Wizard Recommends
100 % up to
2250zł +200 spins- Massive gaming platform
- Crypto-friendly
- Loyalty program
120 % up to
1200zł +50 spins- Welcome bonus package
- Loyalty Program
- Engaging slot tournaments with substantial prize pools.
Ask The Wizard #181
You are spot on. If a player places an ante bet for the dealer, it appears they aren’t obligated to match it with a raise bet if they increase their own wager. The best approach concerning the tip is to raise with K/Q/10 or higher. To simplify, this is almost equivalent to having an ace high. Any lesser cards would render the raise portion of the tip a poor wager. Adhering to this strategy should yield a 26.09% advantage regarding the combined tip bets.
Hello, Wizard. I've got an intriguing question for you! There's a thought I've had for a long time (even before it was partly illustrated in an episode of 'Heroes'). If you could freeze time just once for a few minutes, during which you could manipulate items like a deck of cards or a roulette wheel, which game would you choose to play? Assume you have a reasonable bankroll and could take on challenging odds, but it wouldn’t involve blatant cheating.
Those suggestions appear to suggest overt cheating. However, if we set ethical questions aside, I would opt for a game of Caribbean Stud Poker featuring a substantial progressive jackpot. Then, I would arrange the cards to ensure I receive a royal flush while giving the dealer a qualifying hand. Once time resumes, I would place the $1 side bet along with the highest possible ante bet.
My absolute favorite slot machine is Spin 2 Million found at LV Grand, Monaco Gold, and Club Dice Casinos, although they no longer cater to customers from the United States. Do you know of any other casinos that offer that game?
Regrettably, all casinos utilizing Playtech software are unavailable to players from the US.
I've stumbled upon an online video poker game boasting an absurd payout structure. What are some straightforward yet effective theories I can apply to determine whether this game is unfair?
Initially, use optimal strategies with software like Winpoker, Video Poker for Winners, or Frugal Video Poker. Track the payouts of each hand against expected results, which you can calculate using both programs. Finally, conduct a chi-squared test on your findings. If you require assistance with the last step, feel free to share your results with me, provided you’ve played at least 300 hands.
First of all, I apologize if you consider this a basic math problem. As a dealer at a casino in Northern Ontario, I encountered an unusual situation last night: I drew a 12-card 17 (A-A-A-A-A-A-6-A-A-A-A-A) using six decks. This was an unprecedented event for both my player and me. What are the odds of this happening?
Incredible! The probability calculates to (combin(24,6)/combin(312,6)) * (24/306) * (combin(18,5)/combin(305,5)) = 1 in 287,209,346,813,617.
Hey Wizard, I’ve always enjoyed your columns and miss the personal touch. I have a question regarding a blackjack variant. Here’s the 'on fire' rule I encountered at an online casino I recently visited.
To achieve 'On Fire' status, you must win three consecutive hands. You’ll see the On Fire gauge displayed at the bottom of your game screen. When this gauge is filled, it signifies that you are on fire. After accomplishing this, all successful blackjack hands will yield payouts at 2-1 odds instead of the usual 3-2, significantly enhancing your potential winnings. However, if you lose a hand while on fire, your On Fire status resets, and you'll have to start over by winning three hands in a row again. Tied hands do not affect your On Fire status.
How significantly does this modify the house edge? Would it be positive expected value if you increased your bet sizes whenever you were on fire? I’d love to hear your thoughts on this. The casino in question is jonwoodgaming.com, by the way. Thank you!
My blackjack appendix 4 Statistics indicate that the probability of winning, losing, and tying in blackjack stands at 40.59%, 42.69%, and 12.44% respectively, based on Atlantic City rules. The chance of winning, excluding ties, is calculated as 40.59%/(40.59%+46.97%) = 46.36%. The likelihood of winning three hands in a row, while ignoring ties, is 0.46363= 9.96%. When playing with six decks, odds of blackjack paying 2 to 1 add an extra value of 0.02267. Therefore, this provides the player with 0.0996*0.02267 = 0.002258. Typically, the house edge is greater than this, but it represents a favorable reduction. All this analysis assumes you are flat betting. If betting more on the 'on fire' hands is possible, you could exploit them, achieving a house edge of 1.5% to 2.0%, contingent on particular rules.
Are there any other fundamental strategy adjustments that could have a substantial impact on expected return at varying counts?
At a certain count, you should begin to accept insurance bets. However, the essence of the ace/five wager is simplicity. If you're willing to memorize index numbers, then you should explore a more comprehensive counting strategy, such as the one involving plus/minus .
Over the past year, I've visited Las Vegas six times, and each trip seems to make it more challenging to locate a 'full pay' Jacks or Better machine. In fact, during my last visit, I could not find a single one! Are full pay machines becoming obsolete, or do casinos just rotate their offerings?
You can still find 9/6 Jacks or Better machines in most casinos, albeit often restricted to the high-limit area. I recommend VP Free 2 for the latest video poker offerings.