Get ready to go to War!
Casino War is the simplest of games, but also the most fun.
Ok, first up, don’t get too excited with the name of the game – there really is no war, and that action isn’t as furious as going to war. In fact this game requires one point of decision making by the player only, and it is simply to decide whether to surrender or to continue and up the ante.
That’s not to say that this game is boring, far from it. The simplicity and ease of Casino War makes it one of the most popular casino games.
The game revolves around whether you or the dealer will receive the highest value card. It’s as easy and as simple as that. If it’s a tie, you have to either play again i.e. go to “war” or surrender.
Table Layout
Casino War is played on a Blackjack style table, with usually 6 to 8 seats and positions. Each position has the same advantage as the other, i.e. it doesn’t matter where you sit you have the same odds of winning and losing.
The Dealers faces the Players and deals the cards as would Blackjack, around the table.
How to Play Casino War
Casino War is usually played from a six-deck shoe, however there are some casinos which use more decks or even a continuous shuffling machine.
The dealer deals one card to the player and one card to the dealer. The Ace is regarded as the highest value.
- If the players card is higher – player wins.
- If the dealer’s card is higher – dealer wins.
If the two cards are the same in value it is a tie. The player can decide to either:
- surrender half of the original bet and forfeit; or
- “double up” and continue to play another round.
If the player wins on the extra round, he gets paid on the additional bet played at a pay out of 1 -1 and the original bet is returned to the player.
If the dealer wins on the second round, the player loses both bets.
If there is a further tie in the second round there are variations of rules between casinos for this result. Some casinos, declare the player the winner for both bets, others will continue to another round and so on until there is a clear winner.
Top 5 Casino War Sites
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Casino War Playing Strategy
The only strategy here is that, in the event of a tie, you must “go to war”. to surrender your hand for half your bet offers the house around a 3.5% edge; whilst going “to war” reduces that edge to about 2.25%. Therefore you need to go to war.
In addition, you might see how many decks are being used by the casino. With the exception of the Tie Bet – which you should never, ever make – the fewer the decks in play means the smaller the edge to the casino. So, when playing this game, see if you can find a casino, online or land based, which offers the least number of decks. On a game where the player receives a bonus for a tie during “war”, this would reduce the house edge to just over 2%.
Casino War Betting Strategy
Because the house holds an edge of approximately 2%, the best betting strategy to use is to make minimum bets until you land on a winning streak. When a winning streak, you may want to increase the wagered bet slightly. Once the streak is broken return back to the minimum bet. Only employ this strategy if you have sufficient capital to cover the increase in wager.
Most casinos offer this game at relatively low stakes, so you should be able to play for a good length of time.
Summary
If you’re looking for a simple game to play, then give Casino War a go. It’s easy and the house edge isn’t crippling. You will be able to play for a good length of time, if you can remain disciplined with minimal bets and increase wagers on winning streaks.