Where is the casino's edge in war?

Colombo · #1 06-26-2007, 10:05 PM

I just got back from Turning Stone and watched my friend crush war. It really makes no sense where they get the edge from.

Basically, you are getting 1:1 on a 50/50 shot. In addition to this though, if you go to war (you each get dealt the same cards) you are offered 2:1 if you decide to continue. So, it seems to me that this game favors the player.

TomCowley · #2 06-26-2007, 10:15 PM

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If the player elects to go to war he must raise his bet by an amount equal to his original wager. The dealer will do the same but this is just for show. The dealer will then burn three cards and give the player and dealer another card each. If the player's second card equals or beats the dealer then the player shall win even money on the raise only and the original wager shall push. If the dealer's second card is greater the player shall lose both bets.

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Assuming you continue, you're laying 2:1 on the tiebreaker for an EV of -1/2 bet. If you surrender half the bet, it's the same outcome. Casino wins, as always.

Colombo · #3 06-26-2007, 10:54 PM

no no, the casino gives you $2 for every $1 you bet is what i meant.

playersare · #4 06-26-2007, 11:03 PM

http://wizardofodds.com/war

by going to war you're laying 1:2, not 2:1.

a) if you win war you win 1 unit and the second bet pushes.

b) if you lose war you lose both bets.

there is sometimes a small bonus for tying twice in a row but it is nowhere close to offsetting rule a).

KSOT · #5 06-27-2007, 02:40 AM

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no no, the casino gives you $2 for every $1 you bet is what i meant.

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No they don't.

CORed · #6 06-27-2007, 02:52 AM

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no no, the casino gives you $2 for every $1 you bet is what i meant.

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Not true. When you go to war, you have to put up another bet. The dealer then engages in a tricky little bit of misdirection. The dealer takes chips out of his tray and appears to "match" your extra bet. However, these are the chips you would have gotten anyway if you had won outright. If you win, you get to keep all three bets: The bet you put up initially, the bet you put up when you went to war, and the bet the dealer put out(which you would have won anyway if you'd had the higher card initially). Net result: You win one bet.

If you lose the war, the dealer takes all three bets. Net result: You lose two bets.

If you tie a second time, you win. In some casinos, you win a net of two bets. In some, just one. either way, you are a little better off going to war than you are giving up half your bet if you tie.

The first (and last) time I played, I was initially fooled myself. I didn't think I was getting 2:1, but I thought the dealer really matched my extra bet when I went to war. I couldn't figure out where the house advantage was. Somewhere along the way, I realized that I was actually laying 2 to 1 when I went to war, and it all made sense. I don't know of any other table game where they go to so much trouble to disguise the house edge. Probably because it would be so obvious the even a typical casino sucker would say "Hey wait a minute." if they played it straight.

Quadstriker · #7 06-27-2007, 03:04 AM

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no no, the casino gives you $2 for every $1 you bet is what i meant.

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Not true. When you go to war, you have to put up another bet. The dealer then engages in a tricky little bit of misdirection. The dealer takes chips out of his tray and appears to "match" your extra bet. However, these are the chips you would have gotten anyway if you had won outright. If you win, you get to keep all three bets: The bet you put up initially, the bet you put up when you went to war, and the bet the dealer put out(which you would have won anyway if you'd had the higher card initially).

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That is so slick. Good thinking casino.

maidenguy · #8 06-27-2007, 08:38 AM

with a HA of -2.88% it doesnt seem bad but remember with a $5 base bet and app.150 hands per hour the price per hour is-$21.60. Speed of the game also has to be taken into account in all casino games. With a low HA and with the speed of casino war the cost per hour is very high.

dshan80 · #9 06-29-2007, 02:27 AM

colombOWNED...for i am the one that crushed war.

there are no odds, i just have sick intuition. of when to switch my bet from $150 to $5...lmao

kyleparks · #10 07-10-2007, 09:26 PM

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colombOWNED...for i am the one that crushed war.

there are no odds, i just have sick intuition. of when to switch my bet from $150 to $5...lmao

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he will soon be trolling BBV4lyf