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Backgammon Opening Moves

2009-10-30T02:25:00.000-07:00

When playing backgammon, playing the opening roll has a great affect as to the reminder of the game and many experts agree that one of the basic strategy in backgammon is knowing the correct opening moves. Lets review the opening moves in backgammon.
The oldest known game in the history of mankind is Backgammon. Throughout the history of the game experts backgammon players from all over the world have analyzed each possible move, putting special emphasis on the backgammon opening moves. The results of these studies into the backgammon opening moves have agreed upon certain opening moves are universally correct. This, of course, serves to the benefit of beginners to the game of backgammon since any novice can always be sure that he is making the right backgammon opening move.

·6-6 - will allow you to close both your and your opponents 7 points.

·5-5 - you should always move 2 pieces from your midpoint (12 point) to your 3-point.

·4-4 - you can create with ease an anchor on your opponents 5 point and your own 9 point.

·3-3 - will help you make your 5 point and your opponents 4 point.

·2-2 - can help you close the 5 point of your opponent by moving your back pieces twice.

·1-1 - one of the greatest combinations to start with as you can close both your 7 point and your 5 point, two of the most important pieces on the board.

One of the best opening moves would be 3-1 as it will allow you to close your 5 point. An opening move of 6-1 will close the 7 point and a 4-2 opening move will close the 4 point. If your opening move is 5-4, 5-3, 5-2, 4-3 and 3-2 you should move two checkers from your midpoint; however an opening move of 2-3, 4-5 and 4-3 can be used to close one of the opponent's points and move one checker from the midpoint. An opening move of 5-4 can alternatively move one of the back pieces nine points ahead.

The opening moves of 6-5, 6-4, 6-3 and 6-2 most of the time should move one of the back pieces using both dices. In addition you can also move one checker from the back to your opponent's 7 point and move another checker from the midpoint. Even today, after countless years of play and study, expert players still debate on what you should do with the 6-2 opening move, even so many are inclined on moving one piece from the midpoint and slot the 5 point.

With the opening rolls of 2-1, 4-1 and 5-1 you can split your back pieces in your opponents home board or slot the 5 point and move one piece from the midpoint with the reminder dice.

By knowing your Backgammonopening moves you are already getting a head start on your opponent and eventually the game.

Basic Backgammon Strategy

2009-10-25T02:25:00.000-07:00

When there is only one checker on a point (a blot), it might be hit by the opponent and end up on the bar. However, when there are two or more checkers on a point, they cannot be hit. Moreover, they sometimes block the opponent and prevent him from progressing in the game.

In backgammon, the first player to bear off his checkers is the winner. It seems that the best strategy is to try to hit as much as possible, and on the other hand, to ensure that your own men are not alone on a point, so that you will not be hit. However, this strategy, used by most beginners, proves to be wrong. Here are some considerations you should take into account when attempting to establish a winning strategy.
Distribution

Distribution is the division of a player's checkers among his owned points. A good strategy is to divide the checkers as evenly as possible among one's owned points. A player who does so will have a much better chance of winning.

Exposure

If you wish to create a strong line of attack or defense, you should leave shots in the early stages of the game. However, watch your steps as your enemy's home board is strengthened, because you will have a much harder time re-entering from the bar if most of the points are owned by the opponent.

On the other hand, you can take more risks if you control many of the points in your opponent's home board (anchors). You should try to have no more than four blots, despite the fact that his board is weak. The leader of the game should try to keep his winning status by limiting his exposure to the opponent's hits.

Blocking and Priming

A prime is formed when there are six points in a row. This structure is formed in order to trap the opponent, and it is advisable to create it in the early stages of the game, so as to have a significant advantage over the opponent.

Hitting

When hitting a checker, you should consider if it will benefit you in any way. Checkers which are a good hit are those that are closest to the opponent's home board or those that may become a significant owned point for the opponent once they are covered.

Make reasonable decisions. For instance, sometimes making another point in your home board may be more important than hitting your opponent. Moreover, avoid hitting your opponent when it may weaken you. Try to see clearly and look one step ahead. However, if you are not sure of your next move, hitting can (almost) never hurt.

Anchoring

Some players set up a protective point (anchor) in the opponent's home board. This is called anchoring. Anchoring provides you with a place to land if you get hit. It also holds your opponent back from his home board. In the first part of the game, try to create anchors on the higher points (20,21). If you are losing the game, the lower points (22,23,24) are more worthy, since building your home board and waiting for a shot should be your basic concern. It is best to have your anchors on adjoining points.

Backgammon Opening Rolls

2009-10-20T02:24:00.000-07:00

In this article and a few to follow we are going to go back to the fundamentals of backgammon and examine how to play the Backgammon opening rolls. As with other games of skill, the opening roll goes a long way towards shaping the game that will follow.

Just like with other games, in backgammon we will see that certain opening rolls can be played aggressively or played passively. The opening roll that you decide to play will depend on the current game situation.

Before we can discuss the different types of opening rolls we must first consider the main objective of the game. Basically, backgammon is a race for home, however, if that was the point of the game then nobody would play it. Even if in the end the race will decide the winner there are many other issues and strategies within the game. To get ahead in the game, we need to create safe landing spots for our checkers, i.e. make points. Another major objective of the game is to hold back your opponent as much as you can. The ideal thing to do would be to trap one or more of his checkers behind a strong blockade. This is called a prime. A prime is a set of contiguous points, where the ultimate is a full prime – six points in a row. While a six-point prime would be ideal, five-point and four-point primes are also very strong.
So our basic goals at the beginning of the game are to create new points – preferably natural numbers (6-1,4-2,5-3) that easily form part of a prime and to begin a race for home. When starting the race for home, the most difficult checkers to get home are the two furthest away at the start of the game, i.e. the two checkers on our opponent’s ace-point. Because of this, it would be highly in our favor to move those checkers in the opening roll, the two checkers on the ace-point. Another important objective is to unstack our heavy points. During the inital set-up, we position 5 checkers on our mid-point (13-pt) and our 6-pt. Five checkers on a single point does not help us in any way so we want to spread and use those checkers as quickly as we can.

36 rolls of the two dice are possible. Each number combination can occur twice, except doubles. For example, 62 can be thrown as a 6 on the first dice and a 2 on the second dice or as a 2 on the first dice and a 6 on the second dice. Excluding the doubles – as those can never be an opening roll – then there are actually only 15 rolls to consider. These 15 opening rolls are put into four groups:

Rolls that are always played the same (5): 31, 42, 53, 61, 65 Rolls on which there is a consensus (2): 62, 63 Slot or split rolls (3): 21, 41, 51 Rolls that are debated: 32, 43, 52, 54, 64

If you think about it, it is quite shocking that after 3,000 years of play some of the opening rolls are still under dispute!

In the next page of this article we will describe specific Backgammon Opening Rolls and how to play them.

