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Ask The Wizard #22

I believe your site ranks among the top gambling platforms online, and I have a question that I'd appreciate your help with. There's a casino in India not too far from my location that has some unusual policies. I would like to know if you can analyze the house edge based on the following rules:

  • A fee of 50 cents applies for each hand when your bet ranges from $5 to $25.
  • If your wager falls between $26 and $500, there is a $1 charge per hand.
  • Players are allowed to split up to four times, excluding aces.
    - Doubling down is permitted on any of the first two cards.
  • You can double after a split
  • Dealer stands on all 17s
  • Early surrender is available
  • One card on each hand if you split aces
  • A $100 bonus is awarded for receiving seven cards without going bust.
  • $100 bonus on getting 3 7\"s in a row
  • If a player gets three Blackjacks consecutively, a bonus of $500 is given.
  • Achieving four Blackjacks in a row will earn you a $10,000 bonus.

Any help you can give is appreciated.

Bryan

Let's assume that eight decks are utilized and that these bonuses are void if the dealer hits a blackjack. Using the Blackjack Count Analyzer, I calculated a player advantage of 1.4% for a $5 wager. Regrettably, this edge diminishes at higher bet amounts as the relative value of bonuses wanes, combined with the extra fee for bets of $25 or more. For a $24 wager, the house edge is 1.4%, but it rises to 3.3% at $25. This game certainly has its unique appeal. I’d love to hear about your experience if you decide to play.

I appreciate your prompt responses to my inquiries. I aim to deposit the maximum possible at reputable casinos to benefit from the 'new player' promotions, but how much do you think is excessive? I dislike missing out on a significant 20% bonus by just settling for a smaller one, but I also wonder, what amount could be considered too high? What has your experience taught you?

Scott T.

There's no need to fret over depositing an excessive amount. I typically max out my deposits when I’m aiming for a bonus. It’s actually more suspicious not to wager sufficiently.

I enjoy playing Liar's Poker using dollar bills. What is the likelihood of drawing 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 duplicates of the same digit on a single bill? Thank you! Also, if I play with three participants, what’s the chance of a particular digit appearing?

John from New York

To address the implicit question of how often a specific number appears 'n' times on a random bill, let's consider that there are eight digits on a bill, so the probability of seeing 'n' of a chosen number is combin(8,n)*0.1.n*0.98-n/108Here’s a table illustrating the probabilities of seeing zero to eight instances of a designated number.

Specific Number Odds in Liar's Poker

Number Probability
8 0.00000001
7 0.00000072
6 0.00002268
5 0.00040824
4 0.00459270
3 0.03306744
2 0.14880348
1 0.38263752
0 0.43046721
Total 1.00000000

The subsequent table details the odds of encountering all types of bills, sorted by the count of each possible n-of-a-kind. For instance, the serial number 66847680 contains one trio of a kind, a pair, and three distinct digits, leading to a probability of 0.1693440.

General Odds in Liar's Poker

8 o.a.k. 7 o.a.k. 6 o.a.k. 5 o.a.k. 4 o.a.k. 3 o.a.k. 2 o.a.k. 1 o.a.k. Probability
1 0.0000001
1 1 0.0000072
1 1 0.0000252
1 2 0.0002016
1 1 0.0000504
1 1 1 0.0012096
1 3 0.0028224
2 0.0000315
1 1 1 0.0020160
1 2 0.0015120
1 1 2 0.0211680
1 4 0.0211680
2 1 0.0020160
2 2 0.0141120
1 2 1 0.0423360
1 1 3 0.1693440
1 5 0.0846720
4 0.0052920
3 2 0.1270080
2 4 0.3175200
1 6 0.1693440
8 0.0181440
Total 1.0000000

o.a.k. = \"of a kind\"

For more information, see my page on liars poker .

What are some top online casinos for playing blackjack that excel in terms of player odds, utilize fewer decks, and uphold fairness?

Robert from Hamilton, Canada

If player odds are your utmost priority, I would recommend a Unified Gaming casino. You can expect a player edge of 0.57% as long as you adhere to the strategies. proper strategy .

Can you provide any mathematical evidence to demonstrate that a player sitting at 'third base' at a blackjack table cannot sway the outcome with poor choices made under 'basic strategy'? Many argue that mistakes made at third base, or any other position at the table, cost them money. I’d love to see concrete data if possible. By the way, your website is fantastic! I am a gambling enthusiast, and yours is one of the best resources online. It offers genuinely proven information.

Best regards, Mike Castelluccio from Lafayette, U.S.

Thank you for your kind words. Unfortunately, I don't currently possess any proof. If I were to conduct a demonstration, I would resort to a computer simulation. However, skeptics might insist on something irrational, like the notion that poor players damage the game's karma, which can't be simulated digitally.

I’ve worked as a dealer in Vancouver, Canada for more than six years. Having dealt every type of casino game (except craps), I've concluded that the most effective betting strategy would be to wager your entire bankroll in a single, carefully placed bet, particularly on banker in baccarat. This approach stems from the understanding that the longer a player engages in gambling, the higher the probability the odds will catch up with them, leading to total loss. Though this method might lack excitement, it would likely be more profitable, or at least less detrimental.

Mel C. from Coquitlam, BC, Canada

You make an excellent point. The fewer bets you actually make, the better your odds of winning become. The expected losses are also correlated to the total amount wagered. If a player repeatedly transfers funds back and forth between themselves and the dealer, the house edge will gradually deplete their bankroll. Yet, maximizing the chances of winning isn’t the sole goal of gambling; having fun is equally essential. Placing the entire bankroll on the table in one go might not be as enjoyable as spreading it out over multiple bets. Plus, it could lead to larger losses depending on how much play happens in the alternative. If one genuinely seeks to minimize the house edge, the most effective strategy is to place one’s money in the machine specifically designated for 'change.'

I have several questions about blackjack: How often does the dealer tend to bust, and what are the chances of a player winning four hands consecutively?

John from Westminster, USA

When the dealer stands on a soft 17, they tend to bust around 29.1% of the time. In contrast, if they hit on a soft 17, the bust percentage increases slightly to approximately 29.6%. According to my calculations, the probability of achieving a net win is 42.42%. If ties are disregarded, the probability rises to 46.36%. Therefore, the likelihood of securing four consecutive wins stands at 0.4636. blackjack appendix 4 Could you recommend some of the highest paying slot machines? Additionally, do you have any insights on where the best-paying machines are positioned? I enjoy playing slots but have yet to win!!!4= 4.62%.

From my findings, the location of the machines proves to be irrelevant. As for the type of slot to play, opt for straightforward options rather than flashy games with elaborate graphics. My best suggestion is to try your hand at video poker instead.

Denise from Lowell, USA

Dear Mr. Wizard, thank you for providing such a rich source of information on your website. I seek advice regarding ... What are the optimal cards for the Player and the Banker? Could you please list them according to their strength? Thank you, and I appreciate your efforts.

In summary, the strongest card for the Player is a 4, while for the Banker, it is a 6. baccarat Strategies and statistical insights are available for casino games such as blackjack, craps, roulette, and hundreds of others.

Herman from Manila, Philippines

I have a whole page on the topic of card counting in baccarat Please check your inbox for the email we sent you and follow the included link to finalize your registration.