Texas Switch

Question 1 - [00:08]

Michael: Hello, I'm Mike Shackleford reporting from the 2015 Cutting Edge Table Game Show at the Paris Hotel Casino in Las Vegas. I'm joined by Heather Gooze to discuss her game called Texas Switch. Hi, Heather. Can you provide some insights into this game?

Heather: Absolutely! This game represents a fresh iteration of Ultimate Texas Hold'em, situated at the player's pit. Essentially, players engage in Ultimate Texas but now have the unique option to swap out their two initial cards once they receive them. We've all sat at a poker table, dealt a hand like a two and an eight of different suits, frustrated and ready to fold. But here, you have the brilliant option to switch those cards. It's a fantastic twist.

Michael: That's a nice twist.

Heather: [laughs] As someone who plays poker and also deals, I completely support this innovative twist. So--

Question 2 - [00:53]

Michael: Could you walk me through the game mechanics in detail?

Heather: When you approach the game, you'll need to make two mandatory bets: the ante and the switch bet. These two bets have to be equal. After placing those, there's an optional bonus bet that can go from three of a kind all the way up to a royal flush. That’s your poker aspect. Once you've placed your ante and switch bets, we can begin the game.

I'll distribute two cards for each player and myself, placing five community cards in the center known as the flop. This will also include the river and the turn. After all cards are dealt, we begin betting, starting with the player to the right. They can choose to double their ante, match it, or check, which is a great feature as it allows players to hold off on spending too much money at the onset. And here's that twist—if you're not satisfied with your cards, just place them on a designated spot and, voilà, you've already paid for the switch. We will provide you with two new cards.

The gameplay continues, and when it’s my turn, I’ll deal the pre-flop cards as well. After that, players again have the choice to either wager their ante or check once more, allowing for strategic play without the pressure of risking all their chips upfront. After these actions, we'll move to the post-flop stage where three community cards are visible. At this stage, you must either match your ante to stay in the game or choose to fold.

What’s remarkable about this game is that even if you decide to fold your hand and the rest of your chips, you can still win from the bonus bet—which isn't the case in many other games. So, once all bets are placed and each player reveals their cards, we then unveil the dealer's cards, turning over the two that form the river. Thus, there are now five cards on display.

In this game, my cards are treated the same way as the players’ cards. It's simple: whoever has the better hand wins. If your hand is stronger than mine, you win. Conversely, if my hand beats yours, I win. The payouts are even for the ante, pre-flop, post-flop, and during the turn and river. After resolving the hand, we'll move on to the next round.

Question 3 - [03:07]

Michael: Great! And how does one win with the bonus bet?

Heather: Whether I win or lose against you, if you have a hand ranging from three of a kind to a royal flush, you will get paid regardless. The payouts for that can range from three to one all the way up to one hundred to one. It doesn't matter if I have, say, a straight and you have a flush; you’ll still get your bonus payout regardless of the outcome.

Michael: Got it! That seems straightforward enough. Thanks for clarifying.

Heather: Honestly, I believe that even without my background as a dealer, I would grasp this game easily. It’s enjoyable.

Michael: Yes, I understand it as well. Thanks again.

Heather: You're very welcome.

Written by: Michael Shackleford