Table Holdem, the easiest casino game to beat?

BeL0wMe · #1 04-14-2007, 08:23 AM

I posted this somewhere else, but I just came back from a nice 250$ win at this table hold'em game they have at Harrah's in New Orleans. Basically the game is this. You pay a 10 dollar ante, get two cards, pay 20 if you want to see the flop, and then have the option of checking or betting 10 on 4 and 5 street. The great thing about this is that the dealer can't fold, and you only have to beat him. My strategy was basically playing any king, any ace, connectors, Q 7+, J 8+, and any pairs obv. And only betting when I hit mid pair or better, or bet a dry ace if the board pairs on the flop. Is there something that I am missing here? Seems to me to be a very exploitable game...

playersare · #2 04-14-2007, 08:34 AM

http://wizardofodds.com/texasholdembonus

casinos are not in the business of offering easily beatable table games.

BeL0wMe · #3 04-14-2007, 09:36 AM

Fair enough, perhaps I was just on a hot run, but can we get like a generally acceptable strategy for this game, because even if the house is winning 4% of the time, if I'm playing perfectly, then it's still worth it to me in fun value.
I disagree with that guy saying you should play every hand besides 23 24 25 26 27, unsuited. Seems like that guy doesn't know much about poker.
The sucker bet is obviously the bonus bet, which if you know anything about odds should be obvious.
Again I think he plays way too many hands, the money, playing only top 70% hands, and ditching crap seems like 10 4, 9 5, seems to be the way to win. But I don't think I've thought this through long enough, and my sample size is a bit too small ~ 50 hands.

TStoneMBD · #4 04-14-2007, 05:03 PM

ive been beating that game over a long stretch of sessions using a strategy similar to yours. it nets a 2%-5% edge based on my results and standard deviation.

*TT* · #5 04-15-2007, 12:25 PM

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ive been beating that game over a long stretch of sessions using a strategy similar to yours. it nets a 2%-5% edge based on my results and standard deviation.

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I can also concur, except my sample size is also small. When i finally started using the same strategy as Wizard of Odds, I dumped 50 units in 20 minutes. That was also my only losing session at this game.

jackhigh · #6 04-17-2007, 07:10 PM

I like, and have done well (almost always break even or win) in Vegas with this game as well. I think the casinos are counting on idiot tourist gamblers who don't know much about poker to play this game. I was playing one night and a lady next to me kept berating me for not playing the bonus spot. I told her that was the "sucker bet" and that they don't pay nearly the correct odds for hitting your hand. Everyone at the table but me played the bonus - that is why casinos love this game.

I wonder how expolitable this game would be if you filled every seat with a "team player" that would communicate their cards to the other players. You could base your betting decisions on knowing all 5 hands in the hole. Could you get enough of a long term edge to beat the game... maybe this could replace bj card counting? [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

elliot · #7 04-17-2007, 08:51 PM

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ive been beating that game over a long stretch of sessions using a strategy similar to yours. it nets a 2%-5% edge based on my results and standard deviation.

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I can also concur, except my sample size is also small. When i finally started using the same strategy as Wizard of Odds, I dumped 50 units in 20 minutes. That was also my only losing session at this game.

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link plz

SamIAm · #8 04-18-2007, 08:29 AM

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[ QUOTE ]
I can also concur, except my sample size is also small. When i finally started using the same strategy as Wizard of Odds, I dumped 50 units in 20 minutes. That was also my only losing session at this game.

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link plz

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Um, check the post right above the one you quoted.

aargh57 · #9 04-18-2007, 04:04 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Fair enough, perhaps I was just on a hot run, but can we get like a generally acceptable strategy for this game, because even if the house is winning 4% of the time, if I'm playing perfectly, then it's still worth it to me in fun value.

[/ QUOTE ]

By that rationale Keno could be worth it in fun value.

ScottieK · #10 04-20-2007, 07:00 PM

Casino edge is mostly in the ante, which doesn't get paid off unless you win with a straight or higher, but does get lost if you lose. Bonus bet is terrible, but almost everyone I see plays it. I've been able to basically play two hands with my gf sitting next to me, and I tell her what to do. Dealers don't seem to mind if the table actively shares cards....like saying "yes, caught my top pair" or "come on spades!" or even asking people what they've got. I usually do well at this game, but it can really suck like blackjack if the dealer runs hot. My favorite table game.

ScottieK