Red Dog is a card game
similar to Acey-Deucey and In-Between. The game is played on a blackjack-sized table with
two betting spots -- "bet" and "raise" -- using a 52-card deck. Only
three cards are played per hand. Card suit is not relevant in Red Dog.The popularity of Red Dog is largely due to its simplicity. As the
pros say, if you can remember the number seven and know how to subtract, then you can play
Red Dog as well as anyone in the world.
As a player, you place an opening bet and the dealer will
deal two cards. The object of the game is to bet on the likelihood that the rank of a
third card is going to fall between the first two. If it does fall between, you win. If it
doesn't, you lose.
So far, it's too simple. This is where the
"raise" bet comes in and it's based on the "spread". Spread is the
number of card values that lie between the two initial cards. The value of any card from 2
to 10 counts at face value, a jack counts as 11, a queen as 12, a king as 13, and an ace
counts as 14.
A couple of examples are worthwhile. Let's say the dealer
deals a 7 and a 10. What's the spread? Since 8 and 9 fall between the 7 and 10, the spread
is 2. Ok, let's say the next hand plays a 4 and a 5. The spread? Since the cards are
consecutive, no cards fall between 4 and 5, it's called a "tie", you keep your
money and the hand is over.
The interesting part of Red Dog is betting on the spread.
This is an optional second bet where you go for a bonus payout. The house sets the odds
based on a simple principle: the narrower the spread, the higher the potential payout
("bonus").
As indicated, you open with a bet and the dealer deals two
cards. The cards are placed face up on the table and the dealer will place a marker to
indicate (a) the spread and (b) the odds the house offers on an additional bet (the
"raise"). If you bet no further, you will win your original bet at even money if
you win the hand.
If you do decide to raise, you're betting at house odds as
printed on the Red Dog table. If you win, you get your original bet at even money and the
raise bet at the odds indicated.
If the first two cards are a tie -- consecutive cards --
you keep your bet.
If the two cards are a pair, betting stops but you'll get
paid at 11:1 if the third card makes it three of a kind. Otherwise you lose your bet.
Finally, if the third card matches either of the first two,
you lose your bet.
In a winning hand, opening bets are always paid out at even
money. Raise bets are paid out based on the spread as follows:
| Spread |
Payout |
| 1 |
5:1 |
| 2 |
4:1 |
| 3 |
2:1 |
| 4 through 11 |
1:1 |
