A Gambling Game In Which Players Bet Against The Dealer

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The Crossword Solver found 20 answers to the A gambling game in which players bet against the dealer on what cards he or she will turn up (4) crossword clue. The Crossword Solver finds answers to American-style crosswords, British-style crosswords, general knowledge crosswords and cryptic crossword puzzles. Blackjack is a gambling game, so hedging your bet and playing safe by taking Insurance or even money doesn’t make much sense. In around 7 out of ten instances the Dealer shows an Ace they will not have blackjack, so buying Insurance is a losing long-term strategy and should be avoided. It is a comparing card game between one or more players and a dealer, where each player in turn competes against the dealer. Players do not compete against each other. It is played with one or more decks of 52 cards, and is the most widely played casino banking game in the world.: 342. Although the game marketers claimed the variation was to the advantage of the casino, it turned out that players who exercised the 50/50 Split only against dealer 2-6 had a 2% advantage. According to one pit boss, the casino suffered a $230,000 loss in three and a half days.

Introduction

A Gambling Game In Which Players Bet Against The Dealer Record

Free Bet Blackjack is a blackjack variant by game inventor Geoff Hall. The twist to this one is the player doesn't have to risk his own money when splitting or doubling (most of the time). It is like playing with a generous boyfriend at the table who makes all the supplemental bets for you and lets you keep the winnings. What is the catch? Like in Geoff's other game, Blackjack Switch, if the dealer gets a 22, all bets left standing push.

The game opened for business on June 20, 2012 at the Golden Nugget. I went down for the game's debut and found the table full of people enjoying the game. The strategy is simpler and offers more doubles and splits than conventional blackjack. Gamblers who find the basic strategy of conventional blackjack too complicated to memorize may take relief in the simplicity of Free Bet Blackjack.

Rules

The rules have changed since the game launched at the Golden Nugget. It is my understand that the rules below are now the norm. The game is based on standard blackjack, with the following rules:
  • Six decks
  • Dealer hits soft 17's
  • Blackjacks pay 3 to 2
  • Double after split allowed
  • Double on two cards only
  • Re-split pairs up to four hands, including aces
  • No surrender

The game introduces two major rule changes:

  1. 'Free Doubles' on hard totals of two-card total of 9, 10, or 11. Regular doubles are still allowed on all other two-card hands. With a 'free double,' the player's original wager is matched with a 'free bet' button and the player receives one additional card. At the end of the hand:
    • If the dealer wins, the player loses his original wager only.
    • If the hand results in a push, the player gets back his original wager only.
    • Otherwise, if the player wins, the player gets back his original wager plus winnings equal to double that wager.
  2. 'Free Splits' on all pairs except 10's. With a 'free split,' the player's two cards are divided into two one-card hands. The player's original wager is placed with the first hand and a 'free bet' button is placed with the second hand. The player plays out each hand one at a time and is entitled to a 'free double' or 'free split' on both hands. For winning hands, each 'free bet' button is replaced with real chips equaling the original wager. On hands resulting in a player loss or push, the dealer takes back the 'free bet' button.
  3. Dealer pushes on 22. If the player has 21 or less and the dealer busts with 22, then the player's wager is a push.

Basic Strategy

Strategy depends on whether you are playing a real money bet or a free bet. There is a difference because a push is just as bad as a loss on a Free Bet, thus causing a more aggressive strategy. The following three tables show the strategy for a real money hand, free bet hand, and pairs respectively.

If you remember just one thing about the strategy, accept every free double and free split opportunity.

House Edge

The house edge under the standard rules above is 1.04%.

Rule Variants

Following are the effects of some possible rule variants. The effects are the change in the player's expected return. The figures below with a (SH) were taken with permission from Discount Gambling. The ones with a (Wiz) were calculated by me. It is interesting that the greater the number of decks, the better the odds for the player, which is the opposite of conventional blackjack. I assume it is because there is more free-splitting with more decks, due to a lesser effect of non-replacement.

  • Free doubles with three or more cards (DG): +0.66%.
  • Dealer stands on soft 17 (DG): +0.31%.
  • Late surrender allowed (DG): +0.21%.
  • One deck: -0.14% (Wiz).
  • Two decks: -0.06% (Wiz).
  • Eight decks: +0.01% (Wiz,DG).
  • No re-splitting aces (DG): -0.08%.
  • No free re-splits on a pair of fours (DG): -0.27%.
  • No re-splitting 2-9: -0.32% (DG).
  • No double or free-double after a split (DG): -0.70%.
  • Blackjack pays 6 to 5: -1.36% (Wiz).

Pot of Gold

I have heard reports that some casinos offer a side bet called Pot of Gold, which is based on the number of Free Bet tokens the player accumulates per initial hand. The Washington Gambling Commission lists two Pot of Gold pay tables. Following is my analysis of both of them. These tables were based on a random simulation. The lower right cells show a house edge of 5.77% on pay table 1 and 4.64% on pay table 2.

