Brussels Blackjack experience

Experienced European blackjack two nights ago, it was very strange. Played at the Grand Casino Brussels. 10euro "membership" fee, gets you a players card (required for cash outs at the cashier) 5euro chip good in slots or on tables, and a free drink voucher. Overall fairly crowded for a Tuesday night. Had about 4 tables low (10euro) bj, a few higher limit. 4 roulette tables (single zero) and some other games... 1 TCP Table!

First of all a HE question. They played standard no peek (euro) rules, but if the player had a two card BJ the house immediately paid 3:2 unless dealer showed an ace, it was 1:1 if dealer showed an ace. How does this affect the HE? Also, it looked like the player had an option to resolve the hand at 1:1 only because the dealer asked the players a question before payout, but I didn't inquire specifically what was going on. If so, what should the player elect?

Bets were being placed on hands from spectators. It was crazy. At one point on my hand the player to my right was betting 20, his right had 10, and the person behind me not seated at all had 15. All on my hand, in addition to my 10 bet. It was nuts when I won and all the hands started reaching for chips.

I walked away a winner overall +60. I watched a guy stand on a 6 against dealer a dealer 4. The dealer asked him 3 times for sure.

Quote: drmario

First of all a HE question. They played standard no peek (euro) rules, but if the player had a two card BJ the house immediately paid 3:2 unless dealer showed an ace, it was 1:1 if dealer showed an ace. How does this affect the HE? Also, it looked like the player had an option to resolve the hand at 1:1 only because the dealer asked the players a question before payout, but I didn't inquire specifically what was going on. If so, what should the player elect?

The dealer was asking "Even Money?" and I guess the player is taking it. In blackjack, when an ace is up you have the option to buy insurance for up to half of your wager. If the dealer gets blackjack, your insurance bet will pay 2 to 1.

So when you have a blackjack that pays 3:2 on a win and buy insurance, two possibilities happen with the same final result:

1 unit = main hand wager.

Dealer has blackjack: Insurance bet for 0.5 units wins 1 unit and your blackjack bet pushes. Net result: win 1 unit
Dealer does not have blackjack: Insurance bet for 0.5 units loses and your blackjack bet wins 1.5 units. Net result: win 1 unit

If you refuse insurance and have blackjack:
Dealer has blackjack: Your blackjack bet pushes.
Dealer does not have blackjack: Your blackjack bet wins 1.5 units.

Generally, you should not take Insurance or "Even Money" and gamble on the dealer not having a blackjack.

Glad that you had a winning night. :)

Quote: drmario

Bets were being placed on hands from spectators. It was crazy. At one point on my hand the player to my right was betting 20, his right had 10, and the person behind me not seated at all had 15. All on my hand, in addition to my 10 bet. It was nuts when I won and all the hands started reaching for chips.

I witnessed the same thing in Vienna, Austria. A gaggle of large, middle-aged Austrian women were betting 5 or 10 Euro on every square at the table, I think. They stopped betting on me after I hit a 16 vs. a 10. Also they had the most peculiar way of yelling out "peecture! PEEEEKTURE!" whenever they wanted the dealer to pull a face card (picture) for the bust.

Gambling in Europe is lame. Plus, there are better things to do. If I had to pick one foreign country to gamble in, it would be Australia. Burswood Casino in Perth is supposed to be amazing. Crown in Melbourne, too. I guess Macau or Singapore would be cool, but baccarat does not excite me.

Quote: teddys

Gambling in Europe is lame. Plus, there are better things to do. If I had to pick one foreign country to gamble in, it would be Australia. Burswood Casino in Perth is supposed to be amazing. Crown in Melbourne, too. I guess Macau or Singapore would be cool, but baccarat does not excite me.

I feel the same way about Macau and Baccarat.

Hopefully some day I'll make it to Australia. The descriptions of the casinos there sound pretty amazing.

Casinos in Australia are fine but if you want a relaxed, friendly place to play go to Christchurch Casino in New Zealand. OK it's a small casino by international standards (28 tables on main floor and 500 machines) but the staff are great. Very friendly, helpful and make you feel welcome, something a lot of the larger casinos lack.

Quote: Tangledweb

Casinos in Australia are fine but if you want a relaxed, friendly place to play go to Christchurch Casino in New Zealand.

Yeah. I'd imagine New Zealand is an even more laid-back version of Australia, if that's possible.

Quote: teddys

...Burswood Casino in Perth is supposed to be amazing...

Yes it's a very good casino and even had Pai Gow Tiles. I was watching football (UK soccer) on the large TV and also managed to take some pictures of the adjacent two-up pit. Tips : if driving, there is free parking on the outside lot, but you may have to be patient and wait for a space : worth joining up as the card then gives you five free drinks (coffees etc.) from the machines per day.
For pictures see
(i) http://i781.photobucket.com/albums/yy96/AbbaPix/wizard/281173_10151262210822363_1038983012_o_zps84896847.jpg
(ii) http://i781.photobucket.com/albums/yy96/AbbaPix/wizard/242396_10151262209317363_1281238163_o_zps5e944e40.jpg
(iii) http://i781.photobucket.com/albums/yy96/AbbaPix/wizard/470816_10151262210547363_1546437706_o_zps8b8e0872.jpg
I'm not sure I'd call it "amazing", but it's worth the trip and personally I prefer it to the Crown in Melbourne.

Okay, I'll bite. What the hell is two-up? Thanks for the pictures.

Quote: teddys

Okay, I'll bite. What the hell is two-up? Thanks for the pictures.

Its a coin flipping game https://wizardofodds.com/games/two-up/