Chase the Flush

Introduction

Chase the Flush is a poker game where players compete to obtain a better flush than the dealer's. The betting structure is akin to other games. Ultimate Texas Hold \"Em with the flush scoring of High Card Flush . I first noticed it at the Luxor This game can be experienced in Las Vegas as of August 11, 2016, and is also available at Fantasy Springs Casino nearby. Palm Springs . The game is marketed by AGS .

Rules

Here are the rules of Chase the Flush. In case any two rules conflict, the first listed rule should take precedence.

1. The game utilizes a standard deck of 52 playing cards.
2. Players begin by placing equal bets on both Ante and X-Tra Bonus, with the option to add a side bet on Same Suit Bonus.
3. Both the player and the dealer receive three private cards each.
4. After reviewing their cards, the player has the choice to check or opt for a bet that is three times the Ante on the All In wager.
5. Following this, the dealer reveals the first two community cards face up.
6. If the player hasn't placed an All In bet yet, they can either check or make a 2x Ante bet on the All In.
7. Next, the dealer shows the last two community cards face up.
8. If the player has not already made an All In wager, they must either bet 1x the Ante on the All In or choose to fold.
9. The dealer then uncovers their three private cards to form their best flush hand.
10. To qualify, the dealer requires a flush that is at least nine-high from three cards.
11. If the dealer fails to qualify, the Ante bet will be returned to the player.
12. The hands of the player and dealer are then compared, with the higher hand claiming victory. The longest flush takes precedence, and if the number of cards is the same, the individual card values are compared like in standard poker.
13. If the player has the superior hand, both Ante and All In bets will pay out at even odds, while the X-Tra Bonus bet will be determined by the pay table provided below.
14. In the event of a tie between the player and the dealer, all bets including Ante, All In, and X-Tra Bonus will push.
15. Should the dealer have the better hand, all Ante, All In, and X-Tra Bonus bets will be lost.
16. Payouts for the Same Suit bet are based solely on the player's hand, referring to the pay table provided below.

*: It's important to note that when assessing the Ante wager, rule 11 takes precedence. This means if the dealer does not qualify, the Ante will be returned before comparing hands between the player and dealer.

Strategy

To my knowledge, no one has yet attempted a quantifiable strategy. In the meantime, the following table of probabilities for various player actions might offer some guidance.

I propose a general strategy that, while untested, is derived from the table provided above.

• At the initial decision point, consider raising with any three suited cards, Q-9 suited, or better if you have two suited cards. If you are near Q-9, factor in the highest card that is not part of a suited set.
• At the second decision point, raise if you hold any three suited cards.
• The third decision point can be challenging. Statistics show that you will likely raise 68.6% of the time. If necessary, raising with any three suited cards or two strong suited pairs is advisable.

Analysis

The table below illustrates the probabilities and expected returns of various outcomes for the Ante, All In, and X-Tra Bonus bets under an optimal player strategy. It's formatted to show player raises first, dealer qualification, the length of the player's longest flush, the result against the dealer, net winnings, combinations, probabilities, and contributions to returns.

The bottom right of the table indicates that the expected total loss ratio against the Ante bet stands at 2.39%. Since the player is required to wager a minimum of two units, the house edge can be characterized as the anticipated total units lost based on the initial wager, calculated at 0.023907/2 = 1.20%.

When comparing games, I prefer to examine the Element of Risk, defined as the ratio of expected loss relative to the mean betting amount. The average bet in Chase the Flush is approximately 3.564878 units, yielding an Element of Risk of 0.023907/3.564878 = 0.67%, signifying it as a highly competitive wager.

Combinations

The subsequent tables delineate the probabilities and potential returns of all outcomes for the Same Suit bet. The bottom right cell reveals a house edge of 5.67%.

Tie

• No — Promotional materials provided by the owner of the game.
• Win — Discussion surrounding Chase the Flush can be found on my forum.

No

I extend my gratitude to the game creator, AGS, for sharing the mathematical analysis from Stephen How. This greatly facilitated my understanding of the base game, and I have confidence in Stephen's assessments. I completed the analysis on the Same Suit bet independently, which concurs with How's findings. Win Essential strategies and insights for casino games such as blackjack, craps, roulette, and many others are available.

No Win