Pot of Gold — Pay Table 1

TokensPaysProbabilityReturn
710000.0000020.002026
63000.0000270.008140
51000.0001940.019445
4600.0008470.050799
3300.0038660.115973
2100.0134880.134884
130.1481550.444466
0-10.833420-0.833420
Total1.000000-0.057686

Pot of Gold — Pay Table 2

TokensPaysProbabilityReturn
71000.0000020.000203
61000.0000270.002713
51000.0001940.019445
4500.0008470.042333
3300.0038660.115973
2120.0134880.161861
130.1481550.444466
0-10.833420-0.833420
Total1.000000-0.046426

The player can lower the house edge on the Pot of Gold by splitting fives instead of doubling, at the detriment of the primary wager. If the player splits fives the house edge on the Pot of Gold will be 2.75% under Pay Table 1 and 1.48% under Pay Table 2. Splitting fives, instead of doubling, will increase the house edge on the base wager by 0.15%.

Acknowledgement

Which

I would like to thank Geoff Hall, the inventor, for his cooperation with the rules and sharing the math report. This report is based on a combination of work between Stephen How and me. We are in close agreement on the house edge. The basic strategy and some of the effects of rule variations are the work of Stephen How.

Internal Links

  • Original rule card. Please note that doubling on three or more cards is no longer allowed but free splits of fours is. Overall, the old rules were better, of course. Table game rules seldom get better for the player.

Outside Links

  • Free Bet Blackjack page at Discount Gambling.
  • Free Bet Blackjack Facebook page.

WhichWritten by:Michael Shackleford
Laura Klusaite

Table Of Contents

A Gambling Game In Which Players Bet Against The Dealer
  • Casino Hold’em is a variant of Poker that you play against the house
  • To play it right, you need to know Casino Hold’em rules and strategy
  • Read about it all in this article (and register to play Casino Hold’em)

Poker is one of the most challenging games in the world because you play it against other players.

No matter how experienced they are (or not), that requires not only a good strategy but also an ability to read people.

Why Play Casino Hold’em?

Casino Hold’em is a relatively new game in gambling history. It dates back to the 90s but it was quick to earn its respectable place at the Casinos. Land-based and online alike.

Why?

There are a couple of reasons.

A gambling game in which players bet against the dealer locator

First, it’s the best game to play if you are learning Poker. Especially, Texas Hold’em game.

The rules are similar and the hand ranking is exactly the same. And you don’t need to panic about needing to beat two or more people. You only play with the house.

You don’t need to be at a Poker room or a Casino, you don’t need to find people to play with - a laptop or a phone will be just fine.

And what’s even better (if you’re a terrible liar, at least) - you don’t need to bluff your way out of a bad hand.

Bluffing won’t work here - the dealer plays until the end.

The game may disconnect if you take an hour to make a choice but it should be fine if you leave it for a minute or so.

How to Play Casino Hold’em Online?

Have you ever thought of how Poker is played against the dealer? Open a Casino Hold’em game online and you'll see for yourself.

Casino Hold’em rules are similar to the ones of Texas Hold’em Poker. Except you don’t play against other players. Your goal is to beat the dealer. Like in most Casino games.

Thus, many players simply call it a Casino-style Texas Hold’em Poker. But generally, you will find it online and offline as Casino Hold’em.

Casino Hold’em Rules

Casino Hold’em games include the standard 52-card deck.

You start playing by making an ante bet. It’s a forced wager you need to make before the flop.

You can also make a side bet. In Casino Hold’em it’s known as AA (Bonus) bet.

Once you set your wagers, both you and the dealer get two hole cards each.

When you play Casino Hold’em online, you play alone. In some multi-hand versions, you can play two or three hands at the same time.

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When you play at a brick-and-mortar Casino, the number of players can vary. Players come and go.

Once the players’ cards are dealt, the flop with community cards follows.

If you’re not familiar with Poker terms, the flop is the first three cards that are dealt face up on the table.

These cards are called community cards because all the players and the dealer can use them to make a five-card hand with the highest rank.

And that’s what you need to do if you want to win.

A Gambling Game In Which Players Bet Against The Dealer Online

Once you see the flop, you have two options:

  • to call - to bet and continue playing
  • to fold - to discard your hand and wait for another round

Calling requires a bet that’s twice the size of your ante. But you can’t win if you don’t call.

When you fold online, the game skips to the next bet without revealing the remaining cards or the dealer’s cards.

You lose, the house wins.

When you call, the remaining two community cards are dealt.

Then the dealer’s cards go face up and you see the outcome of the game - who has a better hand and takes home the pot.

