Ultimate Texas Hold’em vs. Texas Hold’em

The rise of Texas Hold’em is well-known. This poker variation exploded in the mid-2000s after it became the centerpiece of televised poker tournaments.

Ultimate Texas Hold’em came along as the house-banked version of this game. It plays very closely to regular Texas Hold’em, except for a few differences.

I’m going to discuss both how these games are similar and different from each other. I’ll also offer advice on determining which version of Hold’em is best for you.

Similarities Between Ultimate and Regular Texas Hold’em

If you’ve played Texas Hold’em against other people before, then you’ll have little trouble adjusting to Ultimate Texas Hold’em.

Both games see you receive two hole cards. They also feature betting rounds where you can choose to place additional bets or fold.

You form hands in the same manner with each game, too. Assuming you stick around until the end of a hand, you’ll use a combination of your two hole cards and the five community cards to make the best five-card hand.

These poker variations also involve in-depth strategy. The more you know the strategy involved with Ultimate or regular Hold’em, the better chance you’ll have of winning.

How Ultimate Texas Hold’em Differs From Texas Hold’em

Ultimate Texas Hold’em has much in common with the version everybody sees on TV and live streams. But it also has some notable differences that make it unique, including the following.

Played Against the Dealer

Your goal in this game is to form a better five-card hand than the dealer. Assuming you do so, you’ll win your ante and play bet (or “raise”).

Blind payouts vary based on a specific table that I’ll cover letter. Additionally, your wins depend upon if the dealer is able to form at least a pair (a.k.a. “open”) or not.

Here are all the possible results of a hand:

• You win and the dealer opens – You win 1:1 on the ante and play bets. The payout for your blind varies (covered later).
• You win and the dealer doesn’t open – You receive 1:1 on the ante and play bets; the blind is a push.
• The dealer wins and opens – You lose all three bets.
• The dealer wins and doesn’t open – You lose the ante and play wagers; the blind is a push.
• You and the dealer tie – All three bets push.

Slightly Different Betting Structure

Again, both poker variations feature multiple betting rounds throughout a hand. However, Ultimate Texas Hold’em varies somewhat regarding the rounds.


Here’s how a typical ultimate Hold’em hand plays out:

• You place an ante and blind bet that are equal to each other (e.g. $5). Any optional side bets can be made at this time, too.
• You and the dealer receive two hole cards. After reviewing your cards, you can check or make a play bet. The latter is worth 3x to 4x the ante in this round.
• The dealer turns over the first three community cards (“the flop”). If you haven’t bet yet, you can wager 2x the ante. Assuming you’ve already bet, then you must check.
• The dealer turns over the last two community cards. If you haven’t made a play bet yet, you can wager 1x the ante. You can also fold, at which point you’ll surrender the ante, blind, and additional side wagers. Assuming you’ve already bet, then you don’t need to take any action.
• You and the dealer compare hands to see who wins.
  
  
  Ultimate Poker features a structured betting format that’s based on rules. Regular Texas Hold’em, meanwhile, lets you risk varying amounts in each round.

Side Payouts Are Available

The side payouts are the most exciting thing about Ultimate Texas Hold’em. You can win extra money based on your hand strength.

The blind bet delivers larger payouts when you have a really good hand. Here’s what you stand to win with blinds:

• Royal Flush – 500:1
• Straight Flush – 50:1
• Four of a Kind – 10:1
• Full House – 3:1
• Flush – 3:2
• Straight – 1:1
• Any Other Hand – Push

Ultimate Hold’em also features an optional “Turn” bet. Here’s the pay table for this side wager:

• Royal Flush – 50:1
• Straight Flush – 40:1
• Four of a Kind – 30:1
• Full House – 8:1
• Flush – 7:1
• Straight – 4:1
• Three of a Kind – 3:1

Progressive Jackpot Can Be Available

Some Ultimate Texas Hold’em tables offer progressive jackpots. In this case, you’ll have yet one more side bet to choose from.

Certain casinos allow you to make this wager for just $1. Others may charge $5, but their progressive jackpots also grow larger before being hit.

