en11871
en11871
  • Threads: 6
  • Posts: 16
Joined: Feb 16, 2014
May 17th, 2014 at 10:29:26 AM permalink
What's the proper strategy to playing the ante IF I were to play it? I know it's a tough win, going against dealer's 6 cards. Should I have the bet same as Aces Up...half...? What is the house edge on the ante play? Thank you all in advance.
JB
Administrator
JB
  • Threads: 334
  • Posts: 2089
Joined: Oct 14, 2009
en11871
en11871
  • Threads: 6
  • Posts: 16
Joined: Feb 16, 2014
May 18th, 2014 at 10:25:05 AM permalink
Yes, but is it just terrible to even play the ante?
BleedingChipsSlowly
BleedingChipsSlowly
  • Threads: 23
  • Posts: 1033
Joined: Jul 9, 2010
May 18th, 2014 at 11:56:39 AM permalink
Quote: en11871

Yes, but is it just terrible to even play the ante?

Rule #1 from cited web page: "Two initial bets are available: The Ante and the Aces Up." The only option is don't play.
“You don’t bring a bone saw to a negotiation.” - Robert Jordan, former U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia
Mosca
Mosca
  • Threads: 191
  • Posts: 4140
Joined: Dec 14, 2009
May 18th, 2014 at 12:33:13 PM permalink
If you play the simple strategy on Ante/Play of raising 3x on pair of 10s or better, and 1x on 2s through 9s and folding all non pairs, the house edge is about 3.4%. The house edge on the most common Aces Up pay table, 50-40-8-5-4-3-1, is about 3.9%. What you see most commonly are players who don't want to risk 4 or 5 units per hand playing Ante/Play (and maybe Aces Up), so they give up the .5% and play just the Aces Up.

The whole reason anyone plays games like these is for the big hand, so that makes sense. It gives more chances per bankroll if the cards are running cold. 4 Card is one of those games where you can lose every hand and all your stake before your drink comes.
A falling knife has no handle.
en11871
en11871
  • Threads: 6
  • Posts: 16
Joined: Feb 16, 2014
May 19th, 2014 at 6:09:33 AM permalink
Mosca,

So you're saying by playing the ante and the basic strategy of 1x-3x, that actually lowers the house edge from just playing aces up?
Mosca
Mosca
  • Threads: 191
  • Posts: 4140
Joined: Dec 14, 2009
May 19th, 2014 at 8:13:31 AM permalink
The smart move, assuming you've already overcome the knowledge of the 3%+ house edge, is to take whatever you would have bet on Aces Up and distribute it on your ante/play bet.

However, consider the reason you're playing the game in the first place. If you are like most players of 4 Card, you are a low limit bettor courting the high variance. Decide if you would rather put $40 up at 3.4%, or $10 up four separate times at 3.9%. Both of those bets are going to chew you up pretty effectively, but it will take the Aces Up bet four times as long to do it, and give you four times the chances to hit a good hand, 3 of a kind or better. Plus you aren't playing against the dealer. Nothing sucks more than getting your J high flush beaten by a Q high flush, or 2 pair beaten by a straight.
A falling knife has no handle.
Deucekies
Deucekies
  • Threads: 57
  • Posts: 1421
Joined: Jan 20, 2014
May 19th, 2014 at 1:25:21 PM permalink
Quote: Mosca

Nothing sucks more than getting your J high flush beaten by a Q high flush, or 2 pair beaten by a straight.



Unless you're playing the bad beat bonus. :)
Casinos are not your friends, they want your money. But so does Disneyland. And there is no chance in hell that you will go to Disneyland and come back with more money than you went with. - AxelWolf and Mickeycrimm
98Clubs
98Clubs
  • Threads: 52
  • Posts: 1728
Joined: Jun 3, 2010
May 19th, 2014 at 9:22:41 PM permalink
Unfortuneately, what we don't know at the WoO site is the "Element of Risk". Since one has to Raise, that 3.4% gets divided by the average number of units wagered. The EoR is substantially the House Advantage per unit bet, which is much lower than a plain Side-Bet with an average of 1 unit. For example if the average number of units wagered is 3 and the total H.A. is 3.39%, that means each unit has a 1.13% H.A. Compare that to a 1 unit Side-Bet at 3.9%, obviously the former is a better bet PER UNIT.
Some people need to reimagine their thinking.
RDUone
RDUone
  • Threads: 0
  • Posts: 1
Joined: Jan 1, 2018
January 1st, 2018 at 4:17:37 PM permalink
Does anyone have a break down of the win probability by specific player hand? I would love to know the advantage on the really borderline 3x hands like two nines against a dealer 5, etc. Or player 10s against a dealer 10 etc. This is available for blackjack, and would be awesome to have for four card poker.

thanks
  • Jump to: