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Yablon is a card game that comes in many versions. It is also known as Red Dog and is similar to the game of Acey Deucey. It is usually not offered by land-based casinos, but some online casinos have it on their list. It is a game of chance, and no complex strategy is involved. We will go through two versions of the game, which are both referred to as Yablon or Red Dog.
Yablon (Version 1.0):
Two or more players can join and get the game started. The dealer is selected by getting the highest-ranked card at the beginning of the game. The dealer does not partake in the game, and their role passes to their left once a round is finished.
One to eight standard 52-card decks can be used in the game. Using more decks decreases the house edge, which is exactly the opposite of Blackjack. The ranking of cards is similar to Poker, with Ace being the highest-ranked card.
Players make an ante bet considering the table’s minimum and maximum limits. The dealer then deals two cards face up to each player. A third card can be drawn based on these initial two cards.
The game’s objective is to wager that the third card’s rank will fall between the two cards dealt initially.
The initial two cards can have the following three possible outcomes.
- If the values of the cards are consecutive in order, it is considered a push, and the bet is returned to the player. For example, the cards can be a seven and an eight. The essence of the game’s objective, which is drawing the third card to fall between the two initially dealt cards, cannot be met by having two consecutive cards. No cards can come between a seven and eight, except a 7.5, which does not exist.
- If two initially dealt cards are of the same value, the third card is dealt. The hand is paid 11:1 if the third card is of equal value to the two cards and a push otherwise. For example, the two cards are nine and nine. The payout is 11 to 1 if the third card is also a nine, and the bet is returned otherwise.
- If the two cards are not consecutive in order and do not have the same value, the spread is declared to specify the payout. For example, if the two cards are Eight and Jack, there is a 2-card spread. On the other hand, the spread shows how many cards can come between the two cards.
The player can call or raise the bet when a spread is announced. The raise should be an equal amount of the initial bet or ante. The bet is paid based on the spread if the third card falls between the two cards and is lost otherwise.
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The payout is calculated based on the following spread table.
| A Spread of | Pays |
| 4 – 11 card | 1: 1 |
| 3-card | 2: 1 |
| 2-card | 4: 1 |
| 1-card | 5: 1 |
When the spread is wide, there is more possibility of getting a card that falls between the two cards. Consider not raising your bet when the spread is thin.
The effect of the number of decks used in the game on the house edge is shown in the following table.
| Number of Decks | House Edge |
| 1 | 3.15% |
| 2 | 3.07% |
| 4 | 2.88% |
| 6 | 2.79% |
| 8 | 2.75% |
This version of Yablon is similar to Acey Deucey and In-between card games. In Acey-Deucey, the three cards are dealt at once, with two cards face-up and one face-down. The player wagers that the card dealt face-down falls between the two ones dealt face-up.
The In-between game card dealing is the same as the Yablon, with the difference in the wagering system. The In-between card game follows a pot system where every player has to make an ante to the pot.
Yablon (Version 2.0):
This version is also known as High-Card Pool. The game’s objective is to have at least one card in your hand that is of the same suit and higher ranked than the card that is to be drawn on any player’s turn.
The game is played with three to eight players and a standard 52-card deck. Each player has to make an ante to the pot before the cards are dealt. This version of Yablon differs from the others in the wagering system. The so-called Version 1.0 has the casino does the payouts, whereas the so-called Version 2.0 is made up of a pot contributed by each player.
Each player is dealt 5 cards face-down, one at a time. The player left of the dealer is first to act, and the dealer’s role rotates clockwise.
- Players can fold their hands by contributing one chip, usually the table minimum, to the pot without showing any card.
- Otherwise, players can bet any amount up to the amount of the pot, not exceeding it, and request another card.
- If the player has at least one card that is of the same suit and higher ranked than the flipped card, they have to show the specific card that causes the bet to win. The player can take back their initial stake plus an equal amount from the pot.
- If the pot runs out of chips in the middle of the round due to a player betting and winning the amount of the pot, each player has to re-make an ante.
- If the player is unable to meet the winning criterion, they lose the hand, and their bet stays in the pot. Furthermore, they should show their hands.
- The remaining pot rolls over to the next round if it has not been claimed completely.
- Players have to make an ante for each new round, but they can skip it if the pot is large enough and everyone agrees.
Final thoughts:
Yablon is known by many names and has different versions. It may not be offered by casinos as much as other games, but it still has unique gameplay and a fan base of itself. The two versions discussed above are interchangeably referred to as Yablon or Red Dog.
Another card game also referred to as Yablon, has no wagering options and is played for fun. The winning player gets one point, and the winner is determined after some pre-determined rounds. You better ask about the version of Yablon before playing it.
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