Casino War
Casino War is perhaps the simplest of all casinos games. Many casinos have turned this children's game into a betting game for adults. This game is usually played with six decks of cards, ranked the same as in poker; in this case, the Ace is always high, never low.
In order to play War you must first make the initial bet, and then both you and the dealer receive one card, face up. If you card is higher than the dealer's then you win even money. If it is lower, then you lose your bet. If both cards have the same value then you have two choices. You can surrender, and then you must forfeit your bet. If you do not wish to surrender, then you go to war. The rules for war change from casino to casino, so make sure you know the rules before you begin to play. Usually, if you decide to go to war, you have to place another bet equal to your original bet. After you place the bet, then the dealer will discard three cards and then deals you and himself an additional card.
If your second card is higher than the dealer's then your original bet is a push, and you win even money. If your second card is lower than the dealer's then you lose both your raise bet and your original bet. If your second card is a tie, then there are some casinos who offer a bonus of 2:1 for this situation. The house edge on War depends on the number of decks being used and the bonus that each casino offers. If the game is a six deck game with no bonus, then the house edge is 2.8.
Pavel Fedorov, 13-12-05, Guest Editor