Casino War
You get one card, the dealer gets one card, and the higher card wins – try it here with play chips.
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How to play the Casino War simulator
| Decks | Go to war, bonus | Go to war, no bonus | Surrender | Tie bet 10:1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2.06% | 2.42% | 2.94% | 35.29% |
| 2 | 2.24% | 2.70% | 3.40% | 25.24% |
| 4 | 2.31% | 2.84% | 3.62% | 20.29% |
| 6 | 2.33% | 2.88% | 3.70% | 18.65% |
| 8 | 2.34% | 2.90% | 3.73% | 17.83% |
House edge, exact by deck composition. Bonus = an extra win equal to the ante on a tie after a tie.
- Place your chips on Bet. You can also add chips to Tie.
- Press Deal. You and the dealer each get one card from six decks.
- Higher card wins. Ace is the highest card, Two is the lowest. Suits do not matter.
- Example: your King beats the dealer's Nine, so you win even money. The dealer's Ace beats your Jack, so you lose your bet.
- Same rank, like Seven and Seven? Choose Go to War or Surrender.
Full step-by-step rules are on the Casino War rules page.
Go to war or surrender?
- Go to War: you add a raise equal to your first bet, and each side gets one more card.
- Win the war: you win the raise, and your first bet comes back.
- Lose the war: you lose both bets.
- Tie again: you win a bonus equal to your raise.
- Surrender: you give up half your first bet and the round ends. House edge: 3.70%.
On a tie, always press Go to War – it costs you less over time than surrendering.
Why the tie bet is a bad bet
A tie happens on about 7.40% of first deals. The tie payout is too small for that chance, so the house edge on this bet is 18.65%.
Compare: the main bet with war costs 2.33%, so the tie bet costs many times more. A run of no ties does not make a tie "due" – see the gambler's fallacy.
Leave the Tie spot empty and watch how your play chips last longer over a long session.
Questions
Is it better to go to war or surrender in Casino War?
Going to war is better. Always going to war gives a house edge of 2.33% with the bonus for a second tie (2.88% without it), while surrendering on every tie gives 3.70%.
Should I make the tie bet in Casino War?
No. A tie comes up on about 7.40% of first deals, and the tie bet has a house edge of 18.65%, one of the most expensive bets on the table.
How many decks are used in Casino War?
This simulator uses six decks, which is the most common setup. Ace is the highest card and suits do not matter.
Can you beat Casino War?
No. The house edge stays in place on every bet, and no betting system changes it. Over many rounds your loss as a share of the total amount bet tends to get closer to the house edge.