Casino Hold’em Hand Ranking

From the highest to the lowest, Casino Hold’em hands go like this:

Casino Hold’em HandExplanationExample
Royal FlushAce, King, Queen, Jack, and 10 in the same suit
Straight FlushFive cards in the same suit, all in a rank sequence
Four of a KindFour cards of the same rank
Full HouseThree of a Kind and a Pair
FlushFive cards in the same suit
StraightFive cards a rank sequence
Three of a KindThree cards of the same rank
Two PairTwo pairs of different ranks
PairTwo cards of the same rank
High CardHighest card when no higher hand is available

Royal Flush is the best possible hand you can have when you combine your hand with the community cards. Whereas a pair of Aces is the best hole cards you can get.

But don’t you worry if that’s not exactly what you have in your hand.

A Gambling Game In Which Players Bet Against The Dealer Crossword

There’s more to Casino Hold’em than the best possible cards.

A Gambling Game In Which Players Bet Against The Dealer Near Me

Casino Hold’em Outcomes and Payouts

As there are three bets in the game (ante, raise, and AA), you win each bet under certain conditions.

Ante Bet

You win ante bet if your hand beats the dealer’s hand.

You receive one of the following payouts, based on where does your hand rank:

Your HandAnte Payout
Royal Flush100 to 1
Straight Flush20 to 1
Four of a Kind10 to 1
Full House3 to 1
Flush2 to 1
Straight or lower1 to 1

Raise Bet

In order to win most, not only you have to have a good hand but the dealer has to have a decent hand, too.

Game joker slot. In Poker terms, the dealer needs to qualify. In the game of Casino Hold’em the dealer qualifies with a Pair of Fours or better.

If your hand beats the dealer’s but the dealer’s hand doesn’t qualify - the raise bet is a push - you get your wager back but you don’t win.

Thus, you win the raise bet only if the dealer qualifies and you beat their hand. When that happens, the raise bet pays 1 to 1.

Casino Hold’em outcomes in a nutshell:

Dealer qualifiesDealer doesn’t qualify
Your hand beats the dealer's handYou win both ante and raise betsYou win ante bet, raise bet is a push
Your hand doesn’t beat the dealer's handYou lose both ante and raise betsYou win ante bet but lose the raise bet
Both your and dealer’s hands are equalBoth ante and raise bets are a pushBoth ante and raise bets are a push

AA (Bonus) Bet

Unlike ante and raise bets, AA bonus bet is not related to your hand beating the dealer’s or the dealer’s hand qualifying.

It’s considering only your hand the flop (first three community cards).

If during this stage your hand is a Pair of Aces or better, you win AA bet. The payouts are pretty sweet, too:

Your HandAA Payout
Royal Flush100 to 1
Straight Flush50 to 1
Four of a Kind40 to 1
Full House30 to 1
Flush20 to 1
Pair of Aces to Straight7 to 1

You know whether you win AA bet before you know the final outcome of the game.

No matter what are the remaining community cards, you can only win AA bet if your hand is a Pair of Aces or better during the flop.

Live Casino Hold’em

Like many other Casino games, you can also play Casino Hold’em live.

It means you will still be playing at an online Casino but not against the random number generator.

A real dealer will be dealing your cards and talking to you via a computer or a smartphone screen in the real time.

That’s a good alternative if you need human contact when playing Casino games online.

However, remember: the pace of live dealer games is a lot faster in comparison to when you play against the online game.

Casino Hold’em Strategy

Approximately, Casino Hold’em has a house edge of up to 2.5 percent. That’s not the best odds at a Casino.

But not the worst ones either.

It’s more difficult to come up with a simple basic strategy that games like Blackjack or Pontoon have.

A Gambling Game In Which Players Bet Against The Dealer Locator

But not everything is lost when playing online.

Yes, calculating the probability whether you will get favorable cards after the flop or not would be a pain in the a*s. But it’s nothing for a computer.

And you are already on one!

Open a Casino Hold’em Strategy calculator in a separate window, type in what cards you have and what community cards are dealt. The computer will advise you whether you should call (raise) or fold.

I have to admit, it won’t be that easy to switch between tabs on a smartphone. And to take time to check every hand will be impossible if you play Casino Hold’em live.

But if you use it frequently enough when playing online, you will start noticing the probability of some cards and have a better feeling when to call or fold.

Where to Play Casino Hold’em?

Once you know how to play Casino Hold’em, you need to know where.

You can consider sites to play for free (for example, here). Many Casino sites will let you practice the game.

But when you want to play for money, you need to look further.

You need a place that’s a) trustworthy (safe and secure, licensed and regulated), b) has a Casino Hold’em game in their collection, and c) is available at your location.

So, how about this online Casino?

It does have both Casino Hold’em online and Live games. The minimum bets start at $1 and you can bet up to $100 per round.

Plus, if you join this Casino as a new player, you get a deposit match bonus and extra free spins!

That’s a real bargain for anyone who likes playing Casino games.

The promotion presented on this page was available at the time of writing. With some Casino promotions changing on daily basis, we suggest you to check on the site if it still available. Also, please do not forget to read the terms and conditions in full before you accept a bonus.

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