Ultimate Texas Hold'em Strategy
When to raise 4x, 2x or 1x, and when to fold
Ultimate Texas Hold'em gives you three chances to bet: 4x (or 3x) before the flop, 2x after the flop, and 1x or fold at the river. Raise at the right times and the house edge is 2.185% of your ante, which works out to about 0.53% of all the money you put at risk.
Before the flop: raise 4x with
- Any ace, with any kicker
- Any pocket pair 3-3 or higher (check pocket deuces)
- Any suited king; offsuit K-5 or higher
- Q-8 or higher, suited or not; suited Q-6 and Q-7
- J-10 suited or not; suited J-8 and J-9
Check everything else. Never make the 3x raise: any hand strong enough to raise before the flop should raise 4x.
On the flop: raise 2x with
- Two pair or better
- A hidden pair (one using a hole card) of 3s or higher; check an unimproved pair of deuces
- Four to a flush with a hidden ten or better
At the river: bet 1x or fold
Bet 1x with any hidden pair or better, deuces included. With no pair, count the dealer's outs, the unseen cards that would beat you. Bet if the dealer has fewer than 21 outs; fold at 21 or more.
Practice it free
The free Ultimate Texas Hold'em simulator deals hands so you can practice these raise-or-check decisions. Ultimate Texas Hold'em is a trademark of its owner; this guide is not affiliated with it.
Go further
Carry the strategy to the table on a printable strategy card, or get every number worked out in Casino Game Theory & Advantage Play.
More free guides
All six games are in the free casino simulators.
Gambling carries real risk of loss, and no strategy removes the house edge on these games. Play only where it is legal and you are of age. If gambling stops being fun, call 1-800-GAMBLER. See the disclaimer.