Blackjack - play free

The basic rule for blackjack is getting as close to 21 without going over and beating the dealers hand. Before the dealer deals any cards the player must place a bet. The player does this by putting the chips or money in the area designated on the Blackjack table, it's usually a little spot in front of your spot on the table. The dealer will deal two cards to each player and then to himself. One of the dealer's cards are dealt face up and one is dealt face down. Kings, Queens, Jacks (the face cards) are all worth ten points, the Ace can count as either a 1 or an 11 point card (its is your choice on what value you want to make the ace) and all the other cards are counted as what their value indicates (so the 5 of hearts count as a 5).

Blackjack A blackjack means the player is dealt an ace and a 10 point card (10, Jack, Queen, or King) as the first 2 cards! However, if the dealer also gets blackjack then it is a push (all ties are considered a push). A winning blackjack pays the player 3 to 2 or one and a half times the players bet. Hit or Stand A hit means the player would like the dealer give him another card with the hope of getting closer to 21. A player indicates a hit by a hand gesture to the dealer or by just saying hit me. To stand means that the player wants to stick with the cards he currently has, the player indicates this by putting his wager over the cards or turning the cards in a horizontal direction. If the player asks for a hit and goes over 21, the wager is lost. Double Down Double down means the player can double his bet on the first two cards and draw only one more card to improve his hand. The player can only double down on 10 or 11. Splitting Pairs If the first two cards a player is dealt are a pair, he may split them into two separate hands, bet the same amount on each and then play them separately. Aces receive only one additional card and after the split if the player gets an Ace and a 10 it counts as 21 and not as blackjack. Insurance If the dealers face up card is an ace, the player may take insurance, he can bet up to one-half his original bet, but not more. If the dealer's down card is a 10 or face card then the player wins 2 to 1, but if it is any other card then the dealer will win. The dealer must draw on 16 and stand on 17.

Roulette

Roulette is played at a table that seats from one to ten players. The table consists of the wheel and the betting area known as the layout. The players make their wagers, the croupier spins the wheel to obtain the winning number and the players wait to see if they have won or lost.

This is one game where the player has absolutely nothing to do with picking the winning number. The spinning of the wheel and the releasing of the ball are all handled by the croupier, the player only has to decide on where to place the wager(s). The challenge in roulette is to bet in such a way as to win.

The player's objective is to correctly guess and place wagers on which number on the wheel the ball will end up on. The player places bets on the Roulette table and if lucky collects a payoff the size of which is determined by how he/she bets. The odds range from 35 to 1 down to even money, depending on the likelihood of picking the correct number.

  Roulette Inside Bets

		Single Number (Straight Bet, Double Zero or Zero) Betting on a singe number, indicated by placing the chip in the center of the square containing the number you wish to bet on. Pays 35 to 1.
		Split Bet Betting on two numbers, indicated by placing the chip on the line separating the two numbers you wish to bet on. Pays 17 to 1.
		Corner Bet (Square or Quarter Bet) Betting on a block of four numbers, indicated by placing the chip on the intersection of the horizontal and vertical lines at the center of the block you wish to bet on. Pays 8 to 1.
		Street Bet Betting on a row of three numbers, indicated by placing the chip on the line at the edge of the number layout on the row you wish to bet on. Pays 11 to 1.
		Special Line Bet There is only one of these made by betting on five adjoining numbers (00,0,1,2 and 3), indicated by placing the chip on the line at the edge of the number layout straddling the zero rows and the first row. Pays 6 to 1.
		Line Bet Betting on six adjoining numbers, indicated by placing the chip on the line at the edge of the number layout straddling the two rows you wish to bet on. Pays 5 to 1.

  Roulette Outside Bets

		Dozens There are only three ways to make this bet on the 1st 12 numbers, the 2nd 12 numbers or the 3rd set of 12 numbers. You indicate this bet by placing the chip on the location outside the number layout. Pays 2 to 1.
		Columns There are only three ways to make this bet on the 1st column, the 2nd column or the 3rd column of numbers. You indicate this bet by placing the chip on the location outside the number layout. Pays 2 to 1.
		Red or Black There are only two ways to make this bet, on all the red numbers or on all the black numbers. You indicate this bet by placing the chip on the location outside the number layout. Pays even money.
		Odd or Even There are only two ways to make this bet, on all the odd numbers or on all the even numbers. You indicate this bet by placing the chip on the location outside the number layout. Pays even money.
		1 - 18 There is only one way to make this bet, on the first half of the numbers on the wheel (excluding 00 and 0). You indicate this bet by placing the chip on the location outside the number layout. Pays even money.
		19 - 36 There is only one way to make this bet, on the second half of the numbers on the wheel. You indicate this bet by placing the chip on the location outside the number layout. Pays even money.

