How to Play Ultimate Texas Hold'em (Las Vegas) — Rules, Strategy & Payouts

How to Play Ultimate Texas Hold'em (Vegas Style)

Ultimate Texas Hold'em (UTH) is a casino table game based on Texas Hold'em poker. Unlike poker rooms, you are playing against the dealer — not other players. The goal is to make the best five-card poker hand using your two cards plus five community cards.

UTH is popular because it combines poker strategy with casino-style betting, including the ability to increase bets when you have strong hands.

1) Objective

Beat the dealer’s best five-card hand using standard poker rankings.

2) Required Bets

Players must place two equal bets:

Ante
Blind

Optional side bets may also be available depending on the casino.

3) Basic Gameplay

Step	What Happens
1	Place Ante and Blind bets.
2	You and dealer receive two cards face down.
3	Pre-flop decision: Check OR Raise 3x–4x your Ante (strong hands)
4	Flop (three community cards revealed).
5	Flop decision: Check OR Raise 2x Ante
6	Turn and River revealed.
7	Final decision: Fold (lose Ante & Blind) Call (1x Ante)
8	Dealer reveals cards and compares hands.

4) Dealer Qualification Rule

Dealer must have at least a pair to qualify.

Outcome	Result
Dealer qualifies and you win	Ante and Play bets pay.
Dealer does NOT qualify	Ante pushes; Play bet still pays.
You lose	All bets lose.

5) Blind Bet Payouts

Blind bet pays based on hand strength (even if dealer qualifies or not). Typical payouts:

Hand	Blind Payout
Royal Flush	500 to 1
Straight Flush	50 to 1
Four of a Kind	10 to 1
Full House	3 to 1
Flush	1.5 to 1
Straight	1 to 1

6) Poker Hand Rankings

Standard poker hand rankings apply:

Rank	Hand
1	Royal Flush
2	Straight Flush
3	Four of a Kind
4	Full House
5	Flush
6	Straight
7	Three of a Kind
8	Two Pair
9	One Pair
10	High Card

7) Beginner Strategy (Simple Version)

Raise 4x pre-flop with strong hands (AA, KK, QQ, AK suited).
Raise 2x after flop with strong draws or made pairs.
Avoid folding too early — you want to maximize value with strong hands.
Understand that pushes happen frequently.

Ultimate Texas Hold'em rewards aggressive betting when strong — unlike many other table games.

8) Common Beginner Mistakes

Failing to raise early with strong hands.
Overplaying weak hands.
Not understanding dealer qualification.
Confusing UTH with poker-room Texas Hold'em.

UTH has larger bet swings because raises multiply your original wager — manage bankroll carefully.

Responsible Gaming

Ultimate Texas Hold'em includes multiple betting stages and can escalate quickly. Set limits before playing and treat the game as entertainment. Never chase losses.