The ultimate calling station?

[Wheezl]

Ok a friend of mine played a table game at a casino that was based on Hold Em. He could not remember the exact name of the game so I am not sure what it is. All of this information is through word of mouth, so just pretend this is a hypothetical.

Everyone plays against the dealer and can put out a one unit bet. Everyone is dealt two cards and you can then decide to put in TWO units more to see the flop or not. Now you can bet or check on the flop/turn/river for one unit each. You can never be raised, and you can take free cards on the flop and turn everytime if you wish.

This CANT be true, but this is how the game was explained to me. Also, he said that you get paid some small bonus like double your original ante (1 unit) if you make a str8 or better. But other than that you just get paid 1:1 on your bets.

Considering that you can take free cards twice if you need to but can bet out three times if you hit your hand, are there ANY two card combinations that you would not see the flop with? Both you and the dealer are on random hands and paying 3 units to see the flop, but after that you are in the drivers seat as far as how much more goes in the pot.

Anyway im going out there ASAP to see just how innacurate his description of the game was.

[housenuts]

i fail to see the house's edge

[PokerFink]

I have to believe that the house doesn't pay 1:1 for all bets. Maybe the two you have to pay to see the flop is forfeitted to the house or something. Otherwise, I see no way the house could beat any competant player.

[Goodnews]

catch is, you need a minimum hand to win, ie at least a pair of jacks to win and beat the dealer. Therefore, I would not see any flop with anything less than Jxs.