Casino Hold’em Rules for Beginners: Every Term Explained
Despite similarities to Texas Hold’em, Casino Hold’em can confuse even experienced players. So if you feel lost, no worries – we’ll break everything down in this handy guide.
Let’s jump right into it.
How Do I Win At Casino Hold’em?
To win at Casino Hold’em, you must make a better five-card poker hand than the dealer. But unlike Texas Hold ’em, there is no preflop action – after posting your ante, you go straight to the flop.
If you wish to continue post-flop, you make a “call” bet (which is double your ante). After that, the turn and river are dealt, and you show down your hand. If you have a better five-card hand than the dealer, you win!
Key Casino Hold’em Terms
If you’re new to Casino Hold’em, its terms can seem like a foreign language. As you encounter them, look them up in our handy table:
| Term | What It Means |
| ?? Ante | If you want to play Casino Hold em, you will need to make this wager. |
| ?? Bankroll | Money you have set aside to play casino games. |
| ?? Call | A wager that keeps you in the game after the flop. This bet is worth x2 the ante. |
| ?? Casino Hold em | Casino Hold em is a game based on Texas Hold em. Stephen Au-Yeung made this game and it came out in 2000. |
| ?? ???????? Community Cards | Five cards anyone can use to make the best possible poker hand. |
| ?? Draw | A hand with four cards to a flush or a straight. To make either hand, you need one more card to complete it. |
| ?? ???? Flop | The first three community cards dealt after the ante. |
| ???? Fold | If you do not like your hand post-flop, you can throw it away. But if you do this, you lose your ante bet. |
| ???? Hole Cards | Two cards you combine with the community cards to make the best five-card poker hand. |
| ?? House Edge | The advantage a gaming site has over players. |
| ??? Kicker | The best card in your hand after your high card/pair/etc. If you have the same hand as the dealer, this card will decide the winner. |
| ?? ???????? River | The last community card dealt. After this, you showdown your cards against the dealer. If your hand is better, you win the round. |
Poker Hand Rankings
If you want to win at Casino Hold ’em, memorizing hand rankings is essential. Below, we’ve organized the best hands in poker from weakest to strongest:
| Hand Type | Example |
| High Card | A-Q-9-5-3 |
| One Pair | A-A-9-5-3 |
| Two Pair | A-A-Q-Q-3 |
| Three Of A Kind | A-A-A-5-3 |
| Straight | A-K-Q-J-10 |
| Flush | Any five cards of the same suit (A-Q-9-5-3, all diamonds) |
| Full House | A-A-A-Q-Q |
| Four Of A Kind | A-A-A-A-3 |
| Straight Flush | A straight with all cards of the same suit (6-5-4-3-2, all diamonds) |
| Royal Flush | The best possible straight flush (A-K-Q-J-10, all of the same suit). An unbeatable hand. |
When Should I Call On The Flop In Casino Hold ’em?
In Casino Hold ’em, there is no preflop betting round. When you post your ante, you go straight to the flop. You are playing 100% of hands… but so is the dealer.
Because of this, you should call 82% of the time. 82% is any made hand, all draws, Jack High hands or better, and overcards (two cards above than the highest community card).
That sounds exceptionally loose, but since the dealer is also playing 100% of hands, Jack High will be good more than 50% of the time.
When Should I Fold On The Flop In Casino Hold ’em?
If you have a Ten High hand or worse with no draws, then you can fold. You won’t improve to a pair (or beat the dealer with your Ten High) often enough for it to be profitable.
Can Casino Hold’em Be Beaten?
Not online. In brick-and-mortar casinos, it might be possible if you can edge sort (not that we’d recommend it). But on the internet, this move is impossible to pull off.
Remember: Casino Hold’em has a built-in edge of 2% (if you play optimally). So play for entertainment, as the house always wins in the end.
How Do I Play Casino Hold’em?
Now that we’ve reviewed key terms and bet types, let’s walk through a Casino Hold’em round together.
- Post your ante. To play a hand of Casino Hold’em, you must post an ante. This bet must meet the table minimum and cannot be more than the table maximum. If side bets are available, you can wager on them as well.
- On to the flop. The dealer will then deal two cards face up to you and two cards face down to themselves. After that, they’ll deal the flop, or the first three community cards.
- Call or fold. Compare your hand to the community cards on the board. Call if you have a made hand, a draw, Jack high (or better), or overcards. Otherwise, fold.
- On to the river. The dealer deals the turn and river. Once they do this, they’ll flip over their hand. If yours is better, the dealer will pay out your ante bet, call bet, and, if applicable, your side bet.
Interested in learning about casino games? Have a look at our extensive Blackjack Rules for Beginners: Every Term Explained.
