Lucky Stiff Blackjack Opening
Information on Casino Caribbean can be found here Casino Caribbean
Quote: ParadigmLucky and I are pleased to report that Lucky Stiff Blackjack opened last night at Casino Caribbean in Kirkland, WA. Casino Caribbean is a 15 table card room that has been on the cutting edge of installing new BJ games as one of the first to install Switch's Free Bet Blackjack back in late 2012. Free Bet has become a staple in their casino and we hope for similar success with Lucky Stiff Blackjack.
Information on Casino Caribbean can be found here Casino Caribbean
Woohoo paradigm and lucky! May this be the first of many!
Deal Staff & players seem to enjoy it on launch day, hopeful the players will come back and keep up the action.
The next 60-90 days will tell Lucky & I a lot.
Quote: BuzzardLucky know if I was there I'd shill for him, and drag anybody passing by into an empty seat.
Yep Buzz, I know. You're certainly not shy at the table. :-) Is that how you earned your nickname?
I was skinny and nose broke in two fights.
Name did come in handy later when collecting for bookies.
On a more serious note : CONGRATULATIONS
For those who don't know at G2E 2012 I practically dragged Lucky into a demo game seat. Of course it was easy to do as he was distracted by all the eye candy. But Roger did a hell of a job training them. One blonde always remembered to hit 17. A/6 10/7 8/9 etc.
Quote: BuzzardOn a more serious note : CONGRATULATIONS
For those who don't know at G2E 2012 I practically dragged Lucky into a demo game seat. Of course it was easy to do as he was distracted by all the eye candy. But Roger did a hell of a job training them. One blonde always remembered to hit 17. A/6 10/7 8/9 etc.
True story. Thanks Buzz.
Quote: ParadigmLucky and I are pleased to report that Lucky Stiff Blackjack opened last night at Casino Caribbean in Kirkland, WA. Casino Caribbean is a 15 table card room that has been on the cutting edge of installing new BJ games as one of the first to install Switch's Free Bet Blackjack back in late 2012. Free Bet has become a staple in their casino and we hope for similar success with Lucky Stiff Blackjack.
Information on Casino Caribbean can be found here Casino Caribbean
Congrats guys!
That's GREAT news to hear! I always like knowing when an independent gets a piece of the action -- proves to be a motivator for all of us. Congrats, Gents!Quote: ParadigmLucky and I are pleased to report that Lucky Stiff Blackjack opened last night at Casino Caribbean in Kirkland, WA. Casino Caribbean is a 15 table card room that has been on the cutting edge of installing new BJ games as one of the first to install Switch's Free Bet Blackjack back in late 2012. Free Bet has become a staple in their casino and we hope for similar success with Lucky Stiff Blackjack.
Information on Casino Caribbean can be found here Casino Caribbean
Quote: Lucky'Stiff Hand Bonus' (aka 'Lucky Stiff Blackjack') is opening today at Gold Strike in Tunica Resorts, MS. Gold Strike is an MGM property with approx. 60 tables.
Nice placement, Lucky! I like the Gold Strike Tunica very much; well-placed, airy tables, a lot of them allow normal seating rather than high stools.
Good job on getting the game in at Gold Strike, Lucky! I wish you continued success!Quote: Lucky'Stiff Hand Bonus' (aka 'Lucky Stiff Blackjack') is opening today at Gold Strike in Tunica Resorts, MS. Gold Strike is an MGM property with approx. 60 tables.
I'm a Kirkland resident myself and will have to go check this out. Paradigm/Lucky - you guys are in the Kirkland area I assume?
The game is being well received at Casino Caribbean, but would love to hear what the dealers tell you if you ask them.
I believe the Lucky Stiff BJ table is open Thurs-Sat, but they will open it at other times if you to ask.
I shouid be at Casino Caribbean on Sunday around midday as I am up in WA this weekend for a different install. You can PM me if you want to try and connect while I am there.
Quote: AcesAndEightsHas the Wizard done an analysis on this bet yet? I can't find it over at WoO. I am looking for the house edge, which I'm sure has been posted somewhere on a thread here, but I can't find it :).
Hi Aces. No, the Wizard hasn't posted an analysis yet, but the house edge for the paytable being played in WA is 4.05%.