Blocking

2009-10-11T02:23:00.000-07:00

The game of Backgammon is more then a race against your opponent to see who can bring their checkers fastest to their home board. It involves one of the key strategies in backgammon which is the blocking method, which is when a player hinders his opponents advance on the board by keeping points blocked and putting checkers on the bar.

The strategy of blocking in backgammon should be planned from the start, so a player can look a few moves forward and plan his strategy.
Building Points in a Row

A point is when two or more of your checkers occupy that space. When having a checker on the bar, having a point in your home board is a basic blocking strategy as your opponent will not be able to enter. If you build several consecutive points this would greatly hinder your opponents advance. This backgammon blocking strategy not only helps you to finish your opponent but to score more points.

Prime Blocking

A Prime Backgammon Blocking

One of the backgammon blocking strategy is a prime Block. A prime block is when consecutive rows are occupied by two or more checkers and prevent the opponent from continuing to advance their checkers. If there is a gap between your points it is called a “broken gap”.

Lets have a look at an example of the prime blocking strategy: Black has his checkers in the four point and the following points up to the ten point are occupied by two of white's checkers. The effectiveness of this blocking strategy is that whatever the roll of the dice, the black checker will not be able to advance on the board (as the six points ahead of him are blocked) and is subsequently stuck on the four point. This blocking strategy will be in effect until white has moved or played one of the points from 5-10. This type of blocking strategy is the strongest and is called the “six-prime block”, because six consecutive points are blocked. This backgammon blocking technique is probably the most commonly used technique.

The Advantage of Prime Blocking

Looking at the previous example of the blocking strategy called the “prime block”, it is evident that the white player has an obvious edge and is most likely to win the game. What this blocking strategy enables a player is to somewhat maintain the block and start to bear off before his opponent does. This blocking strategy is also a great contributor in achieving gammons and backgammons. If you are successful in this blocking strategy and are able to build a prime block, you should consider doubling the stakes since you are the favorite to win and most likely to make more points.

How to Block Your Opponent

To be successful in applying the backgammon blocking strategy, simply follow these rules:
·Try to make consecutive points. This will help you achieve a prime block.

·Try to build points in the middle of the board. As much as home board primes are helpful, they do not block your opponents advance.

·Try not to move one checkers at a time aim to move them together. Even if they are not forming any blocks, they can be set up to become ones later on.

·Some blocks can be relevant when having your opponent on the bar, such as having consecutive points in your home board which will prevent your opponent from entering. This is a very good blocking strategy.

The blocking strategy in backgammon is an integral part of the game but it needs practice. You can practice the blocking strategy playing online backgammon and try to focus on building blocking points or primes in your practice session.

Doubling & Re Doubling

2009-10-04T02:21:00.000-07:00

When calling a double while playing backgammon it increases the value of the stake two folds and if a re-double is presented then it would increase the stakes four-fold.

When to call a double?

There are some basic rules to learn as to when to call a double but what it comes down to is if you are highly confident that you have an advantage in the game, then call a double.
How to call a double?

To call a double, simply turn the doubling cube which should already be placed on the bar. When calling a double and if the opponent accepts the double, then the game points or stakes are doubled. For example, if the game is played for 1 point it will become 2, 2 will become 4, 3 will become 6 and so on. Remember that if a double is called and the opponent refuses to accept the double, then the game is over immediately and the opponent forfeits the game.

When a double is called by the first player and the second player (opponent) accepts the double, the doubling cube is given to the second player who now has possession of the doubling cube. This rule was put into place in order to try to keep things even as the player, who accepts the double, now has complete control of the cube and the possibility of calling another double. If the player decided to double again, this implies a “re-double”, which means the stake has been further doubled. However, the same strategy implies here as well and the second player will only call a double if he feels that he has the upper hand. If a re-double is called, then the first player must abide by the same rules as mentioned above. If the first player refuses to take the re-double, then he will forfeit the game. A re-double simply quadruples the original value of the stake, for example 1 will become 4, 2 will become 8, 3 will become 12.

When doubling and re-doubling there is no limit. Players only alternate the exclusivity possession on the doubling cube, as well as the value of the stake increasing following the arithmetic rules. The double and re-double was introduced into the game of backgammon to increase the stakes and speed up the game.

There is another term related to doubling called: “Beavers”. During normal play, when the doubling cube is put to use the opponent accepts, the first player forfeits the exclusive right of the doubling cube. If the first player does not want to lose possession of the doubling cube, he will immediately call for a re-double or beaver. When a beaver occurs, the decision is pushed back to the opponent’s, for acceptance or conceding a defeat of that game by refusal. This rule however is mostly used in money play, not in matches or tournaments.

What is the doubling cube:

The doubling cube has the numbers 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64 printed on its faces. Its shape is slightly larger than the original dice. The doubling cube is used to keep track of the increased value of the stake. At the beginning of the game, the cube is placed on the bar to signify its neutrality, meaning that neither player controls the cube. The cube is placed with the face showing 64 at the top, which represents the initial status of the stake as 1, and then it is switched between the players with the face showing increased value depending upon the progress of the game.

Doubling cubes come in many shapes or sizes and it is customary to place the cube in the middle of the board to indicate the statues. As much as players like the vivid colors and shapes of the doubling cube it is not mandatory. A pen and paper will get the job done as well.

Blackjack Cheats

2009-09-30T06:59:00.000-07:00

In the State of Nevada there are over 30 arrests each month directly associated with cheating or stealing from casinos! A third of these arrests are casino employees.

Many Blackjack cheats are complete novices who may have watched any one of many television programs that show video recordings of cheating in action, and thought they could take the casino for a small fortune.

However with the advent of modern technology your chances of pulling off any form of scam in a casino is greatly reduced as the above figures on arrests shows. But with failure also comes success and there have been many Blackjack cheats who have got away with their thievery!

A successful Blackjack cheat will never boast of how they got away with their scam but by studying some of the unsuccessful attempts you will get a feeling for how they pulled it off.

Flashing Cards
Often a Blackjack cheat will enrol the help of a Dealer to help pull off a scam, the most common way is for the Dealer to flash the top card at the Blackjack cheater who can then use this knowledge to either play on, double down or stand their hand.

By knowing what card or cards are about to be dealt can have a dramatic effect on a players winning chances, and when a Dealer is in of the scam it can be very costly to the casino.

Switching The Deck
This scam takes a lot of courage, and it has been pulled of several times. A small team of Blackjack cheats will enter the casino with a pre-stacked deck of cards and when the Dealer presents the real deck to one of the team to split it they swap the real deck for the stacked deck!

As you can imagine this takes plenty of skill, luck and slight of hand and the other members of the team are used to distract the Pitboss and other players, whilst trying to keep the switch out of view of the eye in the sky by leaning over the deck as it is switched.

