Red Dog: will the third card fall between?
Red Dog, also called acey deucey or in-between, is a card game where two cards are dealt and you bet the third lands between them. The narrower the spread, the bigger the pay.
Reviewed Oct 15, 2026
Answer first
90s- 01Consecutive cards push; a pair gives a chance at 11 to 1.
- 02You may double your bet after seeing the spread.
- 03Raise only when the spread is 7 or more.
Key numbers
Red Dog in four numbers
In short
Key takeaways
- Spread is the number of ranks between the two cards.
- Aces are high.
- Raising on wide spreads is the only decision.
- The game is fast and simple.
On the felt
A Red Dog hand
First two cards
Spread of 7: raise
Third card
Falls between
Result
Pays 1 to 1 on the doubled bet
Seven ranks fit between 4 and queen.
Pay table
Payouts by spread
Glance before you bet
| Spread | Pays |
|---|---|
| 1 | 5 to 1 |
| 2 | 4 to 1 |
| 3 | 2 to 1 |
| 4 to 11 | 1 to 1 |
| Consecutive | Push |
| Pair then match | 11 to 1 |
Some casinos use other numbers.
How a round works
You place a bet. The dealer turns two cards face up. If they are consecutive, like 7 and 8, the bet pushes. If they are a pair, a third card is dealt: a match pays 11 to 1, anything else pushes.
Otherwise the dealer announces the spread and you may raise up to your original bet. The third card is dealt; if it falls between, you win at the spread pay; if not, you lose.
Chance the third card falls between
| Spread | About |
|---|---|
| 1 | 8% |
| 4 | 31% |
| 7 | 54% |
| 11 | 85% |
Approximate for many decks.
Why raise on wide spreads
With a spread of 7 or more, the third card falls between more than half the time, and even money gives you the edge on the raise. On narrow spreads, the pay goes up but the chance drops too far.
That one decision is the whole strategy.
Sequence
Simple strategy
Step 01
Spread 1 to 6
Do not raise.
Step 02
Spread 7 to 11
Raise the full amount.
Step 03
Consecutive
Push, nothing to do.
Step 04
Pair
Wait for the third card.
Step 05
Set a loss limit
The game is fast.
Where you find it
Red Dog was common in US casinos decades ago and is rarer now. You may still find it in some casinos, on video and online.
The rules are the same idea everywhere, but check the paytable on the felt or screen.
Floor rules
Red Dog terms
Know before you sit
- Spread
- Ranks between the two cards.
- Raise
- Doubling your bet after the spread.
- Push
- Bet returned.
- In-between
- Another name for the game.
Red Dog vs Casino War
Both are simple card games with one key decision. Casino War asks whether to go to war on a tie; Red Dog asks whether to raise. Red Dog has a lower edge when played with the raise rule.
Both are best treated as light, social games.
Edge by decks (rough)
| Decks | House edge |
|---|---|
| 1 | About 3.2% |
| 2 | About 2.98% |
| 6 | About 2.8% |
| 8 | About 2.8% |
Approximate figures.
Working out the spread
Count the ranks strictly between the two cards. A 5 and a 9 have a spread of 3 (6, 7 and 8). A 3 and a jack have a spread of 7 (4 through 10). A 2 and an ace give the maximum spread of 11.
The dealer usually announces the spread and places a marker on the felt, so you do not have to count yourself. With many decks in the shoe, a spread of 7 wins a little over half the time, which is why the raise starts there and why narrower spreads are better left alone.
Common mistakes
- Raising narrow spreads
- Raise only on 7+.
- Thinking aces are low
- Aces are high.
- Expecting suits to matter
- They do not.
- Chasing losses
- Set a limit.
Keep reading
Related pages
Go play
Where to play in Las Vegas
Tap a resort — each row opens that casino’s White Gambling page (hours, game mix, floor facts). Venues with this game in official counts, sorted high to low.
Open a casino page
Real listings · not adsAfter the 90 seconds
Questions before and after you play
A 90-second guide cannot cover every table moment. Tap a group, then a question — answers are short paragraphs, not one-liners.
01Basics
How do you win in Red Dog?
When the third card lands between the first two cards. House rules can vary, so check the table placard or ask the dealer.
What is the spread?
The number of ranks between the two cards. House rules can vary, so check the table placard or ask the dealer.
Are aces high?
Yes, aces count high in Red Dog. House rules can vary, so check the table placard or ask the dealer.
02Payouts
What pays most?
A spread of 1 pays 5 to 1; three of a kind after a pair pays 11 to 1. House rules can vary, so check the table placard or ask the dealer.
What if cards are consecutive?
The bet pushes. House rules can vary, so check the table placard or ask the dealer.
What if the cards are a pair?
A third card is dealt; a match pays 11 to 1, otherwise push. House rules can vary, so check the table placard or ask the dealer.
03Strategy
When should I raise?
Only when the spread is 7 or more. House rules can vary, so check the table placard or ask the dealer.
What is the house edge?
About 2.8% with six or eight decks. House rules can vary, so check the table placard or ask the dealer.
Is it offered online?
Some online and video versions exist. House rules can vary, so check the table placard or ask the dealer.
Sources
- Wizard of Odds — Red Dog Not from a registry (Reference source, not an official registry)The gaming industry’s standard reference for casino-game math, by actuary Michael Shackleford. Not an official registry; our calculators compute these numbers independently. · accessed Oct 15, 2026Rules, odds and house edge
- UNLV Center for Gaming Research Not from a registry (Reference source, not an official registry) · accessed Oct 15, 2026Research library on casino games and gambling
- Nevada Gaming Control Board · accessed Oct 15, 2026Approved games and gaming revenue reports
- National Council on Problem Gambling — Help and resources Not from a registry (Reference source, not an official registry) · accessed Oct 15, 2026Free, confidential help: call or text 1-800-GAMBLER