Ask The Wizard #148

The table below illustrates the odds in a game with a single player. Keep in mind that the dealer won’t continue with their hand if the player busts first. As you add more players, the likelihood of the dealer busting increases since at least one player will likely not bust.

The joke goes that you can spot a cheating man by his sudden happiness. In all seriousness, observe any shifts in his behavior. If he spends less time with you, starts looking sharper, visits new places, or engages in different activities, then he may indeed be cheating.

My blackjack appendix 7 The answer to this question can be estimated. Adding an ace gives the player an advantage of 0.005816 divided by 24, equating to 0.00024. Removing a two benefits the player by 0.003875 divided by 24, resulting in 0.000161. Therefore, the cumulative impact totals 0.000404, which translates to a 0.04% reduction in the house edge.

The likelihood of intelligent life existing somewhere in the galaxy seems quite substantial. The Drake Equation aims to estimate the number of intelligent civilizations out there, and depending on the values used, it suggests there could be about a million. Nevertheless, there’s no solid evidence that these civilizations have ever contacted us. This brings us to the famous Fermi Paradox: 'Where is everybody?' Though the absence of proof raises some doubts about the Drake Equation, I would still estimate around 1000 intelligent civilizations exist in our galaxy alone, and considering the billions of galaxies out there, that number could significantly increase. However, the immense distance between galaxies makes discussions about travel or communication between them practically negligible. In answering your question, I would estimate around 99.9%.

No, if splitting is the correct move, it should always be executed, and if it’s incorrect, it should never be. Hence, this rule is irrelevant as long as you play optimally.

Assuming all hands are played to completion, the chance of any one player holding a Royal Flush is calculated as 4 times (47 choose 2) divided by combin(52, 7), which equals approximately 1 in 30,940. For simplicity, let’s treat each hand as independent. The probability of at least one out of ten players having a Royal Flush would be computed as 1 - (1 - (1/30,940)). combin My boyfriend and I used to spend a lot of time together, but lately, it feels like that’s changed since he often visits his best friend’s house where his ex also lives. What would be the best course of action for me?¹⁰= 0.00032, or 1 in 3094.

Tell that bum to hit the road.