Texas Holdem Poker Beginning Strategy

Best Starting Hands in Texas Holdem Poker

The Texas Holdem Poker Beginner Strategy that I recommend is playing only the best starting Texas Holdem Poker hands.

The hands that you should be playing as a beginning Texas Holdem Poker player are: A-A, K-K, Q-Q, J-J, 10-10, 9-9, 8-8, A-Ks (the s means that both cards are the same suit – both clubs), A-Qs, K-Qs.

Limit yourself to only these hands. If you are dealt any cards outside of these hands then fold.

The goal is to have you win money. The best way to do that is to win as much as possible on the hands that you have a chance to win and to minimize your losses on hands where you have little or no chance to win. In other words, fold the bad hands.

If you have one of the best hands, I recommend that you raise your opponents. A raise does a couple of things for you.

tells you who else may have a strong hand (If they re-raise)
forces a player with a bad hand to fold
gets more money into the pot

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Beginner Strategy on the Flop

· When the flop hits you must assess:

Whether you have improved your hand or not.
Whether you have a hand that can win the game.
If you have improved your hand on the flop or still feel you have a good chance of winning, I recommend that you raise.

If you have not improved or don’t feel that your hand is good enough to win then I recommend folding.

Beginner Strategy on the Turn and River

Playing on the Turn and River is similar. Every time a card is dealt you should ask yourself:

Did you make your hand?
Do you have a good chance of making your hand?
Most importantly, is your hand good enough to win?
If it is I would raise. If it is not then I recommend folding.

Summary of Texas Holdem Poker Beginner Strategy

Our Texas Holdem Poker beginner strategy can be summed up in this manner:

If you do not have one of the best starting hands – FOLD
If you do have one of the best starting hands – bet or raise
After the flop if you have not improved your hand – FOLD
After the flop if you have improved your hand – raise
If after the Turn and River you have not improved your hand – FOLD
If after the Turn and River you have improved your hand – raise
This Texas Holdem Poker beginner strategy is easy to learn and use. Practice it and you will win with it.

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The craps table can accommodate up to about 20 players, who each get a round of throws or at ’shooting’ the dice. If you don’t want to throw the dice, you can bet on the thrower. Several types of bets can be made on the table action. The casino crew consist of a stickman, boxman and two dealers.

The first roll of the dice in a betting round is called the Come Out roll – a new game in Craps begins with the Come Out roll. A Come Out roll can be made only when the previous shooter fails to make a winning roll, that is, fails to make the Point or seven out.

A new game then begins with a new shooter. If the current shooter does make his Point, the dice are returned to him and he then begins the new Come Out roll. This is a continuation of that shooter’s roll, although technically, the Come Out roll identifies a new game about to begin.

When the shooter fails to make his or her Point, the dice are then offered to the next player for a new Come Out roll and the game continues in the same manner. The new shooter will be the person directly next to the left of the previous shooter – so the game moves in a clockwise fashion around the craps table.

The dice are rolled across the craps table layout. The layout is divided into three areas – two side areas separated by a center one. Each side area is the mirror reflection of the other and contains the following: Pass and Don’t Pass line bets, Come and Don’t Come bets, Odds bet, Place bets and Field bets. The center area is shared by both side areas and contains the Proposition bets.

Pass bets win when the come out roll is 7 or 11, while pass bets lose when the come out roll is 2, 3, or 12. Don’t bets lose when the come out roll is 7 or 11, and don’t bets win when the come out roll is 2 or 3. Don’t bets tie when the come out roll is 12 (2 in some casinos; the ‘Bar’ roll on the layout indicates which roll is treated as a tie).

Passline Bet
A simple passline bet works like this. You place your bet on the passline before a new shooter begins his roll. This is known as the come out roll. If the shooter rolls a 7 or 11 you win. If the shooter rolls a 2, 3 or 12, you lose. If the shooter rolls any other number, that number becomes the point number. The shooter must roll that number again before a seven is rolled. If that happens, you win even money for your passline bet. If a seven is rolled before the point number is rolled again, you lose.

Example
A new shooter rolls the dice for the first time and they land on a 4 and a 2. The total is six, which becomes the “Point.” The dealers places a marker that looks like a hockey puck on the number 6 on the craps layout. The shooter must now roll a six before he rolls a 7. If he rolls the six, the passline bet wins and the shooter rolls again. This is a new comeout roll and the same procedure applies as the first time the shooter rolled the dice.

If the shooter rolls a seven before the six the pass line bet loses and the dice are passed to the next shooter.

Odds Bet
Once the point is established the bettor can make an additional bet behind the passline bet. This is known as the “Odds Bet.” It is the only bet in the casino that does not have a house edge as it is paid off with true odds.

Most casinos offer double odds, which means you can make a bet twice the size of your pass line bet. If you passline bet is $5 you are allowed to make an odds bet of $10.

