Blackjack is a table game, typically found at casinos, where the goal is to get 21 Blackjack without going over 21.
How to Play Blackjack
Blackjack Strategy
Here are our top 10 blackjack tips. These expert blackjack tips will ensure you get the best odds when playing blackjack.
- Count cards and bet based on the Count (optional)
- Know how many Aces are left in the deck. Aces increase your chances of getting blackjack. If you have access to a side-bet that favors blackjack. Take the side-bet when the deck is rich in aces and tens for a slightly risky, but high short term return.(optional)
- Never take side-bets (unless the count favors a side-bet)
- Assume the dealer has a 10
- Stand on 12 or higher if dealer is showing 6 or lower
- Hit on 12 or higher if dealer is showing 7 or higher
- Don’t split things that start with a “f” (fours, fives, faces) or 10s
- Always split Aces and 8s
- Always double down on 11
- Never double down on 8 or lower, or 13 or higher
Following the above rules you will increase your odds of winning substantially.
If haven’t learned at least basic card counting strategy and/or basic blackjack strategy, you should keep in mind the Casino will still have the edge and statistically you will lose money over time.
Simply following rules 3 – 10 to play better than the average BJ player and bring your edge pretty darn close to 50%.
You’ll break some of the rules when using perfect strategy and have mastered the count, but for now simply following the above will bring down a potential house edge of around 4% – 1% or less.
Get the house edge (house advantage) of common casino games like Roulette, craps, blackjack, and slots.
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Summary Tables for House Advantage
The two tables from the University of Las Vegas Center for Gaming Research below show the house advantages for many of the popular casino games. The first table is a summary of the popular games and the second gives a more detailed breakdown.
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House Advantages for Popular Casino Games
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Game
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House Advantage
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Roulette (double-zero)
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5.3%
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Craps (pass/come)
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1.4%
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Craps (pass/come with double odds)
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0.6%
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Blackjack – average player
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2.0%
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Blackjack – 6 decks, basic strategy*
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0.5%
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Blackjack – single deck, basic strategy*
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0.0%
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Baccarat (no tie bets)
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1.2%
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Caribbean Stud*
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5.2%
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Let It Ride*
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3.5%
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Three Card Poker*
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3.4%
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Pai Gow Poker (ante/play)*
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2.5%
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Slots
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5% – 10%
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Video Poker*
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0.5% – 3%
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Keno (average)
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27.0%
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*optimal strategy
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House Advantages for Major Casino Wagers
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Game
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Bet
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HA*
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Baccarat
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Banker (5% commission)
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1.06%
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Baccarat
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Player
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1.24%
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Big Six Wheel
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Average
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19.84%
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Blackjack
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Card-Counting
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-1.00%
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Blackjack
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Basic Strategy
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0.50%
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Blackjack
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Average player
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2.00%
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Blackjack
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Poor Player
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4.00%
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Caribbean Stud
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Ante
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5.22%
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Casino War
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Basic Bet
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2.88%
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Craps
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Any Craps
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11.11%
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Craps
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Any Seven
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16.67%
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Craps
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Big 6, Big 8
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9.09%
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Craps
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Buy (any)
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4.76%
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Craps
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C&E
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11.11%
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Craps
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don’t pass/Don’t Come
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1.36%
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Craps
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don’t pass/Don’t Come w/1X Odds
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0.68%
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Craps
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don’t pass/Don’t Come w/2X Odds
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0.45%
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Craps
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don’t pass/Don’t Come w/3X Odds
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0.34%
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Craps
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don’t pass/Don’t Come w/5X Odds
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0.23%
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Craps
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don’t pass/Don’t Come w/10X Odds
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0.12%
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Craps
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Don’t Place 4 or 10
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3.03%
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Craps
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Don’t Place 5 or 9
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2.50%
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Craps
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Don’t Place 6 or 8
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1.82%
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Craps
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Field (2 and 12 pay double)
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5.56%
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Craps
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Field (2 or 12 pays triple)
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2.78%
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Craps
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Hard 4, Hard 10
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11.11%
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Craps
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Hard 6, Hard 8
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9.09%
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Craps
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Hop Bet – easy (14-1)
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16.67%
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Craps
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Hop Bet – easy (15-1)
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11.11%
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Craps
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Hop Bet – hard (29-1)
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16.67%
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Craps
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Hop Bet – hard (30-1)
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13.89%
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Craps
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Horn Bet (30-1 & 15-1)
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12.50%
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Craps
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Horn High – any (29-1 & 14-1)
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16.67%
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Craps
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Horn High 2, Horn High 12 (30-1 & 15-1)
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12.78%
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Craps
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Horn High 3, Horn High 11 (30-1 & 15-1)
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12.22%
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Craps
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Lay 4 or 10
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2.44%
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Craps
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Lay 5 or 9
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3.23%
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Craps
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Lay 6 or 8
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4.00%
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Craps
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Pass/Come
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1.41%
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Craps
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Pass/Come w/1X Odds
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0.85%
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Craps
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Pass/Come w/2X Odds
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0.61%
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Craps
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Pass/Come w/3X Odds
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0.47%
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Craps
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Pass/Come w/5X Odds
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0.33%
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Craps
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Pass/Come w/10X Odds
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0.18%
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Craps
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Place 4 or 10
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6.67%
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Craps
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Place 5 or 9
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4.00%
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Craps
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Place 6 or 8
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1.52%
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Craps
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Three, Eleven (14-1)
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16.67%
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Craps
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Three, Eleven (15-1)
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11.11%
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Craps
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Two, Twelve (29-1)
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16.67%
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Craps
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Two, Twelve (30-1)
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13.89%
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Keno
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Typical
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27.00%
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Let It Ride
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Base bet
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3.51%
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Pai Gow
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Poker Skilled player (non-banker)
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2.54%
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Pai Gow Poker
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Average player (non-banker)
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2.84%
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Red Dog
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Basic bet (six decks)
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2.80%
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Roulette
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Single-zero
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2.70%
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Roulette
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Double-zero (except five-number)
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5.26%
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Roulette
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Double-zero, five-number bet
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7.89%
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Sic Bo
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Big/Small
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2.78%
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Sic Bo
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One of a Kind
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7.87%
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Sic Bo
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7, 14
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9.72%
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Sic Bo
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8, 13
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12.50%
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Sic Bo
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10, 11
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12.50%
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Sic Bo
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Any three of a kind
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13.89%
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Sic Bo
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5, 16
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13.89%
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Sic Bo
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4, 17
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15.28%
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Sic Bo
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Three of a kind
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16.20%
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Sic Bo
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Two-dice combination
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16.67%
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Sic Bo
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6, 15
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16.67%
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Sic Bo
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Two of a kind
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18.52%
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Sic Bo
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9, 12
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18.98%
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Slots
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Dollar Slots (good)
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4.00%
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Slots
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Quarter Slots (good)
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5.00%
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Slots
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Dollar Slots (average)
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6.00%
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Slots
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Quarter Slots (average)
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8.00%
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Sports Betting
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Bet $11 to Win $10
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4.55%
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Three Card Poker
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Pair Plus
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2.32%
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Three Card Poker
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Ante
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3.37%
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Video Poker
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Selected Machines
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-0.50%
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*House Advantages under typical conditions, expressed “per hand” and including ties, where appropriate. Optimal strategy assumed unless otherwise noted.
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Note: This summary is the intellectual property of Robert Hannum and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.