Double Down Dead

The worst of the "new" poker games is Double Down Stud. There are two versions of this game-a table game and a video game. You should avoid both because the house edge on the game has been estimated between 12 and 21 percent, depending upon the play.

Once again, the game is played at a blackjack-sized table with two betting areas for each player-"bet" and "double down." Each round is dealt from a newly shuffled deck. Each player is dealt one card face up. The dealer then deals three community cards face up and one face down. At this point all players are given the chance to double their bets. After deciding whether to double their bets, the dealer exposes the final down card, and the hands are paid off according to the following table:

Hand Payoff

Sixes or better push

Jacks or Better 1-1

Two pair 2-1

Three of a kind 3-1

Straight 5-1

Flush 8-1

Please don't play this game. But if you must, never double down. Exposing your initial bet to the horrendous house advantage is bad enough, but putting more money out there is insane.