Of all the casino games, why learn to play blackjack? What makes it
“different” from any other casino game?
For one, the odds in blackjack
are not constant.
They
keep
changing from one hand to the next depending on the cards that have
been
played.
For example, if four aces have been played from a
single deck of cards
what is the chance of getting a blackjack hand on the next round?
It’s
zero
because there are no more aces left in the unplayed deck of cards. The
cards do
have a memory. That’s not the case with craps, roulette and other
casino games
where the odds stay constant from one roll or spin to the next. The
dice and
the wheel have no memory. Ditto for slot machines. The bottom line is
this is a game of skill not just luck.
Rules
and
Options
Not all games are created equal. You will often
find different playing rules from one casino to the next and even
within the
same casino. Some rules are more player-favorable and others favor the
casino.
It’s these mix of rules that ultimately determines the casino’s overall
edge
and whether the game is good or bad.
Here is a summary of the rules that favor the player and
those that favor the casino.
Player
favorable
rules
Doubling on any first two cards.
Doubling down
after pair splitting
Surrender
Resplit aces
Double on 3 or more cards
Blackjack pays 2 to 1
Casino
favorable
rules
Paying 6-5 on a blackjack
Increasing the number of decks of cards
Dealer hits soft 17
Double only on 10 and 11
No resplitting of pairs
Dealer wins ties
How important are the rules to
the player? The difference
between a “good” game and a “bad” one can often add another 0.5% to the
casino’s advantage over a basic strategy player.
For
example, one of the best
games in Las Vegas is a double deck
game where the dealer stands on soft 17 and you can double down after
splitting. The house edge against a basic strategy player is only about
two
tenths of a percent.
One of the absolute worst games in Las
Vegas are the double deck games (and
single deck) that
only pay 6 -5 when you get a blackjack
(the house edge zooms to greater than
1.5%-Ouch!).
As long as you play blackjack
in
traditional
games that pay 3-2 without any CSM, you have the best game in
the house.
Learn the basic
strategy or take a strategy card with when you play (they are casino
legal) and
you cut the house edge to half a percent or less.
When you learn to play blackjack, include a
simple counting
system like Speed Count. Basic
strategy players will be able to gain the edge over the casino.
That
should be
enough reason why you should consider playing this game.
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