Rouleno
Poll
 | 2 votes (15.38%) | ||
| | 1 vote (7.69%) | ||
| | 6 votes (46.15%) | ||
| | 1 vote (7.69%) | ||
| | 2 votes (15.38%) | ||
| | 5 votes (38.46%) | ||
| | 4 votes (30.76%) | ||
| | 4 votes (30.76%) | ||
| | 5 votes (38.46%) | ||
| | 6 votes (46.15%) |
13 members have voted
That said, I stumbled upon a fresh new game at the Max (formerly known as the Casuarina) yesterday. Instead of the usual dice or cards, it is played with six billiard balls, numbered 1 to 6. They are drawn one at a number into numbered positions and the player bets on the number of balls that match in number and position drawn.
Rather than explain everything twice, please see my new page on Rouleno. As always, I welcome questions, comments, and especially corrections. I also encourage my fellow mathematicians to note the challenge at the bottom of the page.
The question for the poll is would you play Rouleno (multiple votes allowed)?
p.s. Sorry Maria, that should be Bartiromo (even admins can't edit poll choices).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rencontres_numbers
2. What were you doing in the Max anyway?
3. Do you think this will appeal to veteran Casino War players?
| n | Combinations | Probability |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | - | - |
| 2 | 1 | 0.500000000000000 |
| 3 | 2 | 0.333333333333333 |
| 4 | 9 | 0.375000000000000 |
| 5 | 44 | 0.366666666666667 |
| 6 | 265 | 0.368055555555556 |
| 7 | 1,854 | 0.367857142857143 |
| 8 | 14,833 | 0.367881944444444 |
| 9 | 133,496 | 0.367879188712522 |
| 10 | 1,334,961 | 0.367879464285714 |
| 11 | 14,684,570 | 0.367879439233606 |
| 12 | 176,214,841 | 0.367879441321282 |
| 13 | 2,290,792,932 | 0.367879441160691 |
| 14 | 32,071,101,049 | 0.367879441172162 |
| 15 | 481,066,515,734 | 0.367879441171397 |
| 16 | 7,697,064,251,745 | 0.367879441171445 |
| 17 | 130,850,092,279,664 | 0.367879441171442 |
| 18 | 2,355,301,661,033,950 | 0.367879441171442 |
| 19 | 44,750,731,559,645,100 | 0.367879441171442 |
| 20 | 895,014,631,192,902,000 | 0.367879441171442 |
Note how the probability approaches 1/e.
The formula for the probability of 0 position matches in n balls drawn, f(n,0), can be expressed as:
f(n,0) = n*f(n-1,0) + (1 if n is even, otherwise -1).
Okay, I submit for the consideration of the forum the following simpler formula:
f(n,0)=round(fact(n)/e).
Is that brilliant or am I just easily amused?
Quote: Joeshlabotnik1. Why isn't it called Kenette?
2. What were you doing in the Max anyway?
3. Do you think this will appeal to veteran Casino War players?
1. Sounds like a feminine form of Ken. I think anybody who has seen a Ken doll naked knows he could use more testosterone as it is.
2. My Vegas survey, which you will be hearing a lot more about in the near future.
3. No. I think it has too many betting choices for War players.
Quote: tringlomaneHow often do we think the croupier (or whatever you want to call them here) will forget to enforce losing combinations on the individual numbers?
While in field trial, I think a lot. Then again, it will happen only once in 360 games, where it matters, and forgetting that rule would only result in a 0% house edge game, so it wouldn't be the end of the world if that happened.
The whole time the dealer and floorwoman were explaining the rules to me, because I couldn't read the rule card without my glasses, neither mentioned this exception to the Individual Numbers bets. I could picture some ill-will when this does happen and the dealer does remember.
At the risk of the house edge being too low (of 0.83%), I would have suggested barring a perfect 1-2-3-4-5-6 sequence. That would induce bets on a Perfect Sequence, which carries a 16.4% house edge.
Quote: WizardThe fourth in my Ten Commandments for Game Inventors states, "Thou Shalt Not Use Unfamiliar Equipment." I guess the makers of Rouleno never read them, or just didn't agree. Nevertheless, as a mathematician and gambling writer, I always like to see a fresh idea as opposed to tweaking existing games. It breaks up the boredom a bit.
That link doesn't work for me, but I know I've seen the commandments before. Isn't one of them not to mix games? This is one of my biggest pet peeves with new games - based on that alone, I will never play Rouleno. It sounds like a bunch of po-crap to me.
