While traditional Hold'em is played against other players, casinos have invented a version where you play directly against the house.

This specific variation, often called Ultimate Texas Hold'em or Casino Hold'em, has exploded in popularity on the gaming floor.

How a Hand of Casino Hold'em is Played

Once the initial wagers are placed, both you and the dealer receive two hole cards face down.

After looking at your two cards, you must make a crucial decision: either fold and lose your Ante, or 'Play'.

• You are strictly playing your hand against the dealer's hand; the other players at the table do not matter
• Knowing when to aggressively raise pre-flop is the key to minimizing the house edge in this variation
• The game uses a standard 52-card deck which is thoroughly shuffled after every single hand

How to Optimize Your Casino Hold'em Strategy

Statistically, you should be placing the 'Play' bet on roughly 82% of all the starting hands you receive.

You should only fold if your two hole cards are incredibly weak, such as unsuited low cards (like a 2 and a 7) that do not connect with the flop.

By aggressively playing decent hands, you put maximum pressure on the dealer's qualification rules.