  Roulette Payoffs

	Wager	Payoff
	One number	35:1
	Two numbers	17:1
	Three numbers	11:1
	Four numbers	8:1
	Five numbers	6:1
	Six numbers	5:1
	Dozens	2:1
	Columns	2:1
	Red or Black	1:1
	Odd or Even	1:1
	1-18 or 19-36	1:1

Texas Hold'em

In Texas Hold'em, a disc known as "the button" serves to indicate which player is the nominal dealer for the current Texas Hold'em game. Before the game begins, the player immediately clockwise the button posts the "small blind", typically half a small bet (for example, $1 in a $1/$2 game). The player immediately clockwise the small blind posts the "big blind", which is always a full small bet ($2 in a $2/$4 game). Now, each player receives his or her two hole cards.

Pre-Flop After seeing his or her pocket cards, each player now has the option to play his or her hand by calling or raising the big bet. As mentioned before, the big bet is the size of a full small bet. Thus in a $2/$4 Texas Hold'em game, it would cost $2 to call in this initial round of betting (known as the "pre-flop"). In Texas Hold'em the available actions are bet, call or raise. These options are available depending on the action taken by the previous player. Each poker player always has the option to fold. The first player to act has the option to bet, call or raise. Subsequent players have the option of calling or raising. To call is to bet the same amount as the previous player has bet. To raise is to match the previous bet and increase the bet. Now, the "flop" is dealt face-up on the board. The flop is the first three community poker cards available to all active players. Betting begins with the active player immediately clockwise the button. All bets and raises occur in small bets (increments of $2 in a $2/$4 game). The same rules apply from above to complete this round of poker betting. The Flop Now, three cards are dealt face-up on the board - this is known as the flop. In Texas Hold'em, the three cards on the flop are community cards available to all players still in the hand. Betting begins with the active player immediately clockwise of the button. All bets and raises occur in small bets (increments of $2 in a $2/$4 game). When betting action is completed for the flop round, the "turn" is dealt face-up on the board. The turn is the fourth community card in a Texas Hold'em poker game. Play begins with the active online player immediately clockwise the button. On this round, Same rules apply as above except that poker betting doubles from the small bet to the big bet. In a $2/$4 game, betting on the turn is done in $4 increments. The Turn When the betting action is completed for the flop round, the "turn" is dealt face-up on the board. The turn is the fourth community card in Texas Hold'em. Play begins with the active player immediately clockwise of the button. On this round, the betting doubles from the small bet to the big bet. Thus, in a $2/$4 game, betting on the turn is upped to $4 bets. The River When betting action is completed for the turn round, the "river" is dealt face-up on the board. The river is the fifth and final community card in a Texas Hold'em game. Betting begins with the active player immediately clockwise the button and the same poker rules apply as they do in the fourth card explained above. When betting action is completed for the turn round, the "river" is dealt face-up on the board. The river is the fifth and final community card in a Texas Hold'em game. Betting begins with the active player immediately clockwise of the button and the same hold'em rules apply as they do on the turn. The Showdown If there is more than one remaining poker player when the final betting round is complete playing Texas Hold'em, the last bettor or raiser shows his or her cards. If there was no bet on the final round, the player immediately clockwise the button shows his or her cards first. The player with the best five-card hand wins the Texas Hold'em pot. In the event of identical hands, the poker pot will be equally divided between the players with the best hands. At the end of the final betting round, if there is more than one remaining poker player, the last bettor or raiser shows his or her cards first. If there was no bet on the final round, the player immediately clockwise the button shows his or her cards first. The player with the best five-card hand wins the pot. In the event of identical hands, the pot will be equally divided between the players with the best hands. Texas Hold'em rules state that all suits are equal, so split pots are more common than in other variations of poker.

