21-05-2021

In Blackjack Dealer Holds At

When you play blackjack, you have some incomplete information to base your playing decisions on.You know the value of your two cards and you know the value of the dealer’s up card. You don’t know what the dealer’s hole card is and you don’t know what the next card out of the shoe will be. Since there are four aces and 16 cards 10-K, the raw probability of a hand being blackjack is: Pblackjack=4×16 (52 2). The probability of both getting blackjack is just the probability of the player getting blackjack and the subsequent probability of the dealer also getting blackjack: Pboth=Pblackjack×3×15.

“We’ve been in Vegas for a whole day and haven’t played a single hand of blackjack” the tourist exclaimed. Trips to Las Vegas get that way as life changes. Vacation priorities and preferences change over the years. So has the game of blackjack. It happens to all of us.

When a tourist reaches the point in a Vegas vacation where they MUST PLAY BLACKJACK, they’ll just sit down at the closest table that fits their bankroll regardless of the blackjack rules.

There was a time where there was just one type of blackjack game dealt in casinos. It may not feel like it, but blackjack has been getting more complicated for the past 5-10 years. Today, there are so many different ways to play blackjack in Las Vegas. Today we’ll look at blackjack games played with a human dealer since that’s how most people enjoy blackjack in a casino.

Live Dealer Games

Part of the appeal for many recreational blackjack players is the social factor. It’s fun to play blackjack with other people. However, not all blackjack games are the same. Here are some of the different types of live dealer blackjack games you’ll find in a casino.

Shoe Blackjack – This is the type of live blackjack game that will be familiar with most people. Dealing from a shoe is how most people learn to play blackjack around the country. There are more blackjack games in a casino that are dealt from a 4-8 deck shoe than any other type.

Pitch Blackjack – This type of dealing a blackjack game is where the dealer holds the deck or decks (single or double deck) and “pitches” the cards to the players. The good news is that fewer decks in play will lower the house edge of the game. Unfortunately, many casinos are now only offering pitch blackjack that pays 6:5 when a player is dealt a natural blackjack. Much like all games, check the rules before sitting down to play. Reminder: one of the best blackjack games in Las Vegas under $25 is the single deck game at El Cortez.

HoldsIn Blackjack Dealer Holds At

Continuous Shuffle Machines – I don’t know anyone who would prefer to play blackjack when the cards are dealt from a continuous shuffle machine than a dealer. The cards are constantly being shuffled by a machine (hence the name). It’s difficult to get a feel for the game when playing at a table where the dealer uses a continuous shuffle machine. It’s much easier to get in a groove when the cards or dealt from a shoe or pitched. While many people don’t like this kind of game, mathematically it doesn’t change the house edge much.

Payout For Natural Blackjack

The rules of blackjack are continuously changing. So are how casinos pay a player when they’re dealt a natural blackjack. There are plenty of rules to look out for to find the game with the lowest house edge. There’s one rule that really increases the house edge for the casino. The payout for being dealt a natural blackjack can make a game unplayable – unless it’s offered for $1 per hand. Even then, it’s still not a smart bet but there are plenty that would rather play a game for $1 just to sit back and enjoy the complimentary drinks.

In order of best to worst, here are the payouts you’ll receive for a natural blackjack.

  • Best: 3:2 – Blackjack ays $15 on a $10 wager.
  • Worse: 6:5 – Blackjack ays $12 on a $10 wager.
  • Worst: Even – Blackjack ays $10 on a $10 wager.

It’s always wise to look for the best blackjack rules even if you’re jonesin’ to get some hands in. The better the return on a natural blackjack, the longer you should be able to play. The reason you’re craving blackjack is that you like the game so you might as well get the best bang for your buck.

Blackjack Variants

Sometimes the limits of the best blackjack games in the casino are a bit high but you still want to play something similar to the game you love. That’s where blackjack variants come in handy. They may not be “normal” blackjack game but they might be close enough. These games often have a lower minimum bet so you can at least play some kind of blackjack.

In Blackjack Dealer Holds At

Here are a few blackjack variants that you should find in most Las Vegas casinos.

  • Games on trial

There are always new blackjack games introduced in casinos. Many of them haven’t lasted beyond a field trial like Blackjack Switch or Free Bet Blackjack. These are fun to try because they might not be around for long. Even if they don’t play, you can always say that you tried something rare.

