Faro

Introduction

Faro, a game reliant on luck and played with a single deck of cards, is reputed to have its roots traced back to 17th century France. Its journey led it through England and eventually to the United States, introduced through the vibrant city of New Orleans. Throughout the 19th century, Faro enjoyed a position as perhaps the most sought-after game of chance across America. However, as time progressed into the 20th century, its allure waned, and its presence dwindled. It’s believed that the game’s last stronghold was at the Reno Ramada casino in the 1980s. Personally, encounters with Faro tables have been limited to museums and historic paintings, reflecting its historical significance.

Game Rules

  1. Initial Setup: After shuffling, the top card, termed the “Soda,” is revealed.
  2. Betting Options: Players can choose from several bet types:
    • Flat: Betting on any of the 13 ranks in the deck.
    • Split: Similar to Flat bet, but on two ranks.
    • High Card: Predicting whether the Winning or Losing card will be higher.
    • Odd/Even: Betting on whether the Winning card is odd or even.
    • Turn: Wagering on the order of the last three cards in the deck.
  3. Dealing: Once bets are placed, the dealer deals the first card, termed the “Losing Card.” The subsequent card is referred to as the “Winning Card.”
  4. Resolving Bets: Each bet type has specific rules for resolution, described below.
  5. Tracking: The dealer uses an abacus-like device to track the cards played.
  6. Continuation: Play progresses from the deck until only one card, known as the “Hock,” remains.

Flat Bets

  • 13 Flat bets, each corresponding to a rank.
  • Rules:
    • Different Winning/Losing card ranks: Bets on Winning card rank win, Losing card rank bets lose, others push.
    • Equal Winning/Losing card ranks: Bets on that rank lose half.
  • “Copper” option: Player can reverse Winning/Losing cards by adding a penny to wager.

Split Bets

These wagers, uncovered during the Wichita Faro demo, function akin to Flat bets, with the distinction of wagering on two ranks concurrently, such as King and Queen. Consider the potential outcomes within this scenario:

  • If the Winning card is King or Queen and the Losing card is any other rank, the player wins even money.
  • Should the Losing card be King or Queen and the Winning card any other rank, the player loses their entire stake.
  • In the event both cards are either kings or both are queens, the player loses half of their wager.
  • If neither card is a king nor a queen, the result is a push.
  • Similarly, if one card is a king and the other a queen, the outcome remains a push.

High Card

In High Card bets, an ace carries one point, while cards 2 to 10 correspond to their pip values, and face cards hold 11 (jack), 12 (queen), and 13 (king) points. Players can wager on whether the Winning or Losing card will have a higher value. Consider the following rules for bets on the Winning card being higher:

  • If the Winning card exceeds the Losing card in value, the player wins even money.
  • Should the Winning card fall short in value compared to the Losing card, the player loses their entire stake.
  • In instances where the Winning and Losing cards share the same rank, the player loses half of their wager.

Odd Bet

In the Odd bet, an ace is valued at one point, while cards 2 to 10 correspond to their pip values, and face cards hold 11 (jack), 12 (queen), and 13 (king) points. Here are the potential outcomes for the Odd bet:

  • If the Winning card is odd and the Losing card is even, the player wins even money.
  • Conversely, if the Winning card is even and the Losing card is odd, the player loses their entire stake.
  • In cases where both the Winning and Losing cards share the same rank, the player loses half of their wager.
  • Should both cards be odd or even, but of different ranks, the result is a push.

Even Bet

The Even bet mirrors the Odd bet, winning when the Winning card is even and the Losing card is odd. The odds remain identical to those of the Odd bet.

Turn

In the Turn bet, players predict the order of the last three cards when only three remain, each of different ranks.

With six possible permutations of three cards, the odds of winning stand at one in six. While fair odds would be 5 to 1, the actual payout is 4 to 1. Refer to the table below for all Turn bet odds. The bottom right image displays a house edge of 16.7%.

Strategy

In Faro, I recommend focusing on two specific bet types:

  1. Flat Bets: Place bets on ranks when exactly two cards of that rank are left in the deck. This strategy minimizes the risk of losing half, where the house gains its edge.
  2. Case Bets: Utilize case bets strategically.

With just one card left, the rules typically shift to paying a 5% commission. Whether this is advantageous depends on the number of cards remaining in the deck. Adjust your approach accordingly.