Pick 'Em Poker – also known as "Pick a Pair Poker" is a hidden gem in the casino's poker lobby. Most casino poker variations are fairly well-known to casino poker mavens but Pick 'Em Poker tends to be overlooked. Yet it shouldn't be.
Playing Pick 'Em Poker involves making one decision per hand and then watching to see how well you did. And since Pick 'Em Poker features a high Return-to-Player (RTP) of up to 99.95%, you enjoy a better winning percentage than with almost any other poker variation.
Check out Pick 'Em Poker and enjoy a different type of Grande Vegas no deposit poker experience with a higher-than-average rate of real money payouts.
Pick 'Em Poker
Playing Pick 'Em Poker is relatively simple. You'll be dealt two cards, then two sets of three cards. On each 3-card stack, the top card is placed face-up for all to see. You choose which set to keep. The set that you keep will be added to your first two cards while the other set is discarded. Those 5 cards that you have kept are your completed poker hand. The fun increases if you decide to double your hand and double your win by playing a Double or Nothing Bonus Round.
Pick'em Poker has it all – luck, strategy and easy gameplay that you can enjoy both in-person and when playing on an online platform. Check out Pick 'em Poker today!
Popularity
If you are considering an alternative to high-volatility slots, consider Pick ’Em Poker, considered one of the best deals on the floor. In addition to the exceptional RPT of 99.95%, which even beats the Jacks or Better Poker variation, playing Pick 'Em Poker offers you the advantage of stretching your bankroll.
It's a relatively simple game to play. Instead of choosing which of 5 (or in some variations, 7) cards to hold, you only have to make one decision – choose Stack 1 or Stack 2. Because there is only one choice, the "perfect strategy" is much easier to learn and harder to mess up than in any other poker variation.
Pick 'em Poker is perfect for gamers who are looking for a low volatility game that will keep small but steady payouts coming. Payoffs start at a Pair of 9s (rather than a pair of Jacks) -- a pair of 9s or Better actually pays well at 2-for-1 which doubles your bet. Conversely, in most other games, a pair only returns your original bet (1-for-1). Because you get 2-for-1 on basic pairs, your credits disappear much more slowly which makes it ideal for clearing casino bonuses or earning loyalty points.
Before you start playing, you should be aware that, since you have less control over the final hand than with a traditional poker variation, it's harder to hit a Royal Flush.
Basic Strategy
Pick 'Em Poker may be a simple game but there's a basic strategy for playing, just as there is for other poker variations. Since you only make one decision per hand in Pick 'Em Poker, the better you know the basic strategy, the better you'll perform.
Look at your 2 up-cards and the card that's turned up on the top of each of the decks. The best 3-card combination should indicate the right deck to choose.
Pick the 3 cards that create the highest combination based on this list:
- 3 of a Kind (The Absolute Best)
- 3 to a Royal Flush (No Ace)
- High Pair (9s thru Aces) — Crucial: 9s pay 2-for-1!
- 3 to a Royal Flush (With an Ace)
- 3 to a Straight Flush (No gaps or 1 gap)
- 3 cards to a Flush (With 2 High Cards)
- Low Pair (2s thru 8s)
- 3 to a Straight Flush (2 gaps)
- 3 cards to a Flush (With 1 High Card)
- 3 to a Straight (0 gaps, with 2 High Cards)
- Two High Cards (Jack, Queen, or King)
- 3 to a Straight (1 gap, with 2 High Cards)
- One High Card (Ace, King, Queen, or Jack)
Comparisons
While most poker games are about the art of the "draw" or the "bluff," Pick ’Em Poker is about the art of the selection. It is often described as the "bridge" between a slot machine and a professional video poker game.
If you're wavering between a game of Pick 'Em vs. Jacks or Better, keep in mind that Pick ’Em changes two fundamental rules, making it a "better" choice for many. In Jacks or Better, you have 32 ways to play every hand as you decide which of 5 cards to hold. In Pick ’Em, you have 2 decisions – pick Stack A or pick Stack B. Choose Pick ’Em if you want a faster game with simpler strategy or choose Jacks or Better if you enjoy more control over your cards.
If you're thinking about Pick 'Em vs. Deuces Wild, you might want to consider the fact that Deuces Wild is highly volatile so the wins come more slowly (but they are higher when they do come. Pick ’Em is the opposite; its payout structure is designed for steady, consistent payouts so if you're looking for a way to stretch your bankroll, choose Pick 'Em.
For a choice between the standard Texas Hold 'em and Pick 'em, the choice is mainly the type of gameplay that you are looking for. Choose Texas Hold’em for the social and psychological challenge. But for a math-based session with a much lower house edge, choose Pick 'Em Poker.