Posted inGamble

6:5 Blackjack Math

Blackjack is a social game for me.  I don’t play much when I’m alone at a casino, but play almost exclusively when I’m with friends.  It seems there are many more blackjack players in Las Vegas than back east. The 6:5 vs. 3:2 blackjack issue seems bigger in Vegas as well.  Especially as the Cosmopolitan will be opening with 6:5 blackjack on the casino floor (like most casinos in Vegas).

I don’t gamble exclusively based on odds, but I try to play better odds games.  I like to know what I’m in for so I try to do the math beforehand to know what my expected losses are going into the casino.

I decided to check the awesome Wizard of Odds Blackjack house edge calculator to see the difference in payouts and if it’s worth it to make a stink out of the difference.  Under basic rules I find that the house edge for 3:2 blackjack is about .25%.

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While 6:5 payouts with the same result jack the house edge to about 1.61%.

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The difference seems staggering at first, but when looking at my bankroll I don’t think it’s enough to dissuade me from playing 6:5 blackjack if I “have” to.  Meaning, if I was having a good time at a casino I’d probably play if it were the only choice.

The house edge in 6:5 blackjack is still half of most of the other card games in the casino.  Obviously I will always look for better options, but I wouldn’t let the payout dictate my fun.

Gambling is recreational for me and I’d rather drop $100 drinking vodka while playing blackjack as opposed to $100 just drinking vodka.  That’s just how I roll.

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