casino question

[brookeq]

My husband asked me to post a question. He wants to know what type of black jack they play on the century. Thanks in advance.

[jgf]

We were on the Century 11/27-12/4. They had the standard multi-deck blackjack tables, and one single-deck table. Hope this helps.

[mferranti]

One important point: the single-deck game pays only 6-5 for a blackjack. Avoid it like the plague.

 

Celebrity dealers always hit on soft 17. Table minimums are usually $5, $10, often a $25 table will open in the evening. One table features an optional side bet for an extra $1: if you get a blackjack you can spin a wheel and get a few more bucks.

 

This information may be outdated since I haven't been on a Celebrity ship since April '04.

 

Good luck.

[fireguy091]

Do they have dollar slots... :D

[rjg41]

Yes, dollar slots. All casino games have poor payouts. As already mentioned BJ hits on soft 17. Slots poor. Craps, single odds only. Jacks or Better video poker, 6/5.

[DeRon]

As already mentioned BJ hits on soft 17.

What does this mean?:o

[Randyk47]

An Ace, which can be counted as 1 or 11, and a 6 card are called a soft 17 in blackjack. It is to the casino's advantage to hit (draw a card) to the soft 17 in chances of improving the hand and therefore to the player's disadvantage as a 17, soft or not, is not a great hand. The house hitting a soft 17 is really old Reno rules which are/were more restrictive and more to the advantage of the casino. Many, if not most, Reno casinos have adopted the more "liberal" Vegas rules which would have the house standing (not drawing) on all 17's, soft or hard.

[RodPat]

Yes they have dollar slots. Just went on a back to back on Century, the first week played quarters and nickels. I lost every night. the next week I played the dollar Wheel of Fortune machine. One night I won $250 and the next night I won $400 on that machine. I only put in $21 a night in that machine, not a bad return. So all in all I broke out even, which in my book was great for 14 days at sea.

[mferranti]

More things the blackjack player may want to know: player can double on any two cards, split up to 4 hands, and double after splitting. (Again, these were the rules in April when I was on the Mercury.)

[brookeq]

Thanks for the replies everyone.

[Patrick IL.]

Does anyone know if they have the 25 cent video poker? Is it the standard bet max with 5 coins?

[kitty9]

Yes, they have quarter video poker machines. You can bet anywhere from one to five coins.

[boubster1]

Anyone know of any Celebrity cruises that offer texas holdem?

[greydog]

Does anyone know if they have the 25 cent video poker? Is it the standard bet max with 5 coins?

 

On Century last week they had a new wrinkle on v-poker. You had a screen showing 4 5-card hands. You could bet 1,2,3,4 quarters MINIMUM to play 1,2,3,4 hands IN SEQUENCE. We usually bet 3 quarters. You had to win hand 1 to advance to play a fresh deal on hand two, win hand two to advance to a fresh deal on hand three. Standard 6/5 payout on J-beter. What's the incentive to go for SEQUENTIAL wins with committing $ up front - winning second hand paid 2x standard payout, third hand 4x standard, fourth hand 8x standard payout. You also can bet up to 20 coins max - 5 quarters each sequential hand, but that's alot up front when you lose the first deal.

 

Our sweetest moment was winning $ on hands 1 - 3, then getting 8x straight flush payout on hand four.

 

First time confronted with this setup seemed to call for a strategy of playing early hands, especially first, to raise chances to advance to the increased payout opportunity deals. I would keep one or two unpaired face cards over a low-card starting pair. With two face cards there's 6 cards to pair on draw for J-better, while keeping low pair has two. Yes its nice to get 3-kind on first deal but better chance of getting to second, third deal with increased payouts seemed preferable.

 

Only other wrinkle was a random notice that you won a 'free pass' to next deal (whether on not you win current deal). This seemed to happen maybe 5% of time overall, but was very streaky. Plus sometimes you won the current hand on your own and the 'free pass' was wasted, so maybe 2-3% pct of time you gained an advance. The 'free pass' only moved you to next hand, no additional hands, but it was possible to get a pass on hand 1, then two also on the same betting round.

 

You also could do 'bonus' versions where payouts on 4-kind were magnified but they dropped 2-pair payout down to 1 vs 2 on plain J-better.

 

We had our hot streaks and got some playing time compared to plain slots that were cold cold cold. We ended up down a moderate amount by the end of the trip but my wife, who's lukewarn to v-poker generally, really warmed to this new format, especially after early success. I guess that's bad for the long run.

[CINDON]

There is no Texas Holdem on any Celebrity ships.