Q&A Section now Open

A six-month backlog of "ask the wizard" questions has finally been worked off. Rather than using e-mail, you may post your questions in my new Question and Answer section. I can't promise to answer every question. Your odds are better if the answer is not already found on Wizard of Odds, it is short, others will find the answer useful, and it isn't about betting systems. I reserve the right to use questions for my "ask the wizard" column. Also, feel free to answer and discuss each other's questions.

I've been waiting for a chance to ask a question...

I come pretty close to playing basic strategy in conventional Blackjack almost automatically. I have recently become interested in Blackjack switch but don't really play it that often.

I was wondering how playing conventional Blackjack basic strategy rather than the your recommended strategy for Blackjack switch would affect the calculation of the house edge.

Congratulations on the new site!

Congratulations, you're the first to submit an "ask the wizard" question in my new forum. However, I think this would have been better asked under the gambling questions category.

The differences between blackjack and Blackjack Switch strategy are not many, and in fairly borderline cases. It would take hours to work out an exact answer. My educated guess, off the top of my head, is using blackjack strategy in Blackjack Switch will cost you about 0.1% in errors. I would encourage you to at least memorize the correct strategy for hard totals of 9 to 13, which should account for most of that 0.1%.

on baccarat, if you wager $100 on the bank and $100 on the player, simultaneously, how much would you, theoretically, lose per hour?

Per hand the expected loss would be $100*1.06% + $100+1.24% = $2.30. Assuming 72 hands per hour, the expected loss per hour would be $165.60.

I want to get in the gaming development business. In the spring I will be graduating from Rutgers University with a BA. I created my own game which takes the basic craps elements and makes it into a baseball match. I posted it in the off-topic section here for people to try. What is your advice for persons like me who lack the math background but still want to be part of the industry?

Quote: crapsbaseballguy

I want to get in the gaming development business. In the spring I will be graduating from Rutgers University with a BA. I created my own game which takes the basic craps elements and makes it into a baseball match. I posted it in the off-topic section here for people to try. What is your advice for persons like me who lack the math background but still want to be part of the industry?

To answer that question, please read the article about new table games here.

It was more of a personal question rsther than one about my game. And I have read your articile hundred time over do consider them my bible at this time. Thanks anyway.

Hi Wiz--love this site as much if not more than the first one. Sorry if this is in the wrong place but I couldn't figure out a better one to put it in. I guess it is half question/half suggestion.

On the "games" section here I love how you can adjust the rules for BJ. But for those of us who want to practice out counting skills is it possible to put in a "penetration" option. Say you could have an option for continuous shufle, half penetration, and deep penetration (80-90%) before a shuffle.

Also a runnign count of how much action per session for comp-hounds out there.

Thanks for the forums, though. They pass the slow time at work :-)

This is a great forum.

But with all the discussions and Q&A going on in all areas, I don't think a specific 'Ask the Wizard' section is necessary. In fact, I think it might be counter-productive.

I mean, I don't want to sound like the Wiz's advice is not appreciated. But is there any reason anyone would want to ask a question SPECIFICALLY to the Wiz?

Further, since the Wiz has already taken at least one question / thread here and used it in an Ask The Wiz column, it should be obvious, and expected, that anything anywhere in this forum can become material for an Ask The Wiz column.


Just my two cents. Keep the change.