Lunar Poker
May 26th, 2012 at 11:38:43 AM
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Two games I have been asked about for years, that I have been unable to analyze myself, are Klondike solitaire and Lunar Poker. I don't claim to have even started trying to analyze either of them, but the website of TCS John Huxley claims Lunar Poker has been done, with a house edge of 2.31%. This was enough to at least address the game on my site, although I would prefer to have something numbers of my own to show.
For those who don't know, Lunar Poker is based on Caribbean Stud, but the player has a whole host of additional options, including:
1. Buy a sixth card.
2. Discard and draw 1 to 5 cards.
3. Force the dealer to draw a card.
4. Take insurance against the dealer not qualifying.
For more information, please check out my new page (see link above). I welcome comments and questions.
For those who don't know, Lunar Poker is based on Caribbean Stud, but the player has a whole host of additional options, including:
1. Buy a sixth card.
2. Discard and draw 1 to 5 cards.
3. Force the dealer to draw a card.
4. Take insurance against the dealer not qualifying.
For more information, please check out my new page (see link above). I welcome comments and questions.
“Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.” -- Carl Sagan
May 26th, 2012 at 12:14:54 PM
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Quote: WizardTwo games I have been asked about for years, that I have been unable to analyze myself, are Klondike solitaire and Lunar Poker.
The website claims that "With over 250 billion possible combinations and outcomes, it is impossible to play a perfect strategy."
Can you attach a counter to your analysis of single deck blackjack and see how many possible combinations there are in that game. Ditto for infinite deck.
I would be curious how 250 billion compares to blackjack. I imagine that the "split/not to split" option is responsible for a large percentage.
It would at least be an interesting point to make rather than just saying the analysis is difficult.
May 31st, 2012 at 1:48:13 PM
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There are and have been many variants of Carribean stud like oasis and other similar variants in Russia , Eastern Europe and other countries.
Some of them even have positive Evs playing on your own.
Some allow for a player to play 2 boxes and the 2nd box is positive Ev. The procedure is the player picks up the first hand and plays it and then plays the 2nd hand, so for the 2nd hand there are extra information.
Some allow or tolerate people exchanging information, some do not but players still exchange information.
In most variants you get into positive territory if you know the hands of another 2 persons.
There are people who have analysed such games to extremes and produced strategies both for knowing your own hand and knowing additional hands with different strategies depending on the number of hands that are known. The strategies range from simpler to more difficult depending on the dedication someone wants to have. These strategies though are not public knoweledge and cannot be found online except from the very simple ones.
Regarding Russian Poker or Lunar Poker as reffered here, there are strategies devised for the game. From what I know the strategies are quite complicated. But the do produce positive Evs if information of other persons hands are known.
Compared to the range of Carribean and Oasis poker strategies, the Russian poker strategies are quite complicated and very few people would be willing to learn them.
Some of them even have positive Evs playing on your own.
Some allow for a player to play 2 boxes and the 2nd box is positive Ev. The procedure is the player picks up the first hand and plays it and then plays the 2nd hand, so for the 2nd hand there are extra information.
Some allow or tolerate people exchanging information, some do not but players still exchange information.
In most variants you get into positive territory if you know the hands of another 2 persons.
There are people who have analysed such games to extremes and produced strategies both for knowing your own hand and knowing additional hands with different strategies depending on the number of hands that are known. The strategies range from simpler to more difficult depending on the dedication someone wants to have. These strategies though are not public knoweledge and cannot be found online except from the very simple ones.
Regarding Russian Poker or Lunar Poker as reffered here, there are strategies devised for the game. From what I know the strategies are quite complicated. But the do produce positive Evs if information of other persons hands are known.
Compared to the range of Carribean and Oasis poker strategies, the Russian poker strategies are quite complicated and very few people would be willing to learn them.
June 6th, 2012 at 8:47:08 PM
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Hello!
Yes, this poker game with the right positive for the player. I have the software equipment for analize
Yes, this poker game with the right positive for the player. I have the software equipment for analize
August 17th, 2012 at 5:04:48 PM
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Hi,
I have a question regarding the rules (as published by TCS John Huxley). It is regarding the formation of the second hand (rules 9.x).
Supposing a player has the following 6 card hand:
AcAdKhQsJcTc
If we consider rules 9.2, 9.3 then he can make two straights:
AcKhQsJcTc, AdKhQsJcTc
Rule 9.2 stands as each straight uses different cards.
Is that correct or the second combination must be inferior in value to the first (it is never mentioned in the rules)?
I have a question regarding the rules (as published by TCS John Huxley). It is regarding the formation of the second hand (rules 9.x).
Supposing a player has the following 6 card hand:
AcAdKhQsJcTc
If we consider rules 9.2, 9.3 then he can make two straights:
AcKhQsJcTc, AdKhQsJcTc
Rule 9.2 stands as each straight uses different cards.
Is that correct or the second combination must be inferior in value to the first (it is never mentioned in the rules)?
August 26th, 2012 at 12:16:22 PM
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Stephen How analyzed it on his site and published a basic strategy that simulates at only a 0.71% house advantage.
August 26th, 2012 at 4:24:01 PM
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Charlie,
I interpreted the rules (in general, not the specific wording if 9.2, 9.3) to mean that you need to make another straight of a different rank to get a 2nd payout on the Raise bet.
If I change my code to pay a 2nd straight of the same rank, my basic strategy goes from -0.71% to +2.5%.
Also, there are some simple collusion strategies that are significantly +EV. Now that the game is here in Southern CA, we'll see if anyone tries them.
Steve
I interpreted the rules (in general, not the specific wording if 9.2, 9.3) to mean that you need to make another straight of a different rank to get a 2nd payout on the Raise bet.
If I change my code to pay a 2nd straight of the same rank, my basic strategy goes from -0.71% to +2.5%.
Also, there are some simple collusion strategies that are significantly +EV. Now that the game is here in Southern CA, we'll see if anyone tries them.
Steve
August 26th, 2012 at 6:03:07 PM
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Bravo! Leave to Stephen to analyze one of the toughest games out there. This one is like Mount Everest of casino game analysis. I just added links all over my Lunar Poker page. Congratulations Steve!
“Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.” -- Carl Sagan
August 26th, 2012 at 6:05:59 PM
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DUHHIIIIIIIII HEARD THAT!
August 27th, 2012 at 8:04:44 PM
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Quote: WizardBravo! Leave to Stephen to analyze one of the toughest games out there. This one is like Mount Everest of casino game analysis. I just added links all over my Lunar Poker page. Congratulations Steve!
If you didn't notice, he also posted a 2 person collusion strategy that is actually 0.37% +EV.
