In this game, you are playing for the best poker hand possible (the dealer is not involved), and the house edge is a little less than 3 percent. Your five-card poker hand consists of three cards dealt to you and two "common" cards that all the players use to make up their five-card hands. When you play the game, notice the three betting squares on the layout labeled "l," "2," and "$" because they figure prominently in the rules of play described here.

Step 1. To start, the players place three bets, one in each of the three betting squares. You will learn shortly that you will have the option of removing two of these three bets depending on the strength of your hand and the risk you wish to take.

Step 2. The dealer deals three cards face down to each of the players and two "common" cards, also face down. The players look at their three cards without showing them to the other players.

Step 3. The players no"- decide to take back their number "1" bet or "let it ride." To let a bet ride, the player tucks his three cards under his wager or lays the hand down behind the number "1" bet.

If the player wishes to take the bet back, he scratches the felt as signal to the dealer to return the bet. Do not reach for it yourself.