Casino War
As much as it might baffle you how someone could walk into a casino.com and actually sit down at a War table, it’s equally as perplexing to me that the casinos offer this game to begin with. But the answer is simple. If people will play and the house can make money, it’s a no-brainer. Speaking of no-brainers, here’s how the rules stack up in what likely will seem more or less exactly like what you’ve been used to playing since your grandfather taught you when you were five.
You place your bet at this game, and the dealer gives you one card and himself one card. Even money payout, if you have the higher card, you win. If you have the lower card, you lose. But, but what about a tie? A war, you say? Hold onto your hats, here’s where it gets interesting. Most casinos will give you a choice at this point. You can either surrender (huh?) and forfeit half your money, or you can…wait for it…go to war with the casino, which will require you to put up extra money.
Statistically speaking, never surrender your hand. It changes the dealer advantage from somewhere around 2% to closer to 5% in the long run. Besides, you’re not a communist, are you? Go to war, dammit!
Of course, you’re still in for a less-than-ideal proposition here than you would be at the blackjack table. Because if your war card (the dealer will discard three before giving you and himself another card) is equal to or greater than the dealer’s war card…all you win is your initial bet back. But if your card is worse, you lose your initial bet and the war bet.
Some casinos pay out a bonus if you tie the war card, too, but it’s a rare occurrence (finding a casino that offers it, that is).
If you’re waiting for strategy, you can move on. I got nothing for you other than if you’re going to actually play this game, finish it through each time and bet the war. Mathematically, you’ll be doing yourself a favor in the long run. What exactly is casino war good for? Well your odds of winning fall somewhere around 46, 47%…so while not the worst in the casino, they’re certainly no the best. Hell, you could probably do better running quarters into the video poker machines a few feet down from you, and you wouldn’t be “that guy” playing war in a casino, either. Not that there’s anything wrong with that.