Does Blackjack Or Spanish 21 Have Better Odds
4/11/2022 admin
- Does Blackjack Or Spanish 21 Have Better Odds Against
- Does Blackjack Or Spanish 21 Have Better Odds College Football
- Spanish 21 Game Online
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drsamurai
Does Blackjack Or Spanish 21 Have Better Odds Against
After playing Blackjack Switch recently at our local casino, I decided to check out the wizard's pages to see what the odds are. For the purpose of this post, I am figuring a standard blackjack game that pays the true 3:2 on a natural, while Switch only pays 1:1 on a natural.
http://wizardofodds.com/games/blackjack/switch/
I was surprised to see that the odds were as low as they are. Using the basic Vegas rules found on the page, the house edge is only 0.58%. Locally, our casino uses an 8 deck shoe rather than the Vegas 6 deck game, also, a 'natural' (non-switched) 21 is an automatic win so the HE changes to 0.58% + 0.02% - 0.21% so the HE changes to 0.39% (if my understanding/math is correct.)
The best rules for a regular Blackjack game realistically/typically is a 2 deck game where the dealer stands on all 17s, you can resplit Aces, Surrender, Double Any 2 cards, Split up to 4 hands, and this has a HE of 0.26%. This game is VERY rare, and is usually only found in the High Limit areas where the min bets are typically $100 (occasionally $50 bets per the wizard's blackjack survey page.)
As a recreational gambler, not a whale, I look for the best games with the lowest min bets balanced against good rules. Usually a shoe game, $10 to $25 min bet tables that never allow resplitting of Aces. Full game rules are at best in this min bet range; 2 decks, no resplit Aces, Surrender, Dbl Any 2 cards, Split up to 4 hands, and the dealer hitting or standing on Soft 17 is usually a function of a $25 min bet, although that's not always the norm. Usually even at $25 min tables, the dealer hits a Soft 17.
The HE under these game rules are; HE of 0.33% if the dealer Stands on ALL 17s or a HE of 0.53% if the dealer Hits on all Soft 17s.
Odds calculated using:
http://wizardofodds.com/games/blackjack/calculator/
It appears that the HE of Blackjack Switch (adjusted to 0.39%) is better than the most common low limit games where the dealer hits on Soft 17 and actually only marginally worse than the HE of the less common game where the dealer stands on Soft 17.
Even Spanish 21 has a HE of 0.47%. This is VERY close (slightly better) to the typical low limit standard games.
Are my HE calculations correct? I've always thought that novelty variations on Blackjack were not as good as standard Blackjack and when it comes to the 'best' blackjack rules, this appears true. Since I can't afford to play $100 a hand High Limit games to gain that optimal advantage, is it really better to play Blackjack Switch or even Spanish 21?
http://wizardofodds.com/games/blackjack/switch/
I was surprised to see that the odds were as low as they are. Using the basic Vegas rules found on the page, the house edge is only 0.58%. Locally, our casino uses an 8 deck shoe rather than the Vegas 6 deck game, also, a 'natural' (non-switched) 21 is an automatic win so the HE changes to 0.58% + 0.02% - 0.21% so the HE changes to 0.39% (if my understanding/math is correct.)
The best rules for a regular Blackjack game realistically/typically is a 2 deck game where the dealer stands on all 17s, you can resplit Aces, Surrender, Double Any 2 cards, Split up to 4 hands, and this has a HE of 0.26%. This game is VERY rare, and is usually only found in the High Limit areas where the min bets are typically $100 (occasionally $50 bets per the wizard's blackjack survey page.)
As a recreational gambler, not a whale, I look for the best games with the lowest min bets balanced against good rules. Usually a shoe game, $10 to $25 min bet tables that never allow resplitting of Aces. Full game rules are at best in this min bet range; 2 decks, no resplit Aces, Surrender, Dbl Any 2 cards, Split up to 4 hands, and the dealer hitting or standing on Soft 17 is usually a function of a $25 min bet, although that's not always the norm. Usually even at $25 min tables, the dealer hits a Soft 17.
The HE under these game rules are; HE of 0.33% if the dealer Stands on ALL 17s or a HE of 0.53% if the dealer Hits on all Soft 17s.
Odds calculated using:
http://wizardofodds.com/games/blackjack/calculator/
It appears that the HE of Blackjack Switch (adjusted to 0.39%) is better than the most common low limit games where the dealer hits on Soft 17 and actually only marginally worse than the HE of the less common game where the dealer stands on Soft 17.
Even Spanish 21 has a HE of 0.47%. This is VERY close (slightly better) to the typical low limit standard games.
Are my HE calculations correct? I've always thought that novelty variations on Blackjack were not as good as standard Blackjack and when it comes to the 'best' blackjack rules, this appears true. Since I can't afford to play $100 a hand High Limit games to gain that optimal advantage, is it really better to play Blackjack Switch or even Spanish 21?
