Blackjack advantages in Sweden

#1
I live in Sweden and have recently started practicing card counting. Although i am able to keep track of the count and play basic strategy, i'm not totally sure about the possible percental advantage in card counting according to Swedish rules.
I heard from a friend who is supposed to be a very capable card counter that the circumstances and rules in sweden provide great privileges compared to card counting in the US.

I have heard claims that there actually is a player advantage by 4% just by playing according to basic strategy (a very unusual skill in Sweden). By what i have read on this forum, merely playing basic strategy would allow twice the profits in Sweden compared to professional card counting in the US.

Is it possible that it actually is true?
 

FLASH1296

Well-Known Member
#3
My understanding is that all BJ available in Western Europe and Scandinavia is absurdly poor.

I certainly hope that I am wrong, but The Wizard of Odds is an impeccable source.

There is good BJ to play in Eastern Europe, e.g. Ukraine, Poland

There the House Edge is generally about .35%

Russia recently closed all of it's casinos.
 

UK-21

Well-Known Member
#4
Depends what you compare things with. Games in the UK (6D, S17, DOA, DAS, RSA, NS) are certainly no worse than H17 shoe games in the States, despite the "naturals only" insurance rule and no hole card effect.

The answer is, of course, to know the rules in force and any of the "exentricities" that have a profound effect.
 
#5
Percy said:
Afraid I've heard to the contrary.

See http://wizardofodds.com/askthewizard/blackjack-basicstrategy.html

About a third of the way down he answers a question on blackjack in scandanavia.

If these rules still stand, then I woudn't suggest trying to overcome this edge by counting. 6% is just too big! (even with great pen)

However, blackjack rules do change so maybe go and check out your nearest casinos to see if the games have improved.
Thanks for the responses.

I don't actually think those rules are used nowadays.
Where i have played neither NDAS, D9, nor 1spl are applied. The rule "dealer wins ties 17-19" is still applied.
Surely this wouldn't affect the house edge by 4-6%?
 

SleightOfHand

Well-Known Member
#6
Sandery3 said:
Thanks for the responses.

I don't actually think those rules are used nowadays.
Where i have played neither NDAS, D9, nor 1spl are applied. The rule "dealer wins ties 17-19" is still applied.
Surely this wouldn't affect the house edge by 4-6%?
The dealer wins ties is a HUGE boost in HE. Wizard of Odds shows that this rule increases HE by 5.3%
 

FLASH1296

Well-Known Member
#7
Such a game is bizarrely bad.

In the U S A the "dealer takes ties" rule is only seen when there is an actual bona fide one-day charity event, in which nobody expects to have any chance to win

The game is entirely unbeatable.

Bare in mind that a Basic Strategy player will experience over 9% "ties"
 

rukus

Well-Known Member
#9
Sandery3 said:
I have now confirmed that NDAS, D7-11 and dealer wins ties 17-19 is applied at swedish casinos.
just a small update, i believe there are now certain casinos in one or two scandinavian countries that do not have this dealer wins ties rule. i know of at least one casino. still not a phenomenal game though...
 
#10
The Swedish rules at the proper state casino (NOT bars and clubs, where the rules are a rip-off as described above):

6 decks, shuffle machine

Dealer stands on 17, including soft 17. Ties are treated as normal standoffs, dealer does NOT win.

Double down permitted on 9, 10, 11

Double down NOT allowed on soft hands

Double down permitted after split

Split Aces, one card only, 21 pays even money. Re-split of Aces allowed.

Insurance offered. Also I think an even money payout is offered if player has BJ v dealer A (or 10, not sure).

7-7-7 pays immediate even money bonus, hand itself played out as normal.

Anyone know what the house edge is if playing basic strategy?
 

tezzadiver

Well-Known Member
#11
leopard said:
The Swedish rules at the proper state casino (NOT bars and clubs, where the rules are a rip-off as described above):

6 decks, shuffle machine

Dealer stands on 17, including soft 17. Ties are treated as normal standoffs, dealer does NOT win.

Double down permitted on 9, 10, 11

Double down NOT allowed on soft hands

Double down permitted after split

Split Aces, one card only, 21 pays even money. Re-split of Aces allowed.

Insurance offered. Also I think an even money payout is offered if player has BJ v dealer A (or 10, not sure).

7-7-7 pays immediate even money bonus, hand itself played out as normal.

Anyone know what the house edge is if playing basic strategy?
Do you mean Blackjack pays even money? Forget this game- The house edge will be astronomical.
Pretty sick rules. Casino`s like these should be outlawed in my opinion. Greedy bastards.
:mad:
 
#12
tezzadiver said:
Do you mean Blackjack pays even money? Forget this game- The house edge will be astronomical.
Pretty sick rules. Casino`s like these should be outlawed in my opinion. Greedy bastards.
:mad:
Thanks for the fast response, tezzadiver.

No, blackjack still pays 3-2.

However: when splitting aces, there is no BJ, 21 pays even money. And even money is offered (but doesn't have to be taken, and shouldn't, of course), if you have BJ to dealer's A.
 

tezzadiver

Well-Known Member
#13
leopard said:
Thanks for the fast response, tezzadiver.

No, blackjack still pays 3-2.

However: when splitting aces, there is no BJ, 21 pays even money. And even money is offered (but doesn't have to be taken, and shouldn't, of course), if you have BJ to dealer's A.
I get 0.51% HE

I assume no hole card dealt? European style?

Well its not the best of games and of course you can`t count with it as they use CSM`s (continuous shuffler machines) ?

If this was a shoe dealt game- I would still take even money on a dealer ace, If I was showing a BJ at a true count of plus 3.
 

FLASH1296

Well-Known Member
#16

Being unable to double your soft hands is quite costly; requiring DEEP
penetration and/or a wide bet ramp to make the game exploitable.
 
#17
FLASH1296 said:

Being unable to double your soft hands is quite costly; requiring DEEP
penetration and/or a wide bet ramp to make the game exploitable.
No it isn't. It costs about .1 to the basic strategy edge, and isn't all that well correlated with the count.
 

FLASH1296

Well-Known Member
#18
Game selection is a primary skill.

.1% is significant in BJ.

The BJ games that I play have e.v.'s from .14 to .35

Ergo, adding .10 is HIGHLY significant.

My skills pay my bills; and game selection is a primary skill.
 
#19
FLASH1296 said:
.1% is significant in BJ.

The BJ games that I play have e.v.'s from .14 to .35

Ergo, adding .10 is HIGHLY significant.

My skills pay my bills; and game selection is a primary skill.

Except that you said:

"Being unable to double your soft hands is quite costly; requiring DEEP
penetration and/or a wide bet ramp to make the game exploitable."

Nope, it is NOT "quite costly", and the lack of the rule does NOT necessarily require deep penetration or some massive spread to be overcome.

Its lack is of modest significance, way down on the list compared to slightly better penetration, ls/rsa, heat, spreads, and other issues.
 

FLASH1296

Well-Known Member
#20
Semantic arguments are a waste of time; so removing the verbiage I shall stick to the numbers.

Thus, if you are playing a game with a House Edge of .3% and you add .1% you have inflated your disadvantage by 33%.
 
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