If you have played crypto poker before, you’ve probably come across side bets. These are the bets that a player can place in addition to the main bet to compete for a bigger prize. In Side Bet City the situation is the opposite — there is no main bet, and the player can only place side bets.
There is literally only one action you can take in Side Bet City: choose a side bet. Thereafter, nothing depends on you, and you just observe what cards the dealer lays out. But even for such a simple poker variation, there is a mathematically sound approach described in the Side Bet City strategy, which will help you win more.
Winning Conditions for Side Bet City
Side Bet City is played with one deck that is shuffled after each game round. The player’s task is to form the best winning hand of three, five, or seven cards: from a pair to a full house, a straight flush and finally a royal flush. There is also an opportunity to bet on All lose. This bet wins if there are no winning combinations at all.
You can bet any amount on any of the options, including all four at once. However, the payouts for the same poker hand differ depending on the option you choose. For example, a royal flush with a five-card hand will pay you 1000:1, but with a three-card hand, it pays only 100: 1.
Here is the full Side Bet City paytable:
What is the Best Side Bet City Strategy
In addition to the payouts, bets differ in return to player (RTP):
- Three cards — 96.69%;
- Five cards — 95.21%;
- Seven cards — 94.34%;
- All lose — 96.29%
Since the player does not need to do anything apart from placing the initial bet, the most optimal strategy for Side Bet City seems obvious: always bet on three cards. And this is true, but there are also some nuances. So let’s figure it out.
Betting on 3-Card Hand Strategy
As mentioned above, the Side Bet City strategy of betting on a three-card hand is indeed the most mathematically correct. The RTP for this strategy is 96.69% and corresponds to the highest RTP of the game itself. Moreover, this Side Bet City strategy can bring good payouts, for example, 35:1 for a three of a kind.
Naturally, it is harder to make up a winning combination of three cards than of five. Therefore, allocate a sufficient bankroll and bet only a small part of it per round. Otherwise, you simply won’t have time to appreciate the mathematical advantage of this strategy.
Betting on 5-Card Hand Strategy
Betting on 5-card hands could be called a balanced Side Bet City strategy. On the one side, you will win more often. On the other side, you can compete for a jackpot of 1000:1. However, as we know, the RTP for a 5-card hand is 95.21%. Accordingly, this strategy is inferior to the previous one in terms of mathematical expectation.
It makes sense to play with this strategy if you want to win often and, at the same time, retain the opportunity to win big. But the odds won’t be on your side.
Betting on 7-Card Hand Strategy
While it may seem like you always get a winning combination on seven cards, this is not the case. The bet on a 7-card hand has an RTP of 94.34% that is the lowest one in the whole game. On top of that, winning combinations for this bet start from three of a kind, while the payout for a royal flush is only 500:1.
Accordingly, there is absolutely no reason for a player to stick to the Side Bet City strategy of betting on a 7-card hand, as it is unprofitable in every way.
Betting on All lose Strategy
You can also bet against all winning combinations. The All lose bet pays 0.7:1 and has an RTP of 96.29%. In other words, with a $10 bet, you can win $17.
You can view All lose as an insurance bet. For example, you can bet on a 3-card hand and protect it with the All lose bet.
Nevertheless, betting on All lose alone all the time is frankly dull. It’s like betting on a draw in soccer and then watching the match, hoping no one will score. Beyond that, when using this bet, you will not even be able to double your money in a single round. It also makes no sense to bet on all four areas at once — your balance will go to zero.
Where Can I Play Side Bet City and Win?
Side Bet City is the original title from Evolution Gaming, whose table games are present at most Bitcoin Live casinos.
LTC Casino is an excellent choice to try the live Side Bet City strategy. There, you can play for real money and withdraw your winnings instantly. Those interested in other variations of poker, can also find them at LTC Casino. They include Casino Hold ’em, Texas Hold ’em Bonus, Caribbean Stud Poker, Three Card Poker, 2 Hand Casino Hold ’em, and Ultimate Texas Hold ’em.
To add to this, LTC Casino offers other live dealer games such as blackjack and baccarat, as well as slots with the maximum RTP. Furthermore, there is a whole category of live game shows that includes many other exciting games.
Should You Play Side Bet City?
Side Bet City is a simplistic poker variation where players do not need to make decisions other than placing a bet. The game fits beginners and those who want to play in a relaxed environment with the potential for big wins. If you are looking for more diverse games with increased chances of winning, we recommend considering other poker variations. You will find all corresponding strategies on our website as well!
