Casino House Edges
July 21, 2008
The following tables shows the house edge of most casino games. For games partially of skill perfect play is assumed. See below the table for a definition of the house edge. Game Bet/Rules House Edge Standard Deviation Baccarat Banker 1.06% 0.93 Baccarat Player 1.24% 0.95 Baccarat Tie 14.36% 2.64 Big Six $1 11.11% 0.99 Big Six $2 16.67% 1.34 Big Six $5 22.22% 2.02 Big Six $10 18.52% 2.88 Big Six $20 22.22% 3.97 Big Six Joker/Logo 24.07% 5.35 Bonus...
Dueces Wild Optimal Play
July 21, 2008
The following strategy is based on the “full pay” deuces wild paytable below. Full Pay Deuces Wild Hand Payoff Probability Return Royal flush (natural) 800 0.00002208 0.01766709 Four deuces 200 0.00020342 0.04068426 Royal flush (wild) 25 0.00179518 0.04487958 Five of a kind 15 0.00320057 0.04800855 Straight flush 9 0.00413697 0.03723269 Four of a kind 5 0.06492502 0.32462510 Full house 3 0.02122914 0.06368741 Flush 2 0.01658389 0.03316779 Straight 2 0.05659214 0.11318429 Three...
Dueces Wild Simple Strategy
July 21, 2008
The following strategy is my “simple strategy” for deuces wild video poker. Using the strategy on a full pay machine will result in an expected return of 100.71%. Compared to the optimal strategy return of 100.76%, mistakes in the simple strategy will cost 0.05%, or one total bet every 1869 hands.To use the strategy look up all viable ways to play an initial hand on the following list and elect that which is highest on the list. 0...
Jacks or Better Intermediate Strategy
July 21, 2008
The following strategy is my “intermediate strategy” for jacks or better video poker. Using the strategy on a full pay machine will result in an expected return of 99.52%. Compared to the optimal strategy return of 99.54%, mistakes in the simple strategy will cost 0.03%, or one total bet every 3805 hands. To use the strategy look up all viable ways to play an initial hand on the following list and elect that which is highest...
Simple Jacks or Better Strategy
July 21, 2008
The following strategy is my “simple strategy” for jacks or better video poker. Using the strategy on a full pay machine will result in an expected return of 99.46%. Compared to the optimal strategy return of 99.54%, mistakes in the simple strategy will cost 0.08%, or one total bet every 1178 hands.To use the strategy look up all viable ways to play an initial hand on the following list and elect that which is highest on the...
Odds on Craps
July 21, 2008
Craps can be an intimidating game for the beginner. The table seems to have about a hundred different kinds of bets, the players are barking out commands in what seems to be a foreign language, and the pace is too fast to ever ask a question. I can sympathize with the beginner because it wasn’t that long ago that this was how craps appeared to me. If this is how you view the game I have good news. There is one fundamental...
Jacks or Better Strategy
July 21, 2008
The following strategy is for full pay jacks or better video poker. “Full pay” designates the following paytable, per coin based on five coins bet, which returns 99.54% of money bet assuming optimal strategy. Full Pay Jacks or Better Hand Payoff Royal flush 800 Straight flush 50 Four of a kind 25 Full house 9 Flush 6 Straight 4 Three of a kind 3 Two pair 2 Jacks or better 1 To use this strategy look up all reasonable ways...
Ten Commandments of Gambling
July 21, 2008
Expect to lose. The odds almost always favor the casino. If you won’t be happy if you lose then you shouldn’t play at all.Don’t rely on hunches. Always make the mathematically best decision. I have met numerous other players who disagree with me on this one, and they are all wrong. On the players’ side is the unlimited use of ESP and other psychic powers. The casinos have the mathematical odds on their side....
Video Poker Return Tables
July 21, 2008
The following tables show the payoff, probability of forming on the second draw, contribution to the total return, and the overall total return of various forms of video poker. The payoff table is per coin based on maximum coins played. The total of the expected returns is the expected total return for the game, in other words what the game pays back on average per coin bet, assuming five coins played and perfect strategy. Table of contents Jacks or Better Deuces Wild Loose Deuces Bonus Deuces Joker...
Video Poker Strategy
July 10, 2008
Video poker made its entry to the casino in the seventies and is today one of the most popular forms of gambling. For the player who likes a game of skill, a low house edge, the possibility of large wins, and the anonymity of playing alone there is nothing else that can compare to video poker. The rules of video poker are simple; you play 1 to 5 coins, the machine give you five cards, you choose which to hold and...