GAMBLING RULES & STRATEGY

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Baccarat / Blackjack / Craps / Stud Poker / Pai Gow Poker / Roulette / Slot Machines

Baccarat

Baccarat (correctly pronounced "BAH-kah-rah") has long been a favorite card game of high rollers. The rules are incredibly simple and can be mastered in a few minutes. The object of baccarat is to correctly predict whether the banker's hand will win, the player's hand will win, or the game will result in a tie.

The value of a hand is determined by adding the values of its individual cards. Tens and face cards count as zero, while all other cards count as their numerical value. After summing the total, only the last digit is used. Therefore, baccarat hands all have values from 0 - 9. The hand with the higher value wins. If the hands have the same value, the game results in a tie. Initially, both the banker and the player are dealt two cards. If the two initial cards total 8 or 9, the hand is called a "natural", and the game will end at that point. Otherwise, standard Baccarat "third card rules" determine if a hand should receive a third and final card.

Winning bets on the player's hand are paid at 1:1 odds. A 5% commission is charged on winnings as a result of a bet on the banker, making the net odds on banker bets 0.95 to 1. A winning wager on a tie bet is paid at 8:1 odds. If the game does result in a tie, bets on the banker or player are returned.

Blackjack

As the legend goes, the game of blackjack originated in France over 300 years ago. The basic strategy of blackjack is simple and straightforward. Once you master this, you are ready for a more advanced strategy.

Blackjack: The Table Basics

The objective in blackjack is to have a hand which totals 21, or beats the dealer's hand by coming as close to 21 as possible without going over, or "busting." If your first two cards are an ace and a ten, that's blackjack or "a natural" 21! Blackjack always beats a hand that totals 21 by adding the values of more than the first two cards.

A picture card is counted as 10, a card from 2-10 is counted at its face value, and an ace can be counted as either 1 or 11. A "hard hand" is a hand that does not contain an ace or contains an ace that can only be counted as 1 so as not to bust. A dealer's ace always counts as 11.

Hit:
Give player another card!

Stand:
No more cards!

Double Down:
Give player ONLY one more card, and double player's bet!

Split:
Make two hands out of player's pair of cards with the same value. Player's initial wager will be placed on one hand, and a second wager of equal value will be placed on the second hand. However, if you split two aces, you get only one additional card for each hand. If you split two aces and one of your hands totals 21, this is not considered blackjack, but 21. You cannot split a split hand.

Insurance:
If the dealer's upcard is an ace, player will be given the option of placing a side-bet, called insurance. When the dealer shows an ace, he is considered to have a good chance of having blackjack. If the dealer does have blackjack, the insurance pays 2 to 1, corresponding to the amount of your initial bet. If you have bought insurance, and the dealer does not have blackjack, you lose your insurance. Your initial bet is then settled by comparing your cards with the dealer's. Should you and the dealer both have blackjack, the game results in a push.

Blackjack: Advanced Blackjack: The Secrets of Success

Basic Strategy

Basic strategy explains the safest way to play out your blackjack hand in order to increase your odds of being a winner.

Depending on the casino you visit, different "house rules" will apply. Please familiarize yourself with the casino policies prior to playing. The following rules apply to "most" casinos.

- The dealer must draw cards until his hand totals at least 17, and must stand at 17 or higher.
- The single deck is shuffled after each round. (In traditional casinos, players can better their chances of winning by learning how to count cards in an effort to predict the cards still left in the deck. However, since the deck is shuffled after each round at most casinos, counting is not effective.
- Players are allowed to double after splitting, but are not allowed to re-split a split hand.

