BJ +3 Card Poker

[mystery50]

A recent proliferation of the Blackjack +3 Card Poker (side bet) games at my local store has me wondering. I'm sure the +3 is a sucker bet, since they've made this bet available at 80% of the BJ tables, but how bad is it. The side bet pays 9/1. Is there a known frequency of being dealt a winning 3-card poker hand. I know it's fun to win a 9/1 payoff, but I don't play it. Alas, once hit the 3-card four times in a row.

[Roshamboya]

the wizard of odds has the probabilities of making the various 3 card poker hands.

http://wizardofodds.com/blackjack/appendix8.html#21+3

There's a ~9.68% of making a winning hand, or a 1 in 10+ chance of winning. It's not so bad, about a 3% casino edge.

These numbers are for a 6 deck game, he has the odds different # of decks also.

[Tarzan]

I saw them doing this at the Lumiere Casino In St. Louis in which (I believe) the object was to make a 3 card poker hand out of your two cards plus any one of the dealers cards at the 9 to 1 you mentioned. I'm unsure of the specifics of odds on this but I won't go near a 3 card poker table as it's a hefty house advantage and a great "carnival game" for the casino to cash in on.

It was an interesting twist but much like standard 3 card poker, I doubt there's any chance of any long-term win at this and not something to play unless you have no concerns of losing in the long run.

[mystery50]

Thank you for your interest in my question and for directing me to the 'wizards' information on additional games.

[daddybo]

I've played straight BJ at +3 Sidebet tables (never making the side bet). I play and spread like crazy and never any heat. I don't think they watch the sucker games as closely. (I've only done this at stores that for one reason or another don't have a decent BJ game available.)

Edit: As amatter of fact, I was backed off once but told I could still play the BJ+3... Go figure.

[blackchipjim]

I think that there is a money making angle in this game for the aps that can see the dealers hole card.

[Sonny]

Originally Posted by blackchipjim

I think that there is a money making angle in this game for the aps that can see the dealers hole card.

Seeing the hole card won't help the side bet at all but it will give a big advantage on the BJ hand. There was a counting system for this side bet but I don't remember how effective it was. A lot depends on what the table max for the side bet is.

-Sonny-

[Automatic Monkey]

Originally Posted by Sonny

Seeing the hole card won't help the side bet at all but it will give a big advantage on the BJ hand. There was a counting system for this side bet but I don't remember how effective it was. A lot depends on what the table max for the side bet is.

-Sonny-

You need two counters for the sidebet and one for the BJ bet, and the game can possibly be crushed, especially with good pen. On the tables I've seen, the sidebet isn't limited by the BJ bet, but I don't remember what the sidebet max was.

[FLASH1296]

Roshamboya said:

"It's not so bad, about a 3% casino edge."

If you have a notion that a disadvantage that is worse than 1% or 2% is "not so bad" I advise you to
gain a more accurate objective view of Advantage Playing. 3% is even worse than American Roulette !

[sagefr0g]

Originally Posted by Automatic Monkey

You need two counters for the sidebet and one for the BJ bet, and the game can possibly be crushed, especially with good pen. On the tables I've seen, the sidebet isn't limited by the BJ bet, but I don't remember what the sidebet max was.

how would you count the sidebet part?