Red Dead Online Poker & Blackjack: Locations, strategies, stakes and more
Despite its gradual rollout in 2018, Red Dead Online remains timeless. As you free roam with other players, there are a whole host of Red Dead Online modes to play, tasks to complete, and upgrades to make. An activity ideal for passing the time is card games, with Poker and Blackjack available in Red Dead Redemption. We’ve got all the details on how to play Poker and Blackjack, so you can set yourself up for success the next time you hit the tables.
Red Dead Online allows you to challenge random opponents or kick back and relax with your friends. Since there isn’t Red Dead Online cross-platform support, you’ll only be able to play with friends and other users on the same platform you are playing on, whether that be on PC, Xbox, or PlayStation. A Private game is ideal for playing with a group of friends because players can only join if invited by the host.
Red Dead Online Poker locations and stakes

Poker can be played at a Saloon, marked using a chip symbol on the Red Dead Online map, with the following stakes:
- Valentine – $2.50
- Tumbleweed – $2.50
- Saint Denis – $5
- Flatneck Station – $2.50
- Blackwater – $5
You will play Poker in the story mode of Red Dead Redemption and Red Dead Redemption 2, but that will be against AI opponents. Since Poker is part of the Red Dead Online modes, you can challenge your friends thanks to its multiplayer capabilities. Approach a Poker table and select the prompt that allows you to create a private lobby.
Red Dead Online Poker strategies
The goal at the end of each round of RDR2 Poker is to have the highest hand. There are 10 possible hands you can get, which consist of up to five cards that can be made up of any combination of your personal cards and the cards on the table.
In ascending order, they are:
- High Card – Having one card of high value, such as an Ace.
- One Pair – A single set of matching cards.
- Two Pair – Two matching cards.
- Three of a Kind – Three matching cards.
- A Straight – Five cards in numerical order, no matter their suits.
- A Flush – Five cards of the same suit, no matter their numerical value.
- A Full House – A combination of Three of a Kind and a Pair.
- Four of a Kind – Four matching cards.
- A Straight Flush – Five cards of a single suit in numerical order.
- A Royal Flush – A royal flush is a straight flush made up of a 10, Jack, Queen, King, and Ace of a single suit.
If more than one player has the same type of hand, the winner will be decided by the value of the pairs.
Of course, you want Red Dead Redemption 2 Poker tips to win as many hands as possible. Now that you understand the ranking of each possible hand, you know the best possible hands that can appear with the cards you have, but the rarer the hand, the more unlikely it is to appear. The general rule of thumb is to fold on weak hands and only raise the bet when you have a strong hand.
RDR2 High Stakes Poker has a larger buy-in, but the monetary rewards you can earn are considerably higher. If you have the cash to do so, you can adopt an aggressive playstyle by putting on your digital poker face to force your opponents into folding. Keep tabs on the hands that are possible to get based on the card combinations on the table. If you don’t think your opponent’s hand is higher than yours, that’s when you can increase the bet size.
However, it’s important to note that RDR2 Poker is entirely luck-based, so the cards may not always be in your favor.
Red Dead Online Blackjack locations and stakes

RDR2 Blackjack can only be played at certain campaign locations, with stakes independent of those of Poker:
- Van Horn Trading Post – $3
- Rhodes – $4
- Blackwater – $5
Red Dead Online Blackjack strategies
Players are dealt two cards in RDR2 Poker and have four options: Hit, Stand, Double Down, or Split. The goal is to get as close to 21 as possible.
- Hit – Dealer hands you another card.
- Stand – End your turn without taking a card.
- Double Down – If you have two cards, double the value of your bet and get another card.
- Split – If your first two cards have the same value, separate your cards into two hands to play each of them individually. Both cards are of equal value to your first bet.
Just like Poker, luck is involved in the cards you are dealt in Blackjack, but there are some Red Dead Redemption 2 Blackjack tips that can improve your chances of winning. First of all, you should hit on any hand that is 17 or higher with an ace, because then you have the chance to get a better hand. Other circumstances where you would hit are if you have less than a 12 or when you have an Ace and another card that is six or less.
Doubling down in RDR2 Blackjack should only be done when you have an 11, when you have a 10 and the dealer has nine or less, when you have a nine and the dealer has six or less, or when you have an eight and the dealer has a five or a six. Of course, you won’t be successful every time, but these combinations improve your odds of hitting big, while the dealer may bust. As for splitting, the best cards to split are aces and eights because you’re turning a weak hand into two new hands that offer a greater chance of winning.
Which Red Dead Online gambling game is better?
Poker is the best gambling game to play in Red Dead Online, because it’s the only one available to play in a multiplayer setting. Poker is also more strategic, and the decisions you make can influence the course of the game. Not only that, but it’s also more engaging to play against real people compared to AI opponents. There’s a chance that a Red Dead Online update could introduce more of its campaign gambling games to the online mode, but it’s unlikely, considering Red Dead Online no longer gets major content updates.
FAQs
Which towns have Poker in RDR2?
The Saloons at Valentine, Tumbleweed, Saint Denis, Flatneck Station, and Blackwater have Poker tables, marked by a chip symbol on the map.
Where is the secret Poker room in RDR2?
The secret Poker room in Red Dead Redemption 2 can be found on the third floor above the Gunsmith’s shop in Saint Denis.
Where to play Poker in Red Dead Online?
You can play Poker in Red Dead Online at the Saloons in Valentine, Tumbleweed, Saint Denis, Flatneck Station, and Blackwater.
Is Blackjack the best way to make money in RDR2?
Blackjack isn’t the best way to make money because of the luck factor involved. More reliable ways of earning money in RDR2 include completing missions, becoming a bounty hunter, and selling your catches from hunting and fishing.
Can you bluff effectively in RDR2 Poker?
You can bluff in RDR2 Online Poker by betting confidently, even when you have a bad hand, to force your opponents to fold, but it’s a risky strategy.
How do you unlock Poker in RDR2 Online?
Poker doesn’t need to be unlocked in RDR2 Online. Simply visit a town where it’s available and interact with the Poker table to buy in or create a private lobby.