Some useful shirt-pocket
truths
12 October 2007
By Mark Pilarski
Dear Mark: What are your thoughts on a blackjack
game where all the cards are dealt face up,
including the dealer's cards? Why is the casino
giving you such an advantage by exposing both of
their cards? Alex M.
Of all the possible blackjack rule variations,
viewing both of the dealer's cards before you
play your hand is the absolute best. Straight
up, it increases your odds of winning by 8.80%.
But that doesn't mean that casino philanthropy
exists, or that playing on this game, which can
be called Double Exposure, Face Up 21, Dealer
Disclosure or Bayou BlackJack, in any way gets
you a crack at that eight plus percent.
Because both the dealer cards are dealt face-up,
the playing rules are usually adjusted to favor
the casino even more than in conventional
blackjack. This adjustment includes paying
blackjacks at even money, doubling down
permitted only on 9, 10, 11; and insurance,
re-splits and surrender, is not allowed. Also,
all tie hands result in a loss with the
exception of a player's blackjack, which beats a
dealer's blackjack.
Yet, when played properly, and depending upon
playing conditions, the house edge can also run
below that of conventional blackjack. For
example (take a deep breath), with six decks,
dealer hits a soft 17, double on any first two
cards, doubling after splits not allowed, tied
blackjack wins, split only once, a jack and ace
of hearts pays 2:1 and a suited 6-7-8 pays
double, the casino advantage is 0.26%. But
(don't blink), with six decks, dealer hits a
soft 17, doubling allowed only on a hard 9-11,
doubling after splits not allowed, split only
once, and a tied blackjack pushes, the house
edge is 1.47%, which is more than in standard
blackjack.
As you can see, Alex, slight modifications in
the rules can greatly affect the casino's edge,
but still, with either example, it still ranks
as one of the better bets in the casino, and
possibly worthy of a few of your hard-earned
dollars.
Dear Mark: Is any bet in roulette a good bet, or
should I just throw that money in the fountain
on the way into the casino? Dick D.
First off, Dick, let the wishful thinkers throw
their hard-earned money in the fountain for
luck. You, on the other hand, are going to learn
here and now the secret of roulette; it's about
which game, not which bet.
That's right, Dick, most gamblers mistakenly
believe that certain wagers on a roulette table
are superior to others. Example: Betting on even
money wagers (red/black or odd/even) are said to
be always better bets than wagering a
straight-up number. Nothing could be further
from the truth. All bets on the layout, with the
exception of one, hold the same house edge of
5.26%. That one exception is the five-number
bet, 0, 00, 1, 2, 3—also called "the beast with
five numbers." Makes sense, as the house
advantage on this sole wager is a humping 7.89%.
What you want to search out is a single zero
wheel where the house edge is reduced to only
2.7%. If it's not offered, don't play; indeed,
more money can be made with a snorkel and mask.
Dear Mark: When you worked in the casino, did
you ever use shills in blackjack, and if so, how
do you spot them? Sam A.
In the seven casinos where I was in collar, none
employed shills (a starter), but that doesn't
mean they don't exist.
"Shill" is a term for a casino employee who bets
money and pretends to be a player to attract
customers to an empty table and remain at the
table until the table fills up or the game
stabilizes.
Shills typically follow the same rules as the
dealer, which makes them somewhat easy to spot
(they don't Split or Double Down); plus they
commonly have an eye-bugging heap of chips in
front of them, which gives the unsuspecting
player the idea that the table is hot.
Gambling Wisdom of the Week: "Learning to play
two pairs is worth about as much as a college
education, and about as costly." -- Mark Twain
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