Apr 09, 2014 Ultimate Texas Hold 'Em by the Wizard of Odds - Duration: 19:06. Michael Shackleford 140,261 views. Blackjack by the Wizard of Odds - Duration: 18:16. Jan 09, 2020 Learn how to play Ultimate Texas Hold 'Em and some strategy tips with the Wizard's narration playing his own demo game. To play it yourself, please go to wiz.
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Administrator
In preparing for Ultimate Texas Hold 'Em I wanted to present a simple strategy for the game. Here is what I came up with.
4X Raise
Follow the optimal strategy below.
2X Raise
Raise with any hidden pair or better
or
Raise with 4-flush including suited 10 or better or pocked twos
1X Raise
Raise with a hidden pair or better.
or
Raise if less than 21 outs beat you.
Here is an example of the '21 outs' rule.
The this example the following number of each rank will be beat you in the dealer's hole cards:
Aces: 4
Kings: 3
Queens: 4
Jacks: 3
8's: 3
6's: 3
5's: 3
Total = 23
Because 21 or more outs beat you -- fold.
I must admit that the 'outs' idea comes from the James Grosjean strategy card. So does the second rule under 2x raise. However, I feel there is no way to address the game without using these common ways to express poker strategy.
I asked JB to analyze this new simplified strategy. Here are his results:
TRIALS ................. 12,001,119,847
RETURN ................. -318,576,326
RETURN % ............... -0.026546
TOTAL BET .............. 50,163,071,530
RETURN OF AVG BET ...... -0.006351
As a reminder, the house edge under optimal strategy is 2.185%. So, this is only 0.47% higher. Yeah, 0.47% is a lot, but keep in mind that is relative to just the initial bet, and the game also includes the blind and raise bets. The element of risk is 0.526% under optimal strategy and 0.635% under this Wizard strategy, which is only 0.11% higher. That is about one full bet every 900 hands.
So, you guys are the first to see the 'Wizard simple strategy' for Ultimate Texas Hold 'Em. What do you think?
I really enjoy this game and have noticed that most people play it very poorly and even criticize my play (Grosjean strategy.) Your strategy is simple enough that more people might bother to learn it. Then again the average player just can't come to grips with raising 4x on any ace, so maybe not.
Administrator
We should probably be happy people check pre-flop with good hands. If everyone played correctly the casinos would probably start reducing the pay table on the blind bet.
I agree with that principle regarding every game. That is why I say that I'm not trying to save everybody, only those who will listen. It takes some bad gamblers to subsidize the good ones.
Ultimate Hold Em Wizard Of Odds How To Play
In other news, JB Emailed me some improvements over the strategy above. I'm still going over that with him. So, stay tuned for an even better one.Administrator
Before it said, 'Raise with 4-flush including suited 10 or better or pocked twos.'
I'm going to reword that to 'Raise with 4-flush including a hidden 10 or better to the flush in the hole.' This makes it clear the player must have a good kicker, in case the dealer gets a flush too.
The pocket twos was evidently not very helpful to add and doesn't happen very often, so I dropped that.
JB suggested I add a rule under 1x saying to always raise with a straight or higher on the board. However, I feel that case is covered under the 21 strikes rule. If there is a pat straight or better on the board there will be fewer than 21 outs that improve it.
Wizard Of Odds Roulette
Here are the results of this modified strategy. Previous numbers are in parenthesis.TRIALS ................. 4,301,049,313
RETURN ................. -104,650,743
RETURN % ............... -0.024331 (-0.026546)
TOTAL BET .............. 17,914,312,086
RETURN OF AVG BET ...... -0.005842 (-0.006351)
What do you think?
Note: the strategy enforced by this game is the simple strategy shown in my Crazy 4 Poker page, which is not 100% optimal.
Wizard Of Odds Ultimate Holdem Poker
NOTE: If you’re running IE9 and the game keeps crashing, you need to update your Java installation (for it has nothing to do with us but with Microsoft, as they kindly note in their Support Page). Speaking of upgrades, you might want to upgrade your browser to Google Chrome.
When you feel like it’s time for a bit of diversity in your poker games or simply want to improve on your Crazy 4 Poker skills, this Java-based variant may come in handy. Like many games here, it is easy, straightforward, and amusing while providing you with an opportunity to play free for up to $25,000.
Naturally, you’ve already got acquainted with Crazy 4 Poker fundamentals like rules, strategy, paytables, and betting analysis, you are aware that you’re playing against the dealer, and you are ready to be deployed in the company of our valuable Personal Game Advisor (PGA).
For those that meet it for the first time, the PGA is an in-house feature that advises you on best plays to make. It works like a pop-up window in your browser and let you know when your bet might be risky. You can switch it off by clicking on the checkbox “Warn on strategy errors” atop of your game screen. Likewise, you can turn it on at any time during your game.
Two paytables are positioned on the right side of the screen. Now, as explained in rules, you have two paytables since in Crazy 4 Poker you make the Queens Up side bet along with your ante bet. Other than that, paytables are quite self-explanatory.
On the bottom of the screen is a control strip that lets you set up all parameters of the game and provides for all relevant information. There is a balance field, chips and wager info, a couple of control buttons, and win amount.
Antes (and parallel, consequential Super Bonus bets) are made with chips in denominations ranging from $5, $25, $100, and $500 you can choose from the control strip. You’ll notice yellow borders encircling them when selected. You can increase ante in each value by a single click — for $50 bet, click twice on ante field with $25 chips selected.
Same goes for Queens Up: select your chips and click on the field in order to make your side bet.
The maximum ante and Queens Up is $500.
Two buttons — Deal and Clear — are used to direct game moves. Once you’ve set your bet, you proceed by clicking on a Deal button; if you feel like changing your bet denominations, you use Clear button to revert.
Once the five cards are dealt, depending on your hand, you’ll see the Fold button and one or three additional buttons offering 1x, 2x or 3x bets. When the hand is played, all buttons will transform into the Repeat and Clear signs temporarily. By pressing Repeat, you reload previous ante/Super Bonus setup in a single click; by pressing Clear, you opt to set a new bet.
When the hand is dealt you can see information about your assets right bellow your five-card display, correlating to paytables.
Playing this version of Crazy 4 Poker is quick and funny. The game flows smoothly, all relevant information is visible at any time, and you get an additional visual sense of win when your chips are collected at betting fields. You get the same impression when they’re taken away from you, though.
The Personal Game Advisor...
...works nicely and allows you to use Enter on your keyboard in order to continue with play (thus, you have an option to keep your mouse close to the control strip).
As in other games where it’s available, the PGA is not always right. However, it is on point in the majority of instances. After all, like any poker, this variant is also based both on luck and skill.
Regardless of the outcome of your play, this online trainer will provide for an exciting time and some valuable lessons to be learned.
For beginners...
...it is a good opportunity to learn robes and get a glimpse of the real play, its atmosphere, and overall vibe of the poker table.
Advanced players may find it useful to polish their skills and put some strategies to test before using real money.
Ultimate Hold'em Wizard Of Odds
No matter what your skill level is, use your knowledge responsibly and wisely, and have good luck.