How to Play Red Dog?

It should go without saying, but we choose to remind of the importance of preparation. You can’t play any game, casino or other, unless you have familiarised yourself with the game rules and basic concepts that it’s based on. In a way, Red Dog is a poker-driven game but it also has similarities with games such as Acey-Deucey (or In-Between).

The standard game is played with a single deck of 52 cards, but there are variants that use more than just one deck (up to 8). The game requires at least 2 players and the goal is to have the largest chip stack at the end of the round. In online Red Dog, the game is played between one player and the dealer.

At the very beginning, the Ante bet is placed, before any cards are dealt. The bet needs to be within table limits. After the bets are placed, the dealer will draw two cards face-up. There is a space between the two cards for a third one. It is the player’s task to predict whether the third card will fall between them or not.

At this point card ranking comes into play. With the two cards still at the table, the dealer checks if they are consecutive in number, in which case the hand is a push and your wager’s returned. If they are of equal value, a third card is dealt. The third possibility is the spread which eventually determines the potential payout.

In a game of Red Dog, standard poker rankings are used. Suits don’t matter, only card values. Aces are high – they are ranked the top value. Aces are followed by Kings, Queens, Jacks and then 10s. Cards from 9 to 2 are ranked according to their face values, with deuces being the lowest cards. The Ace can only be the highest; it cannot alter its rank in any specific situation.

If the cards dealt are not equal and not in sequence, the dealer will announce a spread. The spread stands for the difference in values between the two cards. In other words, it represents how many cards are required to fill in the gap between the cards that are dealt.

For instance, a spread between a 3 and an Ace would include cards 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, Jack and Queen. So what is the role of the spread? The cards in the spread can help you win. If the third card dealt lands within the spread, you will receive a payout according to the game’s paytable. The bigger the spread, the better the odds of winning.

Before the third card is dealt, you will have two actions to choose from, indicating where you stand on the issue of the third card falling between the two already dealt.

You can raise, meaning make an additional bet equal up to your original bet, or you can stand (call), which means you will stick with your original bet without raising the stakes.

After you rise or call, the third card is dealt face up. If the card doesn’t land within the spread, you will lose. On the contrary, you’ll be paid as instructed by the paytable.

So, let’s recap. There can be four outcomes in Red Dog.

• If the first two cards are in consecutive order, there is no spread, and the hand is considered a push. You retain your bet and choose to get new cards.
• If the first two cards match in value, there’s no spread to be filled once again. However, this prompts the dealing of a third card. The three cards can make a three of a kind hand and issue 11 to 1 payout. Otherwise, the hand is, again, a push.
• The third card’s value is outside the spread (or identical to one of the two cards already on the table). You lose the wager.
• The third card’s value belongs in the spread. You win and will receive a payout according to the payout chart. A 1-card spread pays 5:1, a 2-card spread pays 4:1 and a 3-card spread pays 2:1. Ultimately, a 4-to-11-card spread pays even odds.