4 minute read
The excitement of poker, the convenience of a table game—that's Ultimate Texas Hold'em. You against the dealer, without endless waiting times, bluffing between players, or long strategic silences. Each round is an intense battle where your decisions make the difference between winning and losing.
Ultimate Texas Hold'em combines the familiar elements of Texas Hold'em poker with the pace and accessibility of a casino game. This makes it ideal for both poker enthusiasts and players who typically prefer blackjack or roulette.
A worldwide hit
In the early 2000s, Roger Snow of Shuffle Master developed it as an electronic game on slot machines. The combination of simple rules, strategic depth, and playing against the house proved so successful that casinos quickly introduced live tables. By 2009, UTH spread like wildfire worldwide. Today it's one of the most popular games. After all, the game offers the perfect balance: the familiar structure of Texas Hold'em, but without the intimidation of having to play against experienced poker players. You set your own pace, make your own choices, and every decision counts.
How to play?
The basics are familiar to anyone who knows Texas Hold'em: you get two hole cards and five community cards come on the table. The goal? Make the best five-card hand and beat the dealer. But here's the twist: you decide when to go all-in.
To participate, you place equal bets on ANTE and BLIND. Optionally, you can also place a TRIPS bet (from €5) for additional winning chances. Once you've looked at your two cards, you face the first crucial decision: do you immediately go full attack with a PLAY bet of 3x or 4x your ANTE? Or do you check and wait for more information? If you check, the first three community cards come on the table (the Flop). Now you can choose to bet 2x your ANTE, or check again. At the last two cards (Turn and River) you have one more chance: bet 1x your ANTE or fold. Note: folding means you lose all your initial bets.
How to win?
Experienced players know: Ultimate Texas Hold'em is all about timing. The earlier you raise, the higher your potential winnings. That's why it's essential to know when to go with full confidence. A few pro tips: go 4x all-in with a pair of threes or higher, an ace with a high kicker, or even with certain king or queen combinations. Check with weaker cards and wait until the Flop gives you more information.
In Ultimate Texas Hold'em, there are several ways to win:
- If you beat the dealer, PLAY and ANTE are paid 1:1
- BLIND is only paid if you win with a Straight or better
- TRIPS pays out with Three of a Kind or better, regardless of the result against the dealer
- If the dealer doesn't qualify (no pair or better), you automatically get your ANTE back
An extra chance
In Ultimate Texas Hold'em, the adrenaline doesn't only come from the duel against the dealer. With an optional €5 side bet on the jackpot, every game round suddenly has the potential to become a story you'll retell for a long time. You add this to your regular bets and automatically play for extra winning chances. These are linked to the strength of the cards on the table, your own cards, or the community cards. As soon as a winning combination appears, you immediately receive the corresponding bonus amount. The rarer the combination, the more impressive the amounts that come into play.
When the perfect hand falls—the Royal Flush—the entire table holds its breath for a moment before the tension turns into pure euphoria. The lucky player then wins the full progressive jackpot amount displayed on the screens, on top of the normal payout for their hand.
The VIAGE experience
Since the launch of Ultimate Texas Hold'em at VIAGE in October 2024, 26 jackpots have already been paid out, totaling more than €942,000. The largest jackpot so far was €156,002, supplemented with the hand payout to a total of €161,302 for one lucky player.
At VIAGE, however, it's not just about the game itself, but about the complete experience. The three UTH tables are located in an atmospheric environment where professionalism and hospitality go hand in hand. Whether you're a beginner who wants to learn the game, or an experienced poker fan looking for the thrill of heads-up poker—at VIAGE you'll feel welcome. Our dealers are knowledgeable and friendly, always ready to answer questions or explain the game.
VIAGE combines gaming excitement with a stylish casino environment, including cozy bars and restaurant. On top of that, you get Brussels city vibes—ideal for a complete night out, whether you're coming to play your first hand or to relive your favorite poker variant.