The odds bet is paid as following:
If the point is 4 or 10 it pays 2 to 1
If the point is 5 or 9 it pays 3 to 2
If the point is 6 or 8 it pays 6 to 5.

A passline bet is the simplest bet you can make on at the craps table and it will get you on your way to playing this exciting game.

An easy way to learn how to play craps is to take advantage of the free lessons offered by many of the casinos. The instruction will give you the basics and also show you some of the table etiquette that will make you feels more comfortable approaching the table.

The rules for Omaha Hi/Lo are the same as the rules for Omaha Hi, except that the pot is split between the high and and the low hand. The low hand cannot have a card higher than 8. If there is no legal low hand, the entire pot goes to the highest hand.

The goal in Omaha Hi/Lo is to scoop the entire pot. Although winning half of the pot is better than nothing, large profits at this game come from winning the entire pot. Effectively scooping pots requires understanding how to win the low side of the pot, as well as what hands work as quality starting hands.

The Low

For many new players, the most confusing part of Omaha Hi/Lo is determining the nut-low. In this game, straights and flushes do not affect the low. Thus, the best possible low hand is a wheel (5432A). Furthermore, it is important to remember that the low hands are counted from the top down. A player with 8432A (an 8 low) would lose to a player with 76543 (a 7 low). This surprises most players who instinctively think that 8432A wins due to the ace as the lowest card.

If there is no possible low hand (or if no one holds a low hand), then the person with the best high hand wins the entire pot. Let’s look at a few hand examples to better understand some low situations.

Example #1

Ah3cKh5c
Player #1 Qs6s4d2c
Player #2 AcAd3s8h6h
Board

This is a split pot. Player #1 wins the high side of the pot with AAA33, and Player #2 wins the low side of the pot with 6432A. In this instance, Player #2 has the nut low which means no one could possibly beat Player #2 for the low, only tie. Player #1’s low is 8653A. Player #1 would use A5 from his hand and 368 from the board (he also could use 35 from his hand and A68 from the board).

Example #2

As2sQh8h
Player #1 Jd6d3c2c
Player #2 7s5s4hAcJd
Board

The flop (754) gave Player #1 (who holds A2) the nut-low. However, on the turn, Player #1’s nut-low was “counterfeited.” This happened when an ace appeared on the turn, which gave all players the opportunity to have an ace for a low. Now, Player #2 has 5432A for a low, which beats Player #1’s 7542A. So in this example, Player #2’s dream comes true, and he “scoops” the entire pot.

Example #3

AhKcQdJs
Player #1 KhJh7c2c
Player #2 Ts9d8s5h4c
Board

First, notice that the flop put Player #2 in big trouble after he flopped the second-nut straight (with his J7). Player #1 flopped the nut straight (with his QJ), which put him in position to win a nice pot off of Player #2.

However, the turn and river bail out Player #2 and allow him to win half of the pot at the showdown. In conjunction with the board’s 854, Player #2 was able to make a low hand with his 72 to win half the pot. Sometimes a miracle low is what can save a player from losing a lot of money with a bad high. This example illustrates the importance of holding two cards to a low (something that Player #1 did not have with a deceitfully weak AKQJ).

Example #4

AhAcQdQs
Player #1 Ad2c3c4d
Player #2 KdKcQh5s6h
Board

Player #1 scoops the entire pot with his full house (KKQQQ). There is no low hand. There are only two low cards on the board, so it is impossible to make a low hand (remember: you must always use three cards from the board!) While it seems that Player #2 has an amazing low hand, he in fact holds no low at all.
Starting Hands

In Omaha Hi/Lo, it is important to hold a strong starting hand. Players need to have a hand that is capable of scooping the entire pot. This means hands that work great in Omaha hi (such as AKQJ or JT98) lose a lot of value in Hi/Lo due to their inability to make a low.

In general, the tightest player at any Omaha Hi/Lo table is likely to be a winning player. Starting hand selection is so critical that demonstrating patience is perhaps the single most important skill to have. Hands that may seem tempting to play (such as A49T) should be folded due to their propensity for making a non-nut low.

The best starting hand in Omaha Hi/Lo is AA23 double-suited. Other very playable hands include (but are not limited to): A234, AAxx, A2xx, A345, A36K, 2345, KQ23. Most winning Omaha Hi/Lo players are very careful about the number of A3xx hands they play. This hand is not nearly as good as it looks, and can often lead to several lost bets after making the second-nut low.

It is important to note the importance of the ace in Omaha Hi/Lo. An ace works as the best card on both ends of the pot. It is the key card in making a nut low, and is also a very important card to have in the high side of the pot for its value as a kicker. Some very famous poker players (Scotty Nguyen for example) have a theory that no Omaha Hi/Lo hand is playable unless it has an ace. Obviously this strategy is a little extreme. But for new players, it may be wise to develop a habit of folding most hands that do not contain an ace.