Blackjack Basic Strategy Chart

In the following chart, look for the value of your hand in the left-hand column. Then look for the value of dealer's upcard in the top row (A = Ace, 10 = 10 or Picture Card). The chart will tell you which option is statistically favorable:

S = Stand
H = Hit
D = Double Down
SP = SPlit

The Dealer's Upcard

Your Hand	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	A
17	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S
16	S	S	S	S	S	H	H	H	H	H
15	S	S	S	S	S	H	H	H	H	H
14	S	S	S	S	S	H	H	H	H	H
13	S	S	S	S	S	H	H	H	H	H
12	H	H	S	S	S	H	H	H	H	H
11	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D
10	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	H
9	D	D	D	D	D	H	H	H	H	H
5+3 6+2	H	H	H	D	D	H	H	H	H	H
A+8	S	S	S	S	D	S	S	S	S	S
A+7	S	D	D	D	D	S	S	H	H	H
A+6	D	D	D	D	D	H	H	H	H	H
A+5	H	H	D	D	D	H	H	H	H	H
A+4	H	H	D	D	D	H	H	H	H	H
A+3	H	H	D	D	D	H	H	H	H	H
A+2	H	H	D	D	D	H	H	H	H	H
A+A	SP	SP	SP	SP	SP	SP	SP	SP	SP	SP
9+9	SP	SP	SP	SP	SP	S	SP	SP	S	S
8+8	SP	SP	SP	SP	SP	SP	SP	SP	SP	SP
7+7	SP	SP	SP	SP	SP	SP	SP	H	S	S
6+6	SP	SP	SP	SP	SP	SP	H	H	H	H
5+5	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	H	H
4+4	H	H	SP	SP	SP	H	H	H	H	H
3+3	SP	SP	SP	SP	SP	SP	H	H	H	H
2+2	SP	SP	SP	SP	SP	SP	H	H	H	H

Here are some strategies. No matter what the dealer's upcard is:
- Always split a pair of aces.
- Always split a pair of 8s.
- Always stand on 17 and up.
- Always double on 11.

Craps

Craps: Lesson 1 - The Table Basics
Craps is an exciting, fast-paced dice game. The strategy to becoming a good craps player is to:
Learn the different bets on the craps table (Lesson 1).
Learn the good bets from the bad bets (Lesson 2).
Start with a basic beginner strategy (Lesson 3).

The Different Craps Bets:
- Pass Line
A pass line bet is a bet placed 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 immediately if the come out roll is 7 or 11 (naturals), and loses if the come out roll is 2, 3, or 12 (craps numbers). If any other number (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10) is rolled, that number becomes "the point." If the shooter rolls the point again before rolling a 7, your pass line bet wins. If the shooter rolls a 7 before rolling the point again, your pass line bet loses.
- Don't Pass Line
A don't pass line bet is essentially the reverse of a pass line bet, and is also placed before the come out roll. If the shooter rolls 3 or 12 on the come out roll, a don't pass line bet wins immediately. 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.
- Come
A come bet is placed before any roll of the dice, once a point has been established by the come out roll. Come bets win immediately 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." If the shooter rolls the come point again before rolling a 7, the come bet wins.
- Don't Come
A don't come bet is essentially the opposite of a come bet. Don't come bets win immediately 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. After the come point is established, don't come bets win if 7 is rolled and lose if the come point is rolled.
- Odds
An odds bet is a "back up" bet on an original pass line, don't pass line, come, or don't come bet. Men's Vegas allows odds bets of three times your original bets.
- Field
A field bet is a bet that the next roll of the dice will be 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, or 12.
- Big Six and Big Eight
A big six bet is a bet that 6 will be rolled before 7. Likewise, a big eight bet is a bet that 8 will be rolled before 7.
- Place Win
A place win bet is a bet that 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10 will be rolled before a seven.
- Place Lose
A place lose bet is a bet that 7 will be rolled before 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10.
- Buy
A buy bet is a bet that 4, 6, 8, 9, or 10 will be rolled before 7. A vigorish (vig.) of 5% is charged when placing the buy bet.
Lay
A lay bet is a bet that 7 will be rolled before 4, 6, 8, 9, or 10. A 5% vig. is charged when placing the lay bet.
- Any 7
An "any 7" bet is a bet that the next roll of the dice will be 7.
- Any 11
An "any 11" bet is a bet that the next roll of the dice will be 11.
- Any Craps
An "any craps" bet is a bet that the next roll of the dice will be 2, 3, or 12.
- Horn
A horn bet is a bet that the next roll of the dice will be either 2, 3, 11, or 12.
- Hardway
A hardway bet is a bet that the shooter will roll a 4, 6, 8, or 10 as doubles (2+2, 3+3, 4+4, or 5+5) before rolling a 7. Rolling a number by doubles is said to be rolling the number "the hard way".

