Technology

Four card poker and my date with the Chumash Indians

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Without a doubt, one of the real “perks” of being part of the Las Vegas night casino entertainment team is being able to try out new casino-style games before they subsequently debut on the casino gaming scene at a later date. Our company has always been a pioneer in the Las Vegas casino night party rental industry when it comes to having these new casino games available for their customers to enjoy, before anyone else in the Southern California entertainment market. With that in mind, it goes without saying that when a new game DOES make its way onto the casino gaming scene, it’s up to the US to put it to the test.

You ALL know where this is going: It’s “Story Time” once again. Hey, that’s why we’re considering the “propaganda ministry” around here. (Smile) Okay, so, here’s one for the books…

It’s late 2008, time for another family adventure. (I’d call it a “vacation,” but when it comes to MY family, “adventure” is a much better term. You’ll see.) My dear wife decided that it is time to forget about the casino party industry. for a weekend she picks up the kids, hop in the car and head to a town in central California called Solvang, a word I assume is Danish for “bakery swap meet.” OK, I think to myself, the good wife needs a getaway to have some fun, do some shopping and find out what an Aebleskiver is. (Don’t ask. The only thing I can cook is microwaveable food.)

So, off we go: down Highway 101, past Lake Cachuma, and lo and behold, there it is. Hold on to your Aebleskivers, I can’t believe it – it’s a small Dutch town right here in California. Quaint, nice and friendly people, great food (highly recommend Solvang restaurant), lots of places to see and visit.

I mean, A LOT of places – including one more I didn’t know existed… It looks like, just down the road from “Aebleskiver Alley”, there’s a shiny, shiny new building that stands out like a sore thumb. And when I saw the name on this monstrosity that doesn’t look like Solvang, it immediately caught my eye. You couldn’t miss it.

“Chumash Indian Casino and Spa”.

We drove right by this huge casino on the way to Solvang, and when my wife saw me looking at this marvel of casino engineering, she KNEW the Chumash Indian tribe was going to be an unplanned part of her vacation. (I told you it would end up being an affair. It just wouldn’t be right if we didn’t have a little adventure.)

Now, when I was in school, if you took a survey of all the history teachers who ever tried to interest me in the art of historical studies, they would all tell you that everything I know about history would fit in a small paper cup. Over the years I have improved my historical knowledge ever so slightly, especially in the area of ​​American history, but I must admit that American Indian history has missed this porter a lot.

“Do me a favor,” my wife says immediately, as we drive past this Chumash Casino. “Don’t go investigating that place until we’re leaving town, after our vacation.” It’s a deal, I say. So after we’ve all had our fill of all the Danish pastry this side of Solvang, it’s time. Holidays are over, it’s time to visit the “Chumash Indian Casino and Spa”.

Now, I may not know much about the Chumash tribe, but I DO know the law when it comes to both the casino party industry and California casinos in general. WITHOUT CHILDREN. Wifey isn’t interested in seeing this place anyway. The only bet she has made on her has been to marry me, and since she has lost her only “bet”, she does not seek to recoup her losses. She stays with the kids in the comfort of the covered patio outside the entrance of this place, and she tells me, “she goes do your thing.”

So, inside I go. Yeah, quite a nice place. It’s new, clean, and has the list of games you’d expect to be present in a California Indian-based casino: no roulette, no craps (not even dice with cards), LOTS of slots, and when it comes to the games of mesa, are pretty much the usual suspects (BJ, Caribbean, 3CP), except for one.

Four card poker.

Now, I remember receiving the memo from the Shuffle-master corporation regarding their most recent creation, but I had not seen this game implemented in a casino. OK, let’s see how this works, I tell myself. Pull up a chair, let’s try this game. Well, after about 30 minutes, this is what we found out about “Four Card Poker”, courtesy of yours truly:

–There are two initial bets available: Ante and Aces Up.

–All players are dealt five cards each and the dealer is dealt six cards. (I’m not too excited about this part, but since there isn’t a lot of energy involved as far as winning bets go, the house must have SOME advantage.) One of the dealer’s cards is placed face up and five face down.

–The players who make the Ante bet must decide to fold or raise.

–If the player folds, all bets are lost.

–If the player raises, then he must raise at least the amount of the Ante and at most three times the Ante.

–Players keep their best four cards and discard one.

–The following is the ranking of hands from low to high: High Card, Pair, Two Pair, Straight, Flush, Three of a Kind, Straight Flush, Four of a Kind.

–After all decisions have been made, the dealer will turn over his cards and select the best four out of six.

–The player’s hand will be compared to the dealer’s hand, with the highest hand winning.

–If the dealer’s hand is higher, the player will lose the ante and raise.

–If the player’s hand is greater than or equal, Ante and Raise will pay one for one.

–If the player has at least three of a kind, they will also be paid a bonus, regardless of the value of the dealer’s hand. (I love that part of the game.)

A careful mathematical evaluation of this game called “Four Card Poker” seems to suggest that the house edge comes to around 3.89% using a normal paytable (there is more than one, depending on where you play), and it can go down to around 3.15%, using what might be called “basic strategy”, something discussed in the game of Blackjack ad nauseam. We’ll break down this and other games in later blogs, trust me.

Our review of this new game? Well, at 3.9%, it’s not a game that will eat you alive. Heck, the house edge of roulette is around 5.2%, so as far as new casino games on the market go, Four Card Poker seems to be pretty fair. We’ll give Four Card Poker a B+ rating to start with.