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Blackjack Dealer Resume

Gamblers who’ve ever thought it would be nice to swap their cards around from one hand to the next should play “blackjack switch”. In this game, the player is dealt two blackjack hands. After the deal, the gambler is allowed to switch the upcard between these two hands, increasing the strength of one or both hand combinations. This is a tremendous advantage to a blackjack player.

As you might imagine, other rules are stipulated to mitigate that advantage. The house edge on this game can be as low as 0.20% (using the “Russian” rules), so it’s a solid version of twenty-one players should know about. As always when playing 21, know how the various rules affect the house edge or you could end up playing at an inferior table.

Basic Rules

This Stack of Chips Was Won by a Blackjack Switch Player

Unless otherwise noted, all rules of switch are based on the classic blackjack rules. In most casinos, either 6 or 8 decks are used. Switching from six to eight decks increases the house edge by 0.02%. In most land-based gaming venues, the dealer hits on a soft 17, but you will occasionally hear of the dealer standing on a soft 17. Players’ cards are dealt face up, while the dealer peaks for a blackjack if a ten or ace is showing. When the dealer holds a natural blackjack, all player hands lose automatically. If a player has a natural blackjack, then that hand is a push.

The player can double on any two cards. The player also may double after a split. Resplits can be performed up to four hands.

Dealer 22

To offset the advantageous rules of the game, any time a dealer holds a 22, this is a push if the player holds a 21 or less. If the player holds a natural twenty-one, then a dealer twenty-two still loses.

Blackjack Dealer Costume

1:1 Payouts on Natural 21

Another rule in the favor of the house is the 1 to 1 payout on a natural twenty-one. In the classic version of the game, this is seen as the worst rule you could play under. In this variant, the rule only offsets advantages, so it’s acceptable. Still, when considering strategy, understand that blackjacks pay much less.

Dealer Blackjack Rules

Switching Rules

When the player switches cards to a combined twenty-one, this is considered a “21”, but not a natural. In this scenario, a dealer 21 would beat this hand.

Switch Tip

One other deviation from the classic game rules is that players make two equal wagers in blackjack switch. This brings me to an important suggestion. Players must remember they must bet equally on both hands. If they neglect one hand to make the other unbeatable, they are still only breaking even. When switching cards, the player must try to build two strong hands.

Strategy Tips

Blackjack Dealer Jobs

Because of the dealer-22 rule, some hands you would stand on in convention twenty-one require you to hit. In other words, you have to be more aggressive, because the dealer isn’t going to bust as often. Anytime the dealer is showing a 7 or higher, that’s considered a strong hand and you’ll need to play accordingly. If a 3 through 6 is showing, the dealer’s hand looks weak. If the dealer is showing a 2, this isn’t as weak as you’d expect, because 22 isn’t a bust.

When you hold an 18 through 20 and your total beats the dealer’s upcard total (assuming the other card is a 10), then you should place strong bets. For instance, if you hold a 19 and the dealer is showing 8, this is considered advantageous for you.

When to Stand

Stand anytime you have a hard 17 or higher. When you have a hard 12 through 16, hit when the dealer has a 7 through ace. Hit a hard 13 or 14 versus a 2. Hit a hard 12 versus a two, three, or four. Stand any other time you have a hard hand against a 2 through 5.

Stand on a soft 19 or 20. Always stand on a soft 18 when against a 2 through 8, but hit on a soft 18 versus a nine through ace. When you have a soft 17 or below, always hit before doubling. Double down when you have a 10 or an 11 against a 2 through 6. Double down on a 9 when against a dealer-6. If you have an ace-6 or ace-7, double down against a 5 or a 6. When you hold an ace-5, double against a dealer-6 only.

How Much Do Blackjack Dealers Make

Switching to a Stronger Winner

When switching, it’s sometimes good to switch to a stronger winning hand. For instance, let’s say you hold an 18 and a 14, but you have a chance to switch to a 19 and 13. This second combination is considered better. Nineteen is a much stronger hand than eighteen. At the same time, 13 and 14 are virtually identical hands, because in either case, you’re probably hoping for the dealer to bust out.

Blackjack Dealer Salary

House Edge

Blackjack Dealer Costume

Blackjack switch is a game any jaded classic twenty-one players should try. Not only do the switching rules add a whole other dimension to the game, but the house edge is lower than classic 21, if the rules are the same. You’ll find it a challenge to learn a whole other set of dealer rules. Players will come to hate the dealer twenty-two rule, because it’s going to break your heart several times a session. Players at land-based casinos and online casinos should be able to find the game. Microgaming, Playtech, and most other major online casino software companies have their own version of the game.