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Ask The Wizard #64

You mentioned that 'The double up option is genuinely equitable and doesn't include a house advantage. I think in this instance, it's perfectly acceptable to choose your personal preference.' This notion also applies when considering true odds bets in craps. So, what differentiates promoting odds in craps while not endorsing doubling up? Just as you can minimize the house edge to nearly zero in craps, the same principle applies in video poker or blackjack. Personally, I find cutting cards against the casino rather tedious, but I'm curious to hear your thoughts on this.

Jonathan from New York City

You are of course quoting me from my March 24 In my previous article, I highlighted that making odds bets in craps does not necessarily enhance a player's chances of winning but allows for larger bets without extra cost. The rationale behind encouraging craps players to place odds bets is that this type of wager is the least expensive option on the table and is a legitimate craps bet. All odds, alongside place, buy, and lay bets, are successful when a particular number is rolled before another. This is a fundamental rule of the game. It is sensible for players to make bets with the smallest house edge. Choosing not to take the odds in craps to place a different bet is akin to opting out of a complimentary coffee refill at a café and instead purchasing another cup.

As I indicated in my last article, there are certain video poker variations that permit players to engage in a double or nothing wager with no house advantage. My caution in recommending this bet is that it deviates from the typical flow of video poker gameplay. Generally, video poker enthusiasts are not there to engage in a simple even-money bet. Gambling should be regarded as a form of entertainment, which typically incurs a cost. If players find no enjoyment from the double up feature, then they should refrain from placing that bet, even without the house edge. My suggestion to video poker players is to participate in the double up only if they find it enjoyable; if not, it's best to skip it.

Is there a blackjack video game available for purchase that combines both double exposure and Spanish 21 rules? I would like to practice playing both versions.

George from Cresskill, USA

You can try your hand at both games for free at any Unified Gaming casino. Feel free to check my recommendations. casino index for a list of them.

You mentioned that Unified Gaming had a player advantage a while back, but that has changed. Can you elaborate on how they modified their software?

Janice from Muskego, Wisconsin

Previously, they allowed for early surrender when facing an ace.

I've been playing blackjack using Unified Gaming software. They assert that they don't shuffle the deck after each hand, especially in the six-deck game; however, I've never witnessed a shuffle interruption. I inquired with the company, and they claimed that a message would display on the screen indicating a shuffle, but I haven’t seen any such notification. After playing for about 45 minutes to an hour, the game tends to freeze, and I cannot even exit; everything becomes unresponsive.

Janice from Muskego, Wisconsin

From what I understand, they do shuffle after each hand in the single-deck variant. In the six-deck version, there’s a sound associated with shuffling, and occasionally a message at the bottom of the screen indicates that it’s shuffling. You might have only played the single-deck option. It appears they do this at random intervals. Disconnections are a common frustration reported by users of Unified Gaming software. I also mention this issue in my review. Some users claim that turning off the sound card can alleviate the problem.

You provided a standard deviation of 4.417542 for 9/6 Jacks or Better video poker. I'm trying to understand this. If I've played a total of 100 hands, does this imply that I should expect my results to be within 441 wagers about two-thirds of the time? This seems to contradict my experiences while playing.

Ray from Maple Glen, Pennsylvania

The standard deviation for 100 hands of 9/6 Jacks or Better calculates to 100 * 4.416 = 441.6. This statistic can help you assess the probability of either winning or losing beyond a specific number of units. For instance, the odds of winning or losing within two standard deviations, or 88.31 units, is 4.55%. There are additional factors to consider, so please refer to my section discussing standard deviation.1/2In caveman keno, is it beneficial to consistently play the same numbers, switch them up every round, or change just one number at a time? house edge .

Mathematically sound strategies and insights are available for various casino games, including blackjack, craps, roulette, and countless others.

Mike from Mesa, USA

It doesn’t make any difference.