Blackjack in Downtown Prague, Czech Rep.

Reporting from travels! Here is a little bit of a low-down on BJ in the downtown casinos (there are many others in Prague, but I mainly hovered around the downtown area).

A: Banco Casino, Rating B+
I love this place. Two BJ tables, 3 roulettes and some casino poker. Entry requires registration / ID check, whereupon they give you a member card for free which you can then use instead of ID later. No points or rewards or anything. BJ Rules: 6decks, S17, DOA, DAS, surrender 2-T (not vs A), no hole card, split up to four hands. Splitting tens allowed. Penetration is hugely dealer dependent but is mostly pretty bad, cutting usually at least two decks out. At one point, I was playing alone and I asked to cut deeper "so that less time is spent shuffling" and they were like, pff ok whatever and cut only a single deck out. HAH!

Drinks are free (and waitresses lovely), as are cigarettes!! shame I don't smoke. But I got a pack and made friends with the local fauna later on because everyone smokes here, cigarettes are expensive, and people love you forever if you give them one. Min 100CZK (= $5), max 5000 (=$250). Also, tipping (especially tipping waitresses) is totally not in the culture here so getting special attention is pretty easy. The most awful thing here is the ploppies. I find that Euros are so bad at BJ. I'm talking hitting 15v6. Locals and tourists alike, I found... Like in Hamburg, you can bet on other players' spots. Dealers are mostly OK, with a mild sense of humor (a HUGE compliment for Czechs who are pretty much grumpy all the time...), doing things like putting the card face down on expensive doubles. Decent exchange rate vs EUR and USD, and the cool thing is that you can reclaim whatever you bought in for in foreign currency within 24 hours with no exchange penalty. Oh - don't try to beat the shuffle. That thing is completely impossible: half-decks are passed through three times each and interfingered like crazy from four piles.

B: Kasino Kartac, Rating F-
OMG if you want to go to a place that looks like it's run by the mob, go here. BJ is dealt out of CSMs. Dark alleys to get in and out. No drinks. I didn't stay long enough to get all their rules, but it's probably similar to Banco.

C: Casino Ambassador, Rating B-
Similar to Banco on rules and penetration. One key difference: if you want to surrender your hand, you have to do so before first base makes a move ... learned that the hard way. Cannot double for less (I was almost all-in (in local currency, had USD backup) on A2 v 6!!! :( :( :( luckily, I won the hand, and the cards were such that I would have lost on that double...) Same policy on exchanging foreign currency and getting it back, though their rate was somewhat worse here.

That's it for now. I'm looking forward to Mohegan Sun when I return home!

EDIT: when exchanging foreign currency, they're really strict on bill quality. The slightest fading or tears, if there's anything written on the notes, bill gets rejected. Basically, bring only the crispest, cleanest bills with you.

Nice report on the local scene! Would you mind sharing a bit more info, such as how you're doing (possibly bankroll, spread, etc, if you want)? How long were your sessions and did you get any heat at all? Sounds like a fun time with ok (~.45%) games. Keep hustling that penetration =P.

What about language? Does everyone speak English? Or will you have some problems there if you don't speak any other languages?

Prague is somewhere that I really want to visit -- I love Czech beer and Czech women :) Some good blackjack never hurts, of course!

Great info, arcticfun! Keep it coming, please.

Arcticfun,

If a couple of beautiful young women show an interest in you (and/or your group) and suggest going out for drinks or a meal, NEVER let them choose the place. Offer to choose the place yourself. If they are really interested in hanging out, they will agree. Otherwise, you could fall victim to Prague's most common tourist scam, where the ladies rope you into a bar or restaurant, and when the check comes, everything is 20x more expensive than it should be. Then the bouncer will physically escort you to an ATM if you can't pay in cash.

Prague taxi drivers also sometimes get a piece of this scam, so don't let them suggest a restaurant or bar, either.

Regarding my play - I came in with $1000, exchanged half of it, played $5-$50 (which is REALLY small play compared to my usual action), lost a bunch and exchanged my remaining cash. I ended up winning about $250 or so, so I got my $1000 back but the winnings had to be kept in local currency. I can happily add another successful data point to my empirically-determined "Trip-BR = 150x min bet" rule. As for heat .... Honestly, nothing. I don't think these guys think that BJ is beatable. So much money is made from tourists coming in thinking they own the game. I was pretty obvious -- min-bet on first hand, big bets only toward the end ... had my full stacks plainly visible ... There aren't any "pit bosses" the same way they have them in the US. There's a single "manager" watching over all the games, mostly the roulette tables because that's where the highest emotions are coming from. Dealers are watched by a second person, who is basically another dealer taking a break, to catch mispays or other mistakes. They rotate every 45 mins or so.

I forgot to add no RSA, and split aces get exactly one card. (remember to hit AA vs A!!). Also interesting is the VERBAL commands carry a lot of weight. Cameras are fitted with microphones, and they give verbal commands (stay, hit, etc.) priority over conventional hand signals.

@Ax: everyone speaks English fluently, and enough German and Russian to deal with other tourists. That's the case basically everywhere in CZ, so don't worry about language barriers.

@Romes: your HE calculation of -0.4% surprises me a little -- seems high. Did you add the effect of early surrender vs 10? or does the no-hole card rule just make it that bad?

Quote: arcticfun

@Romes: your HE calculation of -0.4% surprises me a little -- seems high. Did you add the effect of early surrender vs 10? or does the no-hole card rule just make it that bad?

