Ask The Wizard #10
In blackjack When you play two hands simultaneously at a wager of x each, do your odds improve compared to playing one hand for 2x? If so, by what margin?
In simple terms, playing multiple hands does not affect your winning odds positively or negatively. However, by betting on two hands of x, your bankroll will experience less extreme fluctuations than betting 2x on one hand. Card counters may differ, as they can benefit from playing multiple hands to increase their chances of drawing favorable cards from a deck with good cards, enhancing their odds in that specific scenario.
I've been gambling online for approximately two years now and have enjoyed considerable luck. Lately, however, I've encountered the 'cash advance' fee on one of my credit cards. I recall your mention of this on your gambling website and wondered if you’ve had any success contesting this charge. I attempted to resolve it, but my bank claimed that anytime funds go to a casino, it is classified as a cash advance. This is the first time this has happened to me after playing online for so long, and it’s on a new credit card too. Is there a solid argument I can present to the bank? They didn’t seem to take my concerns seriously. By the way, it was Bank of America that I dealt with, just a heads up. I appreciate your help.
As mentioned on my website, I've faced this issue multiple times. In those instances, both banks and casinos each pointed fingers at one another regarding the cash advance classification of transactions. Since then, I've discovered that many credit cards now explicitly state that purchases of casino chips are treated as cash advances. This appears to be the case with your card, which likely means you’re stuck with the fee. If you examine the fine print of the Yahoo or eBay credit card agreements, you'll find this spelled out clearly. For example, the terms of the eBay Visa include a transaction fee of 2% for purchases related to wire transfers, betting or casino chips, and similar items, starting with a minimum fee of $5.
Currently, I prefer using a debit card for most of my online casino transactions, which alleviates concerns about cash advance fees. Additionally, debit card reversals tend to process more quickly. Nevertheless, I still utilize the Next Visa card for my significant purchases at Golden Palace, and I have never encountered a cash advance fee while using it. MBNA Mastercard I really enjoy your website! With a math degree under my belt, I am a skilled counter who has taken several trips to gambling destinations such as Las Vegas. Now, I’m eager to apply my math skills to poker. I have observed poker from a distance while in Vegas and would greatly value any advice or explanations regarding poker rules. Is there a way I can gain a similar edge in poker as I do by counting cards in blackjack?
To start, I should clarify that I do not consider myself a poker expert. It is overwhelmingly recognized that Texas Hold'em is the most popular variant of poker. In this specific game, each player receives two private cards and there are five community cards available, which gives a savvy probability calculator a bit more to work with. However, even the most adept mathematician may struggle in poker if they are unable to read their opponents effectively, or if they are easily read themselves—traits that I believe characterize my own approach. blackjack Recently, I encountered a promotional offer for Baccarat at a casino I frequent, which featured a reduced commission rate of 4% during select times throughout the day. I am curious about how this affects the already low 1.06% house edge on banker bets. Would this commission change create a positive expected value for betting on the banker, and by how much would the house edge decrease with a 4% commission applied to banker bets? Vegas The likelihood of the banker winning is estimated at 45.843%, while the player has a probability of 44.615%, and a tie occurs 9.543% of the time. Thus, with a 4% commission, the return from the banker bet would be calculated as 0.45845 multiplied by 0.96, subtracting 0.44615, resulting in a net of -0.00606. Therefore, the house retains a slight edge of 0.6%.
Firstly, I must express my admiration for your website. It’s quite rare to find a casino site that provides valuable information. Secondly, I have a question regarding a specific rule. Living in Europe, I usually play using the European hole card rule, which employs multiple decks. In this format, the dealer distributes the first card to all players and one to themselves before giving the second card only to the players, after which they make their decisions. Then, after all players have acted, the dealer reveals their second card and makes their own choices. I was wondering about the optimal basic strategy for this game. Should I follow the specific 'strategy'? It’s worth noting that the Microgaming casinos operate under slightly different guidelines. Texas Hold \"Em For clarity, in European blackjack, the dealer waits to check for blackjack until all players have completed their actions. If the dealer does have a blackjack and a player has doubled down or split, that player loses their entire stake. Conversely, in the United States, a player’s loss is limited to their original bet if the dealer has blackjack. As you correctly mentioned, online casinos utilizing Microgaming software adhere to the European rule but also provide a single-deck game and allow drawing after splitting aces, which deviates from the European standard. To sum up, please check my
I must begin by stating that among all gambling-related websites, the Wizard of Odds stands out as the premier resource. My inquiry relates specifically to a betting strategy for craps, particularly on the concept some refer to as variance. As you mention in your
The house does maintain an edge in the long term, though players can experience short-term fluctuations.
While participating at a casino, I encountered a betting system that employed 3-4-5 odds, allowing 3x on the 4 and 10, 4x on the 5 and 9, and 5x on the 6 and 8. I believe this approach reduces fluctuations in comparison to a standard 5x odds across all wagers, thereby altering the distribution of overall winnings or losses per session. In essence, it may produce a sharper peak that leans slightly more towards losses than what would be observed with uniform 5x odds. Is this accurate, and could you provide some numerical analysis to illustrate this? blackjack This betting system, recognized as 3-4-5X odds, has gained widespread acceptance in many establishments. Below is a table outlining all potential outcomes for both the pass bet and odds combined, complete with full odds. Microgaming The standard deviation for a pass line bet is calculated to be 4.915632.
There are mathematically sound strategies and information available for a variety of casino games, including blackjack, craps, roulette, and numerous others. European basic strategy .
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Return Table with 3-4-5X Odds
Event | Pays | Probability | Return |
---|---|---|---|
Pass line win | 1 | 0.222222 | 0.222222 |
Pass line loss | -1 | 0.111111 | -0.111111 |
Point of 4 or 10 & win | 7 | 0.055556 | 0.388889 |
Point of 4 or 10 & lose | -4 | 0.111111 | -0.444444 |
Point of 5 or 9 & win | 7 | 0.088889 | 0.622222 |
Point of 5 or 9 & lose | -5 | 0.133333 | -0.666667 |
Point of 6 or 8 & win | 7 | 0.126263 | 0.883838 |
Point of 6 or 8 & lose | -6 | 0.151515 | -0.909091 |
Total | 1.000000 | -0.014141 |
When you engage in two hands at a time for a bet of x, does it truly enhance your odds compared to playing one hand at 2x? If it does improve your chances, by what margin?