[CORed]

Others in this thread have done a pretty good job of explaining how card counting, etc. can change a -EV game into a +EV game. I would like to point out that, depending on rules and conditions, blackjack can be a +EV game off the top. Many, many years ago, the standard game on the Las Vegas strip was single deck, dealer stand on soft 17, double any, no double after split. This game is just about break even for a Basic Straqtegy player, and a gold mine for card counters. It's not surprising that it isn't offered any more. When blackjack was first spread in Atlantic City, it was six deck, S17 with early surrender. This was +EV off the top, and a gold mine for counters. It wasn't too long before the early surrender was dropped. A couple of Colorado casinos used to offer 6 deck multi-action blackjack with early surrender. This was $5 max, so the achievable hourly rate was underwhelming. Also, a few Colorado casinos used to offer single deck S16 DAS, +EV off the top. The hourly rate with the $5 limit for BS player was less than $1.00 per hour. Even with the more typical rules, blackjack is one of the best (or more correctly, least bad) games in the casino. Most games have less then 1% house advantage , and some under 0.5%. Casinos can make money from games with no or very small edge for optimum non-counting play because most blackjack players play blackjack as badly, if not worse than most low limit poker players play poker. The Colorado $5 limit blackjack would be a money lose for the casinos if everybody played correct basic strategy. It would not bring in enough money to pay dealers, pit bosses, etc. However, because most people play badly enouth to give the house a much bigger edge than they theoretically have, it does make a little money for the casinos. The fact that they use $1 slot tokens and quareters to pay off blackjacks, and have slot machines positioned next to the tables so the gamboolers can play slots while the dealer is shuffling helps too.