To correctly guess which number will hit after the ball lands in one of the slots. There are many different types of bets in roulette, with different payouts; everything from a straight up bet at 35/1 odds to a bet on black/red at 1/1 odds.
Betting
Before you begin betting at the roulette table, you must purchase special roulette chips which are of different color. If there are 7 people playing at a table, there will be seven different colors of chips. This is so that the dealer knows who bet on what and can keep the payments straight. The dealer will normally give the players 60 seconds to put their bets down, and players can still lay down bets when the ball is moving and not dropped into one of the slots. When a player leaves the table, they can cash in the roulette chips for regular chips.
There are two different types of bets in roulette: inside bets and outside bets. Inside bets are made on the layout, or number grid. For instance, if you wanted to bet on a 4 landing on the next spin of the wheel, you would place an inside bet. An outside bet takes part on the outside of the table, outside of the layout. These types of bets include red/black, high number / low number and even/odd bets.
The numbers on the layout are laid out like this:
0
00
1 4 7 10 13 16 19 22 25 28 31 34
2 5 8 11 14 17 20 23 26 29 32 35
3 6 9 12 15 18 21 24 27 30 33 36
The Inside Bets are:
Straight Up Bet - betting on a single number. For instance, you place a chip on 20 and the ball lands in the 20 slot. Your $10 bet returns $350 in this case.
Split Bet - Betting on two numbers by placing a chip on the line separating two different numbers. For instance, you could place a split bet on 31 and 34. If either number hits, your $10 bet returns $170.
Corner Bet - Betting on 4 numbers by placing a chip at the center of the 4 number block that you wish to bet on. A $10 bet returns $80 if one of the numbers hits.
Street Bet - Betting on a row of 3 numbers, such as 1,2 and 3. A $10 bet in this case returns$110.
Special Line Bet - this bet is made by placing a chip on 00, 0, 1, 2 and 3. A $10 bet returns $60.
Outside Bets:
Dozens - In this bet, you are betting whether the number 1-12, 13-24 or 25-36 will land. For instance, if you place a bet on the 1-12 dozen and 7 lands, your $10 bet would return $20.
Odd or Even - As easy as it sounds. If you believe that an odd number will land, you would place a bet on the Odd zone in the outside part of the table. A $10 bet would return $10, plus your original betting amount back.
Red or Black - You either bet on a red number to land, or a black number. The same payoff as an odd or even bet, even money. So a $10 bet would return you $10.
Column Bet - Similar to a Dozen bet, in that you are betting on one of a group of numbers to land. Refer to the diagram above of the number placement, and you can see that there are three columns of numbers. The payout is the same as a Dozen bet, 2 to 1.
High / Low Number - Another even money bet similar to odd/even or red/black, in this case, low numbers refer to 1-18 (excluding 0 and 00) and high numbers refer to 19-36. If you believe that a low number is going to show up, you would place a $10 bet on the Low. If any number under 19 showed up, you would win $10.
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Video Poker has remained a favorite of gamblers for years. Combining elements of both poker and slots, video poker is one of the few games in the casino where you can actually find a positive expectation of winning. In contrast to "pure luck" games such as slots or roulette, video poker combines the elements of luck and strategy. With enough practice, you can learn how to play video poker like a professional.
Luck - Outcomes are governed by a random number generator, hereafter known as an RNG. The RNG cycles through random numbers at about 1000 per second when the machine is sitting idle. At the moment you signal the machine to deal, the RNG gives the machine a number that corresponds to a card combination to display, as well as replacement cards. The available combinations in the RNG match those that could be dealt by a 52 card deck, with the same probabilities you would find in a poker game. The odds of receiving a particular hand from the start are fixed. For instance, the chance of receiving a royal flush without drawing is 1 in every 649,740 hands.
Strategy - Because you are allowed to discard, strategy comes into play. The key is to discard in a manner that gives you the the highest expectation of winning. Using such a strategy will give you the best chances of winning in the long run. Optimal strategy will change depending on the rules of the video poker game you are playing. Optimal strategy may also change with different pay tables. Often, you must play maximum credits in order to take advantage of the highest expectation.
We welcome you to look around the site and explore the possibility of playing better video poker.
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Cycle
The predicted average number of hands between similar winning hands such as a royal flush. You should remember however that this is only a prediction since the games are random and the exact time between wins will vary.
