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Table Games Tell me your experiences playing Ultimate Texas Holdem

Discussion in 'Table Games' started by rycelover, Oct 12, 2016.

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  1. rycelover

    rycelover High-Roller

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    Heard a podcast the other day posted by the LV Gambler's Book Club, about Kevin Moore an entrepreneur who wrote a book about his experiences playing UTH as a hobby, titled My First 55,000 Hands.

    I had never considered playing this carney game before, but will likely add it to my rotation of BJ and Craps after reading up on basic strategy found at wizardofodds.com and reading Moore's book.

    Might be a fun diversion. For BJ players who dabble, I'm interested in hearing your thoughts about variance, bankroll and average bet. I usually play with blackchips at a BJ table, but don't think I have the BR for that at UTH; I'll have to start with a $25 ante and $25 blind bet and go to $100 on the 4x play bet.

    Any thoughts?
     
  2. topcard

    topcard Here's to $10 3:2 two-deck, $5 Craps, and $5 UTH!

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    My personal suggestion would be to go with $20-$20 & $80 on the 4x, + $5 or $10 on trips... your per-hand average would likely be about $90 or so... and, since that's what you're used to, even the variance shouldn't bug you too much...
    Remember this - UTH is one of the few games in Vegas where you & dealer have the exact same chance of winning...there is no house edge inherent in the outcome.
    Their advantage comes entirely from the blind-bet and from not paying your ante when they don't qualify... they also have an edge on any trips bet you make.
    But in terms of winners & losers? That should shake-out to be roughly 50/50 as you play.
    This is why the 4-play is so crucial to success at this game. The "play" bet is a huge player advantage, as the dealer must "call" any bet you make, regardless of the weakness of his hand.
     
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  3. rycelover

    rycelover High-Roller

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    Thanks Topcard, this is exactly what I was looking for. Much appreciated!
     
  4. makuk

    makuk Low-Roller

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    The number of times I have 4x bet with AA or AK or KK or QQ etc and been beat is ridiculous, I'm over this game!
     
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  5. topcard

    topcard Here's to $10 3:2 two-deck, $5 Craps, and $5 UTH!

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    makuk - the number of times I've won with a pair of 8s, after betting 4x on a Q-8 has been crazy.
    The math is the math...fact is, if you have a J-10, Q-8, K-5 or an Ace, your odds of winning, pre-flop, are greater than the dealer's.
    That is the very reason you 4-play those hands.
    A good comparison would be soft-doubling an A-6 against a dealer 6.
    In blackjack, practically no-one would pass up that double opportunity....but that doesn't guarantee a win anymore than 4-playing your K-5 does... but, in the long run, making those plays will result in your winning more than losing.
     
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  6. spdandpwr

    spdandpwr VIP Whale

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    There's a very elaborate strategy card for this game. Personally, I think the strategy here is greater and much more enjoyable than your average BJ game. The trips bet is one of the better sucker bets too! And your average hand is higher while having pretty good odds so the comps come in nicely. Win-win. Unless I'm missing something.
     
  7. elaine.mcgrew

    elaine.mcgrew Low-Roller

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    Where would I learn to play this game?
     
  8. spdandpwr

    spdandpwr VIP Whale

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    There's a decent tutorial on Wizard of Odds YouTube channel. Just search Ultimate Texas Holdem Tutorial on YouTube.
     
  9. kps

    kps High-Roller

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    Wizard of Odds has a for fun link to play there with 5k in starting chips
     
  10. makuk

    makuk Low-Roller

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    I know you're right, I think I recall having a really bad run like this and never played it again! I will give it another go :)
     
  11. wanker751

    wanker751 Dutch Rudder Enthusiast

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    [​IMG]

    Here is the strategy card from WOO.

    Be prepared to get dumb comments going 4xs with A2 off, esp if you lose...

    I used to not play trips [got quads once] boo... but now I. Play trips, only if it is one of the following paytables..

    9/7/4 [dream on] .09% he
    8/6/5 [1.9% he] not sure if this exists
    8/7/4 [3.4% he] more common.

    Anything worse I don't play trips bet. 3% on a carney side bet isn't bad imo.
     
  12. wanker751

    wanker751 Dutch Rudder Enthusiast

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    Variance on this game can be a bitch for sure, esp if you miss you 4xs bets more than you hit.
     
  13. elaine.mcgrew

    elaine.mcgrew Low-Roller

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  14. LV_Bound

    LV_Bound VIP Whale

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    At a $5 table what would be the recommended buy-in to give this game a try?
     
  15. rycelover

    rycelover High-Roller

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    From what I've read you need $200-$300 buyin at a $5 table.
     
  16. grosx2

    grosx2 Have fun storming the castle!

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    $200 should suffice unless you really run bad, $300 would be ideal, especially if you're going to play the trips bet.
     
  17. wanker751

    wanker751 Dutch Rudder Enthusiast

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    Pretty much what I buy in for. I play $5

    Test out br at WOO. They they a practice game there
     
  18. LV_Bound

    LV_Bound VIP Whale

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    That buy-in is very doable, thanks.
    May have to give this a try next trip.
     
  19. Jejas

    Jejas VIP Whale

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    Last trip I played at the Orleans $5 table for less than 30 minutes.
    Got a pair of Aces twice and I was the only one got a pair of Aces.
    Both times the board had garbage. Surprisingly each time the dealer turned up two stupid small cards
    match the board to make two pairs and beat me.
    And I lost my $200 buy-in in less then 30 minutes playing $5.
     
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  20. grosx2

    grosx2 Have fun storming the castle!

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    Yeah stringing together a few 4x losses can drain the bankroll in a hurry.
     
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