Craps

Craps is one of the most exciting casino games. It is common to hear yelling and shouting at a craps table. It is played on a purpose-built table and two dice are used. The dice are made after very strict standards and are routinely inspected for any damage. As a matter of course, the dice are replaced with new ones after about eight hours of use, and casinos have implemented rules in the way a player handles them.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Pass Line Bet You win if the first roll is a natural (7, 11) and lose if it is craps (2, 3, 12). If a point is rolled (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10) it must be repeated before a 7 is thrown in order to win. If 7 is rolled before the point you lose. Odds on Pass Line Bet After a point is rolled you can make this additional bet by taking odds. There are different payoffs for each point. A point of 4 or 10 will pay you 2:1; 5 or 9 pays 3:2; 6 or 8 pays 6:5. You only win if the point is rolled again before a 7. Come Bet It has the same rules as the Pass Line bet. The difference consists in the fact you can make this bet only after the point on the pass line has been determined. After you place your bet the first dice roll will set the come point. You win if it is a natural (7, 11) and lose if it is craps (2, 3, 12). Other rolls will make you a winner if the come point is repeated before a 7 is rolled. If a 7 is rolled first you lose. Odds on Come Bet Exactly the same thing as the Odds on Pass Line bet except you take odds on the Come bet not the Pass Line bet. Don't Pass Line Bet This is the reversed Pass Line bet. If the first roll of a dice is a natural (7, 11) you lose and if it is a 2 or a 3 you win. A dice roll of 12 means you have a tie or push with the casino. If the roll is a point (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10) a 7 must come out before that point is repeated to make you a winner. If the point is rolled again before the 7 you lose. Don't Come Bet The reversed Come Bet. After the come point has been established you win if it is a 2 or 3 and lose for 7 or 11. 12 is a tie and other dice rolls will make you win only if a 7 appears before them on the following throws. Place Bets This bet works only after the point has been determined. You can bet on a dice roll of 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 and 10. You win if the number you placed your bet on is rolled before a 7. Otherwise you lose. The Place Bets payoffs are different depending on the number you bet on. 4 or 10 will pay 9:5; 5 or 9 pays 7:5, and 6 or 8 pays 7:6. You can cancel this bet anytime you want to. Field Bets These bets are for one dice roll only. If a 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 12 is rolled you win. A 5, 6, 7 and 8 make you lose. Field Bets have the following different payoffs: 2 pays double (2:1) while 12 pays 3:1. Other winning dice rolls pays even (1:1). Big Six, Big Eight Bets Placed at any roll of dice these bets win if a 6 or 8 comes out before a 7 is rolled. Big Six and Big Eight are even bets and are paid at 1:1. Proposition Bets These bets can be made at any time and, except for the hardways, they are all one roll bets:   Any Craps Wins if a 2, 3 or 12 is thrown. Payoff 8:1 Any Seven Wins if a 7 is rolled. Payoff 5:1 Eleven Wins if a 11 is thrown. Payoff 16:1 Ace Deuce/strong> Wins if a 3 is rolled. Payoff 16:1 Aces or Boxcars Wins if a 2 or 12 is thrown. Payoff 30:1 Horn Bet It acts as the bets on 2, 3, 11 and 12 all at once. Wins if one of these numbers is rolled. Payoff is determined according to the number rolled. The other three bets are lost. Hardways The bet on a hardway number wins if it's thrown hard (sum of pairs: 1-1, 3-3, 4-4...) before it's rolled easy and a 7 is thrown. Payoffs: Hard 4 and 10, 8:1; Hard 6 and 8, 10:1

Let it Ride

Let It Ride is a poker-style casino game. It is a variation of 5-card Stud but differs in that players don't have to beat a dealer's hand or other players. The goal is merely to compile a winning poker hand, with a minimum of a pair of tens.

Objective
The objective of Let It Ride is to compile the highest 5-card poker hand (containing at least a pair of tens) from three dealt cards and two community cards while keeping the maximum bet on the table.

Betting
The player opens a round by placing three identical bets on the betting circles. The player is dealt three cards and the dealer places two community cards in the center of the table, face down. Based on the favorability of the three hole cards, the player can withdraw the first bet or "let it ride" and leave it on the table. The dealer then reveals the first community card. Now the player decides whether to withdraw the second bet. The second community card is then revealed and the hand is scored. Note that the third bet stays on the table with no option to withdraw. Also note that withdrawing the second bet is independent of what was done with the first.

Payoff and the True Odds
If the player qualifies with at least a pair of tens, the payoff is determined by the quality of the hand. The skill of the player is in knowing when to stay and when to withdraw based on the cards known.

Let it Ride

Hand	Payoff	True Odds
Royal flush	1,000:1	649,350:1
Straight flush	200:1	72,220:1
Four of a kind	50:1	4,165:1
Full house	11:1	694:1
Flush	8:1	509:1
Straight	5:1	255:1
Three of a kind	3:1	47:1
Two pair	2:1	21:1
Winning pair	1:1	6:1

While the odds are marginally better for the player than in Caribbean Stud, Let It Ride still carries about a three point edge for the casino even with optimal play.