Expected Return
The average amount of money paid back based on a particular play for a particular bet. The Expected Return "ER" is determined by taking the Expected Value "EV" of a play multiplied by the amount bet.
Expected Value
EV is the average value of all of the possible outcomes for a particular play or game. In other words the predicted average payback per unit that was bet of a specific play.
Full Pay
A full pay video poker machine will offer the best payout schedule for that particular game type. For instance, the 9/6 Jacks or Better machine is full pay while the 9/5 or 8/5 versions of the game are not.
Inside Straight
Needing one card to achieve a straight and the card needed is one of the middle cards between the top and bottom of the straight. For instance, with a 3, 5, 6, 7 in your hand you would need a 4 to complete the straight. Also referred to as a gut shot draw.
Long Run
A period of time or game play where the presented odds equal predicted probability.
Open Ended Straight
Four consecutive cards requiring one at either end to make a straight. For instance, with a 4, 5, 6, 7 in your hand you would need a 3 or an 8 to complete the straight.
Optimal Play
Using a strategy designed to give you the most advantageous opportunity to win the most money for a particular game, yet not necessarily be considered perfect play.
Pat Hand
A winning hand dealt from the beginning of a hand such as a flush or straight. A hand where you should keep all five cards as no other card will improve the hand.
Payback
Often referred to as the Expected Value "EV" of a particular game. It is the return expected over the long term expressed as a percent.
Payoff
The amount of coins or credits paid for a winning hand often expressed on a per coin basis. For instance a full house might pay 45 coins on a 5 coin bet; so the payoff is 9:1 or 9 coins won for the 1 originally bet.
Payoff Schedule
The table posted on each machine showing the number of coins paid for each possible hand for each possible coin bet. Also referred to as the payout schedule or a paytable.
Payout
The amount of coins or credits paid for any given win.
Perfect Play
Playing a hand according to that particular hands highest Expected Value. Doing so over a period of time can give the player the advantage over the house. Playing perfectly is easier to do on certain games, while in others its almost impossible.
Secondary Payoff
A winning hand achieved as a result of going for a different winning hand. For instance you select to draw 2 cards to a royal flush and get dealt three of a kind; that would be a secondary non-intended goal or secondary payoff win.
Short Run
A period of time or game play where the predicted probability of a game will vary due to normal streaks and fluctuations.
Strategy Card
Is nothing more than an instruction sheet providing hints as to the best way to play a particular game and/or hand.
Zilch or Zip
Nada, nothing, a garbage hand; a hand after the deal which contains no cards worth holding.
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- Low pair and low pair: Split unless holding a king or better, then play two pair in the back.
- Low pair and medium pair: Split unless holding a king or better, then play two pair in the back.
- Low pair and high pair: Split unless holding an ace, then play two pair in the back.
- Medium pair and medium pair: Split unless holding an ace, then play two pair in the back.
- Medium pair and high pair: Always split.
- High pair and high pair: Always split.
- Pair of aces and any other pair: Always split.
- Three pair: Always play highest pair in front.
- Three of a kind: Always play three of a kind in back unless they are aces, then play a pair of aces in back and one ace in front.
- Three of a kind twice: Always play highest pair in front.
- Straights, flushes, straight flushes, and royal flush:
- With no pair: When choosing whether to play a straight, flush, or straight flush play the category which will allow the highest two cards in front.
- With 6th or 7th card: Play the lower straight or flush in the back to place the highest cards in front.
- With one pair: Play pair in the front only if a straight, flush, or straight can be played in the back.
- With two pair: Use two pair rule.
- With three pair: Use three pair rule.
- With three of a kind: Play pair in front.
- With full house: Use full house rule.
- Full house: Always split unless the pair is twos and you have an ace and a king to play in the front.
- Full house with three of a kind and two pairs: Play the highest pair in front.
- Full house with three of a kind twice: Always play the highest pair in front.
- Play according to the rank of the four of a kind:
- 2 through 6: Always keep together.
- 7 through 10: Split unless a king or better can be played in front.
- Jack through king: Split unless an ace can be played in front.
- Aces: Always split.
- Four of a kind and a pair: Play pair in front.
- Four of a kind and three of a kind: Play pair in front from the three of a kind.
- Five aces: Split aces and play three aces in back and two aces in front unless you have a pair of kings, then play five aces in back and kings in front.
