Sorry for the lack of posts. I just got back from visiting family in Las Vegas recently.
While I was down there, I was inspired to make create a quick and simple guide to have fun and increase the chances of winning money when testing your luck at the casinos!
I'll start off by describing the more popular games and the rules.
Before we begin, let us talk about table MIN bets and MAX bets. When you approach a table you will see a sign on the table outlining the limits of the bets. This is important as if you are a beginner, you might not want to be betting $25 at a time. You must also be careful if they are 1 time bets, or if they're games that need continuation bets (such as 3 card or 4 card poker). If these table minimums are $5, it means that you must ante $5 and to continue through you must bet an additional $5 to be able to get the chance to win. This also means that the total amount that you are risking is higher!
Let us begin!
Black Jack
Goal of the game:
With your cards, achieve a higher sum than the dealer without exceeding 21 points. If the dealer exceeds 21 points (busts), all players who have yet to bust wins a 1:1 ratio on their bets.
Vocabulary:
Hit - A request to the dealer for an additional card from the deck.
Stand - A request to the dealer that you do not want anymore cards.
Bust - To have the sum of your cards equal to higher than 21 points.
Blackjack - To have your first 2 cards add up to 21.
Push - Nobody loses, nobody wins. You and the dealer have the same count.
Insurance - If dealer shows an Ace, players may purchase insurance before dealer starts dealing 3rdcards to the players. Insurance is half the size of your own bet.
Surrender - If dealer is showing an Ace, you may choose to surrender your hand and receive half the amount of your bet back.
Split Pairs - If you have 2 of the same cards, or 2 face cards, you can split your hand into two hands. If you decide to split, you must double your bet by placing a bet of equal value to your original bet beside your first bet. When splitting Aces, 1 card is drawn and no additional cards can be requested.
Double Down - When the dealer shows a weak hand, players are able to double their bet (by placing the same bet behind their original bet). Player will only receive 1 additional card however. Player may not request for double down if he/she has already drawn an additional card.
Soft Hand - In blackjack, Aces act as either 1 point or 11 points. If you have a hand like A-7, you can either have 8 or 18. This is described as a soft hand.
Game Play:
1. Bet desired amount.
2. Dealer deals players 2 cards. In Canada, he deals himself 1 card face up. In the US, he deals himself 2 cards, 1 face up, 1 face down.
3. Add up the sum of your 2 cards.
4. Decide if it would be in your best interest to 'hit' or 'stand'. You may 'hit' as many cards as you like until you 'bust'.
5. Observe the dealer's points. Dealers are obliged to 'hit' if their sum is equal to or less than 16. Sums of 17, 18, 19, and 20 are not allowed to draw cards.
Extra/Bonus Bets:
- Each casino is different and will sometimes have special bets. It is a good idea to ask the dealer how to win the bet, how much to bet, and how much you would win from the bet. In Vancouver, we have something called 'Lucky Ladies' which if the sum of your 2 cards equate to 20, you will win 4:1 on your bet.
Special Notes:
- If dealer shows an Ace, players in the beginning of the turn are allowed to purchase insurance for half of the size of your own bet. If Dealer hits blackjack, players will receive 2:1 on their insurance bet. If dealer does not get blackjack, you will lose your insurance regardless of if you win or lose your hand.
- Blackjack, in some casinos, give you 1.5 payout on your bet. If dealer is showing an Ace, you may request for even money (1:1). If he pass this request and he gets blackjack, you will not receive any money for your blackjack.
- Counting cards is difficult and can get you banned from casinos (as per the movie "21" (2008)).
- No commissions are taken in this game as the odds of winning are against you.
- "Anchor" refers to the player last to act before the dealer draws/reveals his cards. Typically, Anchor play is expected to draw in certain situations, and stand in other situations. If you are new, it is advised that you do not sit in the Anchor position unless it is just you and the dealer!
- Players should also hit or stand depending on the card that the dealer shows. For example, if the dealer shows a 6, and you have 12, it is said that the dealer has a high chance of busting and hence you should not take another card.
Baccarat
Goal of the game:
To bet on the correct "team" (banker or player). The "team" with the added value equivalent or closest to 9 wins.
Sum of cards equating to 10 or more are rest to values between 1-9. For example, if player shows a 9 and 8, the value of this hand is 7. If player shows a J and 4, the value of the hand is 4. Then if the player draws an 8, the value of the hand is now 2. If you are having trouble seeing the pattern still, have no fear. Baccarat is simple to play, but difficult to understand. If in doubt, just follow the chinese people at the table with huge stacks of chips in front of them. XD
Vocabulary:
Natural - A value that doesn't receive any card draws. Natural numbers are 8 and 9.
Tie - A tie game will result in all bets being returned to them. If you bet on tie and hit it, it pays out 8:1. Tie bets are a 1 time bet and must be replenished after each hand if you wish to continue the bet.
