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The Rules of Texas Shootout


Object of the Game

Texas Shootout is played at a blackjack-style table, using six standard decks of 52 cards each, dealt from a shoe by a house dealer. After all players have placed their wager, the dealer deals to each player position and to themselves, four cards face down. Each player determines which two of their four cards they wish to play and discards the two unused cards. Then the dealer exposes the house hand and determines which two of the four cards they will play according to a predetermined "house way" strategy.

Next, the dealer deals five cards face up, in the center of the table. These five cards are common cards and, in addition to their two-card hand, are used by all players and the dealer to make the best possible five-card poker hand. The object of the game is for the player to have a higher-ranking poker hand than the dealer. Since six decks are used, the five-card poker hand rankings are modified from the standard poker rankings and are depicted in paragraph #10 and are posted at each table. If a player has a higher hand then the dealer, they are paid even money on their wager. If the player's hand is lower than or equal to the dealer's hand, the player loses their wager.

There are two variations to the basic game play described above. First, in the event a player wishes to split their initial four cards into two, two-card hands, they may do so at any time. To do so the player must match their original wager, and play both hands. Second, there is an optional independent side-bet wager, known as "Shootout Bonus", whereby a player attempts to obtain one of several predetermined poker rankings and is paid odds according to the ranking obtained. If the player's Shootout Bonus wager is at least five dollars, they qualify for the "Envy Bonus" feature. The Envy Bonus is paid to a player if any hand, other than the hand corresponding to their Shootout Bonus wager or the dealer's hand, contains any certain pre-determined arrangements of cards.

Inspection of Cards

When cards are placed on the gaming table at the beginning of the gaming day, a casino supervisor will break the seal then give the cards to the dealer for inspection. When the Deck Checker system is not used, the dealer or casino supervisor will spread the cards face up in two rows to verify that all cards are present. The backs of cards will be checked to make certain there are no marking, which can be identified as to the value of the card. The backs will be spread once in each direction. Cards will be checked for any kind of damage. If after checking the cards, the dealer or supervisor finds that cards are damaged or improper, the supervisor will replace them. The defective decks will have the defect noted, and returned to the Card and Dice storage.

Shuffle and Cut of the Cards

Opening Shuffle: New Cards – Manual Shuffle
  1. Cards will be "washed" two (2) decks at a time and then placed into the discard rack.
  2. Remove all decks from discard rack and place in center of table.
  3. The cards are then placed in four equal stacks in front of the gaming tray about shoulder width apart.
  4. A yellow cut card is placed in the middle of the table between the stacks of cards.
  5. Approximately 1/2 deck is picked from each of stacks 1 & 3, riffled twice, stripped 7-10 times, and riffled together once again and left laced so three logos are visible. This is then placed on the cut card between the three stacks, forming a new pile (stack 5).
  6. This process is continued alternating between stacks 1 & 3, and stacks 2 & 4, until there is one single pile (stack 5) of cards in the middle of the table once again.
  7. The dealer will call out in a loud clear voice "Shuffle Check" or "Cut" and wait for supervisor approval before proceeding to the cut process.

Automatic Shuffling Device

Cards used to play Blackjack may be shuffled using an automatic card-shuffling device. Should one not be in use the Standard Shuffle Procedure will apply.

The following procedures are applicable to the automatic shuffling device:

  1. When an automatic shuffling device is used, the cards will be inspected as described under "Texas Shootout-Inspection of Cards". The cards will then be washed 2 decks at a time and loaded into the shuffler.
  2. To facilitate opening if the shuffler has not completed its cycle on the first set of cards, the second set of cards may be prepared and manually shuffled at table opening.
  3. On subsequent shuffles the unused portion of cards from the shoe are removed and inserted into the center of the discards already in the rack.
  4. The discards are then removed from the rack and inserted into the automatic shuffler.
  5. The shuffler will then eject the already shuffled cards, and the dealer will proceed with the cut process.
  6. If an error light turns on during the shuffle, the cards in the machine will not be brought into play until a supervisor investigates the error.

Standard Shuffle Procedure

Immediately prior to commencement of play, the dealer shall shuffle the cards so that they are randomly intermixed. Cards will be shuffled as follows:

  1. Remove unused portion of cards from the shoe and insert the stub into the center of discards already in the rack.
  2. Remove all decks from the discard rack and place in center of table.
  3. The cards are then placed in four equal stacks in front of the gaming tray about shoulder width apart.
  4. A yellow cut card is placed in the middle of the table between the stacks of cards.
  5. Approximately 1/2 deck is picked from each of stacks 1 & 3, riffled twice, stripped 7-10 times, and riffled together once again and left laced so three logos are visible. This is then placed on the cut card between the three stacks, forming a new pile (stack 5).
  6. This process is continued alternating between stacks 1 & 3, and stacks 2 & 4, until there is one single pile (stack 5) of cards in the middle of the table once again.
  7. The dealer will call out in a loud clear voice "Shuffle Check" or "Cut" and wait for supervisor approval before proceeding to the cut process.

