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Ask The Wizard #74
Can you calculate the house advantage for a single deck blackjack game, where players hit on a soft 17, can double down after splitting, split cards up to four hands, double any of their first two cards, and draw one additional card on split aces, while also noting that Blackjack payouts are at 6 to 5?
This has become quite a trendy option in Las Vegas lately. Many establishments proudly advertise 'Single Deck' blackjack, yet if you look closely at smaller signage, you'll notice the less favorable 'Blackjack pays 6 to 5.' Beyond the 6-5 payout rule, the house edge stands at 0.05%, but when accounting for the lower blackjack payout, it rises to an overall house edge of 1.44%. In fact, this particular variation is considered the least favorable blackjack option in the city, and I strongly advise against playing it.
Why do physical casinos require you to wager more when you opt to play a second hand of blackjack? Is there a different strategy when playing multiple hands online?
One reason for this rule is likely to deter low-stakes players from monopolizing two seats, as this can slow down the game, hindering larger players from having their turn. While not every land-based casino enforces this rule, it seems more common in Atlantic City due to the higher density of players compared to Las Vegas. No matter if you are playing online or at a physical casino, there is generally no benefit to handling multiple hands at once.
Hi, at www.transience.com.au/pearl.html There exists a game known as Pearls for Swine, where the pearls are laid out in three rows (5+4+3), and during your turn, you can choose to take as many pearls as you want from a single row. The objective is to force your opponent to be the one who has to take the last pearl. I always start as the first player (and yet I lose every time). What makes it that I can’t secure a win? It seems my opponent has an effective strategy up their sleeve; could you unveil their method?
Begin by taking 2 pearls from the row that contains 3 pearls, which will leave the configuration at 1+4+5. No matter what your opponent does next, it’s crucial to leave them with configurations of either: 1+1+1, 1+2+3, or 4+4. From any of these arrangements, you can ultimately force your opponent into a position where they face two piles of 2 or more, or an odd number of piles each containing just one pearl.
Imagine you are dealt a set of 4 cards that can create a flush (let's say 4 spades). In triple play video poker, you have the potential to receive the same card three times, one for each line (like getting three 2 of spades for three flushes). However, in spin poker, there is a restriction; you cannot receive the same card on all three lines. Does this impact the strategy, or is the winning potential balanced by the opportunity to win across multiple lines?
The strategy remains unchanged. The odds and approaches do not differ based on whether you get replacement cards from the same deck or from different decks for each hand. That being said, Spin Poker tends to have less volatility since all replacement cards come from a singular deck.
What is the largest amount of money you’ve walked away with after playing blackjack?
I believe my biggest win was around $800. I’m not typically a high-stakes player. There was an instance where I lost surpassing that amount while chasing a 2 to 1 blackjack promotion at an online casino.
In Washington state, certain smaller non-tribal casinos provide 'no-commission' pai-gow, meaning players only lose when they tie on 'copies.' Without delving into the various house rules, could you share insights on how this change affects player odds?
The silver lining for players in Washington State is the absence of a 5% commission, as you pointed out. However, the downside is that the dealer is always the banker, which means players will still lose on copies. In the grand scheme, the house edge for the Washington version stands at 1.44%.
There’s a casino near me that offers baccarat with zero commission. However, they only pay half if the banker wins with an 8. Is this a beneficial advantage for the house when compared to the typical 5% commission?
The house edge on the banker bet is 4.07%.
I’ve downloaded numerous blackjack games from the internet, both standalone and online versions. After extensive gameplay, I’ve felt a noticeable difference in winning difficulty, particularly with slots (forgive me if my observation is incorrect). If that’s indeed the case, how can one verify if the online games are genuinely random? Is there any trustworthy organization that can provide accurate information?
When a casino is audited by an independent party that assesses its log files for fairness and randomness, it generally indicates a reputable operation. I previously provided such auditing services to several online casinos.
Considering an estimated 150 rolls processed per hour in a dice game, how frequently will decisions regarding the point be made? I heard from someone that there’s a decision to be made every 3.6 rolls. Is that accurate?
The following list outlines the possible outcomes of pass/come betting along with their respective probabilities:
- Player wins on come out roll: 22.22%
- Player loses on come out roll: 11.11%
- Player wins on a point: 27.07%
- Player loses on a point: 39.60%
This means that a player is expected to win on a point roughly every 1 in 3.7 rolls.
I found your comment about small steel balls not having memory quite intriguing. I own a roulette wheel, and those little balls seem to bounce with joy when I return home from the hospital. It’s apparent they recall my presence, and on top of that, I sense they would take offense at your statement. In my community, roulette is prohibited because those little balls can be easily bribed. I’m not impressed with your world, and now I’m unable to fix my spacecraft to make my way back.
Additionally, the gentleman behind me in the white coat wishes to express his appreciation for your website and is grateful for the efforts you’ve made in presenting the mathematics. He claims it has saved him both time and money. Keep up the excellent work.
I’m pleased to hear that I was able to assist the man in the white coat. My roulette advice is limited to games on this planet; bribery might be advisable on yours.