Craps: Lesson 2 - Good and Bad Bets
The variety of different bets that entice players at the craps table can be confusing. However, the way to come out a craps winner is to stick to bets with low house advantages. These bets have a maximum casino advantage of 1.4%, and are therefore "good bets":

- Pass line
- Don't pass line
- Come
- Don't come
- Odds
- Place win 6 or 8
As the chart below reveals, the casino advantage varies for all the different types of bets. Your best bet is taking odds on your pass line, don't pass line, come, and don't come bets.
The Bet The Payoff Odds Casino Advantage
Pass Line
1 to 1
Don't Pass Line
1 to 1
Come
1 to 1
Don't Come
1 to 1
Pass Line, Come Odds
2 to 1 on 4 or 10
3 to 2 on 5 or 9
6 to 5 on 6 or 8
Don't Pass Line, Don't Come Odds
1 to 2 on 4 or 10
2 to 3 on 5 or 9
5 to 6 on 6 or 8
Field
1 to 1 on 3,4,9,10, or 11
2 to 1 on 2 or 12
Big 6, Big 8
1 to 1
Place Win
9 to 5 on 4 or 10
7 to 5 on 5 or 9
7 to 6 on 6 or 8
Place Lose
5 to 11 on 4 or 10
5 to 8 on 5 or 9
4 to 5 on 6 or 8
Buy
(A 5% vig. is charged to place a buy bet.)
2 to 1 on 4 or 10
3 to 2 on 5 or 9
6 to 5 on 6 or 8
Lay
(A 5% commission is charged on winnings.)
1 to 2 on 4 or 10
2 to 3 on 5 or 9
5 to 6 on 6 or 8
Any 7
4 to 1
Any 11
15 to 1
Any Craps
7 to 1
Horn
30 to 1 on 2 or 12
15 to 1 on 3 or 11
Hardway
7 to 1 on 4 or 10
9 to 1 on 6 or 8 Good Luck!

Craps: Lesson 3 - Basic Beginner Strategies
Start on the Pass Line
A good beginner strategy is to start with a minimum pass line bet, backed by single odds. If the bets win, place a new pass line bet with double odds. Keep the amount of your original pass line bet (flat bet) the same, but increase the odds bet. If those bets win, go for triple odds. Don't increase your minimum flat bet on the pass line until you are winning. Then only increase it by 50% of your previous wager. If you lose, go back to the minimum flat bet.

Add a Come Bet
When you are comfortable playing the pass line, you can add a minimum come bet with single odds. If you win, double and then triple your come odds. Don't increase your minimum come bet (flat bet) until you are winning. Then only increase it by 50% of your previous wager. If you lose, go back to the minimum bet.
Don't Pass Line and Don't Come Bets
When you have gained experience by placing pass line and come bets, you can try don't pass line and don't come bets with odds. Use the same betting strategy: wager the minimum bet with steadily increasing odds. After a win, you can increase your next flat bet by 50%. After a loss, you can wager a minimum flat bet.
Taking Odds vs. Laying Odds
You "take" odds on a pass line or come bet, but "lay" odds on a don't pass line or don't come bet. Laying odds on don't bets means that you have to wager more to win less since don't betters have an advantage once the point has been established.
Place Win on 6 or 8
Although the house advantage is relatively low on this bet, you should really only consider it when you are winning your pass line (or don't pass line) and come (or don't come) bets with odds, and the number 6 or 8 is not already covered by your bets.

