One for the Money

Introduction

The game 'One for the Money' made its grand entrance at Diamond Jo's casino located in Dubuque, Iowa, in February 2014. Following its launch, it spread to venues such as the Venetian in Las Vegas, various locations in the Philippines, and the Barona Resort & Casino in California, where it was rebranded as 'Ultimate Casino War.' By late 2015, it was introduced at the Crown Casino in Melbourne under another new name, 'Poker War.'

'One for the Money' doesn't have a direct comparison to other games, though if I had to find a similar one, I would liken it to a mix between Casino War and my own creation, Mulligan Poker. This game is user-friendly, making it easy to grasp the rules and strategy.

Rules

1. You can use any number of decks, but typically six or eight are preferred to reduce the frequency of shuffling.
2. The ranking of the cards follows poker conventions: deuces represent the lowest value, while aces are considered the highest. For all intents and purposes, the suit of cards does not matter except when it comes to side bets.
3. After placing a bet, the player receives one card face up while the dealer is dealt two cards face down.
4. At this point, the player has three possible actions to choose from:
   • Stand. The player opts to keep their initial card without increasing their wager.
   • Raise. The player retains their original card and places an additional bet that matches their initial stake.
   • Trade. The player exchanges their card for the next one in the shoe, but must also make a raise that is equivalent to their original wager when doing so.
5. If the player opts to trade for a new card, they can either choose to stand or place an additional bet that equals their initial wager after receiving the new card.
6. The dealer will reveal both of their cards and decide which one is higher. If the cards are of equal rank, the dealer can arbitrarily choose either card.
7. The player's card will then be compared to the card selected by the dealer, with the higher card winning the round. The outcomes for the bets are determined as follows:
   • When the player's card triumphs, all player bets will yield even winnings.
   • If both the player and dealer's cards tie, all bets will remain unchanged.
   • When the dealer holds the higher card, the player loses their bets.

Strategy

The strategy for the initial decision-making phase is outlined as follows:

• Raise with a jack or higher.
• Stand with a 8 to 10.
• Switch with a 7 or less.

The recommended strategy after making a switch is as follows:

• Raise with a jack or higher.
• Stand with a 10 or less.

Analysis

The table below illustrates the expected value associated with each starting card based on decision-making, using six decks.

The anticipated values after a switch somewhat depend on which card was changed out. The subsequent table displays the values when a deuce is switched.

Ultimately, players have the chance to win or lose up to three times their initial bet. The table below illustrates the likelihood and expected returns for each possible result, including a house edge of 3.82% shown in the bottom-right cell.

The player's final bet can range from one to three times their initial wager. The following table outlines the various potential endings for the final amount wagered, with the bottom-right cell indicating that, on average, the final wager is approximately 1.92 times the original amount.

Considering a house edge of 3.82% and an average final wager of 1.92 units, the risk factor is quantified at 3.82% divided by 1.92, equating to 2.00%.

In a game utilizing eight decks, the house edge slightly increases to 3.86%, resulting in a risk factor of 2.02%.

Perfect Match

As with most new table games, 'One for the Money' incorporates a side bet called the Perfect Match wager, similar to one found in blackjack. This side bet pays out based on how many of the dealer's cards align with the player's final card.

While the card switching rule has minimal mathematical significance, it was left out of the side bet analysis for clarity. The table below depicts the probabilities and returns for each potential outcome using six decks, with the bottom-right cell revealing a house advantage of 6.40%.

The next table provides similar information for an eight-deck setup, where the house edge is noted at 4.18%.

Conclusion

For a skill-based game with at least one decision to be made, 'One for the Money' is remarkably straightforward. element of risk Its standing compared to other new table games is moderate. The table below outlines the risk element associated with this game in contrast to other trending new table games.

• Ultimate Texas Hold \"Em — 0.53%
• Spanish 21 (dealer hits soft 17, no re-double) — 0.65%
• Mississippi Stud — 1.37%
• One for the Money (six decks) — 2.00%
• Three Card Poker — 2.01%
• EZ Pai Gow Poker — 2.47%
• Casino War — 2.68%

Players should keep in mind that this game operates at a swift pace, so it is advisable to consider this factor when determining their bet amounts.

External Links

• Ultimate Casino War — at Discount Gambling. Stephen suggests a house edge of 2.56%. You'll need to decide whose information to trust.

Written by: Michael Shackleford