Casino Hold'em

My parents live in a relatively small town, but it does have a casino.

My dad has started playing some casino version of hold'em, where the layout is something more like blackjack.

Everyone gets 4 cards, and you decide which 2 of those cards you play. Community cards come out, with no betting because you bet before you get your cards (I think) and the whole objective is to beat the dealer's hand.

I haven't seen it played, but it sounds like a blackjack-ized version of hold'em. My dad (who normally is a blackjack player) likes it better than poker because you don't play against other players, you play against the house so he thinks it makes for a better social environment. I've never heard of it but apparently it's quite popular, with wait lines to get a seat. Anyone know this game?

yeah. rigged just like every table game (and online poker.)

Ah, you're such a pessimist joose.

But yeah, I assume ties go to the house, if nothing else. Maybe even a rake on winnings.

Sounds similar to Pai Gow

No, pushes are pushes in the Texas Hold'Em Table game.

I'm sure the house odds are no different than most table games, but I've seen my friends play this game and they did not lose ONE hand for over an hour. The dealer lost every hand to everyone at the table. Then they bumped the table limit from $10 to $15 and we left.

It can be a fun game, if you are creative enough and flash your cards around, you can find out if you have outs for a flush and bet accordingly.

Maybe it's this one WPT Texas Hold'em it's fairly popular here in San Diego.

Sounds more like Omaha with the casino having an unfair advantage where the dealer can take your money b/c he/she never folds?

That one looks a little more complicated than how it was explained to me, at least in terms of betting options. Plus there's supposedly 4 cards dealt at the beginning.

So did my description match what your friends were playing? I was beginning to think it was something that the provinces' casinos had come up with themselves.

Your description was alittle different. In the Texas Hold'Em table game in AC, you play Texas Hold'Em vs. the dealer. 2 down cards, 5 community cards.

You don't get 4 cards and pick 2.

But that's an interesting variation.