Cut Of The Cards

  1. Once the shuffle is complete, the dealer will roll the cards, square them, and offer the cut to the designated player. ( If opening a new game WITH a shuffle machine, the cards are unloaded from the shuffle machine and offered for cut.)
  2. The player shall cut the cards by placing the cutting card in the stack, at least one deck from either end.
  3. Once the cutting card has been inserted by the player, the dealer shall take all cards in front of the cutting card and place them to the back of the stack after which the dealer shall insert the cutting card in a position at least one deck in from the back of the stack. The stack of cards shall then be inserted into the dealing shoe for commencement of play.
  4. If a player refuses the cut, the cards shall be offered to each other player moving clockwise around the table until a player accepts the cut. If no player accepts the cut, the dealer shall cut the cards.
  5. A reshuffle of the cards in the shoe shall take place after the cutting card is reached in the shoe except that:
    1. Prairie Meadows may determine after each round of play that the cards should be reshuffled.
    2. If the Games Supervisor has any doubts about the validity of the cut or the integrity of the game, he/she may instruct the dealer to reshuffle the cards.
  6. When the shuffle procedure is completed, the cards are placed into the shoe.

"Burning Of The Cards"

  1. The first card from the shoe shall be "burned" face down by placing it into the discard holder and shall not be shown unless a guest requests to see it.
  2. A card will be "burned" when:
    The shuffle has been completed.
    A new dealer has pushed into the game.
  3. If the dealer, in error, "burns" two cards or does not "burn" the first card after the shuffle has been completed, or if the new dealer fails to "burn" a card after pushing into a game, the dealer continues to deal normally. If a dispute arises, a Supervisor is to be called.

Dealing Procedures

  1. Players place the required primary wager within the designated bet spot on the table layout.
    By house rule, players may or may not wager on more than one bet spots. Their wager(s) must be within the posted minimum and maximum wager limits determined by Prairie Meadows. In addition, players may place the optional Shootout Bonus wager in the bet spot on the table layout labeled "Shootout Bonus." Prairie Meadows must similarly within the posted minimum and maximum limits determine the amount of the Shootout Bonus wager(s) for the Shootout Bonus. For any Shootout Bonus wager that is at least five dollars, the dealer places an ‘Envy Bonus" in front of the Shootout Bonus wager signifying that the player's hand qualifies for the Envy Bonus pay-table.
  2. After all wagers are placed, the dealer deals four cards, face down, to each player's position and to themselves, in a clockwise rotation beginning with the player on the dealer's immediate left.
  3. Each player determines which two cards they desire to play. (Since the game is played with six decks, the advantage a player may have in observing other player's cards is minimal. Therefore, it is not imperative that players conceal their cards.) The two cards selected for play are placed face-up on the table layout directly in back of the player's wager. The discarded two cards are placed face down in front of each player's designated betting area. The discarded cards are designated as ‘the muck." Once cards are mucked they are considered "dead" and may not be replayed or retrieved.
  4. In the event a player receives any four-card hand they wish to split into two, two card hands, they may do so at any time. A player who wishes to split their hand places all four cards face up in front of them. The dealer instructs the player to match their original wager of an equal amount and to separate their four cards into two distinct two-card hands. If the player originally placed the optional Shootout Bonus wager, they may match that wager to play the Shootout Bonus for both hands.
  5. After every player has selected their hand, the dealer collects all cards mucked and places the discarded cards face down into the discard rack.
  6. The dealer exposes their four-card hand face up on the table layout directly in front of them. The dealer selects two cards to play and two cards to discard according to the pre-determined "house-way" strategy. The dealer must play by the "house-ways" which are available for inspection by any player. In the event a player determines the dealer's hand is not set according to "house-ways," they may challenge the dealer's selection. Either the dealer or a table game supervisor must reset the house hand to conform to the "house-way" strategy.
  7. After the dealer has selected their hand, their discarded cards are placed face down into the discard rack.
  8. Next, the dealer deals five cards face-up in the center of the table. These five cards are known as the "flop" and are used as common cards to form both the dealer's and each player's hand.
  9. The dealer and each player will use any combination of their two cards and the five cards on the flop to make the best possible five-card poker hand.
  10. The ranking of hands from best to worst is as follows:
    1. Five-of-a-Kind, Suited
    2. Straight Flush (A-K-Q-J-10 is the highest, and A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest)
    3. Five-of-a Kind
    4. Four-of-a Kind
    5. Full House
    6. Flush
    7. Straight (A-K-Q-J-10 is the highest, and A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest)
    8. Three-of-a-Kind
    9. Two Pair
    10. One Pair
    11. High Card
  11. If a player has a higher-ranking hand than the dealer, their hand is declared a winner. If a player has a lower hand, or one that is equal to the dealer, it is declared a loser. Beginning with the player on the dealer's immediate right and continuing in a counter-clockwise rotation, the dealer shall determine whether each player's hand is a winner or loser and takes or pays each player's wager. Winning wagers are paid one-to-one odds, also referred to as ‘even money."
  12. If a player originally made the optional Shootout Bonus wager, the dealer also determines whether or not the player's hand qualifies to receive the bonus payment. If it does, the dealer pays the player according to the odds posted at the table. If a player's hand does not qualify, the dealer collects the Shootout Bonus wager. The Shootout Bonus wager has no bearing on the primary wager and vice-versa. A player can win on one and lose on the other.
  13. After all wagers have been settled, the dealer collects all remaining cards and places them face-down into the discard rack and the next round of play begins. Play continues in this fashion until the cut card is reached, at which time the dealer shall only use the remaining cards to complete the hand. The cards are then reshuffled as described in the Standard Shuffle Procedure.