Position is just as important in Omaha Hi/Lo as it is in Texas hold’em. This means that borderline hands (such as JJ24) should only be played in late position in an un-raised pot.
Flop Tips

Most of the time, it is a poor decision for a player to draw to a low after the flop unless they already have the best four to a low. For example, after a flop of A5K, one should not draw for the low unless they are holding 23xx in the pocket. A lot of the profit in playing Omaha Hi/Lo comes from winning chips off of weak players who draw to non-nut lows. Drawing to a low that isn’t the nut-low is almost a guaranteed way to lose in Omaha Hi/Lo.

Another common losing mistake in Omaha Hi/Lo is drawing to a running low. For example, most players holding A2xx enter the pot expecting to make the nut-low. However, if the flop comes 8KQ, these players are now reliant on completing a running low-draw just to win half of the pot. These players should fold to a bet. It is a bad move to purposefully draw to two cards for a low.
Being Quartered

Being “quartered” is a very key concept in Omaha Hi/Lo. Let’s look a hand example of where a player only wins a quarter of the pot:

Ah3hKs9s
Player #1 Ac3cTd8d
Player #2 7d4c2hKsJh
Board

Notice that both players have used their ace-threes to make the nut-low. This means the low-pot is split between the two players. However, on the high side, Player #1 has a pair of kings which beats Player #2’s ace high.

Therefore, Player #1 gets 50% of the pot for making the best hi hand, as well as an additional 25% of the pot for his share of the low pot. Player #1 has “quartered” Player #2 by winning 75% of the pot. Quartering opponents is a very important ingredient in becoming a winning Omaha Hi/Lo player.

Of even more importance is the ability to keep the pot small when you realize that you may be quartered. If you are Player #2 in this example, you need to understand that you may stand to only win 25% of the pot. Thus, when Player #1 bets, do not raise and reraise with your nut-low. Just call.

There are four rounds of betting, giving players the chance to stay in the game or fold. At a live table, the dealer is the starting point for play, however as there is no dealer in online poker, the dealer button represents the starting point. The player to the left of the dealer starts play and it continues clockwise around the table.

Winning Omaha poker is a simple concept; the player with the best hand takes the pot. Ties are possible in Omaha, so in the case of more than one player having a winning hand, the pot will be split equally among the players. Should there be an odd number of chips, the extra chip is given to the player closest to the left of the dealer.

Betting Blinds

When playing Omaha poker, before any cards are dealt, the blinds must be placed. The “small blind” is put in by the player to the immediate left of the dealer, and the “big blind” is placed by the person to the left of the “small blind.” The blinds are the starter money in the pot, guaranteeing a win should everyone else at the table fold in the first round of betting.

Pre-Flop

Once the blinds have been placed, the players will receive their hole cards. In this round, four cards are dealt, face down, to each player. Once they have analyzed their cards, betting begins with the player “under the gun”, which is the person to the left of the big blind. This player has three choices for play:

• Call – bet the same as the big blind
• Raise – increase the bet to an amount larger than the big blind
• Fold – walk away from the hand

Betting continues around the table, in a clockwise motion. Once the player who put up the big blind is reached, they have an additional choice, if no one has raised the bet. The big blind can check, as their bet was the initial bet for this round. If there as already been a raise, they can choose to re-raise, call, or fold.

The Flop

Next, the dealer will place the first three community cards on the table, face up. This deal is called the “flop.” Once these cards have been shown, another round of betting will commence, with the chance to call, raise, or fold.

The Turn

This round, the dealer adds a fourth card to the community cards and players will again have the chance at a round of betting. The field at the table usually begins to shrink at this point in the hand.

The River

The dealer will now deal the fifth and final community card. From here, the final round of betting will begin and players have their last chance to call, raise, or fold.

The Showdown

After the final round of betting, those left standing that have not folded will have their showdown. Their hole cards will be revealed and the best hand will be decided. The player with the highest-ranking poker hand takes the pot, unless there is a tie. If only one player remains at the table when the showdown round is reached, the pot is theirs regardless of their hand

Omaha is one of the most common forms of poker online and is available at all poker sites. For beginners we suggest you check out Sportsbook Poker or Carbon Poker where the level of competition is significantly softer than some of the other online rooms for this particular game.

One of the most played games, blackjack is absolutely a favorite. In this game there is a dealer and players. The dealer deals 2 cards for each players and himself, one of them is up. The point of this game is to reach or get as close as possible to 21. After you are dealt you can either HIT, SPLIT, DOUBLE or STAND

You are dealt another card when you say HIT.

You are dealt another card but no more when you say DOUBLE, of course if you win you get double.

If you have two same cards you can say SPLIT and keep playing with two hands.

You are not dealt another card and stick with your hand when you say STAND.

