Blackjack house advantage

I am visting vegas for the first time in April so forgive me if this sounds like a dumb question. I am looking to have a good time playing black jack. I am not a card counter but I do play solid and I am not a high roller ($10-$25 hands probably for about 4-5 hours a day for 5 days). My question is on the wizzard odds are these the % house advantage for solid play without counting or with counting. If this is the % without counting why does it effect the house advantage with different number of decks. Last question I am staying at harrahs and after reading the wizzards review I am not sure I want to play BJ there. Where would the best place for me to play and earn comps or am I such a low roller it wont matter.

If you don't play at least $25/hand at BJ on the strip, you probably won't get rated. The MGM properties tend to have better BJ rules than Harrah's properties. Check the BJ survey for the games with the lowest house advantage that 1) you can afford, and 2) are located somewhere you'd be comfortable playing.

All of the Wiz's stats (including those on the BJ survey) are if you play with perfect basic strategy and no counting. Here's Wikipedia's answer to your question:

Quote:

All things being equal, fewer decks are always more favorable for the basic strategy player. One cause of this is that player blackjack is slightly more likely in single deck blackjack (because blackjack requires two different cards, by removing a card of one type (e.g., a Ten), getting one of a different type (e.g., an Ace) is more likely - and the effect is much greater in a single deck game than in a multi-deck game), and if the player does have blackjack, the dealer is significantly less likely to have blackjack as well (which is a push), meaning that statistically the player should get paid at 3:2 more often in the single deck game.

thanks Jermey

If I am playing $25 hands where is the best place to get rated.

Quote: boomdog

thanks Jermey

If I am playing $25 hands where is the best place to get rated.

There are a few tables with good rules and a $25 minimum at the MGM Grand, although I'm not sure what kind of comps you would get from playing. However, beware of the following: if you aren't a local, MGM/Mirage casinos will wipe out your comps shortly after you leave. If you want your comps to stay put for your next visit, you should pick a casino that isn't owned by MGM/Mirage.

As others have noted, don't stress about comps too much - if you are going to play on the strip, your bet level will not qualify you for much, if anything at all. Instead, play a game with decent rules. See if you can find a lower limit 6-deck game where the dealer stands on all 17s, or a 2-deck game with double after split (the dealer will hit soft 17). MGM properties sometimes have one/both of these games at a $25 or lower limit.

With regards to the number of decks - In addition to the explanation above, the dealer will bust a bit more often in with fewer decks, and your double downs will work out a bit more often. For the knowledgeable player, basic strategy can be more precise and composition-dependent strategies will make more of a difference.

I recommend walking to lots of different properties, and seeing where you like to play. This could even be based on quality of drink service or amount of smoke in the air if either is a priority to you. But playing a game with decent rules and winning a couple extra hands over an average session mean even more than getting the occasional low-level comp.

You should note that downtown and off-strip casinos are more likely to give you some food comps for that play level. But, you would have to leave the strip. Really you should only do this if you were planning to anyway. Chasing a free buffet or two above all else really shouldn't be your priority.

Quote: boomdog

If I am playing $25 hands where is the best place to get rated.

I can't say for sure, but NYNY treated me pretty well when I stayed there. My average bet was probably $20-25/hand. I mostly played BJ, but some craps and other poker-based games. After a 3-day trip, I called the host and he took about $100 of food off my bill. I've stayed at Planet Hollywood and got $0 in comps for the same play level. At a Harrahs property, I've racked up about $30 of comps for a 3-day trip.

Quote: boomdog

thanks Jermey

If I am playing $25 hands where is the best place to get rated.

Anywhere but Harrah's.

NB: Planet Hollywood is now Harrah's.

Quote: teddys

NB: Planet Hollywood is now Harrah's.

What a shame!

Thanks to all this has been helpful. Once again I am staying at harrahs and I noticed that Treasure Island seems to have a good game of BJ. 2 decks, stand on soft 17. $10 min. What do yall know about TI? Is it walking distance from harrahs. On the map it looks like its across the street.

Thanks Wizard this site is awesome!!!!!

TI is easily within walking distance from Harrah's. It's a perfectly adequate place to play.
I see that CBJN shows the 2D S17 game with a $10 min, but I have never seen it below $25. Maybe only at certain hours.

I was just in Vegas about a week and a half ago on a Tuesday and walked over to TI specifically to play that double deck game and it did not exist. All they had were a whole bunch of csm games! NYNY has a good double deck game that is usually $25 min but will go down to $15 min some off hours like early mornings.