House Ways
  1. Highest Pair, 8's or Better
  2. Ace – Jack or Better
  3. Any Pair, Suited
  4. Any Pair, Unsuited
  5. Ace High, Suited
  6. Ten – Jack or Better, Suited
  7. Ten – Jack or Better, Unsuited
  8. Ace High, Unsuited
  9. Face Card High, Suited
  10. Face Card High, Unsuited
  11. Connected Cards, Suited
  12. Connected Cards, Unsuited
  13. Two Highest Cards, Suited
  14. Two Highest Cards, Unsuited

In the event the dealer's initial hand consists of Four-of-a-Kind involving two suited pairs, the decision on which suited pair to play shall be based on the alphabetical ranking of the suit, (e.g. Clubs; Diamonds; Hearts; Spades).

Shootout Bonus
In addition to the poker hand bet, a player has the option to place a side-bet before the hand is dealt. The winning hands and payoff odds are determined by a pay-table designated in Bonus Payouts.

If a player splits their hand, they have the option to place another bet on the split hand equal to their original Shootout Bonus wager. The payoff amount may be limited if a maximum payout and/or aggregate amount is posted by Prairie Meadows in accordance with gaming regulations.

Envy Bonus
In the event a player's Shootout Bonus wager is at least five dollars, they also qualify for the Envy Bonus. The Envy Bonus is paid to a player if any hand, other than the hand corresponding to their Shootout Bonus wager or the dealer's hand, contains one of the following pre-determined arrangements of cards. The payoff odds are determined by a pay-table designated in Bonus Payouts.

  1. 5 of a Kind, Suited
  2. Royal Flush
  3. Straight Flush
  4. 5 of a Kind

Only the highest hand each round qualifies for the Envy Bonus.

Dealer Tokes
Dealers are allowed to receive tokes on both the original wager and the bonus. If the player is playing table max the dealer wager may be 10% of the limit. The maximum wager on the bonus is $4.00 for the dealer bet. Players are also allowed to place a bet on a hand that they split that is equal to or less than the original toke bet. This does not include the Shootout Bonus wager.

Irregularities

  1. A card found turned face upward in the shoe shall not be used in the game and shall be placed in the discard rack.
  2. A card drawn in error without its face being exposed shall be used as though it were the next card from the shoe.
  3. If any player is dealt an incorrect number of cards, all hands shall be void and the dealer will collect all of the cards and start a new hand.
  4. If the automated card-shuffling device jams, stops shuffling during a shuffle, or fails to complete a shuffle cycle, all of the cards shall be reshuffled in accordance with Prairie Meadows policies and procedures.

Bonus Payouts

Bounus Hand Bonus Envy Bonus
Five of a Kind, Suited 1000 to 1 $1,000
Royal Flush 200 to 1 $250
Straight Flush 75 to 1 $50
Five of a Kind 40 to 1 $10
Four of a Kind 7 to 1  
Full House 3 to 1  
Flush 2 to 1  
Straight 1 to 1  
Three of a Kind PUSH