Switch
Your 'Switch' calculations are accurate IMO - unusual for a casino to offer the 'Blackjacks instant win' rule but it was one of the versions that was offered.
Just bear in mind that the house edge of 0.39% will rise depending on the accuracy of your 'Switch' decisions. It has been estimated that a player who uses good switching play will still see around 0.2% added to the house edge due to incorrect marginal 'Switch' plays. However, since that work was done, there have been a few studies made on switching strategies, including one by The Wizard himself, and this can help to improve play.
Just bear in mind that the house edge of 0.39% will rise depending on the accuracy of your 'Switch' decisions. It has been estimated that a player who uses good switching play will still see around 0.2% added to the house edge due to incorrect marginal 'Switch' plays. However, since that work was done, there have been a few studies made on switching strategies, including one by The Wizard himself, and this can help to improve play.
- Indeed, while there are never any certainties in the gambling world, Spanish 21 is certainly a game that gives you better chance of winning than many other blackjack variants. The Basics of Spanish 21 Spanish 21 is played with between 6 and 8 decks containing 48 cards each.
- Spanish 21, also known as Spanish Blackjack, is a very unusual blackjack variant. It is played with Spanish decks, which have only 48 cards. The four tens have been removed. Spanish 21 is offered at Microgaming online casinos. The game of Spanish twenty one is also played at some RTG casinos.
- I recently started playing Spanish 21 because the rules at the local Thunder Bay casino give it much better odds than Blackjack. The dealer stands on soft 17, but uses 8 decks of cards. Does using 8 decks give better or worse odds for the player than the 0.40% you calculated with 6 decks? Raymond from Thunder Bay, Canada.
mrclean
Odds aside, I really enjoy playing Blackjack Switch and I'm surprised it isn't offered more. The closest casino that offers it to me is a 4+ hour drive so I rarely get to play.
rainman
If the rules say that the dealer must stand on Soft 17, Spanish 21 may become more profitable than regular Blackjack. Spanish Blackjack is considered by many to be one of the most profitable variations of the game, especially when it comes to the dealer standing on soft 17, or where players are able to redouble. The house edge for Spanish 21 is generally better than the house edge in blackjack. If you ignore the effect of those jackpot hands, which come up as rarely as you might expect, the house edge for Spanish 21 is about 0.4%. This assumes, of course, that you’re playing with perfect basic strategy.
I tried to play it up here in WA at the Tulalip a weekend or so ago but the table was full.
We want to remind you that Spanish 21 is a version of blackjack that is quite popular in some countries. Sometimes it can be found under the name of Spanish Blackjack. The main feature of this game is the fact that it is played using so-called Spanish decks consisting of forty-eight cards (without four tens). Since the absence of tens significantly increases the house edge, additional bonus payouts (for 777, 678, and other combinations) are provided. The rules are also more liberal (in split, surrender, and insurance options).
Does Blackjack Or Spanish 21 Have Better Odds College Football
This makes Spanish 21 even more profitable for casino visitors than most other variations of blackjack. However how such rules may affect card counting? Does it make sense for counters to sit at the Spanish 21 table? Or is it better to play more traditional versions of blackjack?
Spanish 21 Game Online
The presence of bonus payouts for hands composed of sixes, sevens, and eights significantly increases the value of these cards in Spanish 21 compared to blackjack. On the other hand, it does not have valuable tens. It may seem that such redistribution makes card counting inefficient or even useless. However such changes even contribute to card counting. For some reasons, which are discussed below, Spanish 21 is more profitable for card counters than blackjack.
- An ace seems to be the most beneficial card. Since there are no tens, it appears more often than in traditional blackjack (1/12 compared with 1/13).
- In Spanish 21 it is allowed to re-split aces and hit more than one card after splitting aces, making an ace even more favorable for players.
- Blackjack is paid 3:2 even if the dealer also has blackjack (due to higher values of aces).
- Card counters make doubles more often than it is recommended by the basic strategy if the score reaches high levels. Since in Spanish 21 it is allowed to double on any number of cards and points, it is very profitable to players to count cards under favorable circumstances.
- In both versions of blackjack players often receive two-card hands that after hitting may form twenty-one. The basic strategy recommends that it is necessary to stand on a 13-17 against a dealer's 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 and on a 12 if the dealer has a 4, 5, or 6. When the score increases, the player virtually has no choice for his further action. Taking a look at the Spanish 21 optimal strategy, you can see that in this game there is a higher number of options. This fact is favorable to counters.
- Many casinos don't treat Spanish 21 as a game suitable for card counting, so gamblers may easily operate with bets without being afraid of the fact that these establishments may suspect them in card counting. In other words, there is no need to hide their activities, which is obligatory for counters in traditional blackjack.
Spanish 21 Free Online
As you can see, Spanish 21 provides card counters with a much wider opportunity to check their skills and higher chances of winning. In addition, this game does not exclude the use of such alternative skills as shuffle tracking, sequencing , etc.