It sounds very far fetched but it has been used many times, and with the Blackjack cheating team knowing which cards are going to be dealt in no time at all they can get away with some massive amounts of cash in a very short period of time.

Adding / Removing Chips
Slight of hand scams have also been very successful and one of the most common is for a player to add or remove chips from their stake stack by using their dealt hand to conceal the chips added or removed.

This scam is almost unnoticeable by the eye in the sky and in a matter of seconds a player can add or remove high value chips from their hand to increase a Blackjack payout or lower their losing bet.

Marking Cards
Marking the cards that have been dealt to the player is another way of cheating, however Dealers and Pit bosses are wise to this scam and as such the decks are regularly replaced to help eradicate this scam.

There have been reports of Blackjack cheats using special ink that cannot be seen by the human eye, but by wearing a special contact lens the ink becomes visible. They then mark the entire deck and simply wager accordingly!

How Cool is a Poker School

2009-09-27T04:02:00.000-07:00

Poker is a kind of gambling game which is so awesome, it is the kind of game with different rules regarding how the cards are dealt, how hands formed, and how it will have limit on bets. As a beginner, you may want to know further about poker strategy. The strategies are needed so that you will get improved time after time you play. Once you are ready, you can join the poker tournament. This kind of tournament which will bring players to higher level of playing. Do you know that there is also a poker school that you can enter? A place that will make you fully educated with poker strategy and improving skill. Registering for full access is recommended. Stepping into the world of poker has never been this great. Once you are registered, you can start playing poker directly. It features many things, from where you are going to take your seat, the information about tournament lobby and the software that will go along with Mac. So, if you are a Mac fanatic, you don't have to be worried because there is downloadable Mac client. Take a look at the lower menu and you are going to find the hot tournaments that you can join. How cool is that? For further information do not hesitate to take a look at Poker.Bwin.Com and get ready for getting improved! Whether you are an advanced player or beginner, the rule is just the same, and there's no way to worry whether you are gonna win or lose, in fact, try to enjoy the game as much as you can because this poker game is valuable and I can tell that there is no other game like this. Learn how to play tournaments, and view the tournament calendar so that you can join the tournament and see if you can beat your competitors. Please kindly read the rules first hand so that there's no way you can cheat and you can play fair. Now it is the right time to see the featured tournaments. Daily Freerolls suits for you who want to play with no risk, you can have all the fun and with cash prizes. In fact, this Daily Freeroll is a great way for you before stepping up to the real thing. It is definitely a way to get used to playing online poker.

Lottery, More Than Just Gambling

2009-09-25T06:58:00.000-07:00

A lottery is a popular form of gambling which involves the drawing of lots for a prize. There are some states where lottery is forbidden but others endorse it to the extend of organizing a national lottery. Lotteries date back to the period of Romans. And it was common for emperors to give their dinner party guests gifts like slaves to lavish villas after drawings.
Two common lottery myths

* Lottery is tax
* Lottery take advantage of the poor economic strata of our society

Lottery facts

* In China lottery was first played to fund the Great Wall
* U.S. lotteries helped fund the Colonial Army in the Revolutionary War
* At one point of time many churches and universities such as Harvard, Yale and Princeton were funded in part by lotteries

Where does the Lottery revenue expenditure go?

* A good amount of lottery earnings is spend on economic development of the country
* Steps are taken to improve job opportunities
* Educational purposes
* Human resources
* Natural resources[environmental protection]
* Transportation
* Public health finance
* Keeping apart money to improve the economic development of a country, lottery gains also go to cancer organizations, child care canters and places where it is needed

Today, many religious and social organizations condemn lotteries saying that it’s a one way ticket to accumulating lots of wealth. Since lotteries lotteries tempt people to play with money and gain huge amounts back if they got lucky, it can easily become an addiction. Many individuals waste much money over lotteries and other gambling games without taking care of their families properly. This is unethical to a population of today’s society. Of course, it is not right to spend all the money you earn on lotteries. But by taking part in lotteries you contribute a little to the development of your own country. That’s why we say lotteries are not just about gambling. It’s a lot about winning and giving.

Black Jack Tips & Tricks for the Passionates

2009-09-22T06:56:00.000-07:00

BlackJack unlocked: Glossary of Terms:

- Action: A bet

- Advantage: A player's expected rate of win or loss, usually shown as a percentage of total money played

- Bankroll: The amount of money a player has to play with.

- Bet Spread: A difference between a players minimum and maximum bets.

- Black Chip: A $100.00 chip.

- Burn card: when you remove a card from the top of the deck and discard it before dealing the next hand.

- Bust: when your cards total more than 21

- Cage: cashiers location within the casino

- Deck Penetration: the depth to which the dealer will enter into the deck before shuffling.

- Discards: all cards already played.

- Double after Split : the abilty to double your bet after splitting a pair.

- Double Down: the ability to double ones bet before receiving 1 more card.

- Draw: asking for more cards after the initial 2 cards.

- Early Surrender: stopping further play after getting the first 2 cards and thus automatically losing half your bet.

- Edge: the % advantage to either the player or the house.

- Even Money: winning the exact amount of the bet.

- Expectation: the amount that can be expected to be won by either house or player.-

Eye in the Sky: surveilance camera appropriately located to look for cheating by players or dealers.

- Face Card: Jacks, Queens & Kings

- First Base: first player receiving cards.

- Flat Betting: betting the samne bet each hand.

- Hard Total: When the ace is used as a 1 or a total including no aces.
- Heat: what players face by the casino personnell when they are suspected of cheating.

- High Roller: a big kahuna, a vip, big spender.

More Blackjack Terms...

- Hit: asking for another card.

- Hole Card: card face down, not seen by others.

- House Edge: % advantage the house has over players.

- Insurance: taken when dealer is showing an ace or a 10 upcard. It's betting that the dealer has blackjack.

- Late Surrender: allows players to lose half their bet after they see the dealers face card unless he or she is showing a blackjack.

- Multiple Deck: games using more than 1 deck.

- Natural: getting blackjack with the first 2 cards.

- Nickel: A $5.00 chip

- No Double after Split: cannot double down after splitting.

- Pat Hand: a hand where dealer cannot hit because he has a hard 17.

- Red Chip: A $5.00 chip.

- Resplit: if after splitting once you get the same pair of cards again then you can resplit.

- Resplit Aces: ability to aplit aces any number of times.

- Session: lenght of time a player plays at a table.

- Soft Hand: when an ace is counted as an 11.

- Stand: when you do not take any more cards.

- Stiff Hand: if drawing could result in a busted hand. Hard 12 - 16 are stiff hands.

- Third Baseman: or anchorman, last player to be dealt.

- Tie: or push, player and dealer have same total - player keeps his bet.

- Up Card: dealers 1st card which all can see.

- Win Rate: % rate of expected wins.

