CASINO TABLE GAMES
Casinos do not win money. They earn it. With the exception of free odds playing craps, every bet made on a casino table game has a built in cost. Roulette layouts have one or two zeros giving the house an edge. Crap tables BAR-two sixes, Baccarat takes a 5% commission on winning bank bets. For many years the "edge" for Black Jack was considered to be over 5%. The "experts" including John Scarne would quote these figures. Up to the 1960s there was little reason to dispute these "21" figures. The casino hold was commonly 25% of the casino drop. Players would play to hunches when they had a decision to make. The games popularity was luke warm at best. A few players seemed to "know something". they won so consistently they had to wear a disguise in order to play. Then a mathematics professor from New Mexico developed a system he claimed could beat the tables in Las Vegas. In March of 1964 Life Magazine ran a nine page story about Edward O. Thorpe and his "UNBEATABLE SYSTEM". Black Jack was changed forever. Today's player has studied the game. They have learned to play a Basic Strategy and a large percentage are attempting to "Count" The casino hold is commonly under 20%. You don't have to feel sorry for the poor old house. 17% of ten million is a lot greater than 25% of one million. Now the public believes it has a chance to win and Black Jack has become by far the most popular of all casino table games. Casinos must now protect themselves from the few (perhaps a hundred or two world wide) counters who are capable of putting a dent into their profits. The millions of would be counters who don't have the talent to beat the game have helped produce the explosion of casino net profit. In an attempt to help you derive your best dollar value for your Black Jack play I will present a typical scenario for you to follow. You can adjust this example to your own situation.(If you are one of the talented counters who can overcome the game, you need not read any further) You are coming to a resort hotel casino for a three day stay. You have decided to risk up to $1,200 playing "21".You plan to play twice a day and want to receive full value for your play. Only if you have the discipline not to exceed the $1,200 you are willing to put at risk, deposit an amount up to $5000 in the cage and request a casino evaluation toward room, food and beverage comps. If your deposit is large enough this could include airfare. You plan on risking $200 for each of six plays. Take a $300 to $500 marker and play to a consistent Basic Strategy. Your opening bet could be $10.00. After a loss continue to bet $10.00. When you win increase your bet and continue to add to your bet for as long as you win. After a loss start over with $10.00. You should have a number in mind of what you want to win for each segment of your six plays. When that amount is reached that play is over. This amount could be $100 up to a multiple of your $200 at risk. If you reach this goal pay your marker and cash out. If you lose $200 end this play and cash out the balance. Follow this routine for each segment of your play. By playing a disciplined Basic Strategy and not exceeding a $200 loss on any one play, you can, long term, provide yourself with many a low cost holiday and your share of winning plays. To follow is a Basic Strategy Chart. Good Luck and let me hear from you.
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | X | A | |
| 12 | H | H | S | S | S | H | H | H | H | H |
| 13 | S | S | S | S | S | H | H | H | H | H |
| 14 | S | S | S | S | S | H | H | H | H | H |
| 15 | S | S | S | S | S | H | H | H | H | H |
| 16 | S | S | S | S | S | H | H | H | H | H |
| S = STAND | H = HIT |
| TOP ROW - DEALER | SIDE COLUMN - YOU | |
| When DEALERshows - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 | YOU STAND on - 13 - 14 - 15 - 16 |
| HIT IF DEALER shows 2 or 3 |
| When DEALER shows - 7 - 8 - 9 - 10 - ACE | HIT UNTIL YOU GET 17 |
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If you have a computer practice!
A dice game or "CRAPS" as played in casinos may seem complicated to the novice. New players often insure a negative result by a naive, timid approach to the game. They give up 5 to 10% of the money put in action. This is done by making place and buy bets, field and proposition bets and neglecting to take odds. These errors are compounded by a "same-bet" system of money management. This allows the casino to grind a player out of a bankroll while assuming little or no risk to themselves. Since our goal is to produce WINNERS let's not fall into this trap.
You have many options as to the form your play will take. You may be inclined to bet Pass-line or Don't-pass, or follow a trend and bet Pass following a winner and Don't-pass after a loser. You may prefer the reverse. This may surprise you. It doesn't matter where you put your money. Flip a coin, Heads-Pass, Tails-Don't pass. When you belly up to a crap table you can only hope Lady Luck will favor you. When this occurs you must be in action. To be in action you must survive. You cannot afford to waste your bankroll on high percentage speculation. I repeat it doesn't matter where you place your bet as long as you put it on the PASS-LINE or DON'T-PASS. You are now giving up a fraction over 1%. When a point is established either "take" or "lay" the odds. You can receive or lay the true odds on your do or don't bet and pay no percentage. This is the only dead even gamble a casino offers. A $10.00 bet on Pass or Don't-pass plus your free option to take or lay the odds cost you a fraction over 10 cents. Some casinos offer multiple free odds up to 100x odds. With a ten dollar pass-line bet and a $1,000 free odds behind, a better has $1,010 in action with a house edge of only one thin dime.
A Casino-Managers nightmare would be a casino full of gamblers betting only pass or don't pass with full odds. There would be no billion dollar casinos Before you begin to play, decide how much you are prepared to risk during that play. Also have a dollar figure in mind you would be happy to walk with. This number could be a multiple or a fraction of your at risk money. Win or lose it's a prudent policy never to exceed a prepared for loss and to accept a decent win and take a break from play.
In order to get full value for your play check out the "comp" policies of the casino you are at.(see blackjack "21" section) If you find a spot offering you more give them your play. The game and odds are the same. Since the style of play I suggest is not considered "soft play" you will not be a very desirable player but the casinos will still want your play.
