High Card Flush is a fun poker variation in which players are pitted against the dealer and not against other players. The game is played on the rating of “flush hands” when all cards are of the same suit – threes, spades, hearts or diamonds.
In November 2019, the Stratosphere casino in Las Vegas saw a new card game – High Card Flush. It was launched immediately.
The game made its appearance in Las Vegas at the casino in 2013 but was not yet warmly received. High Card Flush is most reminiscent of Caribbean Stud Poker or Three Card Poker.
HOW DOES HIGH CARD FLUSH WORK?
The rules of High Card Flush are simple. Starting the game, you will quickly master these game rules. High Card Flush is played with one standard 52-card deck. This is reshuffled every game by the automatic shuffler.
To begin with, the player bets a minimum bet of $5 on the Ante (mandatory bet). The player can also place side bets for the Flush, Straight Flush and the Bonus Jackpot. The player and dealer now both receive seven cards that no one else can see.
The aim is to make a flush as long and as high as possible with your seven cards. And with this flush, you try to beat the bank to win. So a four-card flush beats a three-card flush.
THE PLAYER HAS VARIOUS OPTIONS
If the dealer and player both have a four-card flush, the highest flush in value is considered. After determining the flush hand, the player has the following options in High Card Flush. He can give up (fold) a hand and then lose his Ante (mandatory bet).
He can continue playing and must then place an extra bet on the Raise part. This bet depends on the size of the flush. If the player has a 2, 3 or 4 card flush, he places a bet on Raise that is as high as the Ante.
If it is a five-card flush, double the Ante is bet. On a six or seven-card flush, the Ante is tripled on the Raise square. When all players have made a decision, the dealer will open his hand. And make the highest flush and move it forward.
If the dealer has less than a three-card flush (9 major), then everyone wins their Ante bet. And the raise bet is returned. If the dealer has a higher flush, it is checked per player who has the highest flush. If the dealer has a higher flush, the player loses the Ante and the Raise bet.
If the player wins, everything is doubled, and if there is a tie, everything remains. It is immediately checked whether the player receives a special bonus if he has played the side bet(s) at High Card Flush. And these are also paid.
HOW BEST TO PLAY THIS GAME
The casino’s (bank) house edge is 2.71% if you played the perfect strategy at High Card Flush. If you have a three-card flush of at least a 10-8-6, then you should go ahead and continue betting. And everything below you can throw away (fold).
If the player holds these cards, he will raise in 2/3 of the cases. The dealer has 3 out of 4 hands that qualify. A draw occurs in less than one-tenth of a percent (0.08%).
BONUS HIGH CARD FLUSH PAYOUTS
The Bonus Jackpot is a variable jackpot that can be high with High Card Flush. It depends on how much has been put into the pot. The stake for this bonus is $1 and can potentially win you tens of thousands of dollars if you make a 6 or 7 card straight flush. With a three-card straight flush, you take $3.
With your flush bet, you take 300x your bet with a 7 card flush, 6 card flush 100x your bet, 5 card flush 10x your bet and with a 4 card flush 1x your bet. If you bet on the straight flush, you take 7x your bet with a 3 card straight flush, 60x with a 4 card, 100x with a 5 card, 2000x with a 6 card. And a whopping 8000x with a 7 card straight flush.
Game Overview
- A maximum of six players may participate.
- High Card Flush is played with one deck of standard playing cards (52 cards). The cards are either manually shuffled or by using an automatic shuffler.
- After the dealer announces “No more bets” and the first card is dealt, Players are not permitted to alter or touch any bet wagered.
- Cash wagers will not be accepted. All currency tendered will be exchanged by the Dealer for value chips.
- Players are permitted to touch their own playing cards.
- Players cannot look at their cards until the Dealer has verified that all cards are accounted for and ensured that the correct number of cards are in play.
- Each Player is required to keep their cards over the table and in full view of the Dealer at all times.
- The Player may not touch the cards after they have folded them, placed the Raise wager, or tucked them under the Straight Flush.
Conclusion
High Card Flush is a bit reminiscent of Let it Ride and other casino card variants. You can play for a long time, and the stakes are relatively low. However, the bonus bets slowly eat up your bankroll. But you do have a chance to win that huge hit. And that’s probably why you’re in the casino.
High Card Flush is a fun game. And if you have nice players around you with dealer interaction, then this is definitely a casino game we recommend. It’s a game with big potential.