Basic Strategy Play Question

[slowride]

If your going to play BJ and want to just play correct basic strategy only %100 and no counting which game should I play over the other? Ive always just played 6d shoes with good rules, however if I'm not counting should I play a 1 or 2 deck pitch game? My understanding from these games the house has a much less edge on these single or double deck games, and Im aware you cant backcount (No mid shoe entry) and most of the times the cards are dealt face down. So if your just playing BS, should I find good pitch games or stick to the 6d shoes games to be more profitable/have fun Thanks!

 

[Lonesome Gambler]

Believe it or not, many of the pitch (handheld) games have a house edge as great as or exceeding the shoe games. My advice would be to take a few games that you're choosing between as an example and compare them and plug them into this:

http://wizardofodds.com/blackjack/house-edge-calculator.html

That will tell you which game has the lowest house edge. For example, a 6D shoe game might be H17 DAS RSA LS and a DD pitch game might be H17 DAS RSA. Which game is better?

Another thing to consider is the amount of hands played per hour. Shoe games are usually faster, barring preposterously complex shuffles by paranoid casinos, allowing the player to play more hands per hour. This hurts the non-counter because they have more of a negative expectation. If you're not counting, you probably want, in this order:

- the best rules/lowest house edge
- as many players at the table as possible
- the slowest game possible (dealing, shuffle, etc.)
- people having fun at the table (slows the game down more and is more enjoyable)

The last three all achieve the same thing, of course. The good news is that, by playing perfect basic strategy and playing in very sow games, the value of your comps can occasionally give you a very marginal positive expectation without counting, especially if you're a larger bettor. Don't expect miracles, but it can be fun and relatively cheap in the long run.

 

[wwcd]

- the best rules/lowest house edge
- as many players at the table as possible
- the slowest game possible (dealing, shuffle, etc.)
- people having fun at the table (slows the game down more and is more enjoyable)

- and the lowest minimum

Pitch games usually have higher minimums than shoe games to compensate the casino for the lower house edge. So, one should consider the house edge along with the table minimum and should always flat bet the table minimum if playing BS for fun.

In order to spice up the BS game, I sometimes count during the first two-three hands and if the count goes up quite high, I bet 2x, 3x table minimum. Adds excitement, without the need for a big bankroll or added fear of RoR.

 

[Sucker]

The most important piece of advice I could ever give to a basic strategy player:
ANY game in which blackjack pays 6:5; avoid like the plague!

 

[Southpaw]

Please do us AP's a very much appreciated favor and avoid the CSM's like the plague as well. Stick with the shoes, unless you think you see one of us up to some funny business at one of the shoe games :joker: AP's do not like it when their tactics are foiled.

SP

 

[slowride]

Thanks for the advice fellas!