- Whale: high roller, big spender.

How to play Pro Blackjack

2009-09-18T06:55:00.000-07:00

Iif you don't have much Blackjack experience, it can be daunting stepping up to the tables for a game. You can, however, hide the fact of your inexperience very simply by remembering these straightforward rules. (Note - the rules of BlackJack will differ from area to area and from casino to casino, but the general principles are the same. When in doubt, ask!). A typical BlackJack table seats a dealer and up to 7 players. Starting with the dealer, the first seat on his left is '1st Base', while the first seat on his right is referred to as 3rd Base. In front of each player's seat is a betting square, printed on the felt. Right in front of the dealer is the chip tray, while on his left is the deck (a.k.a. shoe) and next to that is the' minimum bet sign', which tells you how 'expensive' the table is. As a beginner, you will want to stick to the low bet tables to keep any losses under control. On the dealer's right is a money drop slot. This is a security feature - casinos don't really trust their employees, and all cash and chips are deposited here to prevent 'leakage'.
Next to the drop slot is what's known as the 'discard tray'. Play starts after the dealer shuffles the cards, the deck is 'cut' by a player using a 'marker card' (NOT the bare hand), and finally the dealer 'burns' a card (or throws it away in order to ensure randomness). Before the cards are dealt, you make your bet by placing chips or cash into the betting box. Be aware that you can sit out a hand or 2 if you like - maybe you need a break, or the dealer is just on a lucky streak. Note that if the casino is busy, you may be asked to give up your seat so another punter can take your place (or alternatively resume the game yourself). If you really don't want to play, just get up and vacate the seat - you can always come back later!

When all players who want to play in this round have placed a bet, 2cards will be dealt to each player going from left to right. Some casinos deal the cards face down. Elsewhere the cards are dealt face up, in which case NEVER touch them - the assumption if you do is that you are cheating! The dealer deals himself 2 cards - 1 down and 1 up. Card values are, as everyone knows, 10 Jack Queen and King are worth 10, an Ace is worth 1 or 11, all other cards are worth their face values. In noisy casinos, be prepared to use hand signals to indicate whether you want to hit or stand.

How do you indicate 'hit'? If the cards are dealt face down, flick the cards gently across the felt 2 times. If the cards were dealt face up, point at the cards with your finger in a jabbing style. You can nod your head to emphasise the desire for a hit. If you'd prefer to stand, move your hand horizontally from left to right (palm down) to indicate 'no'. Always keep your hands a few inches off the table to avoid suspicion. If you like, you can emphasise the stand by shaking your head 'no' at the same time.

Should you play single or multiple deck games? Only in Vegas do they still play single deck, and the tables are usually full - it is much easier for amateurs to 'count' in a single game, and keep the odds pretty fair, which explains their popularity. Multiple deck games will usually be based on even number of decks (up to 8 decks in the shoe at a time). Multiple decks allow the dealer to deal more hands per hour (less shuffling etc), which makes them more profitable for the casino, and they reduce the chances of a player 'counting'. Dealers HAVE to follow straightforward rules, and must hit if they have 16 or less. On the other hand, if the dealer has 17 or more, he MUST stand, except in some smaller casinos, where he can hit on a 'soft 17'.

You as the player can do anything you like, standing or hitting as it suits you. If you get a BlackJack (an Ace and a ten right off) you win 1 and a half times your bet. You can only double down on 2 card hands totalling 9, 10, or 11 (a very few casinos allow doubling on any 2 card hand). If your cards were dealt face down and you want to double, turn them over and put them on the dealer's side of the betting square. Otherwise point to them and say 'double' when it's your turn. You will have to put an equal amount of chips next to those already in the betting box (NEVER put new chips on top of old chips - it looks like cheating!). You will get one new card.

Splitting is kind of similar - cards dealt face down need to be turned over and placed them a little apart. Otherwise point at them and say 'split' when it's your turn. Place an equal amount of chips in the betting box near the other card (remember, NEVER on top). You are now playing 2 hands exactly as normal (unless you just split two aces in which case you only get one card - a 10 would be good!. If it is a 10 the hand isn't a BlackJack, meaning you only get the standard odds of 1/1 and not 1/1.5 as you would for a 'natural' BlackJack. Be careful how you split - it is possible to end up with 4 or 5 hands simultaneously! Likewise, it's probably not good to split two 5s - you will be replacing a hand that is great for drawing on or doubling down on with (probably) 2 poor hands. Insurance only happens when the dealer's face up card is an Ace, when the dealer will ask the players if they want insurance (he won't know what his face down card or 'hole' card is at this point, so you won't be able to read his expression for clues). Insurance means that half the player's bet is placed on the 'insurance' semicircle printed on the felt. If the dealer gets a BlackJack the player wins the the insurance bet but loses the original bet meaning a zero hand because insurance pays 2 to 1. If the dealer does not get BlackJack, the insurance bet is lost and the hand is played normally with the remaining half bet. Don't bother with insurance unless you are trying to card count (take it when the number of non '10' cards to 10s drops below the 2 to 1 margin). You may also come across 'Surrender' - it's not widely used, but there are 2 versions you may find, 'early surrender' and 'late surrender'.

Early surrender means quitting on 2 card hands if you don't like the dealer's up card (e.g. a ten or court card). Surrendering in this way will give you a small extra advantage whcih is why casinos don't like it. Late surrender means waiting until the dealer checks for BlackJack, at which point if he doesn't, you may decide to surrender. As we say, not very common, so ask before joining the table whether you can or not. And that's it! Stay cool, and don't panic, and nobody will guess you are a casino newbie!

Win a Car at Tombola Bingo

2009-09-16T23:43:00.001-07:00

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2009-09-16T21:00:00.000-07:00

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Play Poker Online and Challenge Yourself

2009-09-14T04:48:00.000-07:00

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An Easy Way to Become a Good Blackjack Player

2009-09-13T06:55:00.000-07:00

Learning to play the game of casino Blackjack reasonably well is not rocket science, regardless of what the dozens of books on the subject would have you believe.

Playing professionally at the expert level, as is true of any game, is indeed complex and takes years to perfect. But anyone can become a good recreational player and have a fighting chance against the casino simply by learning some very easy rules.

So, if you're tired of throwing all your money away on brain-numbing slot machines, read on!

Blackjack can be as simple or as complex as you want to make it. Using card counting and advanced techniques, you can actually have a slight advantage over the house in certain conditions. That is, if you are willing to spend hundreds of hours learning and practicing, plus hundreds of hours each year playing!

Only a few of us have this kind of dedication.
The "beginner strategy" described below is designed for those of you who have never played Blackjack before or have played only a few times (and are tired of losing!). It requires that you learn only four simple rules. You can memorize these rules in 30 minutes or less.

Well, actually, much less!