Quote: LuckyHi Aces. No, the Wizard hasn't posted an analysis yet, but the house edge for the paytable being played in WA is 4.05%.
And I would add that the top pay of 10-1 occurs about once every 59 hands, so unlike a lot of side bets out there that rely on the 1 in 500 hand event occurring and adding 5-7% to the Return to Player calculation for the rare event, you are actually going to be experiencing the 4.05% HE provided you play at least 60 hands of BJ per session (subject to variance of course).
Here is Stephen How's analysis of Lucky Stiff: Lucky Stiff - Discount Gambling
He calculates an overall HE on both the main and side bet combined.
Charles Mousseau did the math and 4.05% is the proper stand alone HE. However, due to a couple of differences in basic strategy between the main bet and Lucky Stiff, using Basic BJ strategy, the experienced HE on Lucky Stiff inches up to 4.35% from the optimal 4.05%
Quote: LuckyLucky Stiff rules do not allow surrender.
Right, so what happens to your Lucky Stiff bet? Does it push? Do you lose it?
I know the answer, I'm just being unnecessarily pedantic because I like everything spelled out with no ambiguity :).
Quote: AcesAndEightsRight, so what happens to your Lucky Stiff bet? Does it push? Do you lose it?
I know the answer, I'm just being unnecessarily pedantic because I like everything spelled out with no ambiguity :).
Surrender is an excluded rule for Lucky Stiff, so it would not apply for the main bet or side bet. Does that not spell it out for you clearly enough? But I suppose an operator could allow it, but don't get 'pedantic' on me and expect the precise mathematical effect in such a case, whether the Lucky Stiff bet loses or pushes.
Quote: LuckySurrender is an excluded rule for Lucky Stiff, so it would not apply for the main bet or side bet. Does that not spell it out for you clearly enough? But I suppose an operator could allow it, but don't get 'pedantic' on me and expect the precise mathematical effect in such a case, whether the Lucky Stiff bet loses or pushes.
I played the bet just last night, at a table that allowed surrender on the main bet. My Lucky Stiff bet lost, which makes sense since I didn't "Beat the Dealer" as the rack card specifies. However, it seems like this should be spelled out in the regulations somewhere, or specifically disallowed on the main bet by the operator. FWIW, they allowed surrender at the other BJ table that was open.
Quote: rainmanI'm 20 minutes away from the casino carribean. I'll go check it out this weekend and report back.
Please do, rainman. Feedback is much appreciated!
Quote: AcesAndEightsI played the bet just last night, at a table that allowed surrender on the main bet. My Lucky Stiff bet lost, which makes sense since I didn't "Beat the Dealer" as the rack card specifies. However, it seems like this should be spelled out in the regulations somewhere, or specifically disallowed on the main bet by the operator. FWIW, they allowed surrender at the other BJ table that was open.
I agree.
How was your session?
Quote: Lucky... the rule inclusion or exclusion, and its consequences, should be clearly spelled out. Thanks for pointing out the ambiguity; maybe it will be corrected.
How was your session?
It was fun; I can totally see the appeal of the bet. I threw a few dollars at it and hit one of the 10-1 instant winners and several 5-1 winners. The table only had 6 spots which seemed weird as most BJ tables have 7. But, of the 6 spots 4 were playing the LS bet, 2 of them for $5 each.
The dealer made a couple errors which were spotted by the players immediately - she tried to take my LS bet when I pushed the dealer on my stiff, and she took another player's LS bet when the player got a blackjack. Clearly the bet is new, but she was very apologetic in each case. She also tried to take my "next hand" LS bet after I got payed off 10-1 on an instant winner and posted the next white chip before the main hand resolved - which is kinda my bad, but there may be a better procedure here? Anyway, that kind of thing happens a lot, and she remembered immediately that I had been paid already (pretty obvious since I had a stiff pair still).
All in all it was amusing. I won't play it again as the HE is too high for me, but I would say it's well on its way to acceptance at this location, at least.
Quote: AcesAndEightsIt was fun; I can totally see the appeal of the bet. I threw a few dollars at it and hit one of the 10-1 instant winners and several 5-1 winners. The table only had 6 spots which seemed weird as most BJ tables have 7. But, of the 6 spots 4 were playing the LS bet, 2 of them for $5 each.
