How to Win at Poker in Red Dead Redemption

Poker is fun to play in Red Dead Redemption, and it’s conveniently set up so you can speed through a round or sit back and listen to some of the banter from fellow players.

However, if you want to master it – or survive to play another round – here are some Red Dead Redemption poker tips to keep you alive.

First, know what you’re getting into. These players are NOT stupid. Trying to bluff your way out of a hand rarely works, as the opponents will usually call you, even if you’re trying to set up a big bet. Stick with whatever winning hands you have, and fold if you don’t have a chance of building something big.

If you have a top pair in your hands, that’s when you’ll want to start playing. Don’t bet the farm too much if it’s a lower pair – someone may have you beat.

There are some scenarios where you’ll need to win a poker hand to move on in the game. If you have multiple players at a table, this can be tricky. However, you can intimidate by manhandling them (resulting in a potential gunfight, so keep that gun handy) or even forcing yourself to cheat to get them riled up – and then shooting them afterward. This leaves one guy at the table, and he should be fairly easy to beat.

If you screw up, you can always reload your previous save and try again, and if you have a solo player at the table, you should be set to dominate. Again, just watch your hand, don’t bother bluffing, and keep your pistol nearby just in case.

Check out our continuing coverage of RDR, including how to take care of your horse in Red Dead Redemption and how to capture bounties in one piece in Red Dead Redemption