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Table Games Value of betting multiple spots (BJ)

Discussion in 'Table Games' started by veovis23, May 15, 2013.

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  1. veovis23

    veovis23 Low-Roller

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    Bear with me as I am really just starting to think about this and haven't done much reading or research on the subject, outside of the play I have put in on the MyVegas game.

    Is playing multiple spots/hands in BJ advantageous? Also is it allowed? If yes, I assume you have to be more than just the $5/$10/$15 table minimum per hand right?

    Thanks for the input all. I love reading the site and have gained a lot of useful knowledge for my upcoming July trip.
     
  2. ACMike

    ACMike High-Roller

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    It's really neither advantageous or disadvantageous. The house edge is exactly the same whether you play 2 hands or 1, you're just risking twice the amount each hand.

    Most casinos will allow you to play 2 hands, although some might ask you not too if the tables are extremely crowded. Also, some casinos will only let you play 2 hands if you bet at least twice the table minimum on each hand, although some will allow table minimum on 2 hands.

    I personally would just play one hand and make a larger bet on that one hand, but that's just me.
     
  3. ams722

    ams722 Side Bet Shunner

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    Yes you can play two hands. On the strip they will make you doudble the table minimum for each hand at most places.

    The house edge is the same but I think it lowers the variance or something cause you end up pushing more often.
     
  4. shifter

    shifter Degenerate Gambler

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    I like it because it can reduce your variance because you can win one and lose one and basically push. if one spot is running cold, sometimes the other spot can save your bankroll. but if the dealer is busting every hand, you can really rake it in.
     
  5. USCHawks

    USCHawks High-Roller

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    I sometimes play two hands at my local casino just to mix things up. I've played at full tables and as long as I'm consistently betting two hands I've never been asked to back off one of my bets so that another person could join in.
     
  6. seviay

    seviay High-Roller

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    And then you run into the "evil closer" who draws blackjacks and 6 card 21s and get prison raped! 2 handed is my preference as well.

    If one "spot" seems to be running a lot better than the other, do you ever vary your bets between the 2 hands, or do you always keep it the same?
     
  7. shifter

    shifter Degenerate Gambler

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    I press each spot individually so if one is losing every time and the other is winning I will end up with more on the winning side.
     
  8. Viva Las Vegas

    Viva Las Vegas Elvis has left the building

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    I prefer two spots, especially when double bets are not mandatory, as I can press when the deck is strong / I'm doing well and cut back (or even drop down to 1 spot) when it is not. I'll usually head to the bathroom when the shoe is weak and playing with other players (or bail if solo & not planning on staying long).

    My best effort turned $300 to over 13 large playing a six deck shoe solo. Sadly, it has only happened once to that extent, but you can make a good run if the dealer is busting regularly.

    I wouldn't play twice the amount I would like to play (or twice your preferred base line minimum bet) just for the privilege of playing two spots and meeting casino / table minimums for two spots.
     
  9. WrongWayWade

    WrongWayWade VIP Whale

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    The majority of places will force you to bet double the table minimum on both hands, but some places will let you just bet the minimum on each. This may be dependent on how busy the casino is as the moment. As others have said, it doesn't reduce the house edge, but it trims down the variance (swings in your bankroll) because you will get some hands where you win one and lose the other.

    If it's a pitch game, (cards dealt down), you have to pick up the first hand first and play it out before touching the other cards. The one exception is when dealer is showing an Ace they'll let you look at both hands before deciding if you want to take insurance on either hand.

    One thing you'll probably observe if you switch between one hand and two hands is there will be a lady at first base, usually Asian, that complains that you are screwing up the flow of the cards by going in and out like that. (Of course, this is nonsense.)
     
  10. VegasBJ

    VegasBJ VIP Whale

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    In the past, table minimums below $25 required you to bet double the minimum amount if playing two hands. $25 and over you could play two spots at table minimum. I don't know if this figure has increased over the years, but this used to be the cut-off amount as to whether you had to double the base bet or not. In the HL rooms, $100 and up, you can always play for the minimum in two or more spots.
     
  11. seviay

    seviay High-Roller

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    That's been my experience as well. Sometimes if it's really slow, I've seen them either waive the $25 min or just ignore it...but as of January, $25 still seemed to be the standard.

    One word of "caution" if you want to call it that. I felt like getting drunk one afternoon at MGM and didn't want to really put any of my bankroll at risk. I saw an empty $5 table, and tried to play 2 $10 hands, but they wouldn't let me play 2 hands for $10 for some reason. I would think $20 in play is better for them than $5, but what do I know. Suffice it to say, I didn't stay long.
     
  12. ams722

    ams722 Side Bet Shunner

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    Hmmm... Just this last January I played two $10 hands at the MGM Grand at a $5 table. I was the only one at this table so maybe that had something to do with it.
     
  13. seviay

    seviay High-Roller

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    I was also the only one at the table. The pit boss gave me some look like I was trying to pull a fast one on him or something. I thought (and still think) he was just being a prick. No way are they going to "sweat" someone playing such low amounts. They're such idiots sometimes.
     
  14. ams722

    ams722 Side Bet Shunner

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    Yeah they had just opened the pit (it was the tiny little pit closest to the main entrance) and seemed happy to finally have somebody sitting at the table.

    The dealer looked a lot like Sarah Silverman (random, I know) and she complimented my basic strategy knowledge.
     
  15. Kickin

    Kickin Flea

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    It's like when a store has a huge sale on something but limits one per customer. Offering a low limit table like that is more about marketing and dangling a carrot out there, a place to send all the people who ask if there are any $5 tables. So instead of you playing multiple hands I think they'd rather just have the extra seat available even if it is less money to them.
     
  16. mike_m235

    mike_m235 Tourist

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    I had a specific conversation with a pit boss about this at the Mirage the last weekend in April.

    I was sitting down at a $25 table (BTW, Mirage has the best $25 table for six deck around) and I asked if I could play two spots, and told her that I'd be betting double the minimum. I knew that I could, but I asked so that she'd be aware that I was playing at least $100 a hand, which can be a problem when you're playing two $50 spots.

    She told me that I didn't have to play double because it was a $25 table.
     
  17. jdvegas

    jdvegas VIP Whale

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    I always play two hands!

    They never make me double up my bet at the HL tables, but they will sometimes on the floor. So long as I originally took both spaces when they were open, I have never been asked to give up my second spot.

    ...and exactly what everyone else said - no change in odds, but less variance.
     
  18. Viva Las Vegas

    Viva Las Vegas Elvis has left the building

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    Some casinos require you double at $25 or above because they don't want to be taken of by advantage players. I've been denied two handed minimums at the $25, $50 and even $100 level at CET casinos, $25 level at Golden Nugget and IIRC, Red Rock wouldn't let me play two at table minimums either last summer. If memory serves me right, I believe Wynn and V/P also requires double, at least at the green chip level.

    I concur with other posters in this thread MGM is more liberal with you playing two handed green / black at table minimums, but they are more liberal with their BJ offerings and rules in general.
     
  19. raspus

    raspus Tourist

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    I had the same conversation with a pit boss at the $25 DD game right in front of the HL room at the Mirage. Even though the table was a $50 minimum table, he told me I could play as many spots as I wished at $25 a hand. Surprised the heck out of me. This was also at the end of April.
     
  20. mike841

    mike841 Video Poker Unicorn

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    For as long as I've played blackjack and always play 2 hands, I've NEVER done this.... but as of 21 days from now, I'm gonna give it a shot!
     
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