The bets on every hand
Each hand starts with two equal mandatory bets, plus an optional side bet:
- Ante — your base bet.
- Blind — always equal to the Ante.
- Trips (optional) — a side bet on your own final hand; cannot be larger than the Ante.
- Play — placed once per hand at 4× or 3× before the flop, 2× on the flop, or 1× on the river (or you fold).
When you win, Play pays 1:1. The exciting multiples live on the Blind (and on Trips if you placed it). Strategy for when to put Play in is covered in theUTH strategy guide.
When the dealer qualifies
The dealer needs a pair or better.
- Dealer qualifies and you win: Ante pays 1:1, Play pays 1:1, Blind pays from the table below (or pushes on three of a kind or less).
- Dealer qualifies and beats you: Ante, Blind and Play lose (Trips still settles on your hand alone).
- Dealer does not qualify: the Ante pushes (returned). Play and Blind still settle on who has the better hand — so Blind bonuses can still pay on a win.
- Tie: the main bets that are in play push.
Beginners often assume a non-qualifying dealer ends the hand as an all-around push. It does not — only the Ante is returned automatically.
Blind pay table
Pays on player win even if dealer doesn't qualify. Amounts are multiples of your Blind bet (which equals your Ante).
| Your winning hand | Blind pays |
|---|---|
| Royal Flush | 500 : 1 |
| Straight Flush | 50 : 1 |
| Four of a Kind | 10 : 1 |
| Full House | 3 : 1 |
| Flush | 3 : 2 |
| Straight | 1 : 1 |
| Pair or less | PUSH |
Source: Hold'em Coach pay tables (BetPayoutTables), same schedule shown under ⓘ on the felt.
Trips pay table
Independent of main game — pays even on a fold. Trips is optional; the coach never recommends for or against placing it.
| Your final hand | Trips pays |
|---|---|
| Royal Flush | 50 : 1 |
| Straight Flush | 40 : 1 |
| Four of a Kind | 30 : 1 |
| Full House | 8 : 1 |
| Flush | 7 : 1 |
| Straight | 4 : 1 |
| Three of a Kind | 3 : 1 |
| Two pair or less | LOSE |
Worked examples
Assume Ante = Blind = 100 chips (virtual).
You win with a flush; dealer qualifies
- Ante 100 pays 1:1 → win 100 (stake returned).
- Play 1× (100) pays 1:1 → win 100.
- Blind pays 3:2 → win 150 (stake returned).
You win with two pair; dealer does not qualify
- Ante pushes (100 returned).
- Play wins 1:1 if you still have a Play bet in.
- Blind pushes (two pair is below a straight on the Blind ladder).
You fold the river with pocket eights that made trips; Trips was on
- Ante and Blind are lost to the fold.
- Trips still pays 3:1 on three of a kind.
See it in Hold'em Coach
Coach Academy includes short lessons on Ante, Blind & Play, Trips,Dealer must qualify, and Payouts & bonuses. Then practice with the live coach so settlement stops feeling mysterious.
What does the Blind pay in Ultimate Texas Hold'em?
When you beat the dealer, the Blind pays a bonus for a straight or better (up to 500:1 for a royal flush) and pushes with three of a kind or less. It can pay even if the dealer does not qualify. Exact multiples match the table on this page and in Hold'em Coach.
Does the Ante always lose when I lose the hand?
If the dealer qualifies with a pair or better and beats you, the Ante loses with your other bets. If the dealer does not qualify, the Ante pushes (it is returned) even if your Play and Blind still settle against the dealer's hand.
Can Trips pay if I fold?
Yes. Trips is independent of the main game. It pays on your own final hand of three of a kind or better, even if you fold the river. Two pair or less loses the Trips bet.
Is Play ever paid at odds better than 1:1?
No. When you win, Play pays even money (1:1). The bigger bonuses sit on the Blind (and on Trips if you placed it).
Are these the same payouts as every casino?
Blind and Trips tables are the standard Ultimate Texas Hold'em schedule used in Hold'em Coach. Always check the felt pay cards at a live casino — houses can post different side-bet schedules.
Where can I practice without real money?
Hold'em Coach for iPhone and Android uses virtual chips only. Tap ⓘ on the felt for Blind, Trips, hand rankings and lingo. No real-money gambling and no prizes of real-world value. 18+.
Virtual chips only. No real-money gambling and no prizes of real-world value. 18+.