3-card side bets?

[kytimberman]

Hey y'all, I'm new here, been playing for a few months now, and have basic strategy down cold. I sometimes play where the house has BJ + 3 card tables(twice as many as regular BJ tables). The side bet is made up of your two cards plus the dealer's up card and pays 9:1 for a straight, flush, or three of a kind. These tables seem to get most of the action, but I have the feeling the side bet is a low-odds bet. What's the prevailing opinion on this from some more experienced players? Thanks and I enjoy the forum and all the info on here.

[zengrifter]

User is banned, content deleted.

[wookets]

I don't know too much about it, but it might be worth something if you tracked suit depletion and went for the flush payout.

[zengrifter]

User is banned, content deleted.

[RS]

If my math is correct, which I doubt, I'm getting a HE of about 28%. (1/4)*(1/4) + (2/13)*(1/13) + (1/13)*(1/13) = ChanceOfFlush + ChanceOfStraight + ChanceOf3OfAKind = 0.08025... * 9 [because 9 is your payout] = 0.722263.... ie: It has a 72.2% payout, or a -27.8% edge. So for every $100 bet you make, you'd be expected to lose $27.80, in the long run. Even if my math is accurate, the house edge is still higher because I did not assume effect of removal (ie: I assumed there are still 24 of each card in the deck, also assumed that a K,A,2 is a possible straight [which I doubt they'd pay], and probably something else), not to mention, your odds become worse and worse with the less decks you play (imagine getting a 2,2 verse 2 in a single deck game where there are only four 2's, compared to a 6 deck game with twenty-four 2's).

[RS]

Edit: Oops, made an error on that. It should be (1/4)*(1/4) + (2/13)*(2/13) + (1/13)*(1/13) * 9 = ~ 0.8287. HE is 0.172. Perhaps you or someone could devise a +1 black and -1 red count. But in the end, it's likely too hard to beat (or, not frequent enough opportunities to make it worth while).

[FishingAnd Cards]

I just despise being on one of those tables. Every time I am, it seems I have an old Asian lady telling me "you no play" every time I get it. Uh, yeah, but I didn't have it the last 30 other hands. Heaven forbid it hits twice in a row.

[bigplayer]

There is a thread on Ken Smith's old site about it. Keep track of the suits...the 9:1 payoff is exploited by focusing on flushes. The newer version with the different payouts for SF, 3K, FL, and ST I don't think is beatable.

[RS]

There is a thread on Ken Smith's old site about it. Keep track of the suits...the 9:1 payoff is exploited by focusing on flushes. The newer version with the different payouts for SF, 3K, FL, and ST I don't think is beatable.

What do you mean by SF, 3k, FL, and ST?

[moo321]

You can go for flushes, if you can keep 4 side counts. Otherwise, a red black count works. It's not worth your time, though, in most cases.

[bigplayer]

SF = Straight Flush, 3K = 3 of a Kind, etc...

[Shoofly]

When another player asks to play on my spot, I let them. Sometimes when they hit, they will give me a small portion of the win. They call it "Paying Rent." Free money.

[dharmaprija]

God forbid you hit it THREE times in a row(which i frequently do for some weird reason) but the dealers, and entire table bust your chops...it has a pay scale for the casino that has it hitting 1 in 10.27 hands on average. it IS trackable but the per hour is not much WOO has a write up on it @ http://wizardofodds.com/games/blackj...dix/8/#21plus3 and i read some more on it from http://www.beatingbonuses.com/sidebets.htm and the enemy has this to say "21 + 3
Prime Table Games LLC – (702) 562-****
This side bet, available from Prime Table Games LLC, pays based on the player’s first two cards and the dealer’s up card. If the combination of those three cards equals “any pair that also makes a three-card flush” or better, the side bet wins 9-to-1 on a six-deck game. This side bet is based on the same object as the Three Card Poker game. The mathematical house advantage is 3.2 percent with a hit frequency of once every 10.3 hands." from http://www.casinoenterprisemanagemen...too-afraid-ask