There are also certain rules in blackjack. The dealer has to stand if his hand reaches 16 or higher so you can grow a technique from this. On the other hand computers played every available hand millions of times and your best possible move is calculated. We are giving the tables below for you to win more!

Legend: H = Hit S = Stand D = Double P = Split

Las Vegas Single Deck Basic Strategy Table

Las Vegas Multiple Deck Basic Strategy

Atlantic City Multiple Deck Basic Strategy Table

A pass line bet is placed on the field labeled “PASS LINE” on the craps table before the come out roll (i.e. the first roll of the dice in a new craps round). A wager on the pass line wins if the come out roll is 7 or 11, and loses if 2, 3 or 12 is rolled. If 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10 is rolled, that number becomes “the point”. To win a pass line bet, the shooter must roll the point again before rolling a 7. If the shooter rolls a 7 before rolling the point again, your pass line bet loses. A winning pass line bet pays even money (1 to 1). Once the point has been established, unresolved pass line bets may not be increased, reduced or removed. They must be resolved by rolling the point or 7.

Don’t Pass Line Bets

A don’t pass line bet is essentially the reverse of a pass line bet and is placed on the craps table in the “Don’t Pass line” before the come out roll. If the shooter rolls 3 or 12 in the come out roll, a don’t pass line bet wins. If, however, the come out roll is 7 or 11, don’t pass line bets lose. If the come out roll is 2, a don’t pass line bet is returned to the player in a push. If the come out roll is 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10, that number becomes the point. Once the point has been established, don’t pass line bets win if the shooter rolls a 7 before rolling the point again. If the shooter rolls the point again before rolling a 7, don’t pass line bets lose. A winning don’t pass line bet pays even money (1 to 1). Unlike pass line bets, unresolved don’t pass line bets may be removed or reduced, but not increased.

Come Bets

A come bet is placed in the “COME” bar on the craps table before any roll of the dice, once the point has been established by the come out roll. The rules for come bets are essentially the same as for pass line bets. Come bets win if the shooter’s next roll is 7 or 11, and lose if the roll is 2, 3, or 12. If the shooter rolls 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10, that number becomes “the come point,” and the dealer will move the come bet from the “COME” bar on the craps table to the box corresponding to the come point: “4, 5, SIX, 8, NINE, or 10”. If the shooter rolls the come point again before rolling a 7, the come bet pays even money. The come bet will stay in place until the come point or a 7 is rolled. Just as with the pass line bet, unresolved come bets may not be increased, reduced or removed. They must be resolved by a roll of the come point or 7.

Don’t Come Bets

A don’t come bet is essentially the opposite of a come bet. A don’t come bet is placed after the come out roll in the “Don’t Come Bar” on the craps table. Don’t come bets win when the shooter’s next roll is 3 or 12, and lose if the roll is 7 or 11. If the shooter rolls a 2, the bet will be returned to the player in a push. If the roll is 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10, that number becomes “the don’t come point,” and the dealer will move the don’t come bet from the “Don’t Come Bar” to the left corner of the narrow, uppermost bar over the box corresponding to the don’t come point: “4, 5, SIX, 8, NINE, or 10”. After the don’t come point has been established, don’t come bets win even money if 7 is rolled and lose if the don’t come point is rolled. Don’t come bets will stay in place until the don’t come point or a 7 is rolled. However, unresolved don’t come bets may be removed or reduced at any time, but not increased.

Odds Bet

An odds bet is a “back up” bet on an original pass line bet, don’t pass line bet, come bet, or don’t come bet. The maximum odds bet is 2 times your original bet on the pass line and come bets. You are allowed to lay full odds on don’t pass and don’t come up to the amount you could win if these bets were on the pass line or come.

Pass Line Odds Bets

After the point has been established, a pass line odds bet is placed by clicking with your left mouse button on the craps table beneath the “PASS LINE”, under your original pass line bet. A winning pass line odds bet pays true odds: 2 to 1 on a roll of 4 or 10, 3 to 2 on a roll of 5 or 9, and 6 to 5 on a roll of 6 or 8. Unlike the original pass line bet, an unresolved pass line odds bet may, at any time, be increased, reduced or removed.

Don’t Pass Line Odds Bets

Once the point has been established, a don’t pass line odds bet is placed by clicking with your left mouse button on the right side of your original bet in the “Don’t Pass Bar”. A winning don’t pass line odds bet pays true odds: 1 to 2 on a roll of 4 or 10, 2 to 3 on a roll of 5 or 9, and 5 to 6 on a roll of 6 or 8. An unresolved don’t pass line odds bet may be removed. However, if you click with your right mouse button to remove your don’t pass line odds bet, your original don’t pass line bet will also be removed.