Speaking of which, standalone Ultimate Texas Hold’em jackpots can be worth six figures. Those that are linked to other games in the casino like Caribbean Stud can be worth over $1 million!

Strategy Doesn’t Change

Ultimate Texas Hold’em strategy isn’t easy to learn. Once you master it, though, you don’t have to anticipate any changing variables.

After all, you’re playing a fixed-odds casino game. By using expert strategy, you can boost the RTP as high as 97.82%.

Assuming you’re somebody who doesn’t like surprises with strategy, then you should appreciate what ultimate Hold’em offers in this regard.

How Is Standard Texas Hold’em Different From Ultimate?

You may already know the finer points of regular Texas Hold’em due to its fame. Nevertheless, you can check out a recap on its differences as compared to the ultimate variation.

Played Against Other People

Texas Hold’em is a game between you and other opponents at the table. Assuming you can beat the other players along with the rake, then you’ll earn long-term profits.

Speaking of rake, the house takes a small cut out of cash-game pots and tournament buy-ins. Nevertheless, you can still win guaranteed profits with this game if you’re good enough.

Some Texas Hold’em pros have gone on to win millions of dollars in cash games and/or tournaments. This profit potential is a huge reason why Hold’em has become so popular.

Pot Sizes Determine Winnings

Almost every Ultimate Texas Hold’em payout is fixed. The only exception is the progressive jackpot, which grows slightly with each side wager.

As for the other payouts, your hand strength and the rules dictate how much you’ll win. If you win with three of a kind, you’ll earn 1:1 on your ante and play bets. Meanwhile, you’ll receive a variable payout on the blind.

Texas Hold’em differs greatly in this regard. In a cash game, your payouts are determined by how much money everybody puts into the pot. In a tournament, your prize depends upon where are you finish and how many players ultimately enter.

Highly Complex Strategy

Along with sports betting, Texas Hold’em is arguably the most difficult form of gambling. Even though you can make profits, you can also lose lots of money too.

Everything depends upon your mastery of the strategy. If you’re a highly skilled player, then you stand to win lots of money. Assuming you’re somebody who doesn’t dedicate much time to the craft, then you could lose a fortune.

No Side Payouts

One downside of Texas Hold’em is that there aren’t any side payouts. You can’t place any unique wagers and expect a large prize when they pan out.

Of course, some players do make a prop bets with each other. They may bet on everything from who’ll win a WSOP gold bracelet that year to who can lose the most weight.

However, such prop bets don’t come with the same consistency as Ultimate Texas Hold’em side bets. The latter allow you to place interesting wagers and win large payouts at any time.

Which Type of Texas Hold’em Is Best for You?

Ultimate and standard Texas Hold’em are both entertaining games. They each provide a chance to win money with the world’s most popular poker variation. However, you’re going to have a preference for one game or the other based on what you value most.

Texas Hold’em is great if you want to test your skills against other players and potentially make profits. It’s one of the few gambling opportunities that can lead to a professional career.

However, you also have to consider that the best players put countless hours into improving. Those who don’t work hard on their games, on the other hand, will spew out losses.

Ultimate Texas Hold’em gives you a chance to play against the dealer and win side bets. You might even have the opportunity to chase a jackpot.


It does, however, feature a house edge of 2.12%. Furthermore, Ultimate Hold’em is quite volatile due to the side payouts.

You can use these pros and cons to figure out which poker variation you like the best. Of course, you can always mix and match your play to figure it out as well. After all, there’s no hardline decision to be made here.

Conclusion

Regular and Ultimate Hold’em are two variations of the same game. However, their differences can sometimes make them feel quite different from each other.

Ultimate Texas Hold’em is a house-banked game that sees you competing against the dealer. By beating the croupier, you stand to win multiple bets. You can even collect larger payouts through the blind and optional Turn bet.

Texas Hold’em, meanwhile, pits you against other players. It provides the opportunity to earn long-term profits and even become a professional player. However, it also requires extensive work to reach this level.

Both games have their merits and are worth playing. It’s up to you to decide which one best suits your tastes.