Re: Crypto Question
Jess - I wouldn't worry about busting out. I'm sure it'll happen to me next month...
It was my first time playing pontoon and I think it takes some getting used to the strategies. Basically WoO has you standing any time you are allowed (over 14) UNLESS you have a shot at a 5 card trick. This means that you're always standing on 15 or more. If you only have 15 or so you're just hoping the dealer busts.
In my mind the big key is that when you have 4 cards you MUST 'buy' (double down in BJ parlance) if you haven't yet and you have 16 or less. If you're thinking that will mean you bust a lot, you're right. But keep in mind that when you hit the 5 card trick you get paid 2:1 (and on 2 X your original bet since you doubled down).
Let's say your original bet was $5. When you double down and bust (or the dealer ties you), you lose $10. When you hit it you win $30 (which includes your original bet and the double down bet). In other words if you hit the trick once in 4 tries you break even. The odds of hitting the trick are better than this. Also remember that if you don't hit you're probably going to lose a lot of those hands anyway (again, 15 or so is NOT a winning hand).
But the point is that it is the correct play mathematically, and that's all you can do.
|