Come Odds Bets

Once the come point has been established, a come odds bet is placed by clicking with your left mouse button directly under your come bet within the box that corresponds to the come point: “4, 5, SIX, 8, NINE, or 10”. A winning come odds bet pays true odds: 2 to 1 on a roll of 4 or 10, 3 to 2 on a roll of 5 or 9, and 6 to 5 on a roll of 6 or 8. Unlike the original come bet, an unresolved come odds bet may, at any time, be increased, reduced or removed.

In the Craps game, come odds bets are inactive during come out rolls by default. However, if you wish to change the default setting to make your come odds bets active during the come out rolls, click on the OPTIONS button. In the menu, click on the box next to “Come odds bets”. Check the box to activate come odds bets during come out rolls. Then click OK.

Don’t Come Odds Bets

Once the come point has been established, an odds bet is placed on your don’t come bet by clicking in the tiny space directly under your don’t come bet within the narrow, uppermost bar over the box that corresponds to the come point: “4, 5, SIX, 8, NINE, or 10”. A winning don’t come odds bet pays true odds: 1 to 2 on a roll of 4 or 10, 2 to 3 on a roll of 5 or 9, and 5 to 6 on a roll of 6 or 8. An unresolved don’t come odds bet may be increased, reduced or removed at any time.

Field Bets

A field bet is a bet that the next roll of the dice will be 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, or 12. It is placed in the “FIELD” bar on the craps table before any one roll of the dice. If the next roll is 3, 4, 9, 10 or 11, the field bet wins even money. If 2 or 12 is rolled, the field bet wins 2 to 1. If 5, 6, 7, or 8 is rolled, the field bet is lost.

Big 6 and Big 8 Bets

A big 6 bet is a bet that 6 will be rolled before 7. Likewise, a big 8 bet is a bet that 8 will be rolled before 7. A big 6 or a big 8 bet is placed in either the “6” or “8” box located in the left corner of the craps table. A big 6 or big 8 bet wins even money if the shooter rolls a 6 or 8 before rolling 7. Unresolved big 6 and big 8 bets may be increased, reduced or removed at any time.

Place Bets

There are two types of place bets:

A place win bet is a bet that either 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10 will be rolled before a seven. A place win bet is placed in the narrow, unlabeled bar located just under the box with the corresponding number on the craps table: “4, 5, SIX, 8, NINE, or 10”. Winning place win bets are paid according to the following ratios: 7 to 6 on numbers 6 and 8, 7 to 5 on numbers 5 and 9, and 9 to 5 on numbers 4 and 10.

In the Craps game, place bets are inactive during come out rolls by default. However, if you wish to change the default setting to make your place bets active during come out rolls, click on the OPTIONS button. Click on the box next to “Place bets” in the menu. Check the box to activate place bets in come out rolls. Then click OK.

If the box next to “Use On/Off marker” is checked in the Options menu, an “ON” marker will cover your place bet to indicate that it is active, or an “OFF” marker will cover your place bet to indicate that it is inactive during a come out roll. The markers will be removed from your place bets after the come out roll, since all place bets will be active. Unresolved place bets may be removed.

Buy Bets

A buy bet is a bet that either 4, 6, 8, 9, or 10 will be rolled before 7. A buy bet is placed in the box corresponding to the number on the craps table: “4, 5, SIX, 8, NINE, or 10”. The buy bet will be covered by a “BUY” marker to distinguish it from a come bet. A vigorish (vig.) of 5% is charged when the buy bet is placed. Buy bet winnings are then paid at true odds: 6 to 5 on numbers 6 and 8, 3 to 2 on numbers 5 and 9, and 2 to 1 on numbers 4 and 10. If a buy bet is lost or removed, the 5% vig. is returned. Buy bets may be placed at any time during the crap game, and you may increase, reduce or remove a buy bet at any time.

Lay Bets

A lay bet is essentially the reverse of a buy bet. A lay bet is a bet that 7 will be rolled before 4, 6, 8, 9, or 10. The lay bet is placed in the top, unlabeled bar above the box corresponding to the number on the craps table: “4, 5, SIX, 8, NINE, or 10”. A lay bet will be covered by a “LAY” marker to distinguish it from a don’t come bet. A vigorish (vig.) of 5% is charged when the lay bet is placed. Lay bet winnings are then paid at true odds: 5 to 6 on numbers 6 and 8, 2 to 3 on numbers 5 and 9, and 1 to 2 on numbers 4 and 10. Lay bets are active also during the come out roll, and unresolved lay bets may be increased, reduced or removed at any time.

Any 7 Bets

An “any 7” bet is a bet that the next roll of the dice will be a seven. This bet is placed in the betting area called &quo6t;any seven” on the craps table. If a seven is rolled, you win 4 to 1 on your bet.

Any 11 Bets

An “any 11” bet, sometimes referred to as a “YO” bet, is a bet that the next roll of the dice will be 11. It is placed on any one roll of the dice in the box on the craps table containing the two illustrated dice that add up to 11. If 11 is rolled, you win 15 to 1 on your bet.

