LAS VEGAS, NV: The Mirage Poker Room in Las Vegas is one of the first rooms to offer the new Hold’em Plus game. Played like regular Texas Hold’em the “Plus” version has one added twist. After the hole cards are dealt and before the first betting round, each player in turn may discard one of their hole cards and have the dealer replace it for the cost of one small blind bet. The “Plus” bets go into the pot. After all players have an opportunity at the “Plus” opinion, the game plays out like any other Hold’em hand.

The house benefit is that the maximum rake is reached more quickly with as many as 4 or 5 additional players putting up the equivalent of a small blind. After observing an hour of “Plus” being played at several tables, we noted two common plays. First, most players would “buy a card” whenever they were dealt Ace-rag. The more interesting observation was how many players paid the “Plus” blind and then still folded their hand pre-flop. Players do not seem to be calculating the odds of improving their hand with one pull at the deck for the “Plus” wager.

Hold’em Plus is a patented game and houses wishing to offer the game must pay a rights fee to the developer.