Estimated House Edge: -0.16%

[ranran]

Question -

According to the BS engine on this site Mummys Gold (online casino) has rules that give the player a .16% advantage. The rules are -

8 Decks
Stand on 17
Double any 2
Double after split
Early surrender

Now if I did the math right, for every 100 hands played I should show a profit of $16 dollars. I am letting the autoplay feature do the work. So how come I am losing so badly?

 

[ranran]

Examples

August 30

$967 BR
after 1500 hands I was at $142

Today
BR - $550
after 500 hands $537

PS - This is in Practice mode. There's no real $$$$ being wagered

 

[KenSmith]

I haven't looked carefully yet at each of the new Gold Series games rules, but I don't recall seeing an 8-deck game with Early Surrender.

There IS one new game with Early Surrender, their new Big Five Blackjack game. It's 5 decks, H17, no peek, DAS, DA2, Early Surrender against 10 only.

HOWEVER, THE AUTO-PLAY STRATEGY CHART FOR THIS GAME IS BADLY FLAWED! If you plan to Auto-Play, make sure you correct the chart.

It is quite apparent that Microgaming just used an existing strategy chart, and it was from a No DAS, D9 game.

I'm away from my notes, but here's what I remember that needs to be changed. I may have forgotten one or two.

Surrender 14,15,16 vs T.
Surrender 77,88 vs T.
Surrender 16 vs 9.

Dbl A7 vs 2-6.
Dbl A8 vs 6.

Split 22 and 33 vs 2 and 3.
Don't split AA vs A.

Regardless, I don't believe there is a game available with a player advatnage. Unless I've missed something, the "Classic Blackjack" will have the lowest house edge. I noticed that they don't allow Auto-Play at all on that game, which I think is a good move. That means the game will probably generate a higher hold for them than if they had an accurate auto-play chart. Some players will misplay hands, and that makes it easier for them to offer the game. Knowledgeable players are better off as a result.

Note: I'll be travelling for a few days, so responses may be delayed.

 

[sagefr0g]

Question -

According to the BS engine on this site Mummys Gold (online casino) has rules that give the player a .16% advantage. The rules are -

8 Decks
Stand on 17
Double any 2
Double after split
Early surrender

Now if I did the math right, for every 100 hands played I should show a profit of $16 dollars. I am letting the autoplay feature do the work. So how come I am losing so badly?

i believe the house would have an advantage on you in this game. i don't think the early surrender would give you as much of an advantage unless you were able to count cards. but i suspect the Mummys Gold site is shuffling up on you to often for you to count effectively.
(edited here) as Ken posted below you shouuld still have an edge........ i don't get it. it would seem you should come out ahead.(end edit).


best regards,
mr fr0g

 

[KenSmith]

Early surrender is very strong, when offered against both ten and Ace. It adds about 0.63% to the player expectation. That's "off the top", assuming no value added by card counting.

Unfortunately, it's also rare. At land-based casinos, I've only played early surrender games twice in my career. Once was a promotion at the now-closed Boardwalk Casino in Vegas. They limited bets to two hands of $25.

The other time was at the Lady Luck in Natchez (now an Isle of Capri). At the time, the pit there just misunderstood the difference between early and late surrender, and didn't realize they were offering a game with a nice player advantage. I played this a few times myself, and I also reported it to Wong's site at the time. He went up with a notice on the Black Chip board (also now defunct), and several people flew in to take advantage.

The situation predictably didn't stand up long under the assault of max bets and dedicated players.

Online casinos have offered ES from time to time, mostly against 10 only, which dilutes the effect substantially.

 

[ranran]

I haven't looked carefully yet at each of the new Gold Series games rules, but I don't recall seeing an 8-deck game with Early Surrender.

There IS one new game with Early Surrender, their new Big Five Blackjack game. It's 5 decks, H17, no peek, DAS, DA2, Early Surrender against 10 only.

HOWEVER, THE AUTO-PLAY STRATEGY CHART FOR THIS GAME IS BADLY FLAWED! If you plan to Auto-Play, make sure you correct the chart.

It is quite apparent that Microgaming just used an existing strategy chart, and it was from a No DAS, D9 game.

I'm away from my notes, but here's what I remember that needs to be changed. I may have forgotten one or two.

Surrender 14,15,16 vs T.
Surrender 77,88 vs T.
Surrender 16 vs 9.

Dbl A7 vs 2-6.
Dbl A8 vs 6.

Split 22 and 33 vs 2 and 3.
Don't split AA vs A.

Regardless, I don't believe there is a game available with a player advatnage. Unless I've missed something, the "Classic Blackjack" will have the lowest house edge. I noticed that they don't allow Auto-Play at all on that game, which I think is a good move. That means the game will probably generate a higher hold for them than if they had an accurate auto-play chart. Some players will misplay hands, and that makes it easier for them to offer the game. Knowledgeable players are better off as a result.

Note: I'll be travelling for a few days, so responses may be delayed.

For Clarification -

Atlantic City Blackjack & Atlantic City Blackjack GOLD

Progressive - NO,
Multi hand - NO
Decks – 8
Hole Card – Yes
Surrender – Yes
Double – Any 2
Split – Yes
Resplit – 2 times
Split Aces – No Draw
After Split – Double
Dealer Stand – All 17
BJ – 3:2

After playing over 2000 hands, I figured that there was a bug. I know that these games have EARLY surrender as I've shed a tear a few times watching it surrender me when I thought it should have hit.

The two games mentioned above have the same rules but differ in their look.

 

[ranran]

There IS one new game with Early Surrender, their new Big Five Blackjack game. It's 5 decks, H17, no peek, DAS, DA2, Early Surrender against 10 only.

HOWEVER, THE AUTO-PLAY STRATEGY CHART FOR THIS GAME IS BADLY FLAWED! If you plan to Auto-Play, make sure you correct the chart.

It is quite apparent that Microgaming just used an existing strategy chart, and it was from a No DAS, D9 game.

I'm away from my notes, but here's what I remember that needs to be changed. I may have forgotten one or two.

Surrender 14,15,16 vs T.
Surrender 77,88 vs T.
Surrender 16 vs 9.

Dbl A7 vs 2-6.
Dbl A8 vs 6.

Split 22 and 33 vs 2 and 3.
Don't split AA vs A.

Ken, do the flaws mentioned relate to the Big Five Blackjack game or relate to the game rules I mentioned? Sorry if this is a dumb question.

I will say that I like "Mummy's Gold" because if you "mouse over" a game, they let you know the rules and # of decks. I also like the fact that the dealer checks fo BJ (full peek?)

I also like the autoplay feature and that you can edit the BS chart.

Are there any other OCs that do the same?

Is this particular to Microgaming Casinos?

Is there any advantage for the house if the dealer has no hole card? Why is this done?

 

[KenSmith]

The Atlantic City game at Microgaming offers LATE surrender, not early surrender. When the dealer has blackjack, you can't surrender.

This game has a house edge of approximately 0.39%.

Comments on your other questions/points:
"Full peek": Some of the games at Microgaming have this, while others don't.
The No Peek games (aka European No Hole Card) increase the house advantage because the dealer can win multiple bets from you if they have blackjack. (In most cases, you shouldn't split or double against a dealer ten or Ace as a result.)

The auto-play with editable strategy chart is unique to Microgaming casinos.

 

[ranran]

Ken -

Thanks for setting me straight

So, the only gane out there with a player's edge is the 1D at Pharoh's casino? Since I read your reply, I have checked many of the other casinos/ganes and haven't come across any others with a player's edge.

Is it still sane to play at OCs? I mean outside of bonus hunting?
Do land based Casinos have such high House edges?