Boston 5 is a new poker based game that is spreading quickly. I keep
getting new siting reports so I no longer keep track of where it is
played. The game is owned by New Vision Gaming. Following are the
rules, strategy, and house advantage for the game.
Rules
Play begins with the player making an ante bet and a "first
wager." The first wager must be exactly double the ante.
There is also an optional 3 card bonus bet. The pay table can vary
from casino to casino, see table 1 for one example. The player can
not make this bet alone but must play the main game.
Players then receive 3 cards each. Sharing of information between
players is not allowed.
If the player made the 3 card bonus bet and has at least a pair
then he should show the dealer his cards to receive payment.
After reviewing the first three cards the player must decide to
either fold or raise. If the player folds he forfeits his cards
and all bets. If the player raises he must make a "second wager"
exactly equal to the first wager.
The dealer will then deal each player still in the game two more
cards.
Each hand is individually compared to the dealer's five-card hand,
the highest hand wins.
If the player's hand beats the dealer's hand then the player shall
win even money on the first and second wagers, and the ante shall
push.
If the dealer's hand beats the player's hand then the player shall
lose his first and second wagers and the ante.
If the player's hand and dealer's had are exactly equal in value
(highly unlikely) the first and second wagers and the ante shall
push.
Regardless of whether the player or dealer has the higher hand the
player shall be eligible for a bonus for hands of two pair or greater,
based on the ante bet. Table 2 shows what each hand pays. Note that
if the player has a bonus hand but loses to the dealer he will still
get the bonus but lose the ante bet itself.
| Table 1: 3 Card Bonus Bet |
| Hand |
Payoff |
| Straight Flush |
40 to 1 |
| Three of a kind |
30 to 1 |
| Straight |
6 to 1 |
| Flush |
4 to 1 |
| Pair |
1 to 1 |
Strategy
The strategy is simple, raise on everything. Even on the worst 3-card
hands raising is a much better option than folding. I also suggest
avoiding the 3 card bonus bet if the flush pays 3 to 1, it is okay
at 4 to 1.
House Edge
The house edge in Boston 5 is 3.32%. This is defined as the ratio
of the expected plaeyr loss to the total amount bet. Normally the
house edge is defined as the ratio of the loss to the initial wager.
However since the player should raise all the time I felt it appropriate
to measure the loss to the total wager.
The house edge on the 3 card bonus bet depends on the pay table.
In the pay table above the house edge is 2.32%. At Harrah's in Las
Vegas the flush pays only 3 to 1, which increases the house edge
to 7.28%. Note that this is the same thing as the Pairplus bet in
Three Card Poker.
Locations
The following are only the casinos that I know of, there are probably
lots more.
Las Vegas: Harrah's
Missouri
Indiana
Colorado: The Lodge
Mississippi
California: Rincon
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