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elsewhere. Theoretically,
single-deck games do offer the best odds for skilled
players,with a house edge of only about 18% for every
$100 wagered. When a casino offers single-deck games
that reduce the payoff on a player¹s blackjack
from
"7.5 to 5" down to "6 to 5," meaning
instead of winning $7.50 for your
hard-earned snapper, you win $6, that payoff slash
increases the house edge
from .18% to 1.45%, which, Michael, is a colossal
800% increase in the house edge.
YUCKS! (or better) loud and clear, please.
Dear Mark,
Concerning blackjack versus roulette, which does a
player stand better
chance of winning? I am leaning more towards roulette
due to the black/red or odd/even scenario. I am aware
of the 0 and 00 killing my bets, but does blackjack
still provide better odds? Damon C.
Blackjack is a game played
poorly by many, and well by few. The desirable
rearrangement is quite simple: Employ perfect basic
strategy. Playing it
correctly will bring the house advantage down to well
less than one percent.
But, even Ho-hum Hannah¹s careless play at blackjack
is far-and-away a
better deal than double zero roulette, where the house
edge is 5.26% of
every bet you place on the table. Yep, Odd/Even, Black/Red,
it doesn¹t
matter. The casino advantage is 5.26% and you aren¹t
going to change that
with any particular wager.
Now if your blackjack play is ghastly, like splitting
10s against a dealer
Ace, well... stick with roulette, but only on a single
zero roulette wheel
where the house edge is a less murderous 2.70%.
What¹s so special about single zero? Because,
Damon, while in the end you
will lose about $5.26 for every $100 wagered on a
double-zero table, your
loss at the single-zero table drops to a more digestible
$2.70.
Dear Mark,
When is the best time to double down for less in blackjack?
Dick H.
I¹ll ask you, Dick,
why do you double down in the first place? Answer:
you
double down because you are more likely to win the
hand than lose it. For
that reason, you always want to wager the maximum
amount. Never shortchange yourself when it comes to
doubling down. It is the double downs, splits and
blackjacks that shove blackjack play from the red
into the black.
 Good
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