Chemin de Fer

I've been going through the gambling textbook The Doctrine of Chances: Probabilistic Aspects of Gambling by Stewart N. Ethier. He has a good treatment of the game Chemin De Fer, although based on infinite decks. It has caused me to spend a lot of time on my own Chemin de Fer analysis.

Assuming the Banker can draw on 6 after the Player stands, which he should if he predicts the Player is likely to draw on 5, then it turns into a rock-paper-scissors type situation. If the Banker thinks the Player will stand on 5, then he should make two adjustments to his drawing strategy (relative to conventional baccarat rules) if the Player draws, specifically stand on 3 against a Player third-card of 9, and 5 against a third-card of 4.

First, if anyone has the inclination, feel free to challenge me on anything. I think Ethier's book may have an error on page 171, in which he says the Banker should stand on 4 against a 1, if he thinks the Player will stand on 5. I don't think this is due to infinite decks, as my six-deck analysis shows this play isn't even close.

Second, I'm told there is a Chemin de Fer game at the Mohegan Sun, called "Macau Style Baccarat." If anybody goes there I would appreciate it if you could ask the following:

1. Can the Player stand on a two-card 5?
2. Can the bettor with the Banker hand draw on 6, if the Player stands on two cards?
3. Can the bettor with the Banker hand draw as he sees fit if the Player draws a third card?

Perhaps one of you cashing points from the Triple Down promotion could look into it?

I later decided to go right to the source and ask the question via the Mohegan Sun web site. It was responded to in about four hours. Here is what was sent back. So it seems to me this game at the Mohegan Sun is probably just normal big table baccarat, not Chemin de Fer.

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Michael Shackleford,


Hello. I heard you offer a game titled "Macau Style Baccarat," which is based on the classic rules of Chemin de Fer. I have a few questions:

1. Can the bettor with the Player hand stand on a two-card 5? NO

2. Can the bettor with the Banker hand draw on 6, if the Player stands on two cards? NO

3. Can the bettor with the Banker hand draw as he sees fit if the Player draws a third card? NO, the banker will draw according to the standard rules of baccarat.


Thank you.

TREVOR NEWMAN
TABLE GAMES MANAGER, TABLE GAMES

Wow, you got a real reply back and in less 24 hours!

Quote: miplet

Wow, you got a real reply back and in less 24 hours!

Yup, from the table games manager no less. Give the Mohegan Sun another Brownie Point.

Nice fast reply. But it doesn't seem like you got any real answers.

Brownie points and gold stars aside, if it's not Chemin de Fer, and not exactly baccarat, what the heck is it?