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November 12, 2008
Table Games: Mississippi stud is a treat to try to beat
Casino game developers are always trying to come up with new ways to capitalize on the poker craze by introducing house-banked table games designed to attract recreational gamblers who are inclined to play only blackjack or slots.
It isn't easy.
Some poker hybrids, including Caribbean Stud, Let It Ride and Three Card Poker, have bucked the odds and become staples on casino floors. Many others disappear as soon as the novelty wears off.
Mississippi Stud is an example of a game that has managed to stick around in spite of never having gained the widespread popularity that its distributor, Shuffle Master, had hoped it would.
Now there are signs the company's tenacity could be paying off.
The game is currently being played in the Chicago area at Blue Chip Casino Hotel in Michigan City, Ind. It is scheduled to be introduced in the near future at Horseshoe Casino in Hammond pending regulatory approval.
Mississippi Stud is really no bargain from a value-based wagering perspective. Gambling math expert Michael Shackleford has an analysis of the game on his Web site (wizardofodds.com) and pegs the house advantage at a relatively fat 4.91 percent.
That note of caution aside, this five-card poker game is great fun to play, especially if you enjoy the other poker hybrid table games.
Depending on the two cards you are dealt in combination with the three community cards, players have an opportunity to capitalize on favorable situations by increasing their wagers at three different stages of play.
You play against a pay table, not the dealer. As each community card is revealed, the strategy changes. The focus of decision making is whether to raise or fold your hand.
All wagers you have placed on the table are forfeited at the point you elect to fold.
The game, which is played with a standard 52-card deck, starts with each player making an ante wager. Each player is then dealt two cards face down. The dealer places three cards face down in the middle of the layout.
After the players look at their cards, they have the opportunity to either fold (forfeit their ante bet), or make an additional wager, a Third Street bet, amounting to one to three times their ante.
The dealer will then flip over the first community card. Another betting round takes place with players opting to fold or make a Fourth Street bet of one to three times the ante.
The second community card is revealed, followed by another betting round on Fifth Street. All bets are settled based on the following pay table:
A pair of 6's through 10's: Push. A pair of Jacks or better: Even money. Two Pair: 2 to 1. Three-Of-A-Kind: 3 to 1. Straight: 4 to 1. Flush: 6 to 1. Full House: 10 to 1. |
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发表于 2008-11-13 09:14
