Low HE, High Variance, What Games?

Besides a Craps game with good free odds, is there any other table game meeting the criteria of having a low HE with high variance? For acceptable HE I really want something considerably less than 2%.

Some Video Poker qualifies, but I am thinking of table games.

Recently I played some BJ with liberal rules including surrender. I don't count cards, so there was no chance of slipping into a +EV situation; this is typical gambling for me. I sort of enjoyed myself, but I also made myself quit playing after a couple of shoes. I really think this is the way to go, knowing that the variance is so low. The conservative player can find a low HE BJ game and take his chances without feeling like a degenerate, but IMO you sit down and either get lucky right away, or forget it.

So you can see I believe BJ regardless of rules for the recreational player is just not a game to get too excited about.

This always takes me back to Craps. Is there really no other game meeting the above criteria? I'm thinking that if there is such a game, it's a 'lurker', and would involve a side bet ... after all, although it seems never to be called that, the free odds in Craps is really a side bet, and knocks down the HE to less than 1%. The WoO site isn't going to be any help since the Wizard is allergic to side bets. And it may just be true that no other such combination exists. We just have Craps at less than 1% HE, high variance, all else unacceptably high HE, high Variance notwithstanding?

If you don't get lucky right away in blackjack, increasing your bet increases variance.

Three card poker, compared to blackjack, has about a 300% increase in house edge (perfect strategy, 100% for average player) and a 50% increase in variance. It is probably the lowest HE game besides the games you already mentioned (excluding games with lower variances than blackjack) at just over 2%.

https://wizardofodds.com/games/ultimate-texas-hold-em/

Check out Paytables 1 & 2 on the Trips bet, though Paytable 2 is certainly not, 'significantly lower,' than 2%, it is a bit lower.

UTH, just the base game fits the bill and is why it is so popular. With an Element of Risk of 0.53% and standard deviation of 4.94 (vs. BJ at 1.15), I think the base game alone meets your requirements.

That's true, if one wants to look at the EoR as opposed to the HE, but I assumed the question to be HE specific.

Quote: Mission146

That's true, if one wants to look at the EoR as opposed to the HE, but I assumed the question to be HE specific.

EoR is a good way at looking at HE; we consider the HE on craps including odds. Pretty much the same here, the money in action at risk, the aggregate edge on the action in play.

If you look at the daily numbers of a Heads Up Hold 'em or UTH game, daily hold numbers are like: -65%, +92%, 1%, 55%, -20%....It takes weeks, even months to average out, but hold generally averages out to about 29%. A small card room is really gambling also with these Hold 'em games. Pai Gow Poker and Roulette are much smoother on a short term basis.

This is why, as a recreational gambler, UTH is my favorite table game. I don't feel like I am getting completely screwed by a ridiculous HE (I think the EOR is more applicable given the nature of the game.) The higher variance means I walk away with a decent win sometimes.

If the goal is to get on the upside of a big swing sometimes you can also play a low variance game and start pressing your bets once you are up a little bit.

Just wanted to chime in and say that you can alter the variance with a betting strategy. If you increase your bet size after every win and revert to your base bet on a loss, you could walk away with a lot of money on a good streak. Don't double it after every win though... Gotta take a profit somewhere.

Teliot was right on in his book 'Contemporary Casino Table Game Design' when he wrote "....that variance is the product customers are purchasing by playing a casino game. The only difference between two casino games is the amount of variance they offer and the wrapper that variance comes in."

Thanks for the replies, I'll check some of this out.

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I had practiced for a while on UTH and was getting the hang of it. I think at the time I was pretty sure I could play at Harrington, but never did for whatever reason.

Harrington is pretty much out for me anymore. I didn't check it out to see if UTH was at Rocky Gap.

Searching here, didn't find any general thread about where UTH is installed. Shuffle Master site was no help. Anybody know?

Any specific casinos you have in mind? I'll just call and ask.

Quote: Mission146

Any specific casinos you have in mind? I'll just call and ask.

well, I can do that [g]. Calling Rocky Gap now. The Meadows?

update: rocky gap *no can do*, haven't checked with the Meadows