Table games are intriguing and fun. Quite possibly if you play correctly, your knowledge can also be turned into winnings. Too may players, however, go into the games ignorant of the hard numbers involved in some of their favorite games, these players surely often go away surprised, wondering where things went wrong. Arm yourself with a little knowledge, as below run a few of the more favorable odds you can get in craps, baccarat and blackjack.

Though most of the time in craps the house has a massive advantage, but craps does in fact have the single best bet in the casino in terms of favorable odds: the “odds” bet. This carries payout odds of exactly 1/1, the only time you’ll get these odds at the casino outside of the “double up” option in some video poker games.

When you beat “odds” in craps, you are making an additional bet that the “point” is rolled before a seven comes up. The odds vary on what the point is, from 6/5 on a roll of 6 or 8 to 2/1 on 4 or 10. Though statistics say the 7 will be rolled most often, these higher payouts on the “odds” bet balances out the house advantage to exactly 50/50.

Unfortunately, most online gambling sites – like most real-life casinos – require you to make a “pass line” bet first. To get this back in addition to winning at the “odds” bet, well, that’s where luck comes in.
Baccarat is mostly a game of nerves in the European version and mostly entirely up to fate in the American version. Almost all strategy is taken for granted, e.g. the dealer always hits a 3 if the player’s third card is an 8, and the only possible bluffing in the European game happens when the player holds a 5.

Boring but true, then: With a payout of 1/1 on the player, this is your best bet, though ties are to statistically occur between 4% and 5% of the time, so please know the rules and payouts of the particular online casino you’re playing at.

Blackjack is said to have the smallest house advantage of all casino games, a margin of just 1% in favor of the dealer. This advantage is the result of the player busting on hands over 21 before the dealer must take cards. Whether the deals hits or stands on soft 17, regardless of split opportunities and insurance, the player is done just 1%.

Therefore, the best bet you can make in online blackjack are simply the bet you *don’t* make. In one word: Insurance. Buying insurance is the great majority of the time throwing away your money and this extra bet does nothing to swing any odds in your favor. Steadily buying insurance, even if you “win” the expected number of times, just decreases your bankroll.

While the house is believed to always win, this need not necessarily be the case. Simply play smart, always remember what the best bets are, and think about what you’re doing as you play at the casino. Some thought and preparation now means playing money later.

Table games are intriguing and fun. Quite possibly if you play correctly, your knowledge can also be turned into winnings. Too may players, however, go into the games ignorant of the hard numbers involved in some of their favorite games, these players surely often go away surprised, wondering where things went wrong. Arm yourself with a little knowledge, as below run a few of the more favorable odds you can get in craps, baccarat and blackjack.

Though most of the time in craps the house has a massive advantage, but craps does in fact have the single best bet in the casino in terms of favorable odds: the “odds” bet. This carries payout odds of exactly 1/1, the only time you’ll get these odds at the casino outside of the “double up” option in some video poker games.

When you beat “odds” in craps, you are making an additional bet that the “point” is rolled before a seven comes up. The odds vary on what the point is, from 6/5 on a roll of 6 or 8 to 2/1 on 4 or 10. Though statistics say the 7 will be rolled most often, these higher payouts on the “odds” bet balances out the house advantage to exactly 50/50.

Unfortunately, most online gambling sites – like most real-life casinos – require you to make a “pass line” bet first. To get this back in addition to winning at the “odds” bet, well, that’s where luck comes in.
Baccarat is mostly a game of nerves in the European version and mostly entirely up to fate in the American version. Almost all strategy is taken for granted, e.g. the dealer always hits a 3 if the player’s third card is an 8, and the only possible bluffing in the European game happens when the player holds a 5.

Boring but true, then: With a payout of 1/1 on the player, this is your best bet, though ties are to statistically occur between 4% and 5% of the time, so please know the rules and payouts of the particular online casino you’re playing at.

Blackjack is said to have the smallest house advantage of all casino games, a margin of just 1% in favor of the dealer. This advantage is the result of the player busting on hands over 21 before the dealer must take cards. Whether the deals hits or stands on soft 17, regardless of split opportunities and insurance, the player is done just 1%.

Therefore, the best bet you can make in online blackjack are simply the bet you *don’t* make. In one word: Insurance. Buying insurance is the great majority of the time throwing away your money and this extra bet does nothing to swing any odds in your favor. Steadily buying insurance, even if you “win” the expected number of times, just decreases your bankroll.

While the house is believed to always win, this need not necessarily be the case. Simply play smart, always remember what the best bets are, and think about what you’re doing as you play at the casino. Some thought and preparation now means playing money later.

The US Defense Department has officially allowed the use of social networking sites by military personnel on government computers. The computers cannot, however, be used to access prohibited content, including pornography and internet gambling websites. The announcement was made on Friday via Twitter and Facebook.

