So how does the house have an edge in Blackjack?

Student Caine · #1 06-07-2005, 07:40 PM

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 · #2 06-07-2005, 07:48 PM

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

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

hoopsie44 · #3 06-07-2005, 09:54 PM

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 · #4 06-07-2005, 11:07 PM

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

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

[/ QUOTE ]

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

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. [img]/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]

Student Caine · #5 06-07-2005, 11:08 PM

[ 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. [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

Iceman · #6 06-08-2005, 10:07 AM

[ 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 · #7 06-08-2005, 10:44 AM

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 · #8 06-08-2005, 10:55 AM

Or just go to wizardofodds.com

fluff · #9 06-08-2005, 11:10 AM

[ 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 · #10 06-08-2005, 10:48 PM

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 [img]/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]) I definitely want to do as well as possible.

Thanks again for the information. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]