The dealer made a couple errors which were spotted by the players immediately - she tried to take my LS bet when I pushed the dealer on my stiff, and she took another player's LS bet when the player got a blackjack. Clearly the bet is new, but she was very apologetic in each case. She also tried to take my "next hand" LS bet after I got payed off 10-1 on an instant winner and posted the next white chip before the main hand resolved - which is kinda my bad, but there may be a better procedure here? Anyway, that kind of thing happens a lot, and she remembered immediately that I had been paid already (pretty obvious since I had a stiff pair still).
All in all it was amusing. I won't play it again as the HE is too high for me, but I would say it's well on its way to acceptance at this location, at least.
You got paid 10-1 on an instant winner? I thought that the payouts were 7-1 and 1-1 for the instant winners. Are there different paytables? Or was this dealer error?
Quote: AcesAndEightsIt was fun; I can totally see the appeal of the bet. I threw a few dollars at it and hit one of the 10-1 instant winners and several 5-1 winners. The table only had 6 spots which seemed weird as most BJ tables have 7. But, of the 6 spots 4 were playing the LS bet, 2 of them for $5 each.
The dealer made a couple errors which were spotted by the players immediately - she tried to take my LS bet when I pushed the dealer on my stiff, and she took another player's LS bet when the player got a blackjack. Clearly the bet is new, but she was very apologetic in each case. She also tried to take my "next hand" LS bet after I got payed off 10-1 on an instant winner and posted the next white chip before the main hand resolved - which is kinda my bad, but there may be a better procedure here? Anyway, that kind of thing happens a lot, and she remembered immediately that I had been paid already (pretty obvious since I had a stiff pair still).
All in all it was amusing. I won't play it again as the HE is too high for me, but I would say it's well on its way to acceptance at this location, at least.
Thanks for the report, and for giving the bet a try. What you say squares with what Paradigm saw when he was there. I believe a 7-spot layout will show up soon, and hopefully the dealer errors will be 'worked out' soon. Good player participation on the bet is what we anticipated based on early research; glad to see it's happening in reality.
The error on the early posting (or possible post posting) is a security issue that we've tried to specifically point out in dealer training.
Quote: AxiomOfChoiceYou got paid 10-1 on an instant winner? I thought that the payouts were 7-1 and 1-1 for the instant winners. Are there different paytables? Or was this dealer error?
The payout for a stiff pair on Lucky Stiff in the Mulligan 21 game is 7:1; it is 10:1 for the bet with regular blackjack. AcesandEights was playing the bet on a regular blackjack table. The difference, of course, is the significantly higher hit/push rate of Lucky Stiff for Mulligan 21.
Quote: AcesAndEightsI played the bet just last night, at a table that allowed surrender on the main bet. My Lucky Stiff bet lost, which makes sense since I didn't "Beat the Dealer" as the rack card specifies. However, it seems like this should be spelled out in the regulations somewhere, or specifically disallowed on the main bet by the operator. FWIW, they allowed surrender at the other BJ table that was open.
I think I missed A&E by one night, I was at Casino Caribbean on Saturday late (11:30-2AM). Action was pretty good with most players making the Lucky Stiff wager, and mainly red action despite the dollar min for Lucky Stiff.
My advice is, if you want to guarantee your game's success, just make sure it is dealt by the same dealer you had at the Raving conference! ;)
+8Quote: jonLucky and Paradigm, congratulations!! Sorry for the delayed congrats, I've been buried in my work this year.
My advice is, if you want to guarantee your game's success, just make sure it is dealt by the same dealer you had at the Raving conference! ;)
Quote: jonLucky and Paradigm, congratulations!! Sorry for the delayed congrats, I've been buried in my work this year.
My advice is, if you want to guarantee your game's success, just make sure it is dealt by the same dealer you had at the Raving conference! ;)
Thanks for the kind words! Good thought on Angela.....the problem is she won't move to WA or Mississippi :-).
I sat at a nearby table (pai gow) for about 1.5 hours from 8-9:30pm on Friday night and surprisingly the table had very limited play, only a few customers, with one playing quarters on the hand and $5-$10 on the side bet from what I observed, and he got killed rather quickly with a bad run of cards.
