Let It Ride can be a fun game for the recreational player. The game is slower than blackjack. You will be dealt about 40 hands per hour. Some casinos offer lower limit games. If you take the time to learn the simple strategy you can enjoy the excitement of this table game.

About two-thirds of all the hands you play will result in no payoff, so the "dry" spells can be quite long. The proper strategy for play is available in a booklet entitled "Expert Strategy For Let It Ride" by Lenny Frome.

There is a new, inexpensive software version of "Let It Ride" (LIR) available to Windows95 users which can give you a feel for the game at a risk of just $5; the cost of registering. The program is called "Let It Ride for 95" and it's produced by Silver Disc Software. Available in a .zip file through ZD Net (www.zdnet.com), it sets up quickly and performs exactly like the casino game. Since LIR is a game of skill, a player can cut the house advantage through the proper play of the hands received, but even the best player cannot overcome the built-in edge of 2.8%; fairly large for a table game.
LIR pays only for Tens or better, so you can expect to lose about 65% of all the hands you play. The biggest mistake I see players make is to bet on a pair of 2's through 9's in the hopes of getting two pair or three-of-a-kind. That's a serious error; you should only "Let It Ride" if you have a pair of 10's or better.

If you want to play this game, please get the book, learn the basic strategy on your home version and then go into it with your eyes wide open. You're bucking a significant house edge, so do all you can to reduce it.