Lesser Known Casino Games: Red Dog
Red Dog refers to two different gambling games (and a play in American Football, but that’s for another website.)
First there’s the “Red Dog” known as “Yablon” or “Red Dog Poker”. The second Red Dog is sometimes known as “High Card Pool”. Since two canines are confusing, let’s separate these dogs.
Modern Yablon / Red Dog is sometimes known as “In-Between”, “Ace Deuce/Acey Duecey”, and even “Between the Sheets”. Despite all of the odd names, the game is based around the distance between two card values.
Yablon / Red Dog (and all its other names) deals two cards with three possible outcomes. Cards could end in a push. This happens when no cards ‘fit’ between the cards. If two cards are equal, a third card will be dealt. If there are three equal cards (three 10s for example), the player gets a whopping 11 to 1 payout. In the third case, cards are dealt with a “Spread”. This is the number of cards that fit between two cards. Red Dog / Yablon doesn’t recognize dealt cards, just the space in between. So a deal of 7 and 10 has a spread of two since you only count the 8 and 9. You want the third card to fit between the two dealt cards. For example, a dealt 4 and 7 would win with a 5 dealt as the third card. Get it?
Payouts are tied to the spread. A one card spread has a 5 to 1 payout, two card spreads are 4 to 1 payouts, three cards gives a 2 to 1 payout, and a spread of four cards or greater is even money or a 1 to 1 payout. Yablon / Red Dog is gaining popularity in casinos due to its fast play and social aspect.
“High Card Pool” is the other dog in this fight and it’s based around trying to match and beat the dealer’s card. Each player receives an equal number of chips with a portion going into the pot. A dealer is chosen and every player gets a chance to be the dealer (obviously, this is not much of a casino game, but more of a home game.)
You may bet anywhere from the ante minimum up to the amount of the pot. This is your stake and what you can lose, or hopefully win. The dealer draws two cards, but the first card is sent to the bottom of the deck. It’s the second card you need to match and beat.
If you have a card that’s the same suite and higher you win your stake! If you don’t have a winning card, your stake goes into the pot. After your turn, the next player bets against the pot. Whatever is left in the pot stays for the next round.
Now that you know Red Dog rules, how about a game?
