Are there disadvantages to multi-player BJ?

I have a question regarding multiplayer BJ (non-tournament) in a casino.

I'm still a bit new to the game (I've just found Blackjack in the last 3 months) and only recently mastered Basic Strategy for 1-deck and 4-8 deck game play. I've now taken about 9 trips to the casino and found the game to be just as fair as it claims to be! (up about $350 right now)

WELL....I've found that I do MUCH better (I win more $$$) when I get the rare opportunity to play HEAD to HEAD w/ a dealer.....

Now, is this just dumb superstition? Or are my odds to win actually BETTER when ther are no other players at the table? NOTE: I am sure that the distraction of additional players is NOT preventing me from playing perfect BS, I just want to know if their actual presence affects a player's odds of beating the dealer!!? -- e.g. Very simply, when there are only 2 of us at the table (dealer and ME) I know my odds to win each hand are about %50)

thanks!

DoubleFiddle

Additional Players

Read this article about other players affecting you chances. I believe that the probability of your winning the hand is based on the cards you are delt, not what the other players do.

http://renzey.casinocitytimes.com/article/can-bad-players-screw-up-your-game-1050

I have read that article. The only time I disagree with it is when there is an idiot playing at third base.

I will say this also - I have lost a lot of money that I won over several hours at the same table when everyone took off and I played with the dealer one on one.

I think it's whatever you like and whatever you are comfortable with. The more comfortable you are, the more likely your play will be good.

For me, I don't have a real preference, with one exception. Some dealers where I play really tend to play quite fast and really slam through the cards when it's one on one. I don't enjoy that style, and I will ask them to slow it down. If I have to ask more than once, then it's time for me to leave.

That is my hardest thing, learning to recognize what makes me uncomfortable and avoid it. I am finding that as I am able to do this, my play is improving and my roll is growing - albiet slowly.

How the player in 3rd base plays, let alone any other player at the table, has nothing to do with your results. Sometimes you'll grumble in your head and say "if they would have played perfect strategy the dealer would have bust". Other times, they'll play 'incorrectly' resulting in the dealer busting. It can happen either way, just people seem to forget the times the 'dummy' at 3rd base helped them and instead focus on the negative hands.

The annoying thing I find though, is when a player sits there with his/her 15 or 16 debating out loud what to do. The reason I find this annoying is because it wastes time and listening to their banter is in itself annoying. But if everyone played perfect BS and a majority of those people counted cards I think we'd quickly see the end of BJ games as we know it and more CSM and rules like BJ pays 6:5 would show up. So, next time you want to get mad at the idiot on 3rd base understand that their poor play is necessary to cover for your advantage play.

Heads up with the dealer

The only difference between one-on-one with the dealer and a full table (or any number of players) is how many hands you will get per hour.
Heads up you may very well get 200+ and at a full table in the 40/50 range.
Many players don't like to play heads up with the dealer.
"I always lose when it's just me and the dealer" they say.
Well, they probably lose at the full table also.....it just takes them longer.

I've seen this complaint from many. However, remember, you can control the speed. The dealer has to wait on your decision to hit or stand. And, in a head-to-head situation, you are not slowing anybody else down.

That's true enough, I suppose. However, I like a dealer with a slower overall tempo. Too much fancy fast stuff is a little distracting to me.

Plus, I have found that a dealer who deals quickly usually gets annoyed when I sit there, waiting on a decision.

Part of my game is my overall enjoyment of playing. I'm fine with every dealer having different styles, but I don't necessarily want to play with some of them.

Good point, though ZMan