Ultimate Texas Hold’em Game Details
Software Provider : Shuffle Master
RTP : 97.82
Type of Casino Game : Poker
Decks : 1
Minimum Bet : 0.10
maximum bet : 300
maximum payout : 500:1
Side Bets : YES
INTRODUCTION
Shuffle Master’s Ultimate Texas Hold’em is an online casino table that tries to improve an already excellent game. The changes are not major. Instead, the developers chose to make some minor adjustments here and there to improve the flow of the game. The title is played against a computer dealer, following a set payline rather than playing against other players.
The RTP for this release is 97.82% if you are playing it optimally, and not wagering on the side bet. You play this game with only one deck, which is reshuffled after every round. That means you cannot use card counting to gain an advantage! Ultimate Texas Hold’em has one side bet, called Trips. It pays even if you decide to fold, which we quite like.
HOW TO PLAY ULTIMATE TEXAS HOLD’EM
Shuffle Master’s user interface is very intuitive and easy to use. You select one of the coin values at the bottom of the screen, and then place them in the swirling Ante and Blind circles. These two main bets are linked. You cannot wager on just the Ante but not the Blind. How much you wager on one is replicated on the other. As this is an RNG-powered table, you are not time-restricted in making your decisions.
After placing your main bet, tap or press the Deal button for the cards to be dealt. Both the player and dealer receive two cards. You can see your cards, but both the dealer cards are face down and cannot be seen. Here, you will be given a series of choices to either check or to make a Play bet. Choosing to go for the Play bet will immediately draw all community cards, which results in a card comparison. If you check, it will first draw three community cards, then the final two, and then it will ask you to make a 1x Play bet or to Fold.
First up, a dealer has to qualify by having more than a pair in hand. If they fail to do this, your Ante will be pushed, rather than winning. In the same vein, your blind will be pushed if you have a hand weaker than a straight. Assuming no pushes happen and you win the round, you will be paid following the paytable you can see on the table itself. To win, all you need to do is have a better hand compared to the dealer.
EXTRA FEATURES
The only available side bet Ultimate Texas Hold’em offers is the Trips wager. This is an optional stake, which can only be played after you have made the main bet. The result is based on your final five-card poker hand and pays even if you decide to fold. The payouts for this special feature are determined using a special paytable that is visible at all times. The top prize is worth 50:1 if you have a Royal Flush. The RTP for the Trips side bet is 96.5%.
PAYOUTS
Wins and payouts look a bit more complicated in Shuffle Master’s version due to how it handles initial wagers. However, both the Ante and Play bets will pay 1:1 if won. Simply add them onto the payout awarded by the Blind, and you are good to go! Though we imagine most players will focus on the Blind, given its ability to reward a 500:1 cash prize for a Royal Flush!
what we like
- Engaging poker gameplay
- Trips side bet is rewarding and fun
- Low house edge
what we don’t like
- The house edge for Trips is higher than the base game
- Rule changes take some getting used to
ULTIMATE TEXAS HOLD’EM (SHUFFLE MASTER) CASINOBLOKE’S VERDICT
Variants often fall into the trap of changing too much and alienating fans of the original game. Ultimate Texas Hold’em does not have this issue. It makes some minor adjustments to the formula and offers some new things while preserving the original experience. If you are looking to experiment with something fun and lucrative, we cannot think of a better poker game.
Ultimate Texas Hold’em total score:
87%
Game developed by:
Release year:2016
Available on:Desktop, Mobile