Any Craps Bets

An “any craps” bet is a bet that the next roll of the dice will be 2, 3, or 12. It is placed on any one roll of the dice in the “any craps” betting area on the craps table. If 2, 3, or 12 is rolled, you win 7 to 1 on your bet.

C & E Bets

On the craps table layout, you will see a vertical row of the letters “C” and “E”. These letters represents two bets.

The letter C represents the “any Craps” bet. By using your left mouse button, place a wager on letter C; your chips will appear in the “any Craps” betting area of the craps table. This bet is exactly the same as placing a wager directly on the “any Craps” bet.

The letter “E” represents the “any 11” bet or “YO” bet. Just like the any Craps bet, the “YO” bet will be placed in the “any 11” betting area. This bet is exactly the same as placing the wager directly in the “any 11” betting area.

C & E Split Bet

On the craps table layout, you will see a vertical row of the letters “C” and “E”. These letters represents the two bets above, and now you can wager on both of these popular bets with just one chip!

The letter C represents the “any Craps” bet. The letter “E” represents the “any 11” bet or “YO” bet. By using your left mouse button, place a wager between the letters C & E; your chips will appear between the two letters indicating that you have a spilt bet.

If 2, 3 or 12 is rolled, you win 3 to 1.
If 11 is rolled, you win 7 to 1.

7 & 11 Split Bet

This split bet pays 7 to 1 if the 11 is rolled and 3 to 2 if the 7 is rolled. This bet is placed by straddling the very top line of the any seven bet near the chip rack.

Horn Bet

The “horn” bet is one roll bet by which you are betting that 2, 3, 11 or 12 will appear on the next roll of the dice. This bet box is placed in the center of the layout and is a one roll bet.

If 3 or 11 is rolled, the bet pays 3 to 1.
If 2 or 12 is rolled, the bet pays 7 to 1 minus one fourth of the bet.

For example. If you bet a $4 horn and a 2 is rolled, you will win $4 X 7 = $28 – (1/4 of $4) $1 = $27.00. To put in another way: Let’s assume you bet $1 on the 2, 3, 11 and 12 prop bets. If you win on the roll of a 2, you will be paid $30. However, you also lost $3 on the 2, 3, 12 and thus your net win will be $27.

Hardway Bets

This is a bet on the shooter rolling a 4, 6, 8, or 10 as doubles (2+2, 3+3, 4+4, or 5+5) before rolling a 7. The hardway bet is placed in the box on the craps table containing the two illustrated dice corresponding to the number. Rolling a number by doubles is said to be rolling the number “the hard way”. For example, a roll of 4+4 is a called a “hard 8”, while a roll of 5+3 or 6+2 is called an “easy 8”. A winning hardway bet pays 7 to 1 on numbers 4 and 10 and 9 to 1 on numbers 6 and 8. Unresolved hardway bets may be increased, reduced or removed at any time.

In the Craps game, hardway bets are inactive during come out rolls by default. However, if you wish to change the default setting to make your hardway bets active during come out rolls, click on the OPTIONS button. In the menu, click on the box next to “Hardway bets”. Check the box to activate hardway bets in come out rolls. Then click OK.

The game of baccarat is largely a game of luck. That is a fact that must be accepted. Nevertheless, those who understand the rules, the odds, and the probabilities of the baccarat game are able to devise strategies that help the luck go their way.

Understand the Baccarat Rules

To devise a viable baccarat strategy, it is crucial that you thoroughly understand the baccarat rules. The most important baccarat rules are:

 You may bet on the Player’s hand, the Banker’s hand, or a Tie. You win at baccarat if your bet correctly matches the outcome of the hand.

 The Player and the Banker are each dealt two cards initially and then, sometimes, one or both of them is dealt a third card.

 Neither the Player nor the Banker has any say in whether he wants a third card. The decision is made automatically pursuant to strict baccarat rules.

 Tens and face cards count as zero, aces count as one, and all other cards count as their face values.

 When adding up the values of the cards in a baccarat hand, only the final digit of the total counts. Fifteen counts as five; twenty-one counts as one.

 The hand that comes closest to a total of nine wins.

Betting on the Banker or the Player

A baccarat bet on the Banker or on the Player each has its advantages and disadvantages. The advantage of betting on the Banker is that, statistically, the Banker’s hand wins slightly more than the Player’s hand wins. How could this be, you might ask, if the cards are dealt randomly? The answer is in the rules concerning the third card.

The rules governing whether the Player or the Banker receives a third card are very complicated. Suffice it to say that the rule governing a third card for the banker is different from the rule governing a third card for the Player; and that the rule governing a third card for the Banker involves a complex formula that factors in the Banker’s initial cards, whether or not the Player has received a third card, and, if so, what that third card is. The result of all this is that the Banker is given an advantage so that, over the long run, the Banker is likely to win more hands than the Player wins.

