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Table Games take even money for BJ 6/5?

Discussion in 'Table Games' started by discin311, May 15, 2014.

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  1. discin311

    discin311 Tourist

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    like it says im going to Vegas in 3 weeks. All the casinos around here r all 3/2 and I never take even money. But should I for 6/5? I know playing a 6/5 table sucks but i want to play with friends that play low stakes I will play from $15 to $30 a hand thanks for the info
     
  2. tringlomane

    tringlomane STP Addicted Beer Snob

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    If somehow you are actually offered "even money" regardless of result, you should take it. But on 6:5 tables, you should never be offered "even money" just "insurance".

    3:2 insurance bet...

    Dealer has BJ
    BJ bet pushes...0 units
    Insurance bet wins...0.5 units x 2 = 1 unit
    Total win...1 unit

    Dealer doesn't have BJ
    BJ bet wins...1.5 units
    Insurance bet loses...-0.5 units
    Total win...1 unit

    But at a 6:5 table...

    Dealer has BJ
    BJ bet pushes...0 units
    Insurance bet wins...0.5 units x 2 = 1 unit
    Total win...1 unit

    Dealer doesn't have BJ
    BJ bet wins...1.2 units
    Insurance bet loses...-0.5 units
    Total win...0.7 units

    And basic strategy is to never take insurance on a 6:5 table either.
     
  3. stackinchips

    stackinchips VIP Whale

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  4. aaisack

    aaisack VIP Whale

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    You lose 8 times faster on a 6/5 vs a 3/2 table. Find a low limit 3/2 table - not to hard if you leave the higher end strip properties.
     
  5. merlin

    merlin MIA

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    You should have no trouble finding a low limit 3/2 table, it might be a big shoe but you will find it, Dont play that 6/5 and teach your low rolling friends the same thing.
     
  6. Snidely

    Snidely VIP Whale

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    I got into a big argument with a dealer at the Golden Nugget in AC regarding this. I explained to my wife just what you wrote above and the dealer overheard and told me I was wrong. She kept insisting even money on a BJ and taking insurance were different. The pit boss came over to tell her she was wrong but she still wouldn't let it go and kept chirping at me until the pit boss got a little more stern with her.
     
  7. merlin

    merlin MIA

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    A lot of dealers are flat out wrong, they'll ramble off nonsense about always take even money, the 2 is the dealers ace, the book is wrong, etc, not worth even discussing with them. Now a player is different, If they seem interested I will try to explain why you dont insure that BJ, but even then tread lightly.

    But yea, taking even money IS buying insurance, period.
     
  8. airball1996

    airball1996 High-Roller

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    A dealer at Bellagio once told me "If the casino offers it, it's a bad bet." IE, insurance, side bets, even money, etc....
     
  9. tringlomane

    tringlomane STP Addicted Beer Snob

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    I'm a bit surprised the pit boss knew the right answer myself.

    This "even money" thing was probably taught in training correctly most of the time, but 99% of dealers soon forget why you can offer "even money" in the first place.
     
  10. discin311

    discin311 Tourist

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    where can someone find a good 3/2 good on the strip around the Flamingo?
     
  11. Snidely

    Snidely VIP Whale

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    At what level? If you're a low roller, you're better off at a $5 6/5 table than a $25 3/2. You'll lose less per hour at the $5 6/5 table than at the $25 3/2 table. In other words, don't risk a bigger bankroll for 3/2 thinking you'll make out better.
     
  12. topcard

    topcard Here's to $10 3:2 two-deck, $5 Craps, and $5 UTH!

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    The plays I get the most dealer-grief on are:
    1. Doubling my A8 against their 6.
    2. Hitting my A7 against their 10.
    3. Surrendering - ever - when I play a table that allows it.
    4. Not taking 'even-money' on my blackjack vs. their Ace. (Since I only play 3:2 blackjack, the even-money call-out is appropriate...but yes - in a 3:2 game, it's just another way to say you're taking insurance.)
     
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  13. topcard

    topcard Here's to $10 3:2 two-deck, $5 Craps, and $5 UTH!

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    Snidely - I'm pretty sure you're mistaken.
    If one plays perfect (or near-perfect) basic strategy, playing a two-deck, H17 game that allows DAS (HA 0.40%) versus playing a 6:5 game, with otherwise the same rules (HA 1.83%), the math is computable.

    Let's assume 100 hands at $5, playing 6:5, and 100 hands at $25, playing 3:2.

    The 6:5 game will have you risk $500, mathematically giving up about $10.
    The 3:2 game will have you risk $2500, mathematically giving up about $10 as well.
    So - technically identical, but realistically not identical, given that you will be rated well while playing $25, and not rated at all playing $5.
    Just one meal comp or a pack of cigarettes (which would be a given, playing $25) makes the 3:2 game the far better choice - even at the higher limits.
    :beer:
     
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  14. tringlomane

    tringlomane STP Addicted Beer Snob

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    Margaritaville usually (always?) offers $15 minimum 3:2 (8 decks, H17, surrender) HA = 0.57%.
     
  15. blissfulignoramus

    blissfulignoramus 3:2, nothing else will do

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    Doubling A8 against a 6 is a 2 or fewer decks thing, right?

    The most frequent dealer grief I get is for not taking even money, for sure. When pushed on it, my response is look, this is GAMBLING, and my 100% chance of having blackjack versus your 4/13 chance of having blackjack is looking pretty good to me right now, okay? If I'm not willing to stand my ground, I should go play keno.
     
  16. thecarve

    thecarve Misanthrope

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    It's a "dealer hits soft 17" thing.

    As far as common dealer mistakes...I think most of them are pretty bad with 'soft total doubling'. I also get plenty of funny looks when I hit a soft 18 versus a dealer 9-A.
     
  17. paperposter

    paperposter MIA

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    i understand why people dont take insurance or even money and at low stakes i woundnt take even money


    but what about this 3/2 500$ a hand and up i always take even money, i say if there giving it to me ill take it, now it could be 2500$ ill still take it.

    feel free to chime in

    at 5 or 10$ its worth a gamble but when you get to large sums what do you do, love to here the 100k hand players chime in

    thats lets discuss:wave:
     
  18. Snidely

    Snidely VIP Whale

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    Your math is correct. And people adept at math may choose the $25 game but it does put you at more risk and requires a larger bankroll than the 6/5 game.

    Think about why the casino would rate you higher at the $25 3/2 game than the $5 6/5 game when they make about the same from both players and would even consider the 3/2 player a more saavy gambler.
     
  19. merlin

    merlin MIA

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    Not taking even money is not a gamble, taking even money is the gamble. Even money(buying ins) is the wrong thing to do if you're not counting cards, the amount you bet is irrelevant, outbetting your comfort zone is dangerous, because even if it works it will only encourage you to do it again later.
     
  20. paperposter

    paperposter MIA

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    i disagree im not talking about betting abouve ur comfort zone it was adrees to people who bet in that area what there thoughts are.

    i bet a few blacks to a few grand a hand i always take even money. its hard to turn dow a gurarentee 2500 payday when i push on to many dealer ace under ten .thats just how i play my game

    my question was what do other people at that level and higher do, i know what the book says.
     
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