Appreciate any help

[Stick]

First let me say I've been out of blackjack for about 10 years now and I just started playing again for reasons I'll get into later (I'm a poker/backgammon player) Anyway ... my questions:

1. What 'advances' has the computer age made? The few BJ books I've read, Thorpe's classic Beat the Dealer and Blackjack for Blood ('Bryce Carleson') were good books, but from surfing around online I already notice some major differences especially in what I'm interested in.

I want to know what is the absolute strategy for an 8 deck shoe which is reshuffled after every hand. Whether I need to buy a book or be sure that one of the links online I've come across is 100% accurate I'd love to know. Blackjack for Blood's strategy slightly varies with some of the 'new' charts I've seen.

Rules for this 8 deck shoe:
Double down on any two
Split any two
Double after splitting
Dealer hits soft 17
BJ paid 3:2
Early surrender allowed
Dealer gets a hole card (down card)
Insurance offered (but never taken, obviously)

Not that I see how it could matter, but the table limits are from .10 - $300 (that's ten cents)

Lastly, does anyone have a rough estimation of the house edge with these rules in effect? I'd guesstimate .5 - 1% leaning towards the .5%?

Thanks in advance to anyone who is willing/able to help. Also a note to the mods of the forums, the smilies are all 404s except : confused : and
: sarcastic :

Stick

[Grifter]

Stick - First of all, welcome to the Forum.....The 'computer age' hasn't changed anything as far as your questions are concerned.

- For basic strategy, I would recommend "wizardofodds.com" site for accurate, printable charts.

- Regarding the house edge for the rules you have posted.....Are you sure about the early surrender? That would be very unusual.
- For those rules and late surrender the house edge is 0.5596%.
- For those rules and early surrender the game is virtually "even" (0.027%).

Hope this helps.....Grifter

[Stick]

You're right, late surrender, early surrender, I wish lol. Hadn't thought about those terms in a long time ;) I have been to wizardofodds but thanks for the link...in particular I was wondering about certain places to surrender. I even came across charts that say to surrender on 8/8 vs. T or A. Also I was unsure of surrendering when I have a hard 17 vs. an ace!?

I believe I also have stand A/8 vs. a 6 for multi deck. (wizard says double)

I have stand on A/7 vs. 2 but the wizard says double?

Thanks again -- any hard evidence/results on why to do one versus the other? I can read the charts, it's just finding the ones with the most statistically significant trials to back it up.

Stick

[nc-tom]

Welcome Stick I would like to know where you are playing that reshuffles after every hand in a 8 deck shoe? Also where did you find a game with a 10 cent min.Is this an online casino? Just wondering.All the best

[Stick]

Paradise Poker is where I'm describing.

Stick

[FunkyChicken]

Regarding the soft 19 versus a 6, its basically even whether you double or stand. Thus, I think basic strategy says stand because its easier to remember. The exact numbers:

If dealer hits on soft 17:
Standing gives you 0.45 edge
Doubling gives you a 0.46 edge

If dealer stands on soft 17:
Standing gives you a 0.49 edge
Doubling gives you a 0.48 edge

Regarding soft 18 versus 2, its the same story:

If dealer hits on soft 17:
Standing gives you a .112 edge
Doubling gives you a .115 edge

If dealer stands on soft 17:
Standing gives you a .123 edge
Doubling gives you a .120 edge

Again, rather than memorize two sets of rules for that 3 hundredths of a percentage point, its easier to have a simple rule for all.

[Nickels_n_Bullets]

Funky... that would be Soft 19 vs. 6 (A-8).

Yes DD both A8v. 6 and A7v. 2 if dealer hits soft 17
and stand on both if dealer stands Soft 17. The wiz iz correct as usual.

Stick with the dimes and quarters at Paradise Poker for 21. I, and others have noticed that the software gets greedy above $10 or if you're ahead by $50+.

It has been noted on this forum by others that there is what amounts to a 'secondary program' that establishes a minimum house advantage. Many if not ALL internet casinos use it, or have a computer script that allows adjustment of it. Generally it ranges from 1 to 10%, or OFF.

For example, this 21 game is rated at 0.55% house advantage, but another option allows the house to keep 2% of the monies wagered. This amounts to a 'true' house pay-out of 99.45% of 98%, or 97.46%... meaning the house advantage is 2.54%... NOT 0.55% !!! This sort of thing is strictly prohibited by Nevada Gaming Law, and is a fundamental reason why US based internet casinos are illegal.

CAVEAT EMPTOR!

[FunkyChicken]

You're right, I corrected my post. I had the right numbers, just miswrote.

[Stick]

I won't go into it but as of now I'm up about $600 vs. paradise blackjack, bets ranging from .14 - almost $300 ... been playing 2 weeks straight

Stick

[cass]

I won't go into it but as of now I'm up about $600 vs. paradise blackjack, bets ranging from .14 - almost $300 ... been playing 2 weeks straight

Stick

sounds like you may be using some sort of betting progression?

[Stick]

Betting progressions are supposed to be long term loser by definition aren't they? ;o) I'm just toying with the math is all ... and I do believe it to be a long term loser, but as of now I can't possibly come out a loser as the progression that would need to happen would lose me under $600. I am going to continue just to see how it works, and if I hit the worst of it soon, I'll simply quit still being ahead. Btw, I don't play these hands, a bot does.

Stick

[cass]

Betting progressions are supposed to be long term loser by definition aren't they? ;o) I'm just toying with the math is all ... and I do believe it to be a long term loser, but as of now I can't possibly come out a loser as the progression that would need to happen would lose me under $600. I am going to continue just to see how it works, and if I hit the worst of it soon, I'll simply quit still being ahead. Btw, I don't play these hands, a bot does.

Stick


ahh..making money in your sleep. Nice. What kind of betting spread is allowed at this casino min and max?

[Stick]

I already posted this, but it may have been in a different thread.

betting spread .10 - $300 (that's a dime)

paradisepoker

Stick