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Red Dog, also known as Red Dog Poker, is a fun table game you’ll find at some online casinos. BetSoft has a popular version of the game and it is the version you’ll see most often. The rules of the game are quite simple and only takes a minute to learn.
The game is a three-card game. It starts with two cards dealt face up. You’ll then wager on whether the third card dealt will be between the first two cards. If you’re correct, you win. Otherwise, you lose. Ties or consecutive cards push. Your only action in the game is to bet. Let’s quickly go through a hand of Red Dog.
At the start of each game, you will place a bet. This ranges from $1 to $100. After you place your bet, you will click on the deal button. Two cards will then be dealt face up.
Bets in this game are paid based on the spread between the first two cards. The spread is the number of cards between the first and second cards. If the first card is a 3 and the second card is a 10, then the spread is 7.
There is a board in the center of the table that will let you know the spread of the current hand. After the cards are dealt, a marker will be placed on the spread number. At this point, you will make your only decision of the game. You can either Raise or Stand. If you Raise, a bet equal to your initial bet will be made. When you Stand, the hand will continue without additional bets.
If the first two cards tie or are in consecutive order, you will not get a chance to Raise. In these cases, the hand concludes and the bet is a push. On a tie, a third card will be dealt and if the third card makes three of a kind, you will win 11 to 1 on your money.
For all other hands, a third card will be dealt. If it falls between the first two, you win. All other results are a loss. Winners are paid based on the spread. Here are the payouts for Red Dog:
Like many other card games, Red Dog has a raising strategy you can use to improve your odds of winning. You will only raise when you have a spread of 7 or better. For spreads from 1 to 6, you will merely stand.
It may be tempting to raise on other spreads, particularly ones that pay better than even money. However, the odds don’t support this play. You’re better than 50% to win whenever you have a spread of 7 or greater. If you have a spread of 11, that edge jumps to 85.2%.
Red Dog is a fast-paced online casino game that can win you a few bucks if you hit a hot streak. By only raising with a spread of 7 or better, you will limit your losses and maximize your profits. You’ll find this game at all Aussie online casinos that offer Betsoft table games.