Texas Shootout

Introduction

Texas Shootout is a straightforward poker-style game created by Galaxy Gaming . In this game, players compete against the dealer, with the higher hand claiming victory. The only choice a player makes is selecting two cards from a total of four to begin the round. The player enjoys the freedom to choose their cards and has the option to split, while the dealer has the advantage of winning ties. If you're searching for an uncomplicated poker game with low volatility and a favorable house edge, Texas Shootout might be to your liking.

Rules

1. The gameplay involves a shoe containing six standard 52-card decks, and hands are evaluated based on conventional poker rules .
2. The player places a poker wager along with an optional side bet.
3. Each player and the dealer receive four face-down cards. Players are allowed to view their own cards.
4. Players can either (A) pick any two out of their four cards and discard the remaining two, or (B) split their hand into two separate two-card hands. If a player opts to split their hand, they must equal their initial poker bet and match the side bet if it was placed.
5. The dealer reveals their cards and chooses two to begin play according to the house rules detailed below, discarding the remaining two cards.
6. Following this, the dealer will deal five community cards for play.
7. Both the player and dealer will create the best 5-card poker hand by combining their two hole cards with the five community cards.
8. If the player's hand ranks higher than the dealer's, they win an amount equal to their bet. If the dealer holds the superior hand or if the hands are tied, the dealer wins.
9. The side bet will payout based on the poker ranking of the player’s five cards, according to one of the pay tables provided below. The second pay table is the most frequently utilized. Additionally, a bonus based on the poker ranks of all other participants at the table is also available, as outlined below.

The dealer is required to play the highest possible two-card hand based on the criteria in the following list. If there is ever a situation where two hands of equal rank can be formed, the dealer will select the hand with the higher-ranked cards. Illustrative examples accompany each rule.

1. A pair of 8\"s or higher.Q, Q
2. A high card is considered an ace, while the lowest qualifying card must be a jack or higher.A, Q
3. Any suited pair 2\"s to 7\"s. 6, 6
4. Any unsuited pair 2\"s to 7\"s. 6, 6
5. Ace high and suited.A, 4
6. Both cards ten or higher and suited.K, 10
7. Both cards must be ten or greater and cannot be of the same suit.K, 10
8. Ace high unsuited.A, 4
9. Face card high suited. J, 7
10. Face card high unsuited. J, 7
11. Connected cards suited. 4, 5
12. Connected cards unsuited. 6, 7
13. Two highest cards suited. 8, 3
14. Two highest cards unsuited. 9, 7

Two highest cards suited. 8

The subsequent strategy may not represent the most effective approach. There are Two highest cards unsuited. 9 instances that could slightly enhance the player's winning chances.

Players are encouraged to utilize the two-card hand that ranks highest on the list below. If their remaining cards can form a hand with an expected value greater than zero (rank of 26 or above), they should then split and use both hands. The expected values provided serve as a general guide and should only indicate the hands' ranking. The accompanying table presumes the player refrains from placing a side bet. Engaging in a side bet would fundamentally alter the suggested strategy.

Unsuited Q,3

There are five distinct possible outcomes for each initial hand dealt. Generally, a player will either win or lose a single unit. Should a player decide to split their hand, they have the potential to win two units, end in a tie, or lose two units. The following table outlines the probabilities and potential returns for all initial hand combinations. The bottom right corner indicates a house edge of 2.57%.

-0.342769 Unsuited 8,6 -0.34313

The next three return tables correspond to the three different pay tables for side bets, not including the Envy Bonus. The probabilities calculated in these tables are based on the player adhering to the strategy outlined above, which was formulated for the player making only the poker wager. Should the player engage in a side bet, they could adjust their strategy to optimize value from this bet, though it's my informed perspective that the advantages gained would be minimal. Unless participating at a fully occupied table that utilizes pay table 3, it is advisable not to place the side bet.

The concluding table demonstrates the house edge pertaining to the side bet when taking the Envy Bonus into account. The left column indicates the total number of players (including yourself), while the side bet pay table is displayed across the top. This table is predicated on a $5 side bet. As the side bet amount increases, the relative benefit of the Envy Bonus diminishes.

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I enjoy dissecting games through detailed combinatorial analysis whenever feasible. However, the sheer number of possible combinations in this game is an astronomical 2,980,936,261,442,170,000,000,000,000. Despite using advanced shortcuts, achieving a definitive analysis could take a computer months or even years to exhaustively check all combinations through brute force methods. Consequently, employing random simulations became essential. Random simulations offer the unique advantage of requiring the analyst to define a strategy for the simulation to follow, unlike a brute-force program that can dynamically adapt its strategy but will forget it as soon as the hand concludes. The strategy I devised for ranking two-card hands emerged from this analytical process. While not flawless, it's important to note that if I were to deep-dive into the exceptions regarding penalty cards, it is improbable anyone would ever learn them. Those with such dedication to mastering the game would likely gravitate towards blackjack or video poker, where they could gain an edge.

-0.489783 -2