Stud Poker

Caribbean (Stud) poker has become the most popular new casino game in the last few years. If you like poker, you will love Caribbean Poker! The player plays against the dealer, independently of other players. Your goal as the player is to beat the dealer's hand. The exciting aspect of the game is that you can win big when you least expect it. The international payoff standard for a royal flush is 100 to 1.

In order to participate in the game, you must first place an "ante bet". Don't forget to add your $1 bonus bet! You are then dealt a hand of five cards, all of them dealt face up. The dealer also receives five cards; four cards dealt face down and one card face up. You then have to decide whether to challenge the dealer's hand or to surrender. If you wish to challenge the dealer you must place a bet which is always equal to twice the ante. If you surrender you loose your ante.

When you receive a good hand, you naturally place a bet to challenge the dealer. When the bet has been placed, the dealer reveals his remaining four cards, and the hands are compared.

The dealer's hand must contain at least one ace and one king in order to qualify. If the dealer's hand does not qualify, you receive 1 to 1 on your ante, and your bet is returned to you without winnings.

If the dealer's hand does qualify with a value of at least one ace + one king, the best hand wins. Your winning hand receives 1 to 1 on the ante plus the winnings on your bet, which are calculated according to the below winnings table:

Hand

Pays

Card Specifications

Nothing 1 to 1 Five cards of different values.

One Pair 1 to 1 Two cards of the same value.

Two Pairs 2 to 1 Two sets of two cards of the same value.

Three of a kind 3 to 1 Three cards of the same value.

Straight 4 to 1 Five cards in numerical sequence, but of different suits.

Flush 5 to 1 Five cards of the same suit, of any value.

Full House 7 to 1 One pair + three of a kind

Four of a Kind 20 to 1 Four cards of the same value.

Straight Flush 50 to 1 Five cards in numeric sequence, and of the same suit.

Royal Flush 200 to 1 Ace, king, queen, jack, and 10; all of the same suit.

When the dealer and the player receive poker hands of equal value (i.e. a push game), both the ante and the bet are returned to the player.

Pai Gow Poker

Pai Gow Poker: Introduction

Pai gow poker is a recent addition to the casinos, and is one of many games that has an Asian origin. A combination of the Chinese game of pai gow (meaning makes nine) and the American game of poker, this game of skill offers players a reasonable chance to win.

In this version of poker, players are not wagering against each other but against the bank, and unlike the original Asian version which is played with dominoes, pai gow poker is played with a deck of cards. The object of the game is for the player to hold two hands of cards that rank higher than the banker's two hands.

Played around a special pai gow table, the table has room for the dealer and six players. The house initially assumes the role of the bank with the dealer as the banker, and then the position moves around from player to player. The role of banker can be declined by any player, and passed on to the next person in line. The role of banker is indicated with a chung that is set in front of that player's area. When the dealer is not the banker, he/she plays the hand as a player.

Pai Gow Poker: Game Play
The game is played with a standard 52-card deck and a joker that serves as a wild card in straights, flushes and straight flushes. The joker may also be used as an ace in any hand, and in some casinos may be considered completely wild. The dealer shuffles the deck and deals out seven stacks of seven cards, discarding the remaining four cards. All bets are made and then the dealer shakes and rolls three dice from a teacup to determine which player will get the first stack of cards. The dealer totals the amount shown in the dice, and then starting with himself, counts around the players at the table in a clockwise motion until he reaches the player who gets the first hand. The remaining hands are dealt out to the players in a counterclockwise motion.

When the players receive their cards, they set them into two hands of five and two cards. The two-card hand is known as the low hand is placed in front of the five-card hand known as the high hand. Each five-card hand is ranked according to the pai gow poker hierarchy which varies only slightly from the standard poker hand hierarchy. The only real difference is that five aces, which are accomplished by adding four aces to a joker,
beats out a royal flush and is the highest hand in the game.

