Top 3 Games
When you visit a casino, you have two options for gameplay: Hit up the slot room or try your hand at some table games. Unfortunately, many people mistakenly believe they must be “professionals” – or at least seasoned and skilled players – to play table games, let alone be successful.
So they avoid these games, sometimes from fear and sometimes from intimidation. The truth is that not only are most table games easy to learn, but they are also great fun to play and give you great chances to win.
At Blue Lake Casino, you can choose from several exciting table games that offer great odds to win. If you aren’t sure how to play, one of our friendly dealers can give you information about the rules and betting. In the meantime, check out this information about gameplay and odds at our top three table games with the best chances of winning.
Top 3 Games at the Casino with the Best Odds
- Blackjack
- Roulette
- Pai Gow Poker
Blackjack
Overview of Blackjack
Blackjack is one of the most popular games in any casino. It’s easy to play, and the odds of winning are good.
Blackjack aims to make a hand that reaches a value of 21 without going over. Two cards are dealt to each player at the table and the dealer. One card is dealt face up, so you have some guess as to what the dealer may have. You do not have to beat the other players’ cards, only the dealer’s.
Card values are the same as their number, except for face cards, which all have a value of 10, and the Ace, which can have a value of 1 or 11 (you decide). The fastest way to blackjack is to get an Ace and a 10 or a face card.
After you are given your two cards, you will be asked if you want to “hit,” get another card, or if you want to stay. You can take as many cards as you like until you go over 21. You can also split your hand if you have a pair, turning it into two hands and two chances to reach 21.
Odds of Winning Blackjack
Since you are just playing against the dealer and not other players, your odds of winning are very high – about 49 percent.
You place a starter bet – usually the table minimum – before you are dealt your cards. Then you can raise your bet after you’ve seen your cards. Special bets are also available, such as doubling down when you have a card total of 9, 10, or 11.
With this bet, you get one extra card that is dealt face-down and is only turned up at the end. You can also place an insurance bet if you see that the dealer has an Ace. With this bet, you would get a payout if the face-down card has a value of 10.
Dealers cannot split hands, double down, or take insurance, so you have an advantage here.
Roulette
Overview of Roulette
Roulette is another easy game to learn, and – best of all – it requires no strategy. It is purely a game of chance, which is what makes it more exciting for some people.
The game of roulette involves spinning a wheel with 38 numbered spaces on it. A small, white ball is thrown onto the wheel as it spins, and eventually, the wheel slows, and the ball falls onto one of the numbered spaces, which are separated by slots. The spaces are numbered and colored, either black or white.
Players join the action by betting on where the ball will land. Players don’t spin the wheel, and they don’t take any other action outside betting. It’s a passive game, but exciting nonetheless.
The passivity is what makes the game more inviting, and the chance is what makes it exciting. There’s nothing you can do to influence the outcome of the bet other than guess correctly.
Odds of Winning Roulette
Despite the lack of skill involved in playing roulette, your chances of winning are still actually pretty high. Your overall odds of winning are nearly 50 percent.
You have a lot of options for betting on roulette, and some of those bets have better odds than others. You can bet on a single number, from 1-36 or 0 or 00. These bets have the lowest odds, or 38:1. With the lower odds, they also have a bigger payout. You bet $5 and win $190 if the ball lands on your chosen number.
Another popular bet is that the ball will land on either a black or a red space. These bets pay 2:1, so you have a higher chance of winning. Other bets include even or odd numbers and specific groupings of numbers, such as 1-12. The more numbers that fall into your betting range, the higher your odds of winning and the lower the payout for the bet.
Keep in mind that you can also place several bets. For example, you can bet on black and odd; if the ball lands on a black, odd number, you will win both bets. If the ball lands on a black and even number, you will only be paid out for the bet on black, but you will lose what you bet on odd. Consider the odds and the payouts to figure out a winning combination.
Pai Gow Poker
Overview of Pai Gow Poker
Among the three games reviewed here, pai gow poker is the one that requires the most skill.
A pai gow poker game consists of seven cards being dealt to each player in a face-down pile. The goal for each player is to create two high-ranking hands: One that consists of five cards and the other that consists of two cards.
When trying to create the two hands, you must keep in mind the possible combinations. The only options for your two-card hand are a pair or a high card. A pair will beat a hand with just one high card, so it is better to get a pair. With a pair, getting the highest value for those two cards, such as a pair of Kings or Aces, is better.
For your five-card hand, traditional poker rankings apply. That means that a full house will beat a three-of-a-kind, and so on. When you are parsing out which cards should go in your two-card hand, you have to be certain that you won’t need them to create the best five-card hand. You must rely on some strategy and luck, hoping you will get the necessary cards.
Also, remember that your two-card hand cannot outrank your five-card hand. Typically, that’s not a problem unless you have bad cards and you’re trying to put everything you DO have into your pair in an attempt to win something, at least.
But, in some cases, you will have to shift the only pair you have to your five-card hand, making both hands somewhat weaker. Knowing these rules is what guides your betting strategy.
Odds at Winning Pai Gow Poker
Your chances of winning at pai gow poker are around 47 percent. That is compared to the house, or the dealer, who is representing the casino.
In order to win your bet at pai gow poker, you must beat both of the dealer’s hands. If you win one hand, but the dealer wins the other, your bet will push, meaning that no money will go to you or the dealer except for the commission. Casinos typically take a five percent commission of all bets made in pai gow poker.
More and more side bets, such as the Emperor’s Challenge, are being offered for pai gow poker, giving players more chances to win. Side bets often wager on whether a player will get a specific type of hand, such as three-of-a-kind. Some side bets even gamble on another player having a better hand.
Always ask the dealer what bets are available, and ask about how to make the bets if you aren’t sure. You can also ask for clarity about how to play the game. Dealers are always happy to give you the information you need to join the game.
Play Table Games at Blue Lake Casino
Blue Lake Casino is happy to offer these and other table games for exciting gameplay and the chance to win big! Our friendly staff is happy to help you learn how to play these games and make lucrative bets so that you can have a fun and exciting time when you visit us.
When you’re done with your gameplay, you can head to one of our fine dining establishments, get a treatment at the spa, enjoy some live entertainment, or sleep in one of our posh suites. Visit us today to learn more!
