GamingTips

So, with Chinese New Year approaching rapidly, I figured I’d continue with the baccarat theme (since baccarat is very popular with the high end Asian market).

First, baccarat is played with 8 decks of cards.

Second, let’s discuss the differences between baccarat and mini-baccarat.

The main difference, obviously, is the size of the table.  Full-sized baccarat tables are enormous, and usually seat 14 players, with three staff members.  Mini-baccarat tables have one dealer, and are much smaller, seating 7 players.  Second, in mini-bac the dealer will deal both hands.  In baccarat, the players take turns as the “bank” dealing the cards.  Each playerhas their turn to deal and will continue to deal as long as the “bank” keeps winning, and then pass them on.

The final difference is the betting limits.  Baccarat is usually played in a roped off (or separate room) high limit area and has very high limits.  Mini-bac is found on the main casino floor, and will usually have limits more in line with low limit blackjack tables.

So let’s go a little more in depth on the 3 card hand.  We’ll talk about the payouts, the probabilites, etc.

To start with, with 3 cards out of a 52 card deck, there are 22100 different possible combinations.

Of those 22100 possibilities, 48 are straight flushes, 52  are three of a kind, 720 are straights, 1096 are flushes, and 3744 are pairs.  That leaves 16,440 possibilities that are nothing.

Now, percentages.  Straight flush and three of  a kinds each have less than .5% probability.  Straights are just over 3%, flushes are just under 5%, and pairs are just under 17%.  That leaves  74% of hands as nothing.  Which means that aproximately 1 out of every 4 hands, you should win something.  What will you win?  Below is the pay table for the three card hand:

Straight flush-40

Three of a kind-25

Straight-6

Flush-4

Pair-1

 Hopefully this satisfies the math/statistics folks.

So for those of us who started gambling outside of Vegas and AC, we probably saw Bingo advertised all over the place, even if we’ve never played.  Think you know what Bingo is?  Think again.

Back when I was underage (but over 18), I was in Tampa for New Years.  I was there semi-on my own, and the people I did know were all 21 or had IDs.  So, I went to the new-at-the-time Seminole Hard Rock.  I was very disappointed.  They called it a casino but all they had was machines, poker, and bingo.  So I played some bingo.

But it’s not just a contest to get lines.  There were many rounds, with many different objectives.  When you get your cards, they were all color coded to correspond to the different rounds.  One card was for blackout, one for four corners, I think there was one where we had to get an “L” or some other shape.

Also, for those of us who are not that good with remembering the necessary patterns, or blotting with our red marker, they had machines that you could use.  You put your cards in (it even told you if you put in the wrong card for the wrong game) and it marked the numbers for you.

That being said, the basic game goes like this:

You come in, at the beginning of the game, and buy cards.  The cards are squares sorted into rows and colums of numbers.  Across the top are the letters B-I-N-G-O.  You have a red blotter or chips or some toher way to mark the squareson your card.  The caller will then call numbers, and the letter that corresponds to the number.  For instance, B-4, O-68, etc.  You mark them on your card.  In the classic version of the game, you are trying to get 5 in a row, vertically, horizontally or diagonally.  As discussed above, though, there are various variations.  When you get whatever pattern you are going for, you yell “BINGO!” (the best part of the game), and they come verify your numbers.  You then win the prize.  It really is that simple.  Not rocket science, but it can be a good time, especially if you go with a group or if you like people watching.

Keno is a once popular game which seems to be losing its player base, although some people still love it.  Now it is often found in bars, cafes, sports books, or other multiple-use areas of the casino, rather than in its own lounge, as it once was.

I like to think of keno as a quick, slightly tweaked version of the lotto.  It has terrible odds, but can have some pretty good (not lottery-like, but still) payouts.

Basically, you pick a number or set of numbers between 1 and 80.  The keno drawer (in a live game) or machine, then picks 20 numbers.  You get paid out according to the number of your numbers which match numbers from those 20 chosen for the game.  The odds are printed on the cards, and vary depending on the amount of numbers you picked and how many came up.

It really is that easy.  And it’s also now becoming a very popular machine-based game (perhaps this is why the casinos no longer have keno lounges), often found on the same machines as video poker.

Instead of strictly how to, I’m going to take  a moment to post on why I think that learning to play video poker is a worthwhile investment for any gambler.  First, if you live in Nevada, the machines are everywhere.  Not that it’s good to play them everywhere, but, if you don’t like the hustle and bustle of the busy casinos, you can go to the locals bar down the street and play.  Or the grocery store.  Or the gas station.

Even if you don’t live in Nevada, if you plan on visiting us, consider learning how to play.  Waiting for your flight home?  Waiting for a friend at the airport?  We’ve got video poker machines there for you too.