Betting Variations
Betting variations include games where players can win a bonus on top of their payout if they opt to place the additional $1 Bonus or Side bet and draw Three-of-a-Kind or better. These are sucker bets and though the specific odds vary from house to house they're all bad and I say forget the bonus. Check out the Wizard of Odds analysis on this if you want to see the actual numbers.

Optimal Strategy
Optimal play in Let It Ride is a matter of deciding if you are going to "stay" at the two decision points in the hand. Let's break down the decisions, keeping in mind that 10-J-Q-K-A are "high" cards and a "skip" is a card missing from a Straight:

Three cards up:
"Let It Ride" on the first bet if you have:

• a paying hand: High-Card Pair or Three-of-a-Kind
• three consecutive, same-suit cards valued 3-4-5 or better
• three of a Straight Flush with one skip and at least one high card (eg. 8-9-J but not 7-8-J)
• three of a Straight Flush with two skips and at least two high cards (eg. 8-J-Q but not 7-9-J)

Four cards up:
"Let It Ride" on the second bet if you have:

• a paying hand: High-Card Pair, Three-of-a-Kind or Two Pair
• four of any Flush
• four of a Straight, no skips
• four high cards

Three Card Poker

Three Card Poker Rules Three Card Poker is two games in one, PairPlus and Ante and Play. The player may bet on either one or both, and in different amounts. Both games are based on hands consisting of three cards.

PairPlus
This is a simple game in which you are dealt three cards and are paid according to their value. The dealer's hand is not involved. There is no raising or discarding. Below is the payoff table for Pairplus.

Payoff Table for PairPlus

Hand	Payoff
Straight flush	40 to 1
Three of a kind	30 to 1
Straight	6 to 1
Flush	4 to 1
Pair	1 to 1

Ante and Play
Play begins with a wager on the ante. After you view your three cards you may either raise by putting an equal bet on play or fold and lose the ante bet. If you fold you also lose the Pairplus bet if one was made. This should not be any sacrifice because if the Pairplus bet paid anything, you shouldn't fold.

If you raise, you then go against the dealer's hand. The dealer needs at least a queen high to qualify. Below are the possible outcomes and their payoff:

• Dealer does not qualify: Ante wins 1 to 1, play bet is returned
• Dealer qualifies and player beats dealer: Both play and ante win 1 to 1
• Dealer qualifies and dealer beats player: Both Play and ante lose
• Dealer qualifies and dealer ties player: Both Play and ante push

In addition the Ante bet has an extra bonus that does not depend on the dealer's hand. This bonus pays as follows based on the ante bet.

Extra Bonus on Ante Bet

Hand	Payoff
Straight Flush	5 to 1
Three of a Kind	4 to 1
Straight	1 to 1

Caribbean Stud Poker

Caribbean Stud Poker is based on 5 Card Stud and is played on a table similar to a Blackjack table.

Play starts with each player making an ante bet in a designated square. Each player then receives five cards face down. Dealer also receives five cards. One of the Caribbean Stud Poker dealer's cards is face up the other four are face down. Players may examine their own cards but may not share information with each other. At this point each player has two options: raise or fold. If the player raises, he puts twice his ante bet in the raise box. If the player folds, he must relinquish his cards to the dealer, who will collect his ante bet.

After all players have made their plays the dealer exposes his own cards. If he does not qualify with at least an Ace and King present in his hand, then all remaining ante bets pay even money and all raise bets push. If the dealer does qualify then each remaining player hand is individually compared against the dealer's hand, and the best poker hand wins in each case.

If the dealer has the higher hand the player loses both ante and raise. In the unlikely event the two hands are equal in value then both ante and raise push. If the player has the higher hand the ante pays even money and the raise pays according to payoff table below:

The hand rankings in Caribbean Stud are exactly the same as in regular poker.

Each player who makes a bet wager shall be responsible for his or her own hand and no other person other than the dealer may touch the cards of that player.

Each player shall be required to keep the five cards in full view of the dealer at all times. Once each player has examined his or her cards and placed them face down on the layout, they may not touch the cards again.

Money Wheel

The money wheel has denominations of $1, $2, $5, $10, $20 and 2 jokers. Players place their wager on the dollar value they think the wheel will stop on. Below is the payoff table for each denomination

Skill Stop Slot Machines

The skill stop slot machines feature three spinning reels with up to five lines of play and allows players to stop each reel with the push of a button located underneath each of the three wheels. Unlike traditional slot machines, players stop and start each game of play themselves. This feature adds an element of skill, rather than chance.

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