A visit to Crown

[mp10477]

Hi all~~

I am a newbie in the forum, so say hi to all first.

I just come back from Crown casino in Melbourne and get completely confused about the blackjack tables they got.

So, I can see some tables with the CSM, some tables are shoe games.

The cheapest shoe game I remeber is $15 pontoon in red felt, close to the food court enterance. btw, what's pontoon?

The most popular tables are the $5 Sports BJ with 6 to 5 and hit at soft 17.

It seems the most normal tables are those next to craps with $50 - $100 minimum.

If I use Hi - Lo count to play in those tables, is the winning percentage good enough for me to sit down and earn some money?

Please suggest.

[RingyDingy]

Nope not all, you will lose money in the long run, you need to be very specific and particular about playing at crown, i suggest you put your money back in your wallet, learn the game and its opportunities, then re-evaluate your play.

In the mean time, dont give the packers any of your money.

[Phillip Marlowe]

The best BJ games at Crown are in the Mahogany Room. If you are local you will need significant rated action to get a card. If you are from interstate or overseas you will need $10k buy-in. The best BJ's on the main floor are $50 in the Maple room (no card Req.) Game is called Premier BJ Perfect BS = -0.65%advantage; H17, dbl on any 2 cards, split to 3 hands.
With Perfect BS on Pontoon the game is .54%, there is an advantage to be had here but the BS with counting is more difficult to learn. (The Pro's guide to spanish 21 is a good reference)

[blackjackstudent]

mp10477,

Don't even consider playing any blackjack games at Crown. Yes as Phillip Marlowe had mentioned the best BJ is in the Mohaganny room which has a house edge around 0.5%. Mohaganny room has S17 (soft 17) rules with eight decks, no surrender.

On the main floor, the best blackjack games are in the Maple room and Monte-Carlo room which have decks dealt from a shoe shuffled by an ASM (Automated Shuffling Machine) - you can double on any first two cards (which includes soft doubling). It is 8 decks, hard 17, no surrender. I think Crown Casino only has H 17 and other casinos in Aust have S 17 on their blackjack. Even so, the table minimum is $ 30 per box up to $ 1200.

Outside the VIP, you can forget it - rules heavily favour the house through the use of 6:5 BJ and CSM (Continuous Shuffling Machines). Yes these are cheap stake tables but even so, its going to be difficult to learn as the 6:5 rule adds another 1.4% advantage to the house. You cant count cards on CSMs.

Pontoon is a good game but its still considered a carnival game in Australia and in Crown VIP rooms, there are no Pontoon tables at all. I have asked various pitbosses about this. On the main floor, Pontoon is dealt from a CSM so yeah - stay away from Crown.

If more people play 6:5 BJ all the BJ tables will eventually become the main stay.