Microgaming Software Review

The house edge on the side bet is 37.94%, less 3.45% for every $10,000 in the meter. For the side bet to have no house edge the meter would need to reach $109,862. On December 19, 2003, the meter at the Grand Hotel casino was at $16,852.

The basic strategy is the same for this game as multi-hand blackjack except when the player has two sevens and the dealer has a 7 or less. Normally the strategy advises splitting, which in this game will avoid a three sevens win. In most cases the player should hit any two sevens. If the player's bet is $42 or less then he should always hit two sevens. Otherwise the following lists show the lowest blackjack bet at which the player should split.

Player has unsuited sevens:

• Dealer has 2: $97
• Dealer has 3: $73
• Dealer has 4: $58
• Dealer has 5: $54
• Dealer has 6: $43
• Dealer has 7: $75

Player has suited sevens (except diamonds):

• Dealer has 2: $149
• Dealer has 3: $112
• Dealer has 4: $89
• Dealer has 5: $82
• Dealer has 6: $66
• Dealer has unsuited 7: $118
• Dealer has suited 7: $103

Player has diamond sevens:

• Dealer has 2: $80.67 plus 0.071707 times jackpot meter
• Dealer has 3: $60.71 plus 0.053968 times jackpot meter
• Dealer has 4: $47.77 plus 0.042464 times jackpot meter
• Dealer has 5: $44.19 plus 0.039283 times jackpot meter
• Dealer has 6: $35.3 plus 0.031377 times jackpot meter
• Dealer has unsuited 7: $74.78 plus 0.058653 times jackpot meter
• Dealer has 7 of diamonds: $74.78 plus 0.039102 times jackpot meter

Let's look at a couple examples. Suppose the player bet $200 and got two seven of spades against a dealer 2. The player should split because his bet is greater or equal to $149. Secondly, suppose the player bet $500 and got two seven of diamonds against a dealer 4 and the jackpot meter is at $20,000. Multiplying $20,000 by 0.042464 and adding $47.44 we get $897. The players bet is under this amount so the player should hit.

Casino War

Six decks are used. The standard rules are followed, including the bonus on a tie after a tie in which both ante and raise pay 1 to 1. The house edge is 2.33%.

Craps

I understand this version of craps is being phased out in favor of "Vegas Craps" (see below).

Microgaming craps players may not bet more than their original wager either buying or laying the odds. The combined house edge on the pass side is 0.85% and on the don't pass side is 0.82%. Unlike the previous version winnings are rounded to the penny (previously winnings were rounded to the dollar).

A Place bet to win is called a "win bet" and a place bet to lose is called a "lose bet." The payoffs are the same on win bets as conventional place bets. The "lose bets" pay 2-5 on the 4 and 10, 4-7 on the 5 and 9, and 4-5 on the 6 and 8. The house edge on the "lose bets" are 6.67% on the 4 and 10, 5.71% on the 5 and 9, and 1.82% on the 6 and 8.

The proposition bets have the same high house edge as in conventional craps. The field bet pays 2 to 1 on both 2 and 12.

Cyberstud Poker

This is what Microgaming calls Caribbean Stud Poker. The paytable is more generous than the standard one found in the land casinos.

The strategy is still the same as for the conventional pay table game. The house edge under these rules is 5.01%.

There is also a progressive version with a mandatory $1 side bet. The side bet pays $50 for a flush, $100 for a full house, $500 for a four of a kind, $20000 for a straight flush, and a progressive jackpot for a royal flush. The house edge on the side bet is 36.06% less 1.54% for each $10,000 in the jackpot meter. For the side bet to have a player advantage the meter would need to exceed $234,290.

Double Exposure

This is a blackjack variant with the following rules:

• Both dealer cards dealt face up
• Dealer wins all ties except on blackjack
• All player wins (including blackjack) pay 1 to 1.
• Blackjack tie pays 1 to 1
• 8 decks
• Dealer hits soft 17
• Player may resplit to four hands
• Double on hard 9 to 11 only
• One card to split aces
• Double after split allowed

The house edge is 0.69%.

The basic strategy and more information about double exposure can be found in my double exposure section.

Free Ride

This is the same thing as Let it Ride. The U.S. pay table is used for a house edge if 3.51%.

Unlike in the land casinos, Microgaming has a progressive jackpot for the side bet. The pay table on the side bet pays 100% of the meter for a royal flush, 10% for a straight flush, $500 for a four of a kind, $100 for a flush, and $50 for a straight. The house edge is 63.762% less 2.924% for every $10,000 in the meter. On September 15, 2005, the meter at the Crazy Vegas casino was at $113,152 for a house edge of 30.495%.

Hold 'Em High Poker

This is a new poker variation. It is addressed and analyzed at VPgenius.com . According to VPgenius, the house edge is 5.03% and the element of risk is 2.28%.

Keno

Microgaming offers a competitive keno game. The best game is the pick 13 with a return of 96.54%. Following is the expected return according to the number of picks.

Pai Gow Poker

The basic rules apply except the dealer is always the banker. The house edge is 2.85%.

There is also a Bonus Pai Gow Poker game with a mandatory $1 side bet as follows.

This is very similar to the Fortune Pai Gow Poker side bet except the second highest win is a royal with a pair of deuces instead of a royal with a royal match. The Microgaming hand is easier to attain, which lowers the house edge from Fortune's 5.85% to Microgaming's 5.79%, not counting the envy bonus.

