|
Yuck!
Dear Mark,
Having just returned from a recent gambling trip (Las
Vegas), I was surprised to see many casinos offering
single deck blackjack. I thought single deck was very
rare because it affords a player the lowest house
advantage and is a card counterıs delight. Well, my
surprise soon turned to disappointment when I approached
a table and read the fine print. They only pay 6 to 5 on
a blackjack! Whatıs up with that? Isnıt 3-to-2 the
proper payout? How much does that tactic improve the
houseıs edge? Is this game worth playing?
Michael H.
Many casinos are now offering single-deck blackjack
games that pay a natural blackjack 6-to-5 instead of the
traditional 3-to-2. One word, Michael, can best describe
this subtle rule change many players have not even
noticed. As the school marm says, "YUCK!" (I
know youıve got a better wordso spit it out.)
Hereıs some Arithmitic
to analyze this pickpocket variation of single-deck
blackjack being offered to the inattentive in Las Vegas
and elsewhere. Theoretically, single-deck games do offer
the best odds for skilled players, with a house edge of
only about 18% for every $100 wagered. When a casino
offers single-deck games that reduce the payoff on a
playerıs blackjack from "7.5 to 5" down to
"6 to 5," meaning instead of winning $7.50 for
your hard-earned snapper, you win $6, that payoff slash
increases the house edge from .18% to 1.45%, which,
Michael, is a colossal 800% increase in the house edge.
YUCKS! (or better) loud and clear, please.
Dear Mark,
Concerning blackjack versus roulette, which does a
player stand better chance of winning? I am leaning more
towards roulette due to the black/red or odd/even
scenario. I am aware of the 0 and 00 killing my bets,
but does blackjack still provide better odds?
Damon C.
Blackjack is a game played poorly by many, and well by
few. The desirable rearrangement is quite simple: Employ
perfect basic strategy. Playing it correctly will bring
the house advantage down to well less than one percent.
But, even Ho-hum Hannahıs careless play at blackjack is
far-and-away a better deal than double zero roulette,
where the house edge is 5.26% of every bet you place on
the table. Yep, Odd/Even, Black/Red, it doesnıt matter.
The casino advantage is 5.26% and you arenıt going to
change that with any particular wager. Now if your
blackjack play is ghastly, like splitting 10s against a
dealer
Ace, well... stick with roulette, but only on a single
zero roulette wheel where the house edge is a less
murderous 2.70%. Whatıs so special about single
zero? Because, Damon, while in the end you will
lose about $5.26 for every $100 wagered on a double-zero
table, your loss at the single-zero table drops to a
more digestible $2.70.
Dear Mark,
When is the best time to double down for less in
blackjack?
Dick H.
Iıll ask you, Dick, why do you double down in the first
place? Answer: you double down because you are more
likely to win the hand than lose it. For that reason,
you always want to wager the maximum amount. Never
shortchange yourself when it comes to doubling down. It
is the double downs, splits and
blackjacks that shove blackjack play from the red into
the black.
Online Gambling quote of the week: "I am shocked, shocked
that thereıs gambling
going on here." Captain Louis Renault, Casablanca
-------------------------
|
