Red Dog
Red Dog, also known as Red
Dog Poker or Yablon, is a game of chance played with
cards. It is a variation of acey-deucey or in-between. While found in some land casinos, its popularity has declined, although
it is featured at many casinos online.
The deck used to play Red Dog is the standard, fifty two card variety. The game may be played with anywhere from one to
eight decks, with an increasing number of decks decreasing the house edge — the house\'s advantage begins at 3.155% with
one deck, but falls to 2.751% when eight decks are used. This is in contrast with some other casino card games, such as blackjack,
where a higher number of decks used will increase the house edge.
The game only uses three cards at a time, which are ranked as in poker, with aces high. Suit is irrelevant. A wager is
placed, and two cards are placed face up on the table, with three possible outcomes:
- If the cards are consecutive in number (for example, a four and a five, or a jack and a queen), the hand is a push and
the player\'s wager is returned.
- If the two cards are of equal value, a third card is dealt. If the third card is of the same value, then the payout for
the player is 11:1, otherwise the hand is a push.
- If the two cards difference is greater than one place (for example, a three and an eight), then a spread is announced
which determines the payoff, pending the outcome of a third card which will be dealt. If this third card\'s value falls between
the first two, the player wil receive a payoff according to the spread, otherwise the bet is lost. Before dealing the third
card, the player has the option to double his bet.
The spread table is as follows
Spread of One
/ 5:1 payout
Spread
of Two / 4:1 payout
Spread
of Three / 2:1 payout
Spread
of Four - Eleven / 1:1 payout
Pair
/ 11:1 payout with third matching card
Even when using eight decks, Red Dog does not offer favorable
odds for the player in comparison with other games of chance common to casinos. There is little strategy involved; raises
should only be made when a spread statistically favors a player (which is at seven cards or more, regardless of the number
of decks used).
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