Table Games video blackjack payouts, newbie friendly BJ tables, basic strategy cards

Hi all. New to the boards here. Heading to Vegas tomorrow night and super excited about it!! I have a few questions related to blackjack and was hoping for some advice.

1. Which video blackjack machines provide the best payout odds (low house edge) for the player and what casinos have them?

Googling here at VMB and the Internet, I read that Gameking machines typically pay 1:1 on BJ and are poor machines to play at. (I read that 1:1 payout increases house edge by 2-3 percentage points.) I also read to look for shufflemaster video blackjack machines since they are more likely to pay 3:2 on BJ. Is this good advice and what casinos can I find the shufflemaster or other machines that pay 3:2 on BJ?


2. Where on the strip can I play some BJ table games that are relatively friendly to newbie blackjack players that need to occasionally look at a Basic Strategy card? (I'll be staying mostly center strip at the Cosmo. But also have 1 night stays at Four Seasons and Encore.) Preferably low minimums as well.

3. Where can I buy a basic strategy card to take with me while playing? Are there any shops at the airport I can pick one up when I land? We'll do a liquor stop at a Walgreens or CVS after we land. Do the drug stores have any too?


Thanks for any advice / insights!

 

Most of the gift shops in any hotel have them too. Dont be affraid to use them, sometimes I need to refer back to them because the alcohol is getting the better of me

 

Welcome!
Hope you have a great trip

 

I wouldn't trust the ones you can find in the gift stores. Some are fine, but I've seen some with very flawed strategy.

Your best bet is to print them out from wizardofodds.com.

At any low limit BJ table in Vegas it's perfectly acceptable to refer to these cards. Don't worry about slowing the game down, if someone else has a problem with it they can move to another table.

MGM properties have VBJ paying 3:2. Either Shufflemaster or Aruze.

 

Cosmo BOND bar has bartops that let you split and double at 5.

I also liked a blackjack game that I saw at MB and MGM Grand. You played 7 hands against the dealer. If more than one of your hands get BJ then your earnings are times by 2. You could split or double on this also. I wish I remembered the name. Everytime I played it I killed it. Never played more than 30 minutes on it at time.

Basic strategy should be in memory. Goto http://www.blackjackinfo.com/blackjack-school/

Make the flash cards and carry them around everywhere and practice, on the plane, waiting for the plane hanging out, eating.

 

mgm, Monte Carlo and nyny should have ten dollar tables during the early afternoon and they will grandfather you when the min go up, no one is going to get rich or go broke at a 10 table, they can turn into a good social table dont be afraid to ask for help

 

As mentioned, you can buy a strategy card at about any casino gift shop. Though, I will agree with sabre that printing one out from wizardofodds.com or blackjackinfo.com would be a better (and cheaper) option.

I wouldn't worry too much about having to use the strategy card. As long as you aren't holding up the game on every hand, no one will care. In fact, after people notice you using it, they'll start asking you for advice when they're not sure.

 

mid november when i went, Monte Carlo had 2 of those video bj games with the virtual dealers on the big LCD screen (that sit 5 people for each screen)...located right next to the blue man group box office. $5 min, and very good rules..3:2, surrender, S17, das...etc. played it for a bit and while ok, the only bad thing (besides the fact that you dont earn any points for playing those machines) is it takes soooo long for each hand to finish: stuck $20 in and cashed out $200...four and a half hours later
when i was there MC had some regular tables at $5 during the day (didnt play there at night).

MC seems pretty generous with comps too. i was playing at a $10 table for about 2 hours and betting $10 to $50 a hand and already ive received comp offers for 2, 3, and 4 nights there.

if you get more comfortable, i suggest cosmo during the day (i saw plenty of $10 games during the week)...just dont be fooled into playing their 6:5 tables. they had the best and most fun dealers of any place i played at. just dont expect any comp offers for playing there LOL

 

Thanks everyone. Appreciate the advice!

Will do VBJ for a day then head to tables the rest of the trip.

Vegas3, the Cosmo bond bartops - do they pay 1:1?

 

I don't remember, BUT their dirty martini's were awesome. I used my 100 FP in the BJ bartop and left with 202. Could of stayed longer, but probably would of lost it all with how I was drinking... Sorry I don't remember but I played so many different bartops and video BJ that I am not for sure. I do remember most the floor VP was 8/5. If you go report back! We might be going back in Feb!

* If you are not a card holder ask about the 100 FP!

 

Cheat Sheet

I downloaded an app on my iPhone that gives you a cheat sheet right on the app. I am trying to teach myself before heading out for Spring Break!

 

you cant use a cell phone at the tables.

try the trainer at wizardofodds.com or hitorstand.net
if you can consistently score 20 out of 20 on the difficult level at hitorstand, youre ready for the real game.

 

Strategy Cards

They all contain a lot of hand combinations that you should already have memorized...
What I did some time ago was customize my own card that reflects the hands that I might have trouble recalling after a few too-many gin & tonics.
For what it's worth:

Always split nines, except against 7, 10 or Ace

Soft 18 – hit against 9-10-Ace; Stand against 2, 7 or 8.
Double-down against 3 thru 6.

Soft 17 – double against 3 thru 6 – otherwise, always hit.

Hit 12 against dealer 2 or 3
Never take insurance.

Other Soft-Doubles:
You have A2 and the dealer has 5 or 6.
You have A3, A4 or A5 and the dealer has 4, 5 or 6.
You have A8 and the dealer has 6. Otherwise just stand.

Split pairs when you have:
6-6 and the dealer has 2 – 6. Split against 7 if DAS allowed. Hit if 8-9-10-A.
4-4 and the dealer has 5 or 6 only if DAS allowed. Otherwise hit.

Good Luck!

 

3 hotels in one trip, and more towards the high end! How many days will you be there?

 

Has anyone ever seen Game King video BJ set up to pay more than 2:1? I don't think I've ever seen one at 3:2... would love to know if any are out there.

 

2:1 is more than 3:2 so if you found one that pays 2:1 stick with that. I've only ever seen them pay 1:1.

I'll play them sometimes at the quarter level to kill time and get free drinks so the 1:1 paycut and other crummy rules don't really bother me. But the ones at the wynn wouldn't even let mw double down and that was just too much.

 

I'm pretty sure you've been deceived by clever wording. Those video-BJ games will often show the BJ payout as two FOR one, not 2 TO one. In other words, they take your 1-unit bet and give you 2-units, therefore you were only paid 1 TO 1.

Unless they took away a massive number of player options (like no splits or doubles), there is no way they could keep their advantage paying 2 TO 1 for blackjacks.

But re-reading your post, it seems like maybe you already know this difference.

 

That's one of the best sites I've found online and what I used to learn BS.

When I first started playing BJ I printed out the little chart that's on the site and shrunk it down so it fit perfectly into my pack of cigarettes. Then I just left my cigarettes on the table while I was playing and if I forgot a move I could simply look down and there it was.