Artguy: Royal Match side bets

[Artguy]

The most popular side bet I have seen lately is the Royal Match and I am wondering if there is any advantage play possible for it. In Reno most of the casinos pay 2.5 for 1 for a suited pair while several pay 3 for 1 . In the event of a K/Q suited pair, the payout was anywhere from 12-1 to 17-1.

I have always considered this to be a sucker bet and have often played it off the top as an additional cover play along with my two unit bet. After looking at this betting option, however, I'm not so sure something can't be made of it.

In my own math-challenged way this is what I come up with. There are ten possible combinations of suits with four of these being suited. This would indicate to me that I could expect to win a match bet every 2.5 hands. If I am being paid 2.5 for 1...its a wash: however, if the payout is 3 for 1
then I have an advantage of .5%. If you figure in the occasional royal match lightning-strike the advantage is even greater.

If there truly is an advantage, would flat-betting be the rule of thumb or could you play the odds and chip-up after three losses, for example?

[Artguy]

>CORRECTION: 2.5-1 (NOT 2.5 FOR 1) AND 3-1 )(NOT 3 FOR 1)

The most popular side bet I have seen lately
> is the Royal Match and I am wondering if
> there is any advantage play possible for it.
> In Reno most of the casinos pay 2.5 for 1
> for a suited pair while several pay 3 for 1
> . In the event of a K/Q suited pair, the
> payout was anywhere from 12-1 to 17-1.

> I have always considered this to be a sucker
> bet and have often played it off the top as
> an additional cover play along with my two
> unit bet. After looking at this betting
> option, however, I'm not so sure something
> can't be made of it.

> In my own math-challenged way this is what I
> come up with. There are ten possible
> combinations of suits with four of these
> being suited. This would indicate to me that
> I could expect to win a match bet every 2.5
> hands. If I am being paid 2.5 for 1...its a
> wash: however, if the payout is 3 for 1
> then I have an advantage of .5%. If you
> figure in the occasional royal match
> lightning-strike the advantage is even
> greater.

> If there truly is an advantage, would
> flat-betting be the rule of thumb or could
> you play the odds and chip-up after three
> losses, for example?

[Norm Wattenberger]

Yes you can get an advantage. The only public discussion that comes to mind is in 'Beyond Counting.'

BJStats