Monkey - 10 or Face card (value of 0)
Game Play:
1. Bet desired value on either BANKER, PLAYER, or TIE.
** Note table limits. Your combined bet must equal to the minimum. If the minimum is $25, you may bet $20 on banker, and $5 on tie.
2. Watch the dealer do its thang... at the end he will announce who has won the hand and pay out the winners.
Extra/Bonus Bets:
- Some casinos offer bonus baccarat bets such as "dragon bonus". Ask your dealer for more details on how to bet, play, and win!
Special Notes:
- Baccarat is considered a more "fair" game out of the casino games. That is why they take commission on your winnings (banker only, as banker has a slightly higher chance of winning). If you want to know why, I can't tell you. It must have something to do with the order that they draw cards in!
- How to bet small at high limit tables for Baccarat - If the table limits are too high for your bank roll, you may decrease the amount that you are risking by betting on both teams. For example, if you only want to bet $10 on banker, you may bet $35 on banker, and $25 on player. If it is a tie, all teams will get their money back.
- There is a saying: "New dealer, new tie!" If you are superstitious, go ahead and make that bet ;)
- When your team has already made the highest hand, and the other team is drawing, scream "MONKEY" as loud as you can for special effects ^_^
Pai Gow Poker
Goal of the game:
To have a better card combinations than the dealer.
Vocabulary:
Fortune Bonus - A minimum of $1 placed in the bonus circle. This allows you to receive payouts if you should get anything higher than 3 of a kind. Payout bonuses are usually available on the table. $5 bets will earn you the 'envy' tile in which if other players at the table hit a huge hand, you will also receive bonus payouts!
Lup Lup - Dealer has nothing better than high cards.
Poker Hands - This game uses the universal rules of cards. If you do not know them, please do not play this game!
Push - Tie game. Player gets his bet back. If you've bet the bonus, you will not get that back unless you get an eligible bonus.
Game Play:
1. Place desired bet amount.
2. Wait until all cards are dealt.
3. Pick up and look at your cards.
4. There are 2 spots to place your cards on the table after you've finished arranging them. The top spot is for 2 cards. These should be your second biggest 2-carded combination you can make with your cards. The bottom should be your strongest combination you can arrange wit your cards. If you are confused, you may ask the dealer to help you.
5. After you are done arranging your cards and placing them in the correct places, the dealer will reveal his cards. You will then have a showdown between your cards and the dealer's cards. To win, your 'Best hand' and '2nd best hand' must BOTH beat the dealer's best and 2nd best hands. If you win one, and the dealer wins one, it is a push. If you lose both your best and 2nd best hands you will lose.
Extra/Bonus Bets:
- Fortune Bonus - A straight will give you a 2:1 payout. A 7-card straight flush will give you a 8000:1 payout.
Special Notes:
- Before the dealer shows his cards, scream LUP LUP as loud as you can for special effects ^_^- The dealer will take turns offering players at the table to become the dealer. Unless you are capable of paying out the entire table and their bets, do not accept! If you are playing 1 on 1 with the dealer, sometimes you may want to take their cards for luck!
- In any of the top or bottom battles, if you have the same cards as the dealer, its your loss.
Three Card Poker
Goal of the game:
Have a better combination of 3 cards than the dealer. Since everyone is only dealt 3 cards, the rank order of combinations changes slightly. Please refer to this to see the rank order for 3 card poker.
Vocabulary:
Ante - the initial bet you must make to receive cards
Play - the continuation bet you must make to continue to see the dealer's cards
Bonus - an optional bet you may make to get paid out on hands equal or higher than a pair
Game Play:
1. Bet an ante.
2. Look at your cards. This is where you must choose to make a continuation bet or to fold. If you have a pair or more, it is definitely a playable hand! In certain cases, even Ace high is a decent hand. It will depend on what the dealer gets.
3a. Fold your hand and wait for a better one next time. OR
3b. Make the continuation bet by betting the same bet from 'ante' in the 'play' circle.
4. Dealer will show his hand and payout winners and collect from the losers.
Extra/Bonus Bets:
- Bonuses are quite lucrative in this game so make sure you check that out on the diagrams on the table. If it isn't there, ask the dealer! Highest bonus is a 3-Card straight-flush (a 40-1 payout)!
Special Notes:
- If dealer does not qualify (has a Queen or higher), he will pay 1:1 on your ante, and push your play bet- If dealer qualifies, and your hand wins, you win both ante and play bets
- If dealer qualifies, and your hand ties, you push both ante and play bets
- If dealer qualifies, and your hand loses, you lose both ante and play bets
- Bonus bets are not related to your ante and play bets. If you qualify for a bonus, even if the dealer beats your hand, you will still get paid out for the bonus.
I hope you enjoyed this short guide on how to play a few of the most popular games on the casino floor! Good luck and remember: Know your limit - play within it, when gambling isn't a game anymore, play it right, etc. etc.
Gamble responsibly!
Coming Soon, guides for:
Four Card Poker
Texas Shoot Out
Casino War
Slot Machines
Roulette