Rank	Hand Name	Description of hand
1	Five Aces	Five aces and a joker
2	Royal Flush	A, K, Q, J, 10 all of same suit
3	Straight Flush	Five cards of the same suit in sequence
4	4 of a Kind	Four cards of the same rank
5	Full House	3 of a Kind and a Pair
6	Flush	Five cards of the same suit
7	Straight	Five cards in sequence
8	3 of a Kind	Three cards of the same rank
9	2 Pair	Two cards of one rank, plus two of another
10	1 Pair	Two cards of the same rank

The hierarchy of two-card hands is much simpler in that the hand is either a pair or it is not. The highest two-card hand is a pair of aces, and the rank of subsequent pairs falls in order from kings down to two's. The same ranking order applies to single cards.

It is the players' responsibility to ensure that their five-card hand has a higher ranking then their two-card hand. If the two-card hand turns out to be higher, the hand is said to be foul and the player automatically loses his bet.

When all the player's cards have been set, the banker's cards are turned face up by the dealer. It is then the banker's job (not the dealer's) to arrange the stack into a two-card hand and a five-card hand. The banker's hands are then individually compared to the players' hands in a clockwise order, starting with the player who received the cards first.

Roulette

Roulette: Lesson 1 - The Table Basics
Roulette has been played since the 17th century. Your simple objective as a player is to predict the ball's final resting-place when the wheel stops spinning. Your wager on the roulette table can be placed on a single number, or be used to cover 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 12, or up to 18 different numbers during one spin. Here is a summary of the different roulette bets:

- Straight Up
This is a wager on a single number, including zero (0) and double zero (00). If the ball stops at your number, your bet pays 35 to 1.
- Split Bet
This is a wager on two adjacent numbers in the roulette table, which is placed on the line dividing the two numbers. If the ball stops at either number, your bet pays 17 to 1.
- Street Bet
Street bets cover three numbers. The chip is placed on the outer right boundary line of the roulette table, next to the corresponding row of three numbers. If either number hits, the street bet pays 11 to 1.
- Corner Bet
Corner bets cover four numbers. The chip is placed on the cross where the four numbers intersect. If any of the four numbers hit, your corner bet pays 8 to 1.
- Five Bet
This bet covers the following numbers: 0, 00, 1, 2 and 3. The chip is placed on the outer right boundary line of the roulette table, between 00 and 3. If either number hits, your five bets pays 6 to 1.
- Line Bet
A line bet covers the six different numbers in two rows of three numbers. For example: 4,5,6 plus 7,8,9). The chip is placed on outer right boundary line of the roulette table, where the line dividing the two rows intersects it. If any of the six numbers hit, your line bet pays 5 to 1.
- Column Bet
On the short side of the roulette table are three boxes marked "2 to 1." By placing your chip in one of these boxes, you mark all twelve numbers above it (0 and 00 excluded). If the ball stops at either of these numbers, your bet pays 2 to 1.
- Dozen Bet
You can bet on a group of twelve numbers by placing your chip in one of the three boxes marked "1st 12," "2nd 12," or "3rd 12." A winning dozen bet pays 2 to 1.
- Red/Black, Even/Odd, and Low/High Bets
A bet placed in one of the boxes on the left, long side of the table covers half of the roulette numbers (excluding zero and double zero). Each box covers 18 numbers. These bets pay even money, 1 to 1.

Roulette: Lesson 2 - Where She Stops...
...nobody Knows! Keep this important fact in mind when you're seated at the roulette table.
The most important way to walk away from the roulette table as a winner is to budget your money, and know when it's time to take your winnings and run! By scattering your bets on the roulette table, you will increase your odds of winning more in the long run. Instead of betting a stack of chips straight up on your lucky number, place only one chip straight up on your lucky number, and use the rest to place corner bets. If you win, use winnings to increase your bets. If you lose, go back to the minimum bet.

Set aside a small portion of your total gambling till for wild impulse bets. If that lucky number has come up two spins in a row, and you are determined to place a bundle straight up that number during the next spin (even though your rationale is faulty), use your impulse betting till. If you lose, you will only lose a portion of your stake and can use the rest to place wiser bets.