We’d give it an “A+” except for two minor issues. One, I lost $60 at Chumash Casino trying out the game. BIG avalanche of cards for the dealer. Oh, and two? I played for about 30 minutes, which, when you’re stuck with MY kids, must seem like 30 days. Four Card Poker Wife Grade? Let’s just say I kind of knew what it would be like, when I walked out of the casino half an hour after I walked in and an Aebleskiver whizzed past my head.

Moral of the story? If you visit the Chumash Indian Casino and Spa, try Four Card Poker. If you are a lover of new casino card games, I think you will like it. Oh, and disarm everyone in the Danish pastry family before entering the Casino. I KNOW you will like THAT.

Business

The Best Way to Invest $10,000: Some Online Investment Opportunities to Consider

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Ten thousand dollars is a good starting point if you are interested in any type of investment. Obviously, the safest and most risk-free option would be to deposit it in a savings account with the highest interest rate you can get. However, that is not enough for many people. There are more profitable strategies; Also, you may not want to put all your money in one place. When thinking about the best way to invest $10,000, it’s important to consider not just traditional options, but newer ones as well.

One of these “newer” types of investment is peer-to-peer lending which involves joining an online platform where investors can become “lenders” to other people who need money and don’t want to go through a big bank or a financial institution. lender. With peer-to-peer lending platforms, you can spread your investments into hundreds of loan increments for as little as $25 – $50, depending on the platform you choose, and earn around 5% per year on each interest. However, you could earn a higher rate of return by spending more money and making riskier loans.

EFT should also be considered. “Exchange Traded Funds” can hold a wide variety of investments, including commodities, bonds, and stocks, some of which are US-only holdings, while others are international. The benefit of going with an EFT instead of buying stocks individually is that there is a low expense ratio and fewer broker commissions to worry about.

The best way to invest $10,000 online

One of the best ways to invest ten thousand in the 21st century is to use an ONLINE bank that offers CDs. Since online banks don’t have physical branches across the country, they don’t need as much overhead and operating expenses, and are therefore in a better position to offer customers higher CD rates than the traditional type of traditional bank. . .

CDs can be more profitable than savings accounts because with CDs, you agree to deposit and keep your money in the account for a set period of time, called a “term length.” During that time, you will not have access to the funds and if you make an early withdrawal, there may be a penalty.

Another big advantage of living in the 21st century is that you don’t need $100,000 to invest in real estate. You can still do it with $10,000, as long as you look into REITs (real estate investment trusts). These types of businesses own/finance income-producing real estate in a variety of sectors (retail, lodging and resorts, self-storage, healthcare, residential, etc.) in different geographic areas.

If you’re not sure how best to invest $10,000, join the Motley Fool. You’ll get all the educational tools and resources you’ll need, including free advice, on the best places to invest your money and the best stopping options from leading experts.

Home Kitchen

Kitchen Staging On A Budget: How To Ensure A Big Impact With A Minimal Investment

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As the saying goes, kitchens sell houses, often sealing or breaking the deal depending on how it’s presented. But don’t worry, kitchen upgrades don’t have to cost an arm and a leg like many sellers assume. Read below for some of the smarter upgrades you can do for little to no money.

1. Stain or paint outdated cabinets instead of replacing them

Before you make the expensive investment in new cabinets, try a fresh coat of stain or paint for a like-new look for around $25. Bright white or black are popular paint choices, and cherry or walnut are popular stain tones. Tidy up and clean the inside of each cabinet, put on new liners, and watch buyers appreciate their once-dated cabinets. Finish off the look by swapping out your hardware for a new updated look in a bronze or brushed nickel finish.

2. Paint the walls

The color of your kitchen walls makes a big difference in how this important space is displayed. Green and yellow are great choices for kitchens because they are appealing colors, and tan also works well for neutrality and warmth. Just be sure to choose earth-toned varieties like sage green instead of mint green, or butter yellow instead of illuminating yellow! When in doubt, go with the safer option. For a foolproof way to choose colors for resale, try a professionally recommended color palette like “Colors That Sell” (PaintColorsThatSell.com) or hire a Home Stager for a color consultation.

3. Lighting is key

Kitchen lighting plays an important role in distinguishing the overall feel of the kitchen. If you have a fluorescent light, upgrading to a chandelier or semi-flush mount fixture is an absolute must. Still have the builder-grade brass fixture hanging over your breakfast bar? Spend the $150 at Lowes or Home Depot to trade it in for a sleek new look in brushed nickel or bronze for a complete transformation of your eat-in kitchen that buyers will love.

4. Invest in new appliances

Studies show that it pays to upgrade those old kitchen appliances. If your old-fashioned oven and dishwasher take center stage, you may want to trade them in for an updated version. If you can’t afford the stainless steel variety, go for black.

5. Keep countertops generally clear

Put away your extra accessories and appliances before each visit, including can openers, coffee pots, and dish soaps. Clean, uncluttered countertops give a clutter-free, spacious feel that will give the illusion of a cleaner, larger kitchen.

6.Cluster accessories

Instead of spreading out your remaining fancy accessories on counters, group them in groups so the view can bounce from one group to the next, appreciating kitchen assets along the way.

7. Keep it bright

Having a perfectly clean kitchen is possibly the most important part of selling the space. Buyers want to feel sanitary and fresh in their potential new home, and that’s especially true in the kitchen. Make sure appliances shine, countertops shine, and cabinet faces are spot-free. Mop the floor, keep kitchen rugs washed/dampened, and even empty the dishwasher before every showing if possible!