Poker Pursuit

This is the same game commonly known as Let it Ride, except the player may add money as the cards are turned over, instead of pulling it back. Mathematically, it is the same. The pay table is expressed on a "for one" basis, in other words wins include the original wager. Converting it to a "for one" basis, the top three pays at 49, 199, and 999 are one less than Let it Ride at 50, 200, and 1000. This increases the house edge from the usual 3.51% to 3.57%. There are no strategy deviations relative to the standard pay table. Following is the complete pay table.

Pontoon

The rules of pontoon are explain in depth in my pontoon section. Unlike Real Time Gaming, Playtech, and Cryptologic there are two important rule changes under the Microgaming rules. The first is that the dealer stands on a soft 17. The second is that split aces get one card each (no drawing, doubling, or resplitting). Overall the house edge is 0.39% with the correct strategy below.

Red Dog

Standard rules are followed with one deck of cards. The house edge is 3.15%.

Roulette

There are four different roulette games as follows.

Scratch Card

I have no information about this game. House edge is unknown.

Sic Bo

Microgaming offers very competitive Sic Bo odds. See my Sic Bo online section for a comparison to other software brands. Of special note is that the single number bet pays 12-1 on a 3 of a kind, better than the usual 3-1 payoff, and the 6-1 payoff on a two number combination, better than the usual 5-1. Compared to their major competitors Microgaming offers equal or better odds on every bet except the 5 and 16 (Microgaming pays 31-1, Playtech pays 32-1). The following table shows the payoff and house edge for all bets.

The lowest house edge bets are on big, small, and any two number combination bets, all at 2.78%.

Slots

I don't know exactly when return Microgaming slots are set to but according to the actual payout percentage reports of the Crazy Vegas casino the monthly average for all slots tends to run about 96%. To view the reports yourself go to www.crazyvegascasino.com/language/english/review/index.asp .

Spanish Blackjack

This is the same thing as Spanish 21. The rules follow the "double double down" rules as explained in my Spanish 21 section. The house edge is 0.38%. The "double double down" strategy can also be found in my Spanish 21 section.

Super Fun 21

Super Fun 21 rules and strategy can be found in my Super Fun 21 section. The house edge is 0.94%.

Three Card Poker

Microgaming uses the "full pay" pay tables. In other words bonuses of 1,4, and 5 on the Ante bonus, and 1,4,6,30, and 40 on the Pairplus. This results in a house edge of 3.37% on the Ante and 2.32% on the Pairplus. The correct strategy on the ante bet is to raise on Q/6/4 or higher. More information can be found in my section on Three Card Poker.

Triple Pocket Hold 'Em

This an interesting game that I have never seen before. Here are the rules:

1. A 52-card deck is used.
2. The player makes a wager.
3. The player gets two hole cards.
4. The player may choose to accept these hole cards, or trade them for a second set.
5. If the player chooses to trade, one of two opponents will get the cards the player refused. The player will get a second pair of two hole cards.
6. The player who rejected the first set of hole cards may then accept or reject the second pair of hole cards.
7. If the player rejects the second set then the second computer opponent will get the second pair of refused cards. The player will be given a third pair of hole cards, which he must play with.
8. If the player accepted the first pair of pair of hole cards, then the two opponents will each be given a pair of cards from the remaining deck. If the player accepted the second pair of hole cards, then the second opponent will be given a pair of cards from the remaining deck.
9. Five community cards will be dealt.
10. If the player has the highest poker hand then he will be paid according to the pay table below. Ties result in a push.

Following are screenshots of an example hand.

In the image above I was dealt 6-2 offsuit. That was about as bad as it gets, so I clicked 'deal again' for a second pair of cards.

In the second pair of cards I was offered K-6 offsuit. While not the best pair of cards, it did dominate the first set, which now belongs to one of my opponents. I would also be stuck with a third pair of cards, which could easily be worse, so I clicked 'hold' to accept them.

The second opponent was given 8-2 offsuit. Then the board cards were dealt. The board showed a pair of aces. Nobody could make a two pair or better, so I won because my king was the highest kicker.

Sorry, but this is one of the few games I've seen that I have never analyzed. In terms of strategy and odds, you're on your own.

Vegas Craps

3X odds are offered. The odds bet is always relative to the bet amount, including when laying odds. The combined house edge is 0.471% on the pass and 0.455% on the don't pass.

A Place bet to win is called a "win bet" and a place bet to lose is called a "lose bet." The payoffs are the same on win bets as conventional place bets. The "lose bets" pay 2-5 on the 4 and 10, 4-7 on the 5 and 9, and 4-5 on the 6 and 8. The house edge on the "lose bets" are 6.67% on the 4 and 10, 5.71% on the 5 and 9, and 1.82% on the 6 and 8.

The field bet pays 3 to 1 on a 12, for a house edge of 2.78%.

Video Poker

The following table shows the expected return for all but two of Microgaming's video poker inventory. Supajax and Jackpot Deuces I do not have the software to evaluate.

The following tables display the pertinent statistics for Microgaming's video poker games.

Here is a screenshot of a Royal Flush I earned at the Maple Casino on 10-play Jacks or Better. Click on the image for an enlargement.

Since the prohibition of Nevada players, I have received a report that the "Viper" casinos offer the following Double Bonus Poker variant called "All Aces."