You may have heard of the term "Blackjack basic strategy". The Blackjack basic strategy is a set of betting and hit/stand rules to statistically maximize your chances of winning. While not complex, it will still take some time and quite a bit of practice to learn and apply consistently.

For beginners, or very occasional players who don't want to spend hours practicing the Blackjack basic strategy, here is a Beginner Strategy that won't give you a headache trying to learn.

While this will not give you the same low odds against you as the true Blackjack Basic Strategy (about .5%), it produces a low 1.5% or so edge for the casino, still one of the best odds you'll find in any casino game.

You won't lose your shirt and you'll have a fighting chance of winning if you encounter a favorable run of cards.

It should only take a few minutes to learn these four simple Blackjack rules, though you should practice for a couple of hours to get comfortable with them before actually playing in a casino game.

FIRST, A SHORT AND EASY LESSON ON THE GAME RULES

If you already know how to play Blackjack, you can skip this section. Otherwise, it will only take a few minutes to learn the simple playing rules.

CARD VALUES Tens and face cards count as 10, Aces count as either 1 or 11 (your choice), and all other cards have a count equal to their face value.

THE PLAY All players play against the dealer, not against one another. Each player makes their bet and the dealer starts out by dealing two cards to each player and two cards to himself. The dealer's second card is dealt face-up for all players to see. If the dealer has a "Blackjack" (and Ace and a ten or face card), he will turn it over and automatically wins all bets, unless a player also has a Blackjack, in which case it's a tie.

Then, starting with the player to the dealer's left, each player has the choice of standing (not drawing any more cards) or being dealt additional cards. Play continues with that player until the player stands or "busts" (gets a card count that totals more than 21). After all players have made their decisions (or busted), the dealer draws additional cards to either reach a total of 17 or higher (when they must automatically stop), or bust. If the dealer doesn't bust, all remaining player's hands with a higher card total win, and those with a lower card total lose.

One very critical point to remember is this: you goal is not to get a card count as close to 21 as possible, but to get closer to 21 than the dealer, without going over. The goal is to beat the dealer! Thus, your decisions on whether or not draw additional cards are based on the value of the dealer's up card.

DOUBLING DOWN, SPLITTING PAIRS AND INSURANCE There are three special bets you can make after the first two cards are dealt. Doubling down means you can double your original bet after you receive your first two cards. You then receive one - and only one - additional card.

Splitting pairs means that when you receive any pair on your first two cards, you can split them into two separate hands and play each one independently (of course, you must place an additional bet equal to your first bet on the second hand).

Taking insurance means that if the dealer's up card is an Ace, you can wager an additional amount equal to half your original bet as "insurance" in case the dealer has a blackjack. If the dealer has a blackjack, you lose your original bet but your insurance bet is paid at 2 to 1, so you break even.

"HARD HANDS" VERSUS "SOFT HANDS" In order to understand and apply any Blackjack strategy, you need to learn the difference between "hard" and "soft" hands. This is because the strategies for various plays are different depending on whether you have a soft hand or a hard hand.

A "soft" hand is one that has an Ace which is counted as 11 (remember: Aces can be counted as either one or 11). For example, a hand composed of an Ace and a 4 is called a soft 15.

A hand that either contains no Aces or the Ace is counted as a 1 is called a "hard" hand. For example, a hand composed of a 6 and a 9 is a hard 15. A hand with an Ace and 4 is called a soft 15 (11 plus 4), but if you then draw an 8 you have to count the Ace as 1 instead of 11, giving you a hard 13 (because counting it as 11 would give you a "bust" hand of 23).

FOUR SIMPLE RULES

Here are four Blackjack basic strategy rules that anyone can easily remember. Always adhere to them exactly and you will be playing better then the majority of people who sit down at a blackjack table.

While these four rules do not represent "perfect" Blackjack basic strategy, they give you a great deal of the advantage of a perfect basic strategy and are very simple to memorize.

1. If the dealer's up card is 7 or higher, continue to draw cards until you have a hard count of at least 17 or higher, or a soft count of 18 or higher.

2. If the dealer's up card is 6 or lower, draw cards until you have at least 12. Stop when you have 12 or higher.

3. Double down when your first two cards total 10 or 11, IF the dealer has a 9 or lower.

4. Always split aces and eights. Do not split any other pairs.

And that's it! These four simple rules will take you out of the "sucker" category, keep you out of serious trouble and ensure that the house edge is around 1.5% or so - some of the best odds you'll get in a casino.

Once you've mastered this easy system, learn the full Blackjack Basic Strategy and you'll whittle that house edge down to almost zero. Good luck!

The History Of Blackjack and How To Play The Game

2009-09-11T06:54:00.000-07:00

The origin of Blackjack is somewhat unclear. Some people believe that Blackjack originated in French casinos in the early 1700s where it was known as "vingt-et-un" ("20 and 1").

The game became known as Blackjack because if a player held a Jack of Spades and an Ace of Spades as the 1st two cards, the player was paid out extra. So with a Jack being a vital card and Spades being black, the game was called Blackjack.

This game has been played in the United States since the 1800's. However, between the 1850's and 1910, gambling was legal in the United States until Nevada made it a felony to gamble. In 1931, Casino gambling was re-legalized in Nevada where Blackjack became one of the main games offered to gamblers.

The objective of Blackjack is get as close to 21 points as possible without going over 21 (bust). While numbered cards are worth their face values, face cards (Jack, Queen and King cards) are worth 10 each and the Ace card can be worth either 1 or 11.

The person (player or dealer) whose total card value reaches as close to 21 as possible without exceeding 21 (bust) wins the game. A tie (push) results if both the player and the dealer get equal card values.
The game is played in the following steps:

1.
The player places a bet.
2.
The dealer deals two cards (usually facing upwards) to the player and one card to himself/herself.
3.
The dealer draws a second card for himself/herself and places it face down.
4.
The player is then asked if he/she wants another card (hit) or if he/she wishes to stand.
5.
The player may request as many hits as he/she would like until the total value of his/her card reaches 21 or he/she busts.
6.
If the player busts, the house (casino) will win.
7.
If the player stops at a total card value that is as close to 21 without going bust, then the dealer will reveal the value of his/her second card.
8.
If the value of the dealer's second card gives him a Blackjack (total value of 21), then the house (casino) will win. The dealer must keep drawing cards until the total value of his/her cards is 17 or more. If the dealer goes over 21, then the player will win.

Whoever comes as close to 21 points as possible without going over 21 (bust) is the winner.

Blackjack is just as popular today as it was back in the 1800's. It is by far the most played table game in a casino. This is mainly due to the fact that it is very easy to learn and play.