CNN: U.S. military OKs use of online social media

U.S. military personnel are finally allowed to tweet, but online blackjack is still off-limits.

The Pentagon’s new policy on military personnel using online social media was finally unveiled Friday. The new rules remove blocks on sites like Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube from all nonclassified government computers. These and other social networking sites can now be used as long as long as activity does not compromise national security.

The Pentagon announced the new policy via Facebook and Twitter.

The new policy also denies military personnel access to all websites promoting gambling, pornography or hate crimes. These cannot be accessed on nonclassified government computers for any reason.

According to David M. Wennergren, deputy assistant secretary of defense for information management and technology, the new policy “not only promotes information sharing across organizational boundaries and with mission partners, but also enables deployed troops to maintain contact with their loved ones at home.”

BBC News: Twitter and Facebook access for US troops

US troops are now allowed to use social networking websites such as Facebook and Twitter following a statement by the Department of Defense. The benefits of using social media, they say, now outweigh the security risks involved.

Now several sites previously blocked by the Pentagon – including YouTube – will be unblocked. Operators reserve the right to re-institute the blocks temporarily if the need arises to safeguard missions or save bandwidth.

US Defence Secretary Robert Gates says social networking can help the Pentagon interact with US military employees.

“We need to take advantage of these capabilities that are out there – this Web 2.0 phenomena,” said David Wennergren, deputy assistant secretary of defence for information technology.

“There are two imperatives. One is the ability to share information. The other is about security – we need to be good at both,” he said.

US Department of Defense: DOD Releases Policy for Responsible and Effective Use of Internet-Based Capabilities

On Friday, the United States Department of Defense (DoD) released a statement outlining the “safe and effective use” of the internet by military personnel using official equipment. The statement covers the use of social networking services and other interactive internet applications.

Use of social networking sites has become an important tool for communicating across the DoD and with the general public. Establishing a DoD-wide policy will allow for full integration of these tools and capabilities.

According to the memorandum, only the DoD non-classified network will be effected. Commanders will continue to defend against malicious activity and must deny access to prohibited content (includeing gambling and pornography), and must take immediate to safeguard missions.

“This directive recognizes the importance of balancing appropriate security measures while maximizing the capabilities afforded by 21st Century Internet tools,” said Deputy Secretary of Defense William J. Lynn III.

The US Defense Department has officially allowed the use of social networking sites by military personnel on government computers. The computers cannot, however, be used to access prohibited content, including pornography and internet gambling websites. The announcement was made on Friday via Twitter and Facebook.

CNN: U.S. military OKs use of online social media

U.S. military personnel are finally allowed to tweet, but online blackjack is still off-limits.

The Pentagon’s new policy on military personnel using online social media was finally unveiled Friday. The new rules remove blocks on sites like Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube from all nonclassified government computers. These and other social networking sites can now be used as long as long as activity does not compromise national security.

The Pentagon announced the new policy via Facebook and Twitter.

The new policy also denies military personnel access to all websites promoting gambling, pornography or hate crimes. These cannot be accessed on nonclassified government computers for any reason.

According to David M. Wennergren, deputy assistant secretary of defense for information management and technology, the new policy “not only promotes information sharing across organizational boundaries and with mission partners, but also enables deployed troops to maintain contact with their loved ones at home.”

BBC News: Twitter and Facebook access for US troops

US troops are now allowed to use social networking websites such as Facebook and Twitter following a statement by the Department of Defense. The benefits of using social media, they say, now outweigh the security risks involved.

Now several sites previously blocked by the Pentagon – including YouTube – will be unblocked. Operators reserve the right to re-institute the blocks temporarily if the need arises to safeguard missions or save bandwidth.

US Defence Secretary Robert Gates says social networking can help the Pentagon interact with US military employees.

“We need to take advantage of these capabilities that are out there – this Web 2.0 phenomena,” said David Wennergren, deputy assistant secretary of defence for information technology.

“There are two imperatives. One is the ability to share information. The other is about security – we need to be good at both,” he said.

US Department of Defense: DOD Releases Policy for Responsible and Effective Use of Internet-Based Capabilities

On Friday, the United States Department of Defense (DoD) released a statement outlining the “safe and effective use” of the internet by military personnel using official equipment. The statement covers the use of social networking services and other interactive internet applications.

Use of social networking sites has become an important tool for communicating across the DoD and with the general public. Establishing a DoD-wide policy will allow for full integration of these tools and capabilities.

According to the memorandum, only the DoD non-classified network will be effected. Commanders will continue to defend against malicious activity and must deny access to prohibited content (includeing gambling and pornography), and must take immediate to safeguard missions.

“This directive recognizes the importance of balancing appropriate security measures while maximizing the capabilities afforded by 21st Century Internet tools,” said Deputy Secretary of Defense William J. Lynn III.