Originally posted by shortcircuitI can't believe how much gambling misinformation you squeezed into one post. For the actual returns of the games you've mentioned (pai gow poker, three card poker, roulette, craps, blackjack, baccarat, and video poker), check out this site:
My favorite game is Pai Gow Poker. If played correctly you can win over time, but you must be willing to take the bank against the house.
Three card poker actually has the highest return rate of all carnival games in Las Vegas. There were so many people actually winning the game, they lowered the odds to make it more difficult to win. Again, you hav here are some machines that actually pay 10-6 which is very strong.
Hope that helps you.
http://wizardofodds.com/
Michael Shackleford, aka "The Wizard of Odds", is a highly regarded actuary and adjunct professor of Casino Math at UNLV who has made a career out of analyzing casino games.
Pai Gow Poker: You are correct, if you play perfect strategy and act as the banker, the odds will swing in your favour (provided there are 2 or more other players at the table).
Three Card Poker: At an average house edge of between 3%-10%, Three Card Poker definitely does not have one of the highest returns in the casino. I have to admit ignorance on the history of this game, but as the game is played today you'd be better off betting the farm on Casino War. 😕
Roulette: As you stated, it is a fun game but the house edge (5.26% ) is a killer.
Craps: With a house edge of about 0.40% for the smart bets (pass, come and don't pass, don't come) and a whopping 16.67% for the bad ones (any seven), craps is not a beatable game. The odds are never in your favour. It can be one of the best bets in the casino however, provided you play the smart bets above.
Blackjack: Not sure what you meant by -0.6% against you, but under favourable rules a proficient card counter can expect a player edge of between 0.5% and 1.5%. Without card counting, the house edge is about 0.43%, one of the best bets in the casino. As for the effect of the continuous shuffle machine, it actually lowers the house edge (see Blackjack Appendix 10), although as you said card counting becomes essentially useless with these machines.
Baccarat: Not completely brainless, but the basic strategy is extremely simple. In most casinos baccarat will have a house edge of between 1% and 1.5% for the smart bet (banker bet) and about 14% on the bad bet (tie). If the commission falls below about 2.5%, it is possible to swing the odds in your favour. Of course, this is typically a high roller game so if you play loose don't worry - just sell one of your diamond-encrusted pendants to make up for it. 😉
Video Poker: Jacks or better comes close to being a positive return at 99.5%, but Deuces Wild can definitely be beat with a full pay table/perfect strategy return of 100.77%.
Originally posted by PBE6Originally posted by PBE6
I can't believe how much gambling misinformation you squeezed into one post. For the actual returns of the games you've mentioned (pai gow poker, three card poker, roulette, craps, blackjack, baccarat, and video poker), check out this site:
http://wizardofodds.com/
Michael Shackleford, aka "The Wizard of Odds", is a highly regarded actuary and adjunct pr es Wild can definitely be beat with a full pay table/perfect strategy return of 100.77%.
I can't believe how much gambling misinformation you squeezed into one post. For the actual returns of the games you've mentioned (pai gow poker, three card poker, roulette, craps, blackjack, baccarat, and video poker), check out this site:
http://wizardofodds.com/
Michael Shackleford, aka "The Wizard of Odds", is a highly regarded actuary and adjunct professor of Casino Math at UNLV who has made a career out of analyzing casino games.
[b]Pai Gow Poker: You are correct, if you play perfect strategy and act as the banker, the odds will swing in your favour (provided there are 2 or more other players at the table).
Three Card Poker: At an average house edge of between 3%-10%, Three Card Poker definitely does not have one of the highest returns in the casino. I have to admit ignorance on the history of this game, but as the game is played today you'd be better off betting the farm on Casino War. 😕
Actually, this is not correct at all. I know because I play the game very consistently. The game gave an edge to the player until they reduced the payouts, and as I said, it became less attractive but still very beatable.
Casino War is a joke. I can't believe people bet the game. You have better odds at baccarat.
Roulette: As you stated, it is a fun game but the house edge (5.26% ) is a killer.
Craps: With a house edge of about 0.40% for the smart bets (pass, come and don't pass, don't come) and a whopping 16.67% for the bad ones (any seven), craps is not a beatable game. The odds are never in your favour. It can be one of the best bets in the casino however, provided you play the smart bets above.