What Brings Players to Higher Level of Gaming

2009-09-10T19:51:00.000-07:00

The online casino is likable and needed by many players all around the world. Here on OnlineCasinoSpotlight, they provide the guide and tutorials to online gambling. The online casino gambling has many various games, from slots to poker. I found here many guides to slots,poker, video poker, blackjack, baccarat, roulette, craps, keno and bingo. I didn't know about craps and keno, so I decided to take a closer look at these kinds of online games. They are awesome and I wanna try them too. You can check out best 10 online casinos, the worlds largest online casino directory provided with reviews of the best online gambling spots. What's more? They got the information about the extra bonuses, and what advantages of each online spot provides. Players will be fully-updated about the tips, the spots and how to be the winner. This will of course bring you to higher level of gaming. What you need to gamble online is what makes it important to be read and figured out. However, if you have never found any online casino that accepts USA players, well, now you can be happy for finding this enlightening information.

Online Blackjack Basics

2009-09-06T06:53:00.000-07:00

Online blackjack or “21”, as it is commonly known, is by far the most popular card game offered in virtual casino establishments. This page will tell you what you need to know to get started.

The idea of online blackjack is simply that you want to have a hand value that is closer to 21 than that of the dealer, without going over 21. Other players at the table are not playing against each other; every player plays against the dealer, so your hand is strictly played out against the hand of the dealer.

iIn casino blackjack the dealer's parameters of play are strictly set out, meaning that the dealer does not need to make any decisions regarding his strategy. Basically an example of a strategy a blackjack dealer would have is to keep drawing a card until he has a hand of 17 or more – this is often described as ‘Dealer stands on 17'.

The value of the cards:

IIn blackjack an ace counts a either 1 or 11, cards from 2 to 9 are valued as shown and 10, Jack, Queen and King are all valued at 10.

So as an example, if a player is dealt an Ace and a 5, the value of the hand would be 16 (ace = 11 and 5 =5), if the next card dealt to the player is 9 the value of the hand would be 15, the ace now equalling 1 not 11.
IIf the hand is equal to 21 exactly, this is referred to as blackjack.

The game begins by each player at the table being dealt 2 cards and the dealer drawing two cards. The dealer will then display the value on one of his cards.

Each player has an option of drawing another card (hitting), keeping their hand as is (standing) and, depending on the cards, they could choose from some more advanced betting options such as doubling up or splitting.

Without getting into the advanced side of blackjack you could easily make big profits from this game...

Tournament Blackjack, and the Art of Sabotage

2009-09-01T06:43:00.000-07:00

I was recently invited to play in the Daily Invitational Blackjack Tournament at Foxwoods in Connecticut. Tournament blackjack differs a great deal from the regular version, and my tournament strategy would - at best - be considered a work-in-progress. I've played in a few in the past, though, and had a lot of fun time and again, so I headed up to 'The Woods' for the day.

Their tournament structure is pretty straight-forward. Each player begins each round with 5,000 in tournament chips, and a preliminary round is played. If a player has the most chips at their table after 25 hands he advances to the semifinals. In the semis, the player with the most chips after 25 hands goes to the final table. At the final table everyone's in the money; the player with the most chips after 25 more hands would win $5,000 in cash.

I had just barely squeaked by in the preliminary round to win my session. Me and two other players were neck-neck-and-neck going into the final few hands. One of the ladies I was up against busted out with one hand to go, while I got a blackjack on my big bet, pulling me ahead with a decent chip lead. It came down to my opponent going all-in and needing to win her hand to beat me out for the session.

She had a hard 14 against a dealer's ace - big trouble. She had practically no choice but to hit as I helplessly stood there holding my breath. I chant to myself, "Break! Break! Break," and the dealer delivered my opponent the news. Nine. Game over.

I was the only finisher for that session with about 2,700 in chips. A pretty ugly session all in all, but a win's a win. That session was the kind of nail-biter that left me tingling all over, and it's that rush that brings be back with every invite they send me. That, and the fact that they tend to draw spectators is pretty nice, too!

My semifinal round would turn out to be the most memorable. It seems I wasn't quite done with the ugly winning just yet.

Many tournament strategists recommend players start out conservatively for the round. Most of us weren't very conservative, but we weren't very aggressive, either. I started betting 700-900 a hand and cards were going my way the first several hands. Blackjacks were dropping right in front of me, and got some really good double down hands. I just went with the flow, and before long I had a lead of about 4,000 on the nearest contender. The other players had some catching up to do, so at this point, I decided to try for a little fun, hopefully at my opponents' expense.

I started to play low - betting smaller than the others with the hope that everyone loses the hand. I bet the minimum of 100 while the others went for 1000-1500 to catch up to me. It wasn't so much about me winning or losing the hand since I only bet 100. If the other players lost, it would increase my chip lead. One hand I had a hard 16 versus the dealer's 6. In a regular live game, of course, no one would EVER even think of touching the hand. I decided to hit - amid gasps and groans from the other contestants, of course - and busted with 26.

It turns out, that just as I was hoping, I 'took the dealer's bust card' and 'sabotaged' the hand. If I left my hand alone like I very well should have, the dealer would've broke and everyone would've won. Instead she drew to 20 and everyone lost. My opponents were clearly rattled and a sea of dirty looks shot my way.

Next hand, I got an 11 against a 6. Again, I had a 100 bet so I was more focused on the others losing. I didn't double down the hand. I didn't even hit the hand. I decided to stay on the 11. The ensuing Jack that was meant for me helped the dealer make a tidy 21. Everyone lost again, and all of a sudden I had a 9,000 point chip lead. Everyone is now furious!

I had such a large chip lead at that point, I practically cruised through the rest of the session. I won the session by 11,000 points and made it to the final table, but not before getting a tongue lashing from one of my opponents.

"I've never seen anyone play the way you did."

"What? Are you talking about that 'sixteen versus six' hand?"

"Yeah. That was really, really nasty. Really nasty! You don't play much, do you?"

"Oh, I play all the time."

"You'd get beaten up [at the regular tables] if you played like that."

"Of course I would. I would never play like that regularly."

>From there she went into this whole sob story about "doing these tournaments to have a good time" and that I "ruined the fun for her."

"Look, this is a tournament. A tournament that's paying five grand in cash money to the winner! So, I did what I had to do to win, and now I'm off to the finals. Trust me, it was nothing personal."

In all fairness, let me stress that the 'sabotage' tactic doesn't really work, at least not in the long run. Any reputable blackjack player knows a 'saboteur' is just as likely to hurt the table than he is to help it. A sad fact of the matter is that the average blackjack player is bogged down in superstition - 'taking the dealer's bust card' is just one of dozens of them - so the whole idea of sabotaging hands is merely a psychological trick.

If you play low and try to rattle 'the flow of the cards' (I'll go into 'card flow' and all the other blackjack superstitions at another time) more often than not one of two things will happen. You 'save' the table with your bad play, and your opponents will think "OK, he's an idiot, but I'm not mad at him because he made me win." Or, if you kill the table, you're right where you want to be - inside your opponents' heads.

