6/5 Blackjack
 

Just spent 2 out of the last 3 weeks in LAS. 1 week at LV Hilton then 1 week at Harrahs. (2 trade shows)

Admittedly. I didn't play much. Probably 8-10 hours total in 2 weeks. (I'm too tired after standing on trade show floor all day to stay up all night any more) But, what I saw bothered me tremendously. I only play BJ (I did win a few hundred dollars) but it looks like most tables are turning into BJ pays 6 to 5. That sucks!!

How the Hell can people play at tables that take away 1.50 for every 5.00 bet that hits a BJ?

FYI, while strip hotels were charging 150.00 plus a night, Hilton was 59.00 (weekend included)

6/5 blackjack has been a fairly well documented trend over the past 5 years.

Basically, people are uninformed, and don't care. The other "attraction" is that many properties offer single deck 6/5 (still an awful game); but people are "attracted" to the single deck aspect.

The good news, is that the 3/2 games are there (usually right next to the 6/5 tables), so you can just avoid them. I gave up trying to explain it to people years ago (@ the tables). Seems people get insulted if you try to tell them they could be playing the same game for better odds one table over.

With regard to the Hilton, I think it's not really a worthwhile option, considering that the other strip properties are offering all types of promos. Now, it varies form week to week form property to property; but Wynn/Encore for under $110, Mirage for $35 to $55 etc. etc. are much better options that the Hilton, IMO. Though, I do understand the reasoning for staying at the Hilton if you need the adjacent convention center. Other wise, I sort of think it's a dog. If I'm going to be off-strip, I at least want to be at a resort with a cool vibe (M Resort, Palms Place etc.). ;);)

Now, me... I hate blackjack; and barring my screen name, I spend most of my time in Vegas playing dice. Unfortunately, the table limits for my type of baccarat (big baccarat) at the resorts that I have recently been frequenting (Palazzo/Encore) have crazy table minimums ($300 to $500); so I save my baccarat action for Atlantic City. (well, except for the one lonely $100 big baccarat table at RIO, which is still a fun place to play a "bit" --- if you can get over the overall depressed mood of that once awesome property)

Interesting comment...True. Last week I was at an Orthopedic Surgeons Meeting AAOS. In the morning when the docs were walking into the meeting BJ tables were min 25 with most being 50-100 min at the Venetian. The docs were not gambling:D

i noticed the last few times ive been in vegas that it is getting harder and harder to find under $25/hand b/j tables that arent 6/5 payouts

I refuse to play any blackjack that pays out 6/5. They shouldn't even call the game blackjack if that's the case.

Guys a question,

i've been playing mostly online, on a real casino can i print this

http://www.info-blackjack.info/Index...rategy%20Lines

and take it with me to the table, i have been reading about this and everywhere it says that i could, but what about you guys that have been there, have you seen a personal using a printed strategy card ?, how does it looks in front of the other players ?

tks in advance

Printed strategy sheets are allowed at tables
 

There are $1.99 plastic cards which are more convenient.

Lots of varieties of BJ available. The game has been changing for the past 40 years.

If you are new to BJ, look for "penetration"; e.g. a 3/2 BJ game where the dealer reshuffles after every hand is worse for an "advantage" player than a 6/5 game where the dealer is dealing deep (e.g. 3 hands for 4 players, 4 hands for 3 players).

3/2 Single Deck: Four Queens, El Cortez (Binions had 3/2 again for a few months, but they changed back to 6/5). Watch out for early-shuffling dealers at Four Queens. El Cortez is nice & very "wongable", but you can get booted for winning small ($100-$200) amounts of money. Keep your play short.

On the strip, 3/2 is usually available on Double Deck. At $25, sometimes "stand on soft 17" is available.

Sahara has a triple-up game, where BJ's pay 1:1, but you can triple up on 9-10-11. Soft hands only allow 2X.

Sahara also has $1 blackjack - shoes & double deck (forget if they have single deck on $1). But if you bet less than $5, the BJ's pay 1:1. It's a good place to learn Blackjack. If you are staying at the Sahara, they offer $50 for $40 on a coupon (ask at the front desk).

There are quite a few casinos which offer "win Cards" ($15 for $10, or $30 for $20). This gives you a 50% advantage over the house.

There's also a "super fun" game, where most BJs pay 1:1, but you get surrender and double-at-any-time.

See http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/las-v...s-20-cash.html

Good luck!

thanks a lot, great deal of information...

I noticed a lot of 6:5 specifically at every Harrah's property I was at last time I was in Vegas. I played once, but I can't put my money down on that ever again, do they really need their edge to be that much higher? I'm not the most sophisticated gambler but I have no problem walking past a 6:5 table.

They are just playing the numbers game and as long as people approve (keep playing) the 6/5 blackjack then it will stay. Same with the automatic shufflers. Notice in high limit there's always odds favoring the gambler and no shufflers.