Twisted 21

Making it up as they go. And every decision they make is worse for the player. Yeesh. What a mess.

Quote: DJTeddyBear

3 - Aces must count as 1, otherwise, there would be only one very specific hand that qualified for the Twisted Stud payout: 22345=16. Even with aces counting as 1, there aren't a lot of hands that make the Twisted Stud hand.

4 - Players may like the game, but I can see the dealers hating it due to all the additional movements required deal into specific spots for each player, then to turn cards to hit, and then to turn over unhit cards. And I'm sure there will occasionally be confusion and floor intervention required when a player claims the wrong card was flipped over.

3. Only A2234, A2235, A2236, A2334, A2335, A2346, A2445, A2344, 22345, not all of the same suit, qualify. I think this increases the house advantage beyond the 2.8%. Was this restriction included in your simulations? When you looked at the Twisted Stud, did you exclude the 2 Aces, the 2 pairs, the 3 and 4 of a kind, the straight, the flushes, the full house?

4. The supervisor was telling the dealer he was not doing the steps in the proper order, the dealer replied : "Don't tell me what to do, I know better", the supervisor came back with the manual and then said: "This is so poorly written!" :)

Quote: DJTeddyBear

4 - Players may like the game, but I can see the dealers hating it due to all the additional movements required deal into specific spots for each player, then to turn cards to hit, and then to turn over unhit cards. And I'm sure there will occasionally be confusion and floor intervention required when a player claims the wrong card was flipped over.

When I played there was at least one supervisor on the game at all times, and sometimes two, to clarify the rules to the players and dealers as they went. At one point I questioned whether the Bust Bonus was a required bet, as the dealer said, quoting the rule card, "To begin the game, Player makes the mandatory Twisted 21 wager." The supervisor had to go to the podium and refer to something in writing to confirm I was correct.

I don't specifically keep track, but I can't think of a worse rack card I've ever seen in my 22 years in this business.

I'm eager to learn who their mathematician was. I can confirm it wasn't me or CrystalMath.

How does something so ambiguous as that card pass muster? Doesn't the gaming commission have to approve them?

Quote: Wizard

I'm eager to learn who their mathematician was. I can confirm it wasn't me or CrystalMath.

It may have been Charles, based on a linkedin post I just saw.

Quote: billryan

How does something so ambiguous as that card pass muster? Doesn't the gaming commission have to approve them?

Yes, they do have to approve your rack cards for a game trial.

Quote: mrsuit31

It may have been Charles, based on a linkedin post I just saw.

I should clarify that these problems are not necessarily the mathematician's fault. My clients don't listen to my advice all the time. My response is I can only lead a horse to water...

Quote: beachbumbabs

Making it up as they go. And every decision they make is worse for the player. Yeesh. What a mess.

My thoughts exactly on this game.

How could a game be cleared to go live in a casino with so many uncertainties ?

I like the overall concept, and the drawing mechanic is a clever (although imho wasted) gimmick. I just wish there was a more elegant way to blend the poker and blackjack together.

As it stands it's just bj with unfavorable rules coupled with a 5-card bonus side bet. To be fair, for a side bet the poker hand has a good HE.

I played a game on Femont St that combined BJ and Stud poker. I forget the rules but remember the dealer got six cards to make his hand while players got five.
Harrahs had a game where you did two card BJ, three card poker and Stud poker back around 2001. This game was pretty popular. They had it right inside the entrance.

I've always said for a game to be successful it has to be liked by both player and casino staff (including dealer, supervision, and surveillance). From my own experience and other reports, the table is usually full. It may be that if you get the right dealer at the right time, the Stud Bonus bet has an 8% advantage, depending on how the rules are interpreted. The feature about picking your hit/double card seems to be also attractive.

However, for the staff, this game must be a huge headache.