Also, although not at the airport, the gas station, or the grocery store, video poker is a great way to kill time and get free drinks.  I always play if I’m out to eat at a bar and waiting for my food, or if i’m meeting friends and I’m waiting for them.

Also, although it is illegal to play them for cash prizes, video poker machines themselves are present in a lot of states for entertainment purposes, or for prizes like food/drink certificates.

Finally, video poker is relatively easy to learn, and to play.  That means you can play it with your friends and still carry on a conversation, or watch the big game.  It’s not like some other games which require your constant attention.

As with any casino game, the odds on Let it Ride can vary slightly from one casino to the next, or even from one table to the next.  The odds I’m listing are assuming the “optimal” payouts below:

Royal-1000:1

Straight Flush-200:1

4 of a kind-50:1

Full house-11:1

Flush-8:1

Straight-5:1

Three of a Kind-3:1

Two pair-2:1

10s or better-1:1.

With these odds, the house edge is aproximately 3.6%.  That makes this a far worse game than blackjack or craps to play, but as I’ve mentioned in my post on the basics, it can still be fun, and it’s still possible to win quite a bit if you walk away after your big hand.

Speaking of winning big all of a sudden, the bonus bet has a house edge of about 13%, which is awful.  I personally will continue to bet it, however, because the emotional and mental damage of hitting a big hand and not betting the dollar is too much for me to handle.

So really, baccarat strategy is fairly simple.  Basically, bet on the bank all the time.  Not that the odds are that great, even when betting on the banker, but… they are better than the other odds.

Interestingly enough, baccarat players tend to be very superstitious.  You will see them  tracking the scores religiously (either on lit up boards above the table or on their own score cards).  Remember, luck is blind.  The chances of you drawing a natural are no better if the banker won  the last hand, or the last 10, or the last 12.  They are what they are.  And they are such that the banker has a slightly lower house edge than any other bet on the table.

So 3-5-7 is not a very complicated game, and after betting, the player really has no control over what happens, other than whether or not to surrender.  But, between that and the fact that you may choose to bet different amounts on the 3, 5, and 7 card hands, there actually is a strategic element to the game.  It’s really quite simple.  First, the house advantages of the games are as follows:

 3-3.49%, 5-4.12%, 7-3.28%

So, a couple of things should be clear here.  First, if you know how to, and enjoy, playing other games, by all means do.  This is not the best odds on the casino floor, by a long shot.  That being said, the basic strategy is pretty self explanatory.  Remember that the 7 card hand is optional to play.  It’s not from a strategic point.   Always play the 7 card hand.  Along the same lines, never surrender.  Finally, place bets according to odds.  For instance, you might place $10 on the 3 card hand, $5 on the 5 card hand, and $15 on the 7 card hand.

Video poker looks like, and, in fact, often shares machines with, slots, but is far different.  For one thing, it requires skill.  For another, it is more active and engaging.

Video poker offers a variety of games, but all are based on five card draw.  The player is dealt five cards, chooses which to hold and which to draw, and is then paid based on the resulting five card hand, according to the pay table available on the machine.

A lot of the skill in video poker is actually in choosing the machines.  Even machines which look similar to, and carry the same brand, as others, may not pay the same.  Although I won’t go into too much detail here, it is easy enough to find listings of what is considered “full pay” for all of the different variations.  As an example, 9/6 Jacks or Betters is considered full pay.  That means that for a full house, the machine pays 9 credits, and for a flush it pays 6.   When selecting machines and games, you should know the “full pay” payouts for the variation you want to play, and find a machine that is at, or very close to, those payouts.  For most variations, “full pay” games bring you within 1% for the house advantage, which is pretty good.

The other nice thing about video poker is the machines are often located at, or even in, the bar.  If you are playing, your drinks are usually free, and you don’t need to wait for a cocktail waitress like when you play slots or table games.  This is a very nice way to pass some time, and out here in Nevada, these machines can be found everywhere from casinos to local bars, to 7-11 and the grocery store.

On the Craps table there are a few really good bets, a lot of sucker bets, and 2 bets that should never, ever be bet.

Those bets are the Big 6 and the Big 8.  They appear on the lower, outside corners of the layout on each side, between the two Don’t Passes.  They are usually in red, in big boxes, and simply say “6″ and “8.”

Some casinos have even had the kindness to take these bets off the table, but if they are there, don’t bet them.

These bets are exactly identical to a 6 or 8 place bet, except that they pay even money.  That’s right.  You can make a bet that pays 7:6, or you can bet the exact same bet, and it will pay even.  So not only are you increasing the house odds by 20%, you’re doing it for no reason.

I can understand people betting the field, the horn, the hardways, and other bad bets.  Gamblers are superstitious people, and some of us like our certain numbers or dice combinations.  But remember, if 6 or 8 is your number, bet it as a place bet, not the “Big 6″ or “Big 8.”