On the other hand, the advantage of betting on the player is that, if you win, you get to keep all of your winnings. If you bet $10 on the Player and you win, you get your bet back plus an additional $10. If you bet on the Banker and you win, you have to pay a 5 percent commission on your winnings to the house, which means you get your bet back plus only $9.50 additional. So a winning bet on the Player puts more money in your pocket than does a winning bet on the Banker.

So there you have it. Betting on the Banker means you will probably win a little more often. Betting on the Player means you get your full payout with no commission deducted. All in all, the advantages and disadvantages of the two bets pretty much cancel each other out, although the statisticians say there is still a tiny overall advantage to betting on the Banker. This may or may not affect your personal baccarat strategy, but it at least means that you understand what you are doing and why.

Betting on a Tie

Betting on a Tie also has advantages and disadvantages. The advantage is the big payout: 8 to 1. If you bet $10 on a tie, and the hand is indeed a tie, you will get back your original $10 plus and additional $80.

The disadvantage of the Tie bet is that, statistically speaking, fewer than 10 percent of baccarat hands are likely to result in a tie. Over the course of a hundred hands, the probability is that you will lose ninety of them, for a loss of $900, and win ten, for winnings of $800. So in the end, you would be down $100 for the day.

Of course, what holds true for millions of gamblers over the long run might not hold true for you individually over the short run. There are individuals who bet on the Tie and get lucky and win that sweet 8-to-1 payout more often than the statisticians expect them to. It’s just like betting on those long shots at the race track. It is not a recommended way to invest for your retirement, but there are days when luck is with you and you do hit the big jackpots.

So that’s it for the Tie bet. You are statistically likely to lose more than you win, but when you get lucky you can win a big 8-to-1 payout. Knowing these advantages and disadvantages can help you plan your baccarat strategy accordingly.

A Baccarat Strategy to Avoid

Some baccarat players like to keep track of the outcome of every hand, in the belief that they can spot trends in favor of the Player or the Banker and thus predict the outcome of future hands. This is known as “pattern spotting.” The casinos actually encourage this by providing scorecards and pencils at the baccarat table. They do so because they know that pattern spotting is not a winning baccarat strategy. Charting past trends will not help you win at baccarat. Don’t waste your time on it.

A Final Word on Baccarat Strategy

Baccarat is a game of luck – there is no doubt about it – but that does not mean that you cannot employ a strategy in the game to maximize your luck. Whether you have eight decks or one deck, whether you are playing one-on-one or in multi-play, or whether you are placing high-rolling bets or small mini-Baccarat bets, the most important thing about your baccarat strategy is to keep a cool head, understand what you are doing and why, and enjoy your baccarat game. That way you are bound to get something out of the game and hopefully win at baccarat more than you lose.

The keno numbers are printed on 80 individual ping-pong balls, which are either spun around in a wire bird cage, or blown around in a large clear plastic sphere. As each ball is selected, the winning number is electronically highlighted on the keno boards throughout the casino. The house draws 20 numbers out of the field of 80. Players can choose as few as one number or as many as 15. To place bets, a keno ticket, which has boxes for all 80 numbers must be filled out. The casino provides a keno crayon, which is used to mark down the selected numbers.

PLAYING OPTIONS
A ticket can be marked with individual numbers creating a straight keno ticket, or with a group of numbers that give a better chance of winning. These are called way and combination tickets. A way ticket allows players to group different numbers (each group containing the same amount of numbers) to create more than one way to win. Players are given credit for hitting all three numbers if any one of the group hits. A combination way ticket is one in which groups of numbers are bet several different ways, allowing money to be sprinkled over more combinations. Many experienced keno players will use these methods for a wider selection of numbers with a lower minimum wager, and a better chance to win.

Minimum bets and payoffs are different from casino to casino, but this information can be found in the keno lounge or in the instruction booklet. Players present their ticket along with their wager to a keno writer, and are issued a computerized ticket with the game number, date, ticket code, choices and the amount of the bet. It is the player’s responsibility to compare the computer generated ticket to their original copy in the event of a discrepancy. Once the game is ready to start, betting will be cut off. When the 20 randomly drawn numbers are put up on the keno boards, players compare their ticket with the numbers displayed for the game played.

Multi-race keno allows multiple games to be played on one keno ticket. Most casinos allow anywhere from two to 20 games in a row, but some offer up to 1,000. The keno writer or runner must be told that a multi-race ticket is wanted. At the conclusion of the last game selected, players bring their multi-game ticket to the counter and claim their winnings from all the games played.

The player must handle the dice with one hand only when throwing and the dice must hit the walls on the opposite end of the table. In the event that one or both dice are thrown off the table, they must be inspected (usually by the stickman) before putting them back into play.

The craps table can accommodate up to about 20 players, who each get a round of throws or at ’shooting’ the dice. If you don’t want to throw the dice, you can bet on the thrower. Several types of bets can be made on the table action. The casino crew consist of a stickman, boxman and two dealers.