But if I had to pick any cardroom to break a new game in, Caribbean would be the one, as money flows through that place like water (due to the location they get a lot of the clientele from Microsoft, about 15 minutes away, Google in downtown Kirkland, etc) and those players would be the ones who would not shy away from trying a new game (unlike the 80% Asian clientele at my place who only stick to baccarat and pai gow). I know as a dealer I would really enjoy that game because of the frequent pays, and the double pays (impossible to win the "stiff" bonus without winning the hand, kind of like Bust Bonus BJ)
I'll definitely give it a shot next time I visit and give it a review from a player's perspective. Hope it works out and thrives like Free Bet!
Those Lucky Ladies tables are the targets for new LS installs. However, as I tell properties on sales calls. If you can get your players to play Lucky Ladies at a 24% HE, why change? Call me when you player participation drops below 10%. We have seen properties pulling Lucky Ladies out due to participation issues (Tulalip & Snoqualmie were exclusive with LL, now it is gone entirely). Players burn out playing against such a high HE....they feel it!
You are right about Casino Caribbean, it is a great place to break in a new game. Mgmt was one of the first places in WA to try Free Bet, I believe back in November of 2012. That is way before anyone in the state saw the potential of that game. I also know some of their deal staff drive/live over an hour away to work there. The mgmt seems to be smart not only about their games but also about running a room where dealers want to work.
Was the location of the Lucky Stiff table towards the back of the room/pit furthest from the entrance? What did the Bust Bonus/Lucky Ladies/BJ Tie and other BJ table traffic look like?
Friday is usually a big night for Caribbean although I am normally there from about 9PM - ? when I have visited in the past on a weekend night.
Lucky Stiff will definitely add volatility to your BJ experience as your bet tends to win or lose with your main bet (not always due to the 10-1 stiff pairs). If you are winning hands where you are dealt a stiff to start, it is fairly likely you are having a good session on your main action and the opposite is also true.
The LS bet is a $1 min at Caribbean at a $5 main bet min table but I did observe red betting action on the Lucky Stiff alongside $10-$15 main bet action last Saturday night with only one of 5 players using whites (late, at like midnight - 1AM). I suggest a bet ratio of 5/2 (main to LS) as one that will give you the best first time experience. That being said, the bet was designed with a hit rate (17.6%) and a max pay 10-1 occurring every 58 hands to be a $5 min bet on a $10 or higher limit BJ table.
Please keep the field reports coming & the next time I am up in WA I'll shoot you a PM if you want to meet up at Caribbean.
Quote: kijaniFirst off congrats on getting this game in! I am a casino dealer in the Seattle area and literally live right down the road from Caribbean, and was intrigued when I visited tonight and saw the new game (didn't try it, wanted to look up the HE first). It really is refreshing to see a house take a chance on a game with a lower HE, as far as BJ side bets go 4% might as well be even money with the high prevalence of 24% Lucky Ladies in the area (that is all my casino has, and most of the cardrooms near us).
I sat at a nearby table (pai gow) for about 1.5 hours from 8-9:30pm on Friday night and surprisingly the table had very limited play, only a few customers, with one playing quarters on the hand and $5-$10 on the side bet from what I observed, and he got killed rather quickly with a bad run of cards.
But if I had to pick any cardroom to break a new game in, Caribbean would be the one, as money flows through that place like water (due to the location they get a lot of the clientele from Microsoft, about 15 minutes away, Google in downtown Kirkland, etc) and those players would be the ones who would not shy away from trying a new game (unlike the 80% Asian clientele at my place who only stick to baccarat and pai gow). I know as a dealer I would really enjoy that game because of the frequent pays, and the double pays (impossible to win the "stiff" bonus without winning the hand, kind of like Bust Bonus BJ)
I'll definitely give it a shot next time I visit and give it a review from a player's perspective. Hope it works out and thrives like Free Bet!
Appreciate your comments and observations, kijani ... always nice to hear from a dealer, who can be a game developer's best ally - or worst enemy!!!
Believe me when I say that Lucky Stiff was designed not only to appeal to BJ players, but to be dealer-friendly as well.
Thanks for the well wishes, and look forward to your 'player' review.
Quote: kijaniFirst off congrats on getting this game in! I am a casino dealer in the Seattle area
Out of curiosity, where do you deal? Obviously if you don't feel comfortable answering, don't :).
