Is this blackjack game beatable?

Quote: cagito

Well I don't know where else to turn, so i've decided to come here and see what you guys have to say about it.

Granted this is a blackjack mini game (it's inside of another game) and it is therefore only a game. But, you can win what you would normally have to pay cash for. Aka premium currency. Anyhow moving on.

Here are the rules for the game.

Dealer hits soft 17
No Splitting
No Insurance
Double any 2 cards
Dealer and player Blackjack ties
Player hitting 21 always wins (even if dealer has BJ)
Blackjack pays 1:1
All other bets pay 1:1

Basic strategy doesn't seem to help much. I found that doubling on 8 vs 5, 6 and 4,4 vs 5, 6 decreases the house edge.


So far with adjustments to basic strategy I'm getting a house edge in the are of about 2.1%

Whats the specific strategy required to either beat this game or minimize the house edge to as low as possible?

Thanks :)

Quote: cagito

...doubling the 8 on 5 seems to decrease the house edge because player hitting 21 wins rather than pushing...

Quote: ChesterDog

In conventional blackjack when doubling-down, a player's hand of 8 cannot become 21. In your game, may the player take additional cards after getting the double-down card when doubling?

Quote: Sonuvabish

Yes it can, when you double and get a 13.

Quote: AxiomOfChoice

I hate when I double down on 11 and get a 13. Such a scam...

Quote: Sonuvabish

That's why I don't double 11 anymore, unless the dealer is showing a 13.

Quote: AxelWolf

Is he being serious? or did i miss something?

Quote: rdw4potus

You guys are really mean. Also, A+7+3=.......21.......

Quote: AxiomOfChoice

I'm not even sure what this thread is about any more. Note that doubling on an 8 v 5 or 6 (which is what was said in the original post) is correct basic strategy in a single-deck H17 game (although you should just hit a 6,2 v 6). See


and


So, these are not adjustments to basic strategy (assuming that it's a single deck game). What are you using as "basic strategy"?

Quote: cagito

Apparently the BS I had didn't have the doubling 8. Seeing as I had to make a sim myself I used the wizards simple Strategy. In any case. The point of this post is to find out (at least for me) if this blackjack game is beatable. If not how low is the house edge on it? Considering it is jsut a game no real $$ is involved. But it's still blackjack all the same.

The main difference is if the player hits 21 the dealer doesn't even take a turn. 3+card 21 = always winner.

So I figure the odds would be slightly towards the player more than they are in a standard game.

Yeah I seen all the jokes, I only have myself to thank for that for posting crazy stuff after having been up for around 24 hours. lol. Still funny anyways.

Quote: cagito

Yes in your case the 2 bets are lost. Have not had it happen though. Yet.... Yeah, essentially a no-hole game. I have not had a doubled 11 lose to a blackjack with 20 out of nearly 5,000 games played thus far.
Although i should mention there are these jokers, they will obviously affect house edge. Anyways, on the deal is the only time they ever show and you get a 3 : 1 payout if they come. So far i've seen those come up in the area or .75% - 1.2% of hands dealt. Double joker which i have not seen in those 5,000 games is 10:1 payout.

But the main thing axiom is that i have doubled on a 10/11 and hit 21 with a dealer Ace showing on a good 20 or so occasions. So im assuming at least one of those was surly a blackjack.

It is kind of nice that once you hit 21 you know the dealer can't push. But that fact in and of itself doesn't change the house edge much sadly :(.

During my sims and such using .87% for the jokers i find it to be a slight advantage to the player. But its has many up/downs. And the downs can be quite deep.

So far 3,400 games and the player advantage is about -2% atm.

I'm thinking long long long haul it might be in my favor. My sims show it to be with the joker. I did have some crappy luck today and was on a bad losing streak.

Quote: cagito

Well, it is played with an in-game currency that you could normally only obtain by paying $$. So in a way its like winning money. I was considering if possible selling the game currency. :). With a max bet of 1k... and the game selling for $.10 ea there is room to make some money if i can beat the game.

I can play roughly 350 hand/hour too. Dunno if anyone wants to know this.

Quote: AxelWolf

Hmmm. I dont understand can you send me a link? do they start you with free chippies? Or do you get thousands of chippies for a small buy in? If so, and you can sell chips at a 10% rate, you could have an advantage, especially if they start you with free chips. I would be worried if it was random.

Trying to beat the game is probably not the best way to take advantage of this.

Quote: cagito

Well I don't know where else to turn, so i've decided to come here and see what you guys have to say about it.

Granted this is a blackjack mini game (it's inside of another game) and it is therefore only a game. But, you can win what you would normally have to pay cash for. Aka premium currency. Anyhow moving on.

Here are the rules for the game.

Dealer hits soft 17
No Splitting
No Insurance
Double any 2 cards
Dealer and player Blackjack ties
Player hitting 21 always wins (even if dealer has BJ)
Blackjack pays 1:1
All other bets pay 1:1

Basic strategy doesn't seem to help much. I found that doubling on 8 vs 5, 6 and 4,4 vs 5, 6 decreases the house edge.


So far with adjustments to basic strategy I'm getting a house edge in the are of about 2.1%

Whats the specific strategy required to either beat this game or minimize the house edge to as low as possible?

Thanks :)

Quote: Swanson234

I wouldn't wish that game on my worst enemy

Quote: cagito

Well, it is inside of another game, a mini game if you will. With achievements etc. It's a facebook game. And no no free chippies. But as you advance in the game you do receive free "chips" or premium currency that you can use on the blackjack. Thank you all for the help but I don't think anyone can really help beyond me actually playing and tracking my winnings and losses as i have been to see what the actual outcome in the longrun is.

And when I mentioned selling the currency of course I was speaking of selling to other players rather than them buying from the game itself. It's only a thought but still has some sort of potential in any case.

And i don't know if this really answers your question, but the currency aka $$ is the chips.... So there is no Buy-in per-se. But you can get around 2,000 for in the area of $200. something like that.

I wouldn't buy-in personally. I'm just trying to see if i could use what i have available to make it into something. Tis worth a try considering I don't have anyting else going atm. Can't afford to actually spend any money on something to turn it into more. :(

Quote: AxelWolf

I have had to play worst rules then that for real money. No double either Obviously the place had a promotion that overcame the bad rules. You feel so dirty not being able to split or double. Toss this game a place with no gaming for hundreds of miles. If you deal it they will come.

Quote: AxelWolf

Big chain casinos in Las Vegas has been probably the 2nd worst thing for Advantage Players.