So how does the house have an edge in Blackjack?

[Student Caine]

I went out and played Blackjack last ngiht for the first time in many, many years....turned $25 into $310 using a very, very simple strategy (hit 15 or less when the dealer shows an 8 or higher - stay when you have 12 or more and dealer shows a 7 or less).

So after last night, I got to thinking...how does the house have an advantage in Blackjack? They are forced to run by a simple set of rules, while the players have the freedom to choose what they can do. I thought maybe they gained something by a 3 to 2 payout for the Blackjacks, but the fact is, the house does not collect 3 to 2 when it hits a Blackjack.

What am I missing here?

[cardcounter0]

"...while the players have the freedom to choose what they can do."

In your case, this offers the house a rather large advantage.
/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[hoopsie44]

The house advantage is the fact that when both the player and house busts, the player still loses. Blackjack would be a wonderful game if the dealer went first.

[Student Caine]

[ QUOTE ]
"...while the players have the freedom to choose what they can do."

In your case, this offers the house a rather large advantage.
/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Hahaha...I have no doubt about that - I am not nor do I pretend to be a Blackjack superstar. /images/graemlins/tongue.gif

Unfortunately the casino near me has many sucker games - the least suckerish of which is Blackjack....so instead of being able to sit at a poker table I get to watch the dealers pull cards out of a 5 deck constant shuffling shoe....heck, I'd even take a pair of dice over that. /images/graemlins/tongue.gif

[Student Caine]

[ QUOTE ]
The house advantage is the fact that when both the player and house busts, the player still loses. Blackjack would be a wonderful game if the dealer went first.

[/ QUOTE ]

Ahhhh, thank you. I knew I was missing something very, very basic. /images/graemlins/wink.gif

[Iceman]

[ QUOTE ]
I went out and played Blackjack last ngiht for the first time in many, many years....turned $25 into $310 using a very, very simple strategy (hit 15 or less when the dealer shows an 8 or higher - stay when you have 12 or more and dealer shows a 7 or less).

So after last night, I got to thinking...how does the house have an advantage in Blackjack? They are forced to run by a simple set of rules, while the players have the freedom to choose what they can do. I thought maybe they gained something by a 3 to 2 payout for the Blackjacks, but the fact is, the house does not collect 3 to 2 when it hits a Blackjack.

What am I missing here?

[/ QUOTE ]

The player has many small advantages over the dealer: seeing one of the dealer's cards, not having to hit 12-16, getting 3-2 on blackjacks, and being able to double, split, and surrender. All of those small advantages don't make up for the simple fact that if you bust and the dealer busts, the dealer wins.

[hoopsie44]

To improve your game and minimize house edge pick up a book on basic strategy. Most casino gift shops have books or a simple card summarizing basic strategy, which is the optimal way to play. This info is also available online.

[junkmail3]

Or just go to wizardofodds.com

[fluff]

[ QUOTE ]
Unfortunately the casino near me has many sucker games - the least suckerish of which is Blackjack....so instead of being able to sit at a poker table I get to watch the dealers pull cards out of a 5 deck constant shuffling shoe....heck, I'd even take a pair of dice over that

[/ QUOTE ]

Playing BJ without knowing proper basic strategy is at least as suckerish as any of those other "sucker" games. That's how they house can still offer BJ. Otherwise, the 0.5% edge probably won't cover the overhead.

Do yourself a favor and check out

http://wizardofodds.com/blackjack

http://www.blackjackinfo.com/bjbse.php

for proper charts, depending on the rules of the game.

Also just for fun, you can practice using

http://www.blackjackinfo.com/bst/

Click on "Blackjack Strategy Trainer".

This program will tell you if you make a mistake while playing.

[Student Caine]

Thanks for the great info. After reading it I can see where I had some major leaks in my game and why they were there.

While I have no desire to try and become a pro Blackjack player (as you can tell by the place that I play at /images/graemlins/tongue.gif) I definitely want to do as well as possible.

Thanks again for the information. /images/graemlins/smile.gif

[bholdr]

[ QUOTE ]
"...while the players have the freedom to choose what they can do."

In your case, this offers the house a rather large advantage.

[/ QUOTE ]

oh, damn! i actually LOLed at that!

[porphyry]

Yeah, but if the dealer went first, and you played blackjack correctly, it would turn in to a huge player advantage! They might as well just hand you a check at the casino door and tell you to go home! /images/graemlins/cool.gif

[hoopsie44]

Yes, sort of like the current house edge.

[Cyrus]

[ QUOTE ]
The player has many small advantages over the dealer: seeing one of the dealer's cards, ...

[/ QUOTE ]

Always angling, huh?

/images/graemlins/cool.gif

[Cyrus]

You may not become a "great Blackjack player" but you could at least play for fun and minimize the casino's edge over you, through adopting Basic Strategy.

A table with the proper way to play Basic Strategy can be found mostly everywhere these days. Try to get one that is specified around your game's rules but even a generic table will do enough.) By using BS, you will be playing with what is arguably the lowest house advantage against a player!

Which is a great way to earn comps. (Onwards to that research for ya.)

By the way, since some poster /images/graemlins/grin.gif might comment here that I'm misinforming players into playing a negative-EV game, let me add this: I have seen people playing badly, very badly or extremely badly and I have seen people card counting (or doing other AP stuff) well, pretty well or fantastically well.

But I have NOT seen anyone playing perfect Basic Strategy! Because anyone who masters BS perfectly, sooner or later moves on to advantage play.

...So, hope this helps.

[Student Caine]

Thank Cyrus (and everyone else).

I have been using the BS app for the last few nights and it is definitely a useful tool. For the most part, I have an understanding of basic strategic concepts. However, as the BS app is showing me (and most of you realize), I was far from perfect.

You are 100% correct in your assessment that while I am not a pro, I would like to have the Basic Startegy down well.

Thanks again! /images/graemlins/wink.gif

[Tony.T]

The house wins because if both U and the dealer busts, you still lose. That is the only edge, but a really big one



Good luck

[Nottom]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
"...while the players have the freedom to choose what they can do."

In your case, this offers the house a rather large advantage.
/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Hahaha...I have no doubt about that - I am not nor do I pretend to be a Blackjack superstar. /images/graemlins/tongue.gif

Unfortunately the casino near me has many sucker games - the least suckerish of which is Blackjack....so instead of being able to sit at a poker table I get to watch the dealers pull cards out of a 5 deck constant shuffling shoe....heck, I'd even take a pair of dice over that. /images/graemlins/tongue.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

I know people have already hounded you a bit, but if you are playing a poor BJ strategy you could easily be giving up more than you would at one of the other "sucker games" offered.