Thursday, August 22, 2019

Day 342-Carnegie Science Center 21+Nights -Science of Games -Games of Chance



The Carnegie Science Center's   monthly  21+ Nights are evenings to enjoy the four floors of exhibits with small bites  and  a cocktail in hand. It makes science fun for adults. This month’s theme was “Game Night” where you could learn the science behind casino table games and more. This was my chance to finally shed my intimidation of the rapid dealing in Blackjack, the wheel in Roulette and the number combinations on the confusing table in the dice game of Craps.




Reflection
A Carnegie Science Center 21+ Night gives you the opportunity to be a kid without the kids. It’s a winning combination when you can explore the exhibits without the pressure of entertaining your child. This time you focus on your own personal amusement.  I always seem to gravitate to the second floor of the Science Center where the Miniature Railroad and Village, with pristine detail and over 100 moving animations, gives you a flashback glimpse of Pittsburgh life in the 1880’s to 1930’s.
   
Miniature Railroad, Kennywood in 1930's

These  adult nights creatively tie science into a theme. My interest in “Game Night” was learning the history and math behind games of chance that seem to draw the adult masses.  I must admit that I am not much of a gambler.  I have been minimally entertained when playing  casino slot  machines  in the past.  My friends say that is because I have never hit a major jackpot. I also have  a tendency  to calculate how many hours it would take at my job to recoup my lost funds.  Yes, that kind of thinking is what you call a “buzz kill.”


The  Science  Center was transformed into a mini casino with Blackjack, Roulette, Craps and Poker tables.  On the hour, mini lectures  gave  trivia and statistics of the games.  Backjack  originated  in Spain in 1700, was a favorite of Napoleon Bonaparte and came to the US in 1931. My friendly dealer should get an award for  her patience with my  novice playing.  She repeatedly  explained the game, hand signals for getting a new card (hit) or holding your total and ending your turn (stand) and more.  I was surprised to learn that you could download on line or buy at the casino a cheat sheet to help  guide your move based on the dealers hand.

Enjoy 4 floor of exhibits like a kid without the kids

The lecture on Roulette convinced me that statistically it was not the game for me. No matter how you bet the expected value of every dollar you played is -$5.3.  Those odds are not worth the fun in my book.   Now Craps made the most sense  for my dollar.  Once I  learned  how to put my bets on the  board and the math behind the dice combinations, I was glued to the table. I guess you could say that  I found my game.  

Beautiful City view from the Science Center deck
I am not sure if it was the pretend money (thus no calculation of recoup effort for my loss) the feeling  of accomplishment in tackling the wheel  in roulette, or the clarity of the board in Craps, but I got  a little “game of chance” fever.  I still did not go to the casino and play with real money but I just might play now that I am armed with how the games are played and the science behind these games gained from Carnegie Science Center 21+ Game Night.  

On September 13, 2019, you can blow up things and explore the paranormal and supernatural at the next  Carnegie Science Center  “21+ night: Stranger Science” -a spin on the hit NetFlix series “Stranger Things.”  For more information go to carnegiesciencecenter.org.

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