3 Card Blitz Strategy?

So this game popped up in the Foxwoods "Play it First" section as a brand new game in one of their casinos. As far as I saw they have 1 table open right now and decided to see what Wizard of Odds said about the house edge and strategy on this game. To my surprise this game is not listed.

So can the Wizard add this to the Odds page after doing his magic?

Game can be played direct Online from the Foxwoods webpage to practice even before going to the casino.

Essentially both you and the dealer are given 7 cards and you need to make your best 2 or 3 card combo of all one suit. Ace is worth 11points, J-K are worth 10, and all numbers are worth their value just like in blackjack. So 31 is the maximum score you can earn which is considered a Blitz. You choose to make a Play bet equal to the ante/blind bet you started with or you can fold. Whoever has the higher score wins and a tie is a push.

The Ante and Play bet pay 1to1 and the Blind bet pays out:

Double Blitz: 50 to 1
Royal Blitz: 8 to 1 (AKQ of suit)
Any Blitz: 4 to 1
27 or Better: 1 to 1
Winning Hand: Push

If this game is already on the odds page under something else, please let me know but I don't believe I saw anything like this on there. I would love to know what score is the optimal you should have to make a play bet. I'm sure there can even be a more complicated strategy especially as you can have sort of "blockers" from the dealer getting good cards if say you have all the aces.

It's from In Bet Gaming and can be plyed for free at their website as well. They also make Dragon Poker and Criss Cross Poker (also free at the website) both of which are fully analyzed at WoO. So, since 3 Card Blitz is now in a casino, chances are decent he'll at least take a look.

I find the game "Take It Or Leave It" to be their most interesting offer.

P.S. 3 Card Blitz is a 31 type game (with a dash of High Card Flush) so you might check out Money$uit over at WoO.

I noticed the strategy for the game was not available at wizard of odds, so I did my own analysis, available at probabilitysports.com/blitz.html . You are right about blockers, and the value of having higher cards besides the one you use for your score. You should always play 20+, and always fold 17-. 18 you fold most of the time, but if your other cards are very high, you should play. 19 you play most of the time, but if your other cards are low, you should fold. The lists of hands to play and fold are linked from the main analysis page under "19(Play)", "18(Play)", "19(Fold)", and "18(Fold)". On each of those pages, "T" represents any 10-valued card.

3 Card Blitz just started a field trial at the SLS on May 7. I'll have to move an analysis up in priority.

Quote: Wizard

3 Card Blitz just started a field trial at the SLS on May 7. I'll have to move and analysis up in priority.

This game is quite popular at Foxwoods. One of my carnival games.

General strategy for us is always play 19 or higher. Sometimes 18 if a lot of face cards are out (they have no Problem with sharing hands) but never less than 18

We play the flush bet every hand for $5/$10 but never play the progressive

I have gotten a couple of 6 hand flushes. Never seen a 7 card flush or double blitz

Quote: MrBrain

I noticed the strategy for the game was not available at wizard of odds, so I did my own analysis, available at probabilitysports.com/blitz.html . You are right about blockers, and the value of having higher cards besides the one you use for your score. You should always play 20+, and always fold 17-. 18 you fold most of the time, but if your other cards are very high, you should play. 19 you play most of the time, but if your other cards are low, you should fold. The lists of hands to play and fold are linked from the main analysis page under "19(Play)", "18(Play)", "19(Fold)", and "18(Fold)". On each of those pages, "T" represents any 10-valued card.

I started thinking about this game before I noticed your nice analysis at probabilitysports.com/blitz.html.

The proposed strategy I came up with (without doing massive calculations) was:

20+ Always PLAY
17 or less Always FOLD.

18 Count the number of high cards, here defined as 9-A. FOLD. except PLAY with 4 high cards in your 7 card hand. With 0-3 High Cards in your hand, FOLD.

19 PLAY, except FOLD with 0 High Cards (T-A) in your 7 card hand.
************************************************************************

This proposed strategy is not perfect but I think it will be pretty good. A better strategy might keep track of 2's as well**, and/or perhaps take into account player's suit distribution.

Here are examples of two hands that score as 18 that I expect will have very different EVs:

(High EV) Spades: A-7 Hearts: A-7 Diamonds: A-7 Clubs: A
(Low EV) Spades: 7-6-5 Hearts: 5-4-3-2

Clearly, an 18 will be beat by any two card flush with two high cards 9-A and almost always will lose or tie to a 3 card (or longer) flush with at least one high card. So, high cards seem like a valid concept on which to define a strategy that accounts for 'blockers.'

**Note that 2's are nearly a worthless card - sort of a poison pill. In a 3 card flush, a 2 is very weak. In a two card flush it can never contribute to a hand that is higher than 13, and in a 4 card (or longer) flush it is literally worthless - never used. So, you would love for the dealer to have some 2's. When you have one or two 2's in your hand, you materially improve the dealer's prospects.

Quote: Gialmere

P.S. 3 Card Blitz is a 31 type game (with a dash of High Card Flush) so you might check out Money$uit over at WoO.

I'd be curious to hear everyone thoughts on the games vs one another. I will likely start a poll thread on that shortly.

Mainly for my own benefit, here is a link to the demo game.

Quote: Zizos

Double Blitz: 50 to 1

Is a Double Blitz two blitzes in the player's hand or one in the player's and one in the dealer's?

I can't confirm but assume it would have to be two blitzes in the player's hand.