Quote: CrystalMathThat link doesn't work for me, but I know I've seen the commandments before. Isn't one of them not to mix games? This is one of my biggest pet peeves with new games - based on that alone, I will never play Rouleno. It sounds like a bunch of po-crap to me.
Sorry, try it now -- Ten Commandments for Game Inventors. Yes, you would be referring to my commandment #5.
You're being a bad example to jbot with the mouth breather comment.Quote: beachbumbabsThis seems like a game for mouth-breathers. Sorry, not interested. I'd play Axel in pool, though, as long as we could drink. For some reason I'm better at judging shot angles while drunk.
This game sounds stupid...it may make it big!!
Is it exploitable in any way that casinos may be nervous about? Are the balls mixed and who pulls them out of the urn?
Quote: onenickelmiracleYou're being a bad example to jbot with the mouth breather comment.
This went right over my head (the jbot reference ). And re RonC below yours comment, I didn't mean Trumpers or anything other than willing uneducated gamblers who throw money at stupid games.
How could this possibly be entertaining for more than 2 minutes?
Quote: beachbumbabsThis seems like a game for mouth-breathers. Sorry, not interested.
Let's not be too judgmental. It is not more simple than roulette or big six but has a much lower house edge at 1.67%.
Quote: WizardLet's not be too judgmental. It is not more simple than roulette or big six but has a much lower house edge at 1.67%.
Ok. Decent HE. Watch them pull 6 balls out of an urn, one at a tiZZZZZ.... . Rinse and repeat. Lol. No skill. Little shock of disappointment when the first 4 are in order and the last 2 screw it up. Otherwise nap time.
Quote: RonCIs it exploitable in any way that casinos may be nervous about? Are the balls mixed and who pulls them out of the urn?
The way it works is the dealer puts the six balls in basically a wooden box about double the size of a shoe box. Then she closes the lid and turns a crank about five times, which churns the balls around. Sometimes it jams and you can see the dealer giving it all the force she can to loosen it. The contraption looks like it was made in somebody's garage.
Is there any advantage play here? I can't see what is going on in that box but perhaps one could study the order of the balls going in and out. Maybe there is a correlation, but probably not.
Quote: WizardLet's not be too judgmental. It is not more simple than roulette or big six but has a much lower house edge at 1.67%.
Obviously, my comments regarding the candidates and their followers were in jest...but this game just does not look fun at all. The low house edge is nice, but isn't that mostly a tease in that people will mostly ignore in favor of higher paying bets with a higher edge?
This sounds like a "walk by" game.
Any comments on game protection issues, etc.?
Quote: RonCPut this, the Big Wheel, Casino War, and 6:5 Crapjack at the front entrance of every casino. Place a lot of drink servers close by--keep them coming!! The casino can rake in the cash from the mouth-breathing Trumpers (no intelligent Hillarist with a superiority complex would ever play any of them) and the rest of us can have fun without that type of people actually being on the main floor.
Ron, Ron, I knew you'd come around eventually! You share my vision for society after all. If we can just serve lots of strong drinks at the 6:5 tables on Election Day--well, go Hillary!
I agree that the game seems stupid; it also has no inherent appeal for the stupid. People might play it once out of curiosity. Meh.
Also, is this played at a BJ sized table or a stadium keno type atmosphere?
Quote: beachbumbabsOk. Decent HE. Watch them pull 6 balls out of an urn, one at a tiZZZZZ.... . Rinse and repeat. Lol. No skill. Little shock of disappointment when the first 4 are in order and the last 2 screw it up. Otherwise nap time.
I love new games. But I am with beachbumbabs on this one. ZZZZZZZ They need to add some crazy side bets which pay (and I never play) to make this viable, in my opinion.
Quote: IndyJeffreyI love new games. But I am with beachbumbabs on this one. ZZZZZZZ They need to add some crazy side bets which pay (and I never play) to make this viable, in my opinion.
Maybe jazz it up with a slick marketing campaign? "You gotta have six balls to play Rouleno!"
Quote: mrsuit31Mike, about how long did it take to resolve a single "hand"?
Also, is this played at a BJ sized table or a stadium keno type atmosphere?
With only me at the table, once my questions were all answered, about a hand a minute. The table seemed bigger than blackjack. Maybe it used to be a Midi Baccarat table.
In other news, if anybody didn't understand my rules, here are links to the rule card, which I just scanned:
side 1
side 2
