Spanish 21/ Pontoon

[blackjackstudent]

Which of the following is a better game?

I am from Australia and most Australian casinos offer Pontoon (unfortunately from a CSM and not a ASM) - I just wanted your opinion as to which game is better?

In Australia both BJ and Pontoon (equivalent to US Spanish 21) is played through no hole card but most casinos will take OBBO and not ENHC. Provided that all the rules are the same (such as 5 carded 21 pays 3 to 2, triple 7 spaded pays 3 to 1 and 6-7-8 mixed suit pays 3 to 2) - which is a better game?

In Australia, there is no hole card. You can beat the dealer's natural if you get 21 first and should you put an insurance bet, you can win that bet as well. However, when it comes to soft doubling, you are doubling at the lowest number - say you have A,7 vs the dealer's three and if you decide to double, you are doubling at 8 and not 8 or 18. Also in Australia, you can only surrender on TEN or ACE but if the dealer gets a natural, you lose all but if the dealer doesnt, you get half the bet back.

In US casinos, there is a hole card. Obviously, if the dealer gets a natural, everyone loses unless you have a natural which you win. You can double on any number of cards and this includes soft doubling, so if you double on A,7 vs 3, you are doubling on 8 or 18 and if you draw a 2, the total is 20 but in Australia, the total is 10 only. You can surrender (after the dealer has checked for a natural) on any dealer's upcard including 7,8,9 - well you can surrender on 2 if you want to as well. You will get half the bet back though

In the state of Washington, there is the double-double rule effect but I think in my opinion, this could be costly. In Katarina Walker's book, she mentions doubling again if your total is 12 versus the dealer's 7 or 8. The double-double rule can make you win a lot of money or lose a lot of money - so its hard to see how its valuable. The dealer is never favoured to bust on any of his upcard - 6 has a 40% bust rate in Sp 21.

All the other US states, there is no double-double rule.

So which game is better?

 

[FLASH1296]

There are a few mostly TINY casinos with VERY low limits that offer the double-double rule
in Washington State and I believe there is 1 in Oregon and 1 in Las Vegas ("Fitzgeralds").

There is a cap on the double-double which is the table max, e.g. if there is a $200 Table Max
and you double a $60 bet you cannot then double again.

Other states do NOT offer the rule.

Most states offer 6 deck H17 Atlantic City and Canada offer 8 deck S17, as does a few casinos in the MidWest.

Your mention of the dealer's bust rate in relation to this rule is off the mark, as it ignores your simply
getting a winning hand or a mediocre hand with the dealer getting a 17 or 18.

Basic Strategy for those games even have you doubling on a Hard 5 or 6 against a dealer's 6.

You need to review the data on these games presented at wizardofodds.com.
While there, you will see an embedded link for Katarina Walker's fine text.

Buy it. If you are too cheap to buy it, how can you ever expect to learn how to play.

Incidentally, I have corresponded with several Aussie players and I have concluded that there are
a few smaller casinos that do offer a hand-shuffled (NON C.S.M.) game of Patoon for moderate stakes.

Otherwise the continent is a vast wasteland.

 

[Mr. T]

In my opinion it is about the same. But for a BS player it means getting another set of different plays inplanted in your mind. I just like to relax and play with 1 set of play without thinking.

 

[FLASH1296]

Mr T.

I do not know what "it" you are referring to.

Spanish21 is more complex than BJ.

Ergo, it is not a good game for you if, as you said, you seek to " ... play without thinking."

 

[Automatic Monkey]

Mr T.

I do not know what "it" you are referring to.

Spanish21 is more complex than BJ.

Ergo, it is not a good game for you if, as you said, you seek to " ... play without thinking."

Yes, stick to baccarat if you want to play without thinking. SP21 requires very high max bets and you absolutely need to use at least 4 index plays.

 

[jnrwilliam]

Yes, stick to baccarat if you want to play without thinking. SP21 requires very high max bets and you absolutely need to use at least 4 index plays.

pls explain 4 index plays.
appreciate.

 

[moo321]

Yeah, you'll need to spread a lot. Double deck may be better.