The first roll of the dice in a betting round is called the Come Out roll – a new game in Craps begins with the Come Out roll. A Come Out roll can be made only when the previous shooter fails to make a winning roll, that is, fails to make the Point or seven out.

A new game then begins with a new shooter. If the current shooter does make his Point, the dice are returned to him and he then begins the new Come Out roll. This is a continuation of that shooter’s roll, although technically, the Come Out roll identifies a new game about to begin.

When the shooter fails to make his or her Point, the dice are then offered to the next player for a new Come Out roll and the game continues in the same manner. The new shooter will be the person directly next to the left of the previous shooter – so the game moves in a clockwise fashion around the craps table.

The dice are rolled across the craps table layout. The layout is divided into three areas – two side areas separated by a center one. Each side area is the mirror reflection of the other and contains the following: Pass and Don’t Pass line bets, Come and Don’t Come bets, Odds bet, Place bets and Field bets. The center area is shared by both side areas and contains the Proposition bets.

Pass bets win when the come out roll is 7 or 11, while pass bets lose when the come out roll is 2, 3, or 12. Don’t bets lose when the come out roll is 7 or 11, and don’t bets win when the come out roll is 2 or 3. Don’t bets tie when the come out roll is 12 (2 in some casinos; the ‘Bar‘ roll on the layout indicates which roll is treated as a tie).

Below is a list of the various bets you can make at craps.

Pass Line Bet – You win if the first roll is a natural (7, 11) and lose if it is craps (2, 3, 12). If a point is rolled (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10) it must be repeated before a 7 is thrown in order to win. If 7 is rolled before the point you lose.

Odds on Pass Line Bet – After a point is rolled you can make this additional bet by taking odds. There are different payoffs for each point. A point of 4 or 10 will pay you 2:1; 5 or 9 pays 3:2; 6 or 8 pays 6:5. You only win if the point is rolled again before a 7.

Come Bet – It has the same rules as the Pass Line bet. The difference consists in the fact you can make this bet only after the point on the pass line has been determined. After you place your bet the first dice roll will set the come point. You win if it is a natural (7, 11) and lose if it is craps (2, 3, 12). Other rolls will make you a winner if the come poi nt is repeated before a 7 is rolled. If a 7 is rolled first you lose.

Odds on Come Bet – Exactly the same thing as the Odds on Pass Line bet except you take odds on the Come bet not the Pass Line bet.

Don’t Pass Line Bet – This is the reversed Pass Line bet. If the first roll of a dice is a natural (7, 11) you lose and if it is a 2 or a 3 you win. A dice roll of 12 means you have a tie or push with the casino. If the roll is a point (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10) a 7 must come out before that point is repeated to make you a winner. If the point is rolled again before the 7 you lose.

Don’t Come Bet – The reversed Come Bet. After the come point has been established you win if it is a 2 or 3 and lose for 7 or 11. 12 is a tie and other dice rolls will make you win only if a 7 appears before them on the following throws.

Place Bets – This bet works only after the point has been determined. You can bet on a dice roll of 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 and 10. You win if the number you placed your bet on is rolled before a 7. Otherwise you lose. The Place Bets payoffs are different depending on the number you bet on. 4 or 10 will pay 9:5; 5 or 9 pays 7:5, and 6 or 8 pays 7:6. You can cancel this bet anytime you want to.

Field Bets – These bets are for one dice roll only. If a 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 12 is rolled you win. A 5, 6, 7 and 8 make you lose. Field Bets have the following different payoffs: 2 pays double (2:1) while 12 pays 3:1. Other winning dice rolls pays even (1:1).

Big Six, Big Eight Bets – Placed at any roll of dice these bets win if a 6 or 8 comes out before a 7 is rolled. Big Six and Big Eight are even bets and are paid at 1:1.

Proposition Bets – These bets can be made at any time and, except for the hardways, they are all one roll bets:

• Any Craps: Wins if a 2, 3 or 12 is thrown. Payoff 8:1
• Any Seven: Wins if a 7 is rolled. Payoff 5:1
• Eleven: Wins if a 11 is thrown. Payoff 16:1
• Ace Duece: Wins if a 3 is rolled. Payoff 16:1
• Aces or Boxcars: Wins if a 2 or 12 is thrown. Payoff 30:1
• Horn Bet: it acts as the bets on 2, 3, 11 and 12 all at once. Wins if one of these numbers is rolled. Payoff is determined according to the number rolled. The other three bets are lost.
• Hardways: The bet on a hardway number wins if it’s thrown hard (sum of pairs: 1-1, 3-3, 4-4…) before it’s rolled easy and a 7 is thrown. Payoffs: Hard 4 and 10, 8:1; Hard 6 and 8, 10:1

House advantage
2 – 17%