How To Play

You and the dealer each receive one card. Higher card wins, even money. If you tie, you can either surrender (lose half your bet) or go to war by doubling your bet. In a war, the dealer burns three cards and deals one card to each. If you win the war, the doubled portion pushes and the original wins (paying 1:1 net). If you lose, you lose the doubled bet.

House Edge

• Going to war on ties: 2.88% (6 decks)
• Surrendering on ties: 3.70%
• Tie side bet (10:1): 18.65%

Always go to war - never surrender. Counterintuitively, doubling your money on a coin-flip outperforms giving up half.

Basic Strategy

• Always go to war on a tie. Never surrender.
• Never bet the Tie side bet (10:1 payout, true odds ~13:1).
• Play 6-deck or fewer if available - more decks slightly lower the war frequency.
• That is the entire strategy. Casino War is the simplest decision in the casino.

Common Mistakes

Surrendering on ties because losing a full bet feels worse - the math is clear that going to war is correct. Betting the Tie side bet for the 10:1 payout. Mistaking Casino War for a low-edge game; nearly 3% is worse than baccarat, blackjack, craps, or video poker.

Example Hand

You bet $10 and both you and the dealer are dealt an 8. Double to $20 and go to war. The dealer burns three cards and deals you a Jack and themselves a 5. You win - the original $10 pays $10 in profit, the doubled $10 pushes. Total profit: $10.

Bottom Line

Casino War is fast, mindless, and surprisingly costly per hour given its simplicity. There is no skill ceiling - just one decision (always war). Use small bet sizes, set a tight stop-loss, and remember higher-edge games drain bankrolls faster than they feel.