An observation I've made through several years at the tables is that anger and frustration can rattle even the most disciplined player. Many times - as was the case with my opponents this particular day - this causes them to bet more aggressively than they probably should, and make riskier double down plays and splits to offset your earlier 'mistake,' which usually paves the way to self-destruction. On the last hand that sealed the fate of my nearest rival in the semis, She doubled down a 7 against a dealer's 7 and lost it all.

IIf a down-and-dirty approach to gambling is your cup of tea, perhaps you should give this strategy a shot.

IIn case you were wondering, I went on to finish in 5th place for the tournament.

Until next time, best of luck to you in the casinos, and in life.

Winning Systems for Baccarat

2009-08-30T22:23:00.000-07:00

If you search online for baccarat systems, you will find many websites trying to sell you the perfect system that will allow you to win consistently and make a ridiculous amount of money by playing baccarat at the casino. These systems are all scams.

All casino games are designed so that the house has an edge, or an advantage, over the players. There is nothing you can do to beat the system. The cards fall where they will fall. It is completely random. Most gamblers assume that if they pay attention to patterns, they can beat the game. For instance, if the banker has won six hands in a row, he is not likely to win the next one, right? Wrong! He still has a 50-50 chance. Actually, the banker has a slightly higher chance of winning than the player. This is why the casino charges a commission on winning banker bets.

In baccarat, there are three types of bets. You can bet on either the banker, the player, or a tie. For a banker bet, the house edge is 1.01%, for the player bet it is 1.29% and for the tie it is 15.75%. The house edge for the baker bet and player bet in baccarat is one of the lowest found in any casino table game.
That’s nice, but just what do those numbers mean? If the house edge is 1.01%, that means that on average, you will lose $1.01 for every $100 played. It may not come out to that every single time, but that is the average over the long run.

If you look at these numbers, you might wonder why people keep playing baccarat. They keep playing for the same reason they play any other games at the casino – they’re hoping to get lucky. You should have the same goal, but don’t try to reach it by purchasing a bunch of useless systems that won’t even work. Your best bet is to place the bet that is most likely to win.

Look at the numbers of the house edge again. They are 1.01%, 1.29% and 15.75%. So which do you think is better, to lose $1.01 for every $100, or $1.29, or $15.75? It’s a no-brainer. You are more likely to come out ahead if you always bet on the banker. This won’t guarantee that you’ll come out ahead every time, but with some luck you could come out ahead now and then.

Watch out for anyone who is trying to sell you a sure way to make money gambling. If it really worked, they wouldn’t want to sell it. There are many strategies and systems explained free of charge online, not just for baccarat but for other casino games as well. Do some research before heading to the casino, and increase your chances of winning at whatever game you choose to play.

Systems for Playing Baccarat

2009-08-29T22:23:00.000-07:00

In baccarat, as in many gambling games, players are constantly searching for a system that will allow them to consistently walk away with more money than they started with. It will be difficult to find a system that is designed specifically for baccarat that actually works. However, there are mathematical systems designed to work with many different games that can be applied when playing baccarat.

Many such systems can be found outlined on various websites online. If you want to use a mathematical system to play baccarat, you need to use a system that is designed for a game with an even-money payout. Keep in mind that when systems do work, they usually only work short-term. It is always the casino that wins out in the long run.
One popular system is called the 1-3-2-6 system. It requires keeping track of your bets over the course of four rounds. On round one, you bet one unit. A unit can be any amount you choose. If you lose the first round, you only lose 1 unit. For the second round, bet three units. If you lose this round, you have lost 2 units (you were up one after the first round, then bet three). On the third round, only bet two units. If you lose the third round, you are still up by two units. On the fourth round, bet six units. If you win, you’ll win pretty big. But if you lose on the fourth round, you’ll end up breaking even.

Baccarat Systems Online

There are a lot of baccarat systems being sold online. Most of them cost $20 to $50 each. Whether these systems work or not is the issue. If they work, then wouldn’t everyone be using them? And if they were, the casinos would soon stop offering the games. No casino will offer a game that consistently loses them money. They are in the gambling business to win. If it was found that there was a winning system, and it got to be popular enough to threaten the casinos, they would either change or eliminate the game.

That is why you will never find a system that works 100% of the time. You will, however, find a lot of people claiming that they have found something that works. These people are just out to make money from your gullibility. Save your money, and decide for yourself what your baccarat playing strategy should be.

Singapore Online Poker

2009-08-28T04:59:00.000-07:00

For those of you who live in Singapore, there is one magnificent online site for you to go to. This poker room has been well-known in Singapore. Actually, this is the poker blog, that contains all of the information about Singapore Online Poker. This poker blog has amazed me for giving useful information about poker activity thus enhance my knowledge about poker. This poker blog is worth reading.

An Introduction to Baccarat

2009-08-27T22:22:00.000-07:00

Baccarat is one of the simplest and easiest casino card games to learn. It has some similarities to blackjack, but is much less complicated. Baccarat is becoming extremely popular, especially online. Here is an introduction to the game and its rules to help you learn this fun and exciting game.

One of the best ways to learn baccarat is to play online. Look for a site where you can play for free, and practice until you are sure you understand how the game is played. This way you will not have to worry about other players getting upset with you for holding up the game. You also will not have to put your money at risk in order to learn. You can take your time to learn the rules and become comfortable with the game before playing against other people.
The Baccarat Table

The baccarat table is a symmetrical table that has room for up to fifteen players. Each seat position is numbered, and there are three labeled spaces on the table for the player to place his or her bets. To bet on the player’s hand, chips are placed on the space marked “P.” Bets for the banker’s hand are placed in the space marked “B.” To place a tie bet, put chips in the space with the player’s seat number marked on it.

There are small boxes in the middle of the table. These are numbered 1-15, and the commission fees on bank hand wins are tracked in them. Commission fees must be paid before the player leaves the table.

There are three dealers, or callers, working the baccarat table. The way they work the table is similar to craps dealers. The dealer at position 1 is the caller. His job is to make the calls on the hands. He stands at the center of the table on the opposite side from the position 2 and 3 dealers. The position 2 and 3 dealers each take care of the betting on their side of the table. The callers must watch the table carefully because the players are dealing cards.

The object of the game is to get a hand that has a point total as close to nine as possible without going over. In baccarat, tens, jacks, queens and kings all have a value of zero. Aces are worth 1 point, and the other cards are worth their face value. If the value of a hand goes over ten, ten points are subtracted from the score. So a hand that adds up to 16 is really worth 6 points.

Betting rules are as easy to learn as the rules for playing. There are only three choices. You can bet that the player’s hand will win, you can bet that the banker’s hand will win, or you can bet that there will be a tie. If you win on a player’s hand or banker’s hand bet, the payout is two for one. There is a commission on a banker’s hand bet. If you bet that there will be a tie and win, the payout is nine for one.

