two cards; in Casino Hold'em, you make your first betting decision after seeing the first three community cards.
At this point, you can either fold and lose your initial bet or continue by betting twice the initial wager.
For example, if you place a 10-unit bet, you’ll have a total stake of 30 units. Be mindful that your overall stake should align with your budget, so ensure you’re comfortable with the amount you’re wagering.
Given that you’ve seen both your two cards and the three community cards, you should have a fair sense of potential hand strength and can calculate the odds of achieving your target hand.
Since Casino Hold'em doesn’t have a standard starting hand chart due to its complexity, your decisions will be based on five cards rather than just the initial two as in Texas Hold'em.
What the Dealer Might Hold
The next part of your thought process should involve considering the dealer’s potential hand.
Unlike Texas Hold'em, there’s no way for the dealer to gauge your intentions, as they aren’t actively participating in the betting. Thus, it’s often safer to assume that if you see an Ace among the community cards, the dealer may also have one.
However, if you hold an Ace, the dealer’s likelihood of also holding one decreases considerably.
Casino Hold'em is played with a single deck. If your hand ties with the dealer's, you won’t lose; the result will be a push.
Just like in Texas Hold'em, you should always watch for straights and flushes. Always ask yourself if the dealer could potentially make a straight or flush from the three community cards and the remaining two.
If you predict a likely loss, it’s advisable to fold. If the EV (Expected Value) of your 3-unit bet is -0.99, you should bet; if it’s -1.01, folding is the better choice.
Taking chances is often favorable in Casino Hold'em, especially if there’s a slight chance of making a high-value hand like four-of-a-kind, a full house, or a royal flush. In these cases, you’ll enjoy decent payouts.
Payout Differences
In Texas Hold'em, you win the pot regardless of your hand’s strength. You may win through bluffing or end up with a royal flush; either way, you earn the same amount.
In Casino Hold'em, however, the better your hand, the more you win.
For practical purposes, if you have a chance to form a strong hand and a reasonable chance of winning, you should raise.
For example, an ideal hand might include a high card like an Ace or King, with other cards that can lead to a top-ranking hand like a royal flush.
A general rule of thumb is that while raising may have a slightly negative EV (like -0.08), you should still bet unless the EV is below -1.00. And when you already have a formed hand, positive EV becomes far more apparent.
You can use online Casino Hold'em calculators, which provide insights into how EV changes based on your two cards and the three community cards.
Side Bets in Casino Hold'em
Casino Hold'em also offers optional side bets that you can place alongside the main game.
Like other live dealer games, side bet options (like those found in Casino Hold'em) vary by game provider. In Casino Hold'em, there are typically two types:
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Aces or Better (AA) – This standard side bet is common at live dealer and brick-and-mortar casino tables. The side bet’s payout table is different from the main game and will pay even if the dealer’s hand beats yours. Only the first five cards are considered, and you need at least a pair of Aces to win.
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Bonus Bet – Similar to Aces or Better, but available in games like Indibet’s Casino Hold'em. Regardless of whether you win or lose the main hand, this bet only pays out based on the first five cards, with an RTP of 93.74% versus the main hand's 97.84%.
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Jumbo 7 Jackpot – Available only with an active Jumbo 7 side bet, this progressive jackpot is awarded for a seven-card straight flush. Smaller prizes are also awarded for other hands, with the jackpot currently at £4,719,875 as of November 9, 2024.
Can Playing Casino Hold'em Teach You Texas Hold'em?
Casino Hold'em, designed by Stephen Au-Yeung, was initially created as a simplified way for new players to learn poker hand rankings without the complexities of a full poker game.
However, Casino Hold'em doesn’t teach core poker skills, such as bluffing, positional play, stealing blinds, or tournament strategies, which are essential in real poker games.
While the two games share the same hand rankings, the strategies are not interchangeable. Attempting to apply Texas Hold'em techniques in Casino Hold'em—or vice versa—could lead to suboptimal gameplay.
Conclusion
Live Casino Hold'em is a fun and relatively low-house-edge game where you can employ some strategy to improve your play.
Often overlooked, this game can be enjoyable if you understand poker hand rankings.
Casino Hold'em is similar to video poker but includes a live dealer.
The best way to find out if you enjoy the game is to try it for yourself.
It could very well be the version you stick with—give it a shot!
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