Sette e Mezzo

Introduction

Sette e Mezzo translates to seven and a half in Italian, and it refers to a card game of chance that is quite popular in Italy. This game shares similarities with its Spanish counterpart. seven and a half The main objective is to accumulate more points than the dealer, but without exceeding a total of 7.5 points.

Rules

Although there are various forms of Sette e Mezzo, I believe the following rules are typically applicable across the board.

1. This game is played with a specialized deck of 40 cards, which includes ten ranks and four suits.
2. When using standard playing cards, the ten ranks consist of Ace through 7, along with all face cards. If you are using traditional Italian cards, a \"1\" will replace the Ace, and the Cavalier will take the place of the Queen.
3. Aces (or ones) are valued at 1 point, while cards numbered from 2 to 7 hold their nominal value; face cards are each worth half a point.
4. The suits can either be the conventional four (hearts, clubs, spades, diamonds) or the Italian suits, which include swords, cups, coins, and clubs. The suit itself doesn't greatly influence the game, with the exception of the King of Coins.
5. The King of Coins can be assigned the value of any other card, ranging from 0.5 to 7 points.
6. Gameplay begins with both the player and the dealer being dealt one card face up.
7. Should the player's card be of lower value than the dealer's, the player is required to draw additional cards until they have at least as many points as the dealer.
8. If the player has an equal number of points or more than the dealer, they have the option to either draw another card or stand.
9. Exceeding 7.5 points results in an automatic loss for the player.
10. The dealer is to draw additional cards if their point total is at 4.5 or lower, and will stand if they have 5 or more points. Furthermore, if their initial card is the King of Spades or Coins, they will draw exactly one additional card.
11. In cases where the dealer exceeds 7.5 points, any players with hands still standing will win the round.
12. If the player holds more points than the dealer, the player is declared the winner.
13. Conversely, if the dealer's points surpass those of the player, the dealer is the winner.
14. In the event of a tie, the result is a push, although in some variations, a tie of 5-5 may result in a loss for the player.

Playtech Variant:

Playtech adds the following rules:

• A 5-5 tie is a loss for the player
• The highest hand possible is known as a \"Royal 7.5,\" which comprises two cards that total 7.5, one of which must be the King of Coins. This hand can only be achieved if the other card is either 0.5 or 7 points, and it supersedes all other hands. A player achieving a Royal hand will receive a payout of 3 to 2.
• Playtech also introduces two side bets, which I will detail further in the section concerning side bets.

Lottomatica Variant:

Lottomatica is the official authority managing the Italian lottery system. In their version, a tie of 5-5 is a push, and the highest hand is considered to be 7.5 points. Therefore, a two-card total of 7.5 that includes the wild card will push against any other hand that also totals 7.5 points, resulting in an even payout.

Comparison to Siete y Media:

• Siete y Media has no wild card.
• Siete y Media utilizes the same set of 40 cards, but the game can accommodate multiple decks if necessary.
• Siete y Media has no forced hitting.

Strategy

The table below outlines the basic strategy for playing. Pay attention to the blue cells, which indicate situations where drawing a card is mandatory. This strategy applies to both Playtech and Lottomatica game versions.

Playtech Rules Analysis

The next table presents the probability of various significant events, derived from simulations involving over three billion hands.

The following return table illustrates the likelihood of different winning and losing amounts for any scenario. The final cell in the bottom right corner indicates a house edge of 0.75%.

Lottomatica Rules Analysis

The subsequent table outlines the probability of significant events based on simulations of more than 12 billion games following the Lottomatica guidelines.

This return table summarizes the probabilities for various winning and losing scenarios under the Lottomatica rules, with the lower right cell showing a house edge of 0.28%.

It's important to mention that Lottomatica reports a return rate of 99.8247% for this game, which corresponds to a house edge of 0.1753%. The discrepancy may arise from their assumption of a perfect composition-dependent strategy, while my analysis uses a total-dependent approach. Specifically, my strategy suggests always hitting on a 5 against a 5, which is a nuanced play reliant on the composition of the player's hand (similar to 16 against 10 in blackjack). Employing a composition-dependent strategy could undoubtedly reduce the house edge significantly, in my professional view.

Side Bet Analysis

The following table provides my assessment of Playtech's Parita Perfetta (perfect pair) side bet, with a house edge of 3.85% indicated in the lower right cell.

Here, you will find my evaluation of Playtech's Mano di Poker (poker hand) side bet, which is calculated based on the first two cards dealt to the player and the dealer's visible card. If the player stands with just one card, this wager automatically loses. The lower right cell shows a house edge of 3.68%, assuming the player always opts for a second card. Please note that straights are defined as sequences ranging from 1-2-3 up to 5-6-7 and combinations like J-C-K, while 6-7-J and 7-J-C are not considered straights.

I strongly advise against placing this side bet, as it compels players to make poor strategic decisions, such as playing a one-card 7 against a dealer's 6.

External Links

• Lottomatica sette e mezzo rules (in Italian).
• Discussion about sette e mezzo in my forum at Wizard of Vegas.

Acknowledgements

I would like to express my gratitude to rumba434, ksdjdj, and charliepatrick for their assistance in clarifying the rules and affirming my analysis. Additionally, I thank charliepatrick for providing the fundamental strategy details found on this page.

Written by: Michael Shackleford