While traditional Hold'em is played against other players, casinos have invented a version where you play directly against the house.

This specific variation, often called Ultimate Texas Hold'em or Casino Hold'em, has exploded in popularity on the gaming floor.

How a Hand of Casino Hold'em is Played

To be dealt into the hand, you must place your chips on the Ante circle before the cards are distributed.

After looking at your two cards, you must make a crucial decision: either fold and lose your Ante, or 'Play'.

• You are strictly playing your hand against the dealer's hand; the other players at the table do not matter
• Knowing when to aggressively raise pre-flop is the key to minimizing the house edge in this variation
• The game uses a standard 52-card deck which is thoroughly shuffled after every single hand

Basic Strategy for Beating the Dealer

The biggest mistake beginners make in Casino Hold'em is folding far too often, surrendering their Ante unnecessarily.

If you have any pair, any Ace or King, or any two cards that are suited or connected, you must always make the Play bet.

Casino Hold'em is an incredibly entertaining way to enjoy poker mechanics without the intense stress of bluffing humans.