A FEW TIPS
1.Take or lay full odds. If the casino you're at offers multiple free odds, you may elect to begin with even odds and increase to multiples when the dice are going your way.
2. Pay attention to make sure your payoff is correct.
Mistakes will be made and about half will not be in your favor.(you should learn the odds BEFORE you risk your money)
3.If you are doing well a small bet next to yours for the dealers is not a bad policy.
4.Increase your bet after a winning bet NOT after a loser.
5.If you enjoy a cocktail -wait until you end your play.
6.If you feel you are losing control- end your play at once.
NEVER STEAM
7.If you think gambling is causing problems visit Gamblers-Anonymous
To Recap:
On the comeout roll before a point is established bet Pass-line or Don't-pass.
7 or 11, Pass-line wins, Don't-pass loses
One-one or one-two Don't-pass wins, Pass-line loses
Six-six(12) Pass-line loses, Don't-pass ties
Once a point is established-4,5,6,8,9 or 10 take or lay odds
When the established point shows before a seven Pass-line wins, Don't-pass loses. If seven is thrown before the point, the reverse is true.
True odds on points are:
4 or 10 - 2 to 15 or 9 - 3 to 2
6 or 8 - 6 to 5
A COME or DON'T COME bet is the same as a PASS or DON'T PASS bet after the point is established. If you are a beginner I suggest you stay with Pass or Don't pass. The Come and Don't come bets are moved on and behind their numbered boxes and may be confusing at first. The crap game offers a wide menu of betting choices. These include one roll wagers on craps, eleven, seven. You can bet on the 4, 6, 8 or 10 coming the hardway (2-2, 3-3 etc.). You can choose a point by buying or placing or lay the odds against any point. Keep in mind, if you choose any of these options or the Field, you will be paying dearly for the bet. This now becomes expensive entertainment. GOOD LUCK on your next play. If you win tell your pals Frank Rosenthal showed me the way. If you lose, lets keep it our little secret.
American
Roulette is a more expensive version of European Roulette.The
European layout has 36 numbers plus a zero to insure the
house a generous edge. The American game adds an additional
zero nearly doubling the house advantage to about 5 1/4
percent. Going up against high percentage games of chance
has always been expensive entertainment. You are giving
the house 52 cents for each $10.00 you put in action. This
includes: *a one number-straight up paying 35 to 1 *a two
number-split paying 17 to 1 *a three number-street paying
11 to 1 *a six number-line paying 5 to 1 *twelve number-columns
or dozens paying 2 to 1 eighteen number-red-black-odd or
even paying even money The only exception is the five number-line
(1, 2, 3, 0, 00) paying 6 to 1 and costing 78 cents per
$10.00. This is a gamble to avoid. If you are a wild and
carefree guy or gal who needs to taste all 28 flavors I
can only suggest a short, inexpensive style of play and
win or lose go on to another game. A courageous long time
friend of mine admits to taking an occasional "shot"
during half-time and every so often will turn a match stick
into a forest. He buys 20 $1.00 chips and "stars"
the number twenty. $4.00 straight up and $2.00 each on the
surrounding four splits and four corners. If any of the
nine numbers come up he parlays his payoff betting the same
way. When it's number twenty he catches, he has $360.00
to star number twenty with. That's $40.00 on each position.
He knows this strategy is a loser long term. He says at
his age catching the twenty and waiting for the ball to
drop with a possible jumbo jackpot pay of $6,760.00 gives
him the best "rush" he has had in years. I can't
speak for you but when I put my blood into handicapping
a game and watch it play out like a dream come true, it's
a high that has turned me on since I was a kid.
The choice between an American and European game and roulette rules video tips is up to you.
Two responsibilities of any Las Vegas casino operator are protecting the house bankroll and running a square game. With this in mind two casinos spread Chemin de Fer in the late 1950s. The game was played in many European casinos producing high profits and no risk at all for the house. The Banker took the risk and the house took a 5% commission of any winning bets. Since the game favors the bank everyone was happy. The game never took hold in Vegas. If it had we might never have seen Baccarat spread in U.S. casinos. Baccarat was introduced after Chemin de Fer failed to attract any play and was found to be more to U.S. players liking. Most of the casinos spreading the game offered a $2000 maximum, a lot of money in those days and the game slowly grew in popularity. When Caesars Palace opened their game they offered $4000 and $8000 limits to select players and developed the most profitable game in town. Today some WHALES are permitted to bet $300,000 on a hand of Baccarat. $5,000,000 wins or losses are becoming more commonplace. How should one play Baccarat? I asked a dozen players I know and will quote my favorite response. " I've got a foolproof system. It's worked for me for over 20 years. I flip a coin Heads-banker, Tails-player. I put what I'm prepared to lose on the table, usually a $1,000. I flip my coin and bet a $100. When I lose I always go back to a $100. When I win I bet $200. Whenever I win a $200 bet I press it $100. Whenever I win the $500 bet I hit the road." I asked what he did when he couldn't catch a parlay and lost his $1000. "I call you up for your best bet and take a $2,000 shot." I thought I'd quit while I was ahead and just assume my best bet solved his problem.
| Player Having | |||
| 1-2-3-4-5-10 | Draws a Card | ||
| 6-7 | Stands | ||
| 8-9 | Turns Cards Over | ||
| Banker Having | Draws When Giving | Does Not Draw When Giving | |
| 3 | 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-9-10 | 8 | |
| 4 | 2-3-4-5-6-7 | 1-8-9-10 | |
| 5 | 4-5-6-7 | 1-2-3-8-9-10 | |
| 6 | 6-7 | 1-2-3-4-5-8-9-10 | |
| 7 | Stands | ||
| 8-9 | Turns Cards Over | ||
FACE CARDS & 10'S COUNT AS ZERO
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