After the first two cards for each hand are dealt, the dealer determines whether a third card is needed. The rules can vary from one casino to another, but in most, if either the player or the banker has a point value of 8 or 9 after the first two cards, no more cards are dealt and the higher hand is declared the winner. If no one has a hand with a value of 8 or 9, then a third card will be dealt based on a strict set of rules. The player is dealt another card if the total of the first two cards is five or less.

The rules for whether the banker draws another card can be complicated. The banker draws another card if the initial total of their hand is 2 or less. For an initial hand of 3, the banker draws another card only if the player’s third card is eight. For a hand of 4, the banker draws if the player’s third card is a 0, 1, 8 or 9. For a hand of 5, the banker draws if the player’s third card is a 0, 1, 2, 3, 8 or 9. For a hand of 6, the banker draws if the player’s third card is a 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8 or 9.

Since the dealer makes the decisions concerning which hands are dealt additional cards, it is really a lot easier to play than that last paragraph made it sound. All you really have to do is decide which hand you are betting on, then wait to see how the cards are dealt. So find a free baccarat game online, and get started practicing. Once you have learned the game, you can head out to your favorite casino to put your new skills to the test.

Strategies for Playing Baccarat

2009-08-25T22:22:00.000-07:00

Baccarat is a fun game that is easy to play and to learn. It has one of the lowest house edges of any casino games, so it is a good game to play if you have the right betting strategies. Here are some strategies for betting when playing baccarat.

There are three bets possible in a game of baccarat. The three bets are the player bet, the banker bet and the tie bet. The fact that there are a limited number of possibilities for betting makes it easy to develop a good betting strategy.

The Banker Bet

When you bet on the banker in baccarat, you have a slightly higher chance of winning than if you bet on the player. The house edge on the banker bet is around .9%. This is a lower house edge than almost any other bet in the casino. The only game with a lower edge on some bets is craps. This makes the banker bet a very safe bet. However, if you do win on the banker bet, the casino takes a commission on the winnings. The commission is usually around 5%.

What this means is that your take will be $195 on a winning $100 banker bet, instead of the $200 that you would make on a winning player bet in the same amount. Usually, though, even with the commission, the banker bet is the best choice in baccarat.

The Player Bet

The house edge on the player bet is usually around 1.3%. This is still a fairly low edge, and makes the player bet a good strategy. Also, since there is no commission on a player bet, you will make more when you do win. It is common for people to feel more comfortable betting on the player. However, you should get used to the idea of betting on the banker sometimes as well, since that bet does give better odds.

The Tie Bet

The tie bet is usually considered to be a bad bet. The reason for this is that the house edge is very high, usually around 5%. That means the odds are against you winning on a tie bet. However, it is also true that the returns on a winning tie bet are very high as well. The payout for a winning tie bet is 9 to 1. That means that if you bet $100 on a tie bet and win, you get $900. It can be pretty hard to resist a payout that high.

Variations of Baccarat

2009-08-22T22:21:00.000-07:00

The term “baccarat” is usually used to refer to the American version of baccarat that is played in North America. However, you will find many variations of this game in other locations. The rules vary from one variety to another, but they all have one main thing in common: the goal is always to get a hand with a score as close as possible to nine. The most common variations that you will run into are mini baccarat, chemin de fer, European baccarat and baccarat en banque.

Mini Baccarat

Mini baccarat is almost the same as American baccarat. It uses a smaller table that is about the same size as a blackjack table. Only seven people can play at one time. There is only one croupier at a mini baccarat table, instead of the normal three that work the larger American baccarat tables. The croupier deals the hands and acts as the banker.

Mini baccarat is a less intimidating version of baccarat. It is not held in a roped-off area of the casino. Instead, it is right out on the floor with the other table games. Bets in mini baccarat often start as low as five dollars, so this is a good way to get your feet wet if you are just getting started playing baccarat.

European Baccarat

There are two main differences between European baccarat and American baccarat. The first is that the player has the choice of standing or drawing if their initial hand is 5. The second is that the banker also has a choice on whether to draw. Usually, however, the banker plays in accordance with the American baccarat rules.

The banker’s hand is funded by the casino, and the players may not bet more than the amount that has been funded. For example, if the casino funds the banker’s hand at $1700, then the player’s bets may not total more than $1700. Once that amount has been reached, no further bets are accepted. A player can shout “banco” to bet the entire amount that the banker’s bet has been funded. If someone does that, no other bets are taken for that round.

Chemin de Fer

This variation of baccarat is mainly played in France. In this game, you can’t bet on the player or banker (punto or banco) unless you are one or the other. The banker role rotates counterclockwise around the table, and all other participants are players. If a player does not want to be the banker when it is their turn, they can pass and the shoe goes to the person to their right.

The players bet amongst themselves, and the casino is not directly involved in the betting. The house provides a croupier to oversee the game and make sure that no one is cheating. In exchange, the house takes a commission on winning bank hands.

In chemin de fer, the player has the choice of drawing or standing on an initial hand scoring five. The banker is free to decide whether to stand or to draw.

Baccarat en Banque

In this game, the casino always performs the role of banker. This allows players to place larger bets, since the bank is not being funded by an individual player.

Baccarat: Game of Questionable Reputation

2009-08-19T22:20:00.000-07:00

Online gambling sites offer the same games that you will find at a regular casino, but it is just not the same. The experience of going to a casino is part of the thrill of gambling. For some games, the experience is more than just part of the game. It is the whole reason for playing. Baccarat is one of these games.

Unlike some casino games, such as poker, baccarat does not have complicated rules. It is one of the easiest casino games to learn. However, it does have one thing that a casino game needs in order to have a lot of popularity. It has a questionable reputation.
What is a questionable reputation? It is not bad, but it is not good either. The best word for it is ‘mysterious.’ A game with a mysterious reputation attracts a lot of curiosity.

In a casino, atmosphere is everything. While you’re there, you’re in a little fairytale world where you can pretend to be rich, famous and desirable. As long as you have money, you will be given drinks and people of the opposite sex will hang around you. This can be great fun, at least until you run out of money and have to leave the casino.

In this environment, each game tries to compete for your attention among all of the others. Some games accomplish this with flashing lights and colors that are designed to attract attention. Other games are viewed as more desirable based on their exclusivity. Baccarat is one of these games.

The baccarat room is separated from the other casino games. It is usually hidden away behind red curtains or velvet ropes. Baccarat often has a high minimum bet. This makes it an exclusive game, played only by the rich and by high rollers. There are often casino girls hanging around to pay attention to the men who are playing and serve them drinks.

Baccarat is an easy game that is glamorous mostly because of its exclusivity. People who can afford to play the game are drawn to it simply because being able to play shows others that they are rich or successful. It is the fact that the game is expensive and exclusive that draws them to it.