Not allowed to use strategy card at the table

I was at a casino over the weekend playing a carnival game with a healthy house edge well over 5%. When I pulled out my strategy guide on the first hand the pit critter told me that I was not allowed to use a strategy card at any table game in her casino and even called the director of table games who backed her up so I left the joint after playing A hand. I was blown away, have you ever heard of a casino enforcing this rule?

Next time, just memorize your hole card strategy guide ;)

Please name the casino. Since you were using a strategy card I'm assuming you're not an ap.Would just like to know what casino is so paranoid. Or is their excuse that it will slow the game down.

I was playing as a total civilian fading the high house edge. The casino was in AZ, I am not 100% comfortable naming the casino just yet. They did not offer a reason, and in fact I was the only player at the table

Ok.Understood.

Was it an indian joint, or an actual real casino?

If you prefer not to answer, just ignore me. Thanks.

I always use a strategy card out in the open
Blackjack, Paigow poker, and various video poker games.
I actually would not gamble if I cant use a strategy card.
The casino has an edge on each game, incorrect strategy increases their edge. I am loathe to play any gambling game without a strategy card where strategy is involved.
I have never ever had any problem using a strategy sheet for various games except at the D downtown Vegas.
The D incident was just a minor inconvenience. Dealer would not let me place it on the table next to my chips. She did allow me to refer to it as necessary. Most pai gow hands are easy to play but every once in a while you can set a hand various ways and that's when I go to the strategy card. I've actually had pit bosses show an interest in my pai gow strategy card(use JB's strategy from WOO) but just out of curiosity. I have never caught flak using a strategy card.
At the 4 Queens a while ago when I 1st got into VP, I was hunched over at a vp game with a strategy sheet and I kept referring to it. My position and movement were a bit unusual and I caught the eye of security. They came over to see what I was doing and immediately left, I heard them say "He's alright, just using a strategy sheet"

Quote: terapined

I have never ever had any problem using a strategy sheet for various games except at the D downtown Vegas.
The D incident was just a minor inconvenience. Dealer would not let me place it on the table next to my chips. She did allow me to refer to it as necessary.

I'm surprised to hear that about the D. I played blackjack there recently, and there was a woman at my table with a strategy card right next to her chips.

I have heard rules about not putting things on the table too, but at the D they did let you consult the card for strategic info. This was in Arizona which as far as I know does not have any commercial casinos so yes it was Indian.

Quote: CallSaul

I'm surprised to hear that about the D. I played blackjack there recently, and there was a woman at my table with a strategy card right next to her chips.

The D was the 3 card poker/pai gow poker table.
I've played a lot there with a strategy card next to my chips.
Just about every dealer there allowed it on the table.
It was just this one dealer that would not let me place it on the table.
Maybe in this 1 dealers view it was a security thing, just drinks and chips on a table.
I could still refer to it so no biggie. I did not tip her though.

Quote: Hunterhill

Please name the casino. Since you were using a strategy card I'm assuming you're not an ap.Would just like to know what casino is so paranoid. Or is their excuse that it will slow the game down.

The Casino was the one I work at. Bucky's Casino. They have always had and continue to have a lot of old school/strange rules. I've been able to change a few. Others not yet. Here are some of the rules:

No strategy cards at the tables
No music/earphones allowed anywhere in the casino
No picture taking of jackpot screens on slots/vp
No electronics of any kind in the casino except for cell phones. No laptops, tablets, etc.
Employees must wait 30 minutes after they clock out to be able to play a slot machine or poker (but can drink alcohol in the casino immediately)

I did allow BigFoot to use the strategy card, at my risk, the first time he came in, which was the first week or two we had the new game I believe. He had driven a few hours to play the game and there were no optimal strategies posted here or anywhere yet. We were all still talking about all the possible ways to play. I saw the strategy card on his lap, but did not say anything. I think I even came into work to meet him on my off day that day.

Since the time a member here has posted perfect strategy for the game. It's very easy. A pair of 9's or better play one way. 8's or less play the other. I was willing to take the risk of some heat for allowing the card the first time. When my Shift Manager called me about it, i was not willing to have her take the risk for it. She has been there 10 years and knows the rules and I don't want my staff facing Regulatory for no reason. If I had been there again, I might have turned my cheek until an inspector or surveillance said something.