Blackjack: Not sure what you meant by -0.6% against you, but under favourable rules a proficient card counter can expect a player edge of between 0.5% and 1.5%. Without card counting, the house edge is about 0.43%, one of the best bets in the casino. As for the effect of the continuous shuffle machine, it actually lowers the house edge (see Blackjack Appendix 10), although as you said card counting becomes essentially useless with these machines.
The only way you have any edge is in a single deck game, counting cards and playing perfectly, as I thought I said above. As I also said, you will have to grind it out to win. There is no way to win consistently without alot of luck in a six deck constant shuffle table. Period!!
Baccarat: Not completely brainless, but the basic strategy is extremely simple. In most casinos baccarat will have a house edge of between 1% and 1.5% for the smart bet (banker bet) and about 14% on the bad bet (tie). If the commission falls below about 2.5%, it is possible to swing the odds in your favour. Of course, this is typically a high roller game so if you play loose don't worry - just sell one of your diamond-encrusted pendants to make up for it. 😉
Video Poker: Jacks or better comes close to being a positive return at 99.5%, but Deuces Wild can definitely be beat with a full pay table/perfect strategy return of 100.77%.[/b]
You named the machine games, but you missed the mark without the payouts. Look it up. If you play an 8-5 machine your winnings are much lower than at the 9-6 level. Anyone that plays the machines to wins realizes this. Playing the right game on the wrong machine is a huge mistake.
You do what you like. Sorry but I don't know how to make my responses not come out in bold type to match your type, but you can read it if you like.
Low stakes limit hold-em. Either 3-6 or 4-8. It's all math but you can usually do pretty well since the majority of players are terrible. Also, outside of casinos I do really well in private tournaments $100-$200 buy-in. Most players at this level have watched just enough poker on TV to be constant losers. I've never won in a larger (30+)live tournament but cash most of the time.
Originally posted by giantrobotI generally play 20-40 stud, 10-20 Omaha Hi/lo with a full kill, and 10-20 or 20-40 HORSE. I really don't care much for Hold'em. I play it if nothing else is available, but no higher limit than 5-10, and only limit games.
Low stakes limit hold-em. Either 3-6 or 4-8. It's all math but you can usually do pretty well since the majority of players are terrible. Also, outside of casinos I do really well in private tournaments $100-$200 buy-in. Most players at this level have watched just enough poker on TV to be constant losers. I've never won in a larger (30+)live tournament but cash most of the time.
Been playin' poker for at least 50 yrs and "in the business" for the last 20. Started out as a dealer (poker), moved to floorman and finally shiftmanager at one of the big card-barns in LA.
Won 47large in a limit hold 'em tournament, quit my job and went pro. Played up and down Calif and into Nev. mostly 20-40 hold'em and stud. Lived in M(H)otels and traveled a lot.
Saved 245K .. IN CASH over a 6yr period. Life was good.
Then I got caught up in No-Limit Hold 'em and got broke in 5 months time. Zip. Zero .. busted!
Lived in my truck for over a year .. homeless. Penthouse to outhouse. Here's something you need to know about goin' broke and senior citizenship .. hardly anyone cares. You'll find out who your friends are very quick.
If you have one, you're lucky. I was lucky, I had three.
I'm back together now. I live at the beach in So Cal and work part time at a local Casino. I'm retired actually, but I still play and this place keeps me on the payroll. I don't have a title, I don't have a schedule and I don't have to show up ever.
I'm a silent-prop and "watcher." I watch the dealers mostly, but I look out for "teams" and other types of cheats too.
I don't advise anyone to go down the path of the gambler in a serious way. It's a lonely rollercoaster of a life with very very few true winners.
I don't know anyone that beats Pai-Gow Poker in Calif. other than the house bankers. I don't know anyone that beats low-limit poker either. The drop eats you up. The way to beat poker now is through the Tour. circuit IMO.
You have to know yourself and your limits. I couldn't admit to myself that I really didn't have the skills for No-Limit, got hard-headed, and got broke. I can still beat most any 20-40 games for a rack just by sitting their and waiting .. just picking off pots.
I can pick it up and leave, and this is key for the pro. It's not about anything but getting the money. It's not fun. It's not exciting. It's simply go in and get the money, get up and leave. Don't get caught up in it socially.