Blackjack Question

[HubDub04 0]

Ok, I'm mainly a poker player, but i've been getting into the -EV game of Blackjack. I only play BJ when i'm waiting for a NL seat to become available at my home casino and need to pass the time. I am pretty well versed in the game and know generally when to stay and when to hit and double down etc. My question is:The house has a 53/47 advantage, or so i've heard from numerous sources. Now someone please explain to me why that is. The dealer has to play with the same shoe of cards as the players do and has to stay on 17 or hit lower, just like the players(even though the player CAN hit on 17, 99% of them never do for obv. reasons). So what makes the dealer have an advantage over the player?I've been thinking about this all day and hope someone knows definitively why this is.

[Potsie P 0]

Ok, I'm mainly a poker player, but i've been getting into the -EV game of Blackjack. I only play BJ when i'm waiting for a NL seat to become available at my home casino and need to pass the time. I am pretty well versed in the game and know generally when to stay and when to hit and double down etc. My question is:The house has a 53/47 advantage, or so i've heard from numerous sources. Now someone please explain to me why that is. The dealer has to play with the same shoe of cards as the players do and has to stay on 17 or hit lower, just like the players(even though the player CAN hit on 17, 99% of them never do for obv. reasons). So what makes the dealer have an advantage over the player?I've been thinking about this all day and hope someone knows definitively why this is.

Bottom line: DON'T PLAY BLACKJACK ONLINE.That said, the advantage is built into the fact that when you bust AND the dealer busts, you still lose. Plain and simple.One more thing: DON'T PLAY BLACKJACK ONLINE.Permanent -EV.

[13CARDS 0]

You go first. Dealer goes last. You bust and then the dealer busts... who wins?? BINGO!! The dealer.EDIT: DAMNIT!

[Balloon guy 158]

As an expert on losing at blackjack I feel confident I can answer this.Since the dealer acts last, and only gives you a look at one of her cards, you are forced to act with limited information, and therefore will bust more often, which causes you to lose more. The dealer also has a set of rules to follow that negates any bad plays on her part.Also Blackjack is of the devil.Other than that it's pretty obvious.On a side note: On the cruise they had a face up blackjack table where you get to see both of the dealers cards. What is the correct play when you have 16 and she has 8,9,10 or 11?

[FoxwoodsPro 0]

I don't wanna talka bout it

[rivergirl 2]

As an expert on losing at blackjack I feel confident I can answer this.Since the dealer acts last, and only gives you a look at one of her cards, you are forced to act with limited information, and therefore will bust more often, which causes you to lose more. The dealer also has a set of rules to follow that negates any bad plays on her part.Also Blackjack is of the devil.Other than that it's pretty obvious.On a side note: On the cruise they had a face up blackjack table where you get to see both of the dealers cards. What is the correct play when you have 16 and she has 8,9,10 or 11?

i think you would still assume dealers taking face card. just like you would most likely double with those hands because you assume you are getting 10 when you do. But ya, blackjack can only get you into trouble.......

[James D 0]

I don't wanna talka bout it

Strange. You usually do.

[opie 0]

The house has a 53/47 advantage, or so i've heard from numerous sources.

There is a basic strategy that can reduce the house edge to under 51%. It is a grid that tells you what to do in every situation. Google for "blackjack basic strategy". Memorize it and never vary from that strategy. At this point you are essentially flipping coins with a casino - heads you win, tails they win, with the house automatically winning 1 bet every 100 over the long run.If you learn how to count cards, you can get the house edge down under 50% by a very little bit. You are still fllipping coins, only you have the small edge.I tried to learn how to count cards. Since then I have never won at blackjack in a casino (only tried it a few times). Plus it is really hard work to watch every single card and increase/decrease a mental count. Poker is a much easier way to make money.Peace,Opie

[Ecclesbury 0]

It's worth pointing out that the house edge is not the same in all casinos. It can be affected by a number of things:Number of decks used.Deck PenetrationDealing standing/hitting on a soft 17I couldn't tell you exactly why, I just wanted to use some fancy words like "penetration."

[HubDub04 0]

Well that's some really good information gentlemen. I have heard about guys who play blackjack for a living and are professionals, but I never understood you could be a professional at something that you have an obv. disadvantage on. Blackjack seems to me, like such a straightforward game, unlike poker, where really its setup for the house to be guaranteed to win more often than not.I still can't believe guys try and play it professionally. Card counting or not, you're gonna have worse swings in this game than in poker IMO.

[Frigley 0]

im addicted.......

[mase_gotsem 0]

worst and most evil casino game ever made after video poker machines its black jack these are the games casino's thrive on before i found poker id lose countless amounts at black jack poker has slowed that down to losing it a little slower atleast...

[Ecclesbury 0]

The thing with Blackjack is, if you can card count well then it is much easy to guarantee a win than poker. It's like having JJ vs AK aipf every hand! If you could have that situation in poker you would take it, as you would be a slight favourite and would know that in the long run you would be up. Granted the swings would be pretty huge, but you would always come out on top.Such is the way with Blackjack. You can give yourself an edge by counting and then it's just a case of putting the hours in and letting expectation do it's thing.HOWEVER the reason very few people make a living out of card counting is that the difficult part is doing it without the casinos catching on. Casinos have countless ways of defending against counters. One simple one is for the dealer to count, and if someone is betting in line with the count, shuffle the decks or limit that players bets. So even the most sophisticated counting systems still require the player to be constantly moving to different tables/casinos. I can't imagine it's a very comfortable way to make money.

[BrandonPL 0]

Quit while you still can.. Trust me. If you want to play blackjack, fly to California and play the player banked Action Jack game. Bring enough money to be the banker and collect away. Otherwise, don't touch it with a 10 foot pole.

[KowboyKoop 0]

Tip the dealer every now and then. Good karma...and don't get p*ssed at the dealer when you lose......most players act like the dealer has some sort of control over the cards and get all whiny and mad and expect the dealer to sympathize......at that point....dealers laugh (on the inside, mostly) and then buckle down and try to take your money as quickly as possible. So...my advice to blackjack players would be to quit b*tching and tip the dealer if you catch a few nice hands......and play for fun, not to win money, unless you want to risk counting cards......if you want to count cards, do it at low-limit tables where they don't care..but if you start betting anything significant (over 50 bucks probably....) and are card counting..they will catch you and they'll find a reason to get rid of you...it only takes them catching you once before you are gone for good.

[FoxwoodsPro 0]

hmmmmmmmmmm

[mase_gotsem 0]

the only reason I play is to donate to the indianssame reason I buy pot off the black peopleand eat chinese foodand buy cigs from APU

omg this is gnna get ugly ....

[JustLikeNegs 1]

There is a basic strategy that can reduce the house edge to under 51%. It is a grid that tells you what to do in every situation. Google for "blackjack basic strategy". Memorize it and never vary from that strategy. At this point you are essentially flipping coins with a casino - heads you win, tails they win, with the house automatically winning 1 bet every 100 over the long run.If you learn how to count cards, you can get the house edge down under 50% by a very little bit. You are still fllipping coins, only you have the small edge.I tried to learn how to count cards. Since then I have never won at blackjack in a casino (only tried it a few times). Plus it is really hard work to watch every single card and increase/decrease a mental count. Poker is a much easier way to make money.Peace,Opie

Correct. Also try www.wizardofodds.com for the blackjack strategy chart, and other information. This chart seems impossible to remember, but after a while it is soo easy and you gan back some of that -ev

[Zach6668 513]

http://wizardofodds.comFor all your gambling needs.

[msals11 0]

PM FWP