Unfortunately, I'm not high enough on the totem pole to make all the changes I think would benefit the casino and that should be made just based on new information and technology since the rules were originally implemented.


ZCore13

Zcore thanks for the post...I was not trying to shame your casino with my post but I have been in a lot of casinos and have never heard of the rule before. I was simply curious if the crowd here had ever run into this rule, doesn't look like anyone has.

If I understand your strategy then I'm not sure I believe that it is optimal. Are you saying that if I have less than a pair of 9's I should always play the power card with any improvement? For example I should take the power card with rainbow AK5(7)?

Quote: bigfoot66

Zcore thanks for the post...I was not trying to shame your casino with my post but I have been in a lot of casinos and have never heard of the rule before. I was simply curious if the crowd here had ever run into this rule, doesn't look like anyone has.

If I understand your strategy then I'm not sure I believe that it is optimal. Are you saying that if I have less than a pair of 9's I should always play the power card with any improvement? For example I should take the power card with rainbow AK5(7)?

No, I was incorrect. I must have mis-read or in the time between reading it and now confused the strategy. I'll have to go back and review.

On a high card hand I believe you only use the power card if it increases your highest card. Never if it only increases the 2nd or 3rd highest.


ZCore13

What game is this and is it on WoO?

Quote: Ibeatyouraces

What game is this and is it on WoO?

It's this game... Player Power Poker


ZCore13

Quote: Zcore13

No, I was incorrect. I must have mis-read or in the time between reading it and now confused the strategy. I'll have to go back and review.

On a high card hand I believe you only use the power card if it increases your highest card. Never if it only increases the 2nd or 3rd highest.


ZCore13

Intuitively it seems like the strategy has to be more complicated than you've made it out to be. For example on a hand like 556(6) I would be surprised to learn that it's optimal to trade the possibility of a 3:2 payout for a 1:2 payout in order to trade up a pair of 5's to a pair of 6's.

Quote: bigfoot66

Intuitively it seems like the strategy has to be more complicated than you've made it out to be. For example on a hand like 556(6) I would be surprised to learn that it's optimal to trade the possibility of a 3:2 payout for a 1:2 payout in order to trade up a pair of 5's to a pair of 6's.

This is the optimal play code that Miplet did... Player Power Poker Optimal Play

As I mentioned, I was incorrect on my statement about play 9's or better and upgrade anything less if you can. Not sure how I interpreted that at some point, but it's incorrect.


ZCore13

By the way. I'll be removing the game, most likely on September 31st. Bringing in Three Card Prime and WPT Heads Up Holdem by the end of the year.


ZCore13

Best of luck. I won't try to bring a strategy card to the table ;)

Quote: Zcore13

By the way. I'll be removing the game, most likely on September 31st. Bringing in Three Card Prime and WPT Heads Up Holdem by the end of the year.


ZCore13

Is the game (Player power poker) just not getting play or is it not holding well?

Quote: Hunterhill

Is the game (Player power poker) just not getting play or is it not holding well?

It holds ok. It did 1/3, 1/3 and 1/2 the drop of Three Card Poker in it's first 3 months and that was with having the table open more hours and making a big effort to get people to try it. If I had a bigger Pit I would keep it. But with only 10 tables I can't have a game, this one or any other, not being played when it's open.


ZCore13

Quote: Zcore13

By the way. I'll be removing the game, most likely on September 31st. Bringing in Three Card Prime and WPT Heads Up Holdem by the end of the year.


ZCore13

You have spoken highly of a new game presented in the last Raving's show, 2014. It's a twist to 3 card poker playing start with 4 cards, split into 2 hands, etc. The dealer was Angela(?). What happened to the game? Do you plan to bring in that game?

Quote: RoyalBJ

You have spoken highly of a new game presented in the last Raving's show, 2014. It's a twist to 3 card poker playing start with 4 cards, split into 2 hands, etc. The dealer was Angela(?). What happened to the game? Do you plan to bring in that game?

The game boss called 4 card split. I believe he has entered it into the table games conference for this year. If it wins, I will be bringing it in. If it does not, I am committed to the winning game from that show. I only have 10 tables and I can only bring in one, maybe two I only have 10 tables and I can only bring in 1, maybe 2 if the first doesn't make it, un- tested games per year.