Slot Machines

Slots: History
Enterprising American, Charles Fey, began inventing and manufacturing slot machines in 1894 from his workshop in San Francisco. Fey pioneered many innovations of coin operated gaming devices, including the original three reel, bell slot machine in 1898.

This "Liberty Bell" is considered to be the forerunner of all modern American slot machines as its basic design continues to be used in mechanical gaming devices today. The simple mechanical devices with three old-style reels holding 20 symbols have evolved into microprocessor-controlled devices with up to five spinning reels holding hundreds of symbols.

It was during the 1930's that slot machines began to proliferate across America, and in the late 40's Bugsy Siegel added machines to his Flamingo Hilton hotel in Las Vegas. Originally installed as a way to entertain the wives and girlfriends of high rollers, revenue from the slot machines soon began supplanting that of the table games. In the mid 1980's the popularity of slot machines and table games were on par with each other, but by the 90's slots had taken over and now account for over two-thirds of casino revenue in the US.

Slot machines gained their universal appeal in casinos because unlike the other games, they are played at the pace of the player and don't require the player to have any skill. Commonly referred to as one-armed bandits, the goal of the game is to spin the reels so that the symbols on all reels line up on the payline in a winning combination. When this occurs, the slot machine pays out according to the payoff table posted on its front. The payoff table tells players what the winning combinations of symbols are for that machine and what each combination pays based on the number of coins put in for the spin. Players have a much greater chance of hitting any of the lower-paying combinations.

Slot Machines: Types of Machines
There are basically two kinds of slot machines: flat tops or straight slots, and progressives. These slots are essentially the same, but for one feature: flat tops will pay the winner a predetermined amount, whereas progressive slots have a jackpot that grows by a percentage of each coin played. Oftentimes a number of progressive machines feed into one jackpot where any machine in the group can win, and the jackpot grows into an astronomical amount. These groupings can be a number of machines in one casino, or can be tied to all of the same machines in a whole state. Progressive machines can be identified by flashing electronic payoff signs displayed either on top of the machine or above a grouping.

There are many different types of machines, and whether playing a progressive or a straight slot, players will be faced with a number of choices. Machines vary on denomination of coins, the number of reels, how many coins to play, and single or multiple paylines.

Since the quarter and dollar machines are most popular, they can be found in many areas on the casino floor. Nickel machines can still be found in small pockets, depending on the casino. For the high-rolling player, casinos have instituted $5, $25, and $100 machines segregated to special VIP areas. These machines require the use of custom coin tokens or cash bills.

The most common machines have three reels, but casinos do offer machines with four or five. When it comes to the odds of winning what is most important are the number of reels a machine has, and how many symbols are displayed on each reel. Essentially, the greater the number of reels and symbols, the harder it is to hit the jackpot or any other winning combination. The number of symbols on each reel is programmed into the computer that operates the slot machine, and the actual number of symbols depends on the size of the jackpot that the machine offers. The reason for the programmed symbols is to make the jackpot rare enough that the machine will generate enough money to pay for the jackpot and yield a profit for the casino. Most machines are set to pay out anywhere from 83 to 98 percent of the coins that are played in the course of a pay cycle.

On average, machines operate on a two or three coin maximum. When it comes to multiple coin playing machines, there are subtle variations. With some machines, the number of coins played is proportional to the payoff, and with others, the payoff is more than proportional. Some machines don't even pay a jackpot on one coin, and the three-coin jackpot often pays 150% of a two-coin win. In this case it is best to play the maximum number of coins.

The standard slot machine has one payline, but three paylines are not that uncommon. For multi-lined paylines, a coin has to be played for each payline in order to get paid for a win.

When players hit one of the smaller winning combination they will be paid automatically by the machine. The larger jackpots however, will be paid out directly by a casino employee who is notified by a light on the top of the machine. Each casino's slot payoffs will vary.

GOOD LUCK!