For 6D, S17, DAS, DOA, Resplit to 4 hands, 3-2, Player loses all bet on dealer BJ (which might actually not be true), No Surrender (factor in ES later).... I get: ~.54 (realistic).

https://wizardofodds.com/games/blackjack/calculator/

Factor in no hole card (+.11 to the house), early surrender to 10 (-.24) and that totals up to = ~.41 ...I was taking a rough guess with ~.45.

https://wizardofodds.com/games/blackjack/rule-variations/

Sorry, I was assuming Euro style you lost your doubles/etc to dealer BJ. If you don't then take .11 away from that for ~.30 HE. If you double and only get 20, and the dealer has BJ, do you lose just your original bet, or do you lose the double wager as well?

That's pretty interesting that they have mic's and verbal commands hold. Gotta be careful when joking around about hitting 17 =p. If you don't lose your doubles, etc, then I'd say hustle that PEN and fire away with no heat =). Might not hurt to ask if you can bet "a little" more to try to get a 15-1 spread or so. Then you should be lookin at a pretty decent game!

You're right, dealer BJ means you lose all splits and doubles in addition to your original bet. NVM.

Quote: arcticfun

You're right, dealer BJ means you lose all splits and doubles in addition to your original bet. NVM.

.41 is still beatable with good PEN and a decent spread. I'd still play this and have fun on a trip, especially with the no heat. Again, I'd really try to get them to let me bet $5-$75, which doesn't seem too unreasonable, and I would think to have a decent chance at it with the 'private club' atmosphere as opposed to the corporate rules of a large casino.

Keep coming with updates if you find new places or play more! =)

Quote: Romes

Nice report on the local scene! Would you mind sharing a bit more info, such as how you're doing (possibly bankroll, spread, etc, if you want)? How long were your sessions and did you get any heat at all? Sounds like a fun time with ok (~.45%) games. Keep hustling that penetration =P.

The game described is the 'Standard' game in Eastern Europe and other locations inetrnationally.
The Ev of the game is around -0,26% (not -0,45%).

If you look around in Czech Republic, you will also find in 1 casino a game with an extra rule which makes it a Positive EV of around +0.15% provided you know how to play the extra rule.
(Do not ask me where exactly or what the rule change is.)

AceTwo, check out a couple posts above. Unless I'm missing rules that weren't mentioned it should be spelled out pretty well to ~.41%? I was just shooting an educated guess with the .45%.

Quote: Romes

AceTwo, check out a couple posts above. Unless I'm missing rules that weren't mentioned it should be spelled out pretty well to ~.41%? I was just shooting an educated guess with the .45%.

I will insist on my figure of -0.26%
My exact figure is -0.26396%. Most people that have calculated this 'Standard' game of ENHC,6D,DAS, Split to 4 Hands, ES10 game calculate a figure of between -0.26% to -0.27% (differences arise from exact application of Split algorithms).
This is an exact figure using Combinatorial analysis.
I have confirmed this figure in the past with Very Big Simulations.

I do not dispute that if you take the value effect of rule changes as calculated by WoO you might get the figure you quote of -0.41%.
BUT, you have to understand that often rule variations interact and the combined effect of 2 or more rule variations is not exactly their sum.
The effect of rule variations as given by WoO assume that all other rules remained unchanged. When there are a few rule variations, the sum of these give a good estimate of the overall effect but not the total accurate effect.
For the total accurate effect you need a full combinatorial analysis or a very Big Sim.

Ah, this does make some sense. Of the simulations you've ran, do you have maybe one or two examples you can show where the rules change % differs from the combined rules change %?

Quote: arcticfun

B: Kasino Kartac, Rating F-
OMG if you want to go to a place that looks like it's run by the mob, go here. BJ is dealt out of CSMs. Dark alleys to get in and out. No drinks. I didn't stay long enough to get all their rules, but it's probably similar to Banco.

I'm fairly certain this is the place I played in Prague. Was it in the same building as the communist museum? I took this picture:

If this is the same place, they have changed the rules, as I played a 4 deck game that was hand shuffled. The penetration was abysmal, about 50%. But I didn't know how to count at the time anyway, so I was just playing BS.

Quote: AcesAndEights

I'm fairly certain this is the place I played in Prague. Was it in the same building as the communist museum? I took this picture:

If this is the same place, they have changed the rules, as I played a 4 deck game that was hand shuffled. The penetration was abysmal, about 50%. But I didn't know how to count at the time anyway, so I was just playing BS.

That's Casino Palais Savarin. I think it recently changed its name which is the word 'Savarin' with something else.
I do not remember this casino (or any casino in Prague) ever having 4 decks.

Just a point of info, many years ago, 2 casinos in Prague had the rarely seen animal of Full Early Surrender (instead of the common ES10).
Untill they were severely 'attacked' by Pros and they changed the rules.

Also many years ago, some Casinos in Prague were suspected for Cheating (there were big threads about this in BJ21 Green chip).
One of them was the casino at the airport (no longer exists). I personally suspected cheating at that casino as well from personal experiences.

Quote: Romes

Ah, this does make some sense. Of the simulations you've ran, do you have maybe one or two examples you can show where the rules change % differs from the combined rules change %?

This sims were done many years ago and I have them somewhere.
But even if I find them it will no show where or why the EV is different from the sum of the EV change per each rule variation.

But the principle that the rule variations interact an the cumulative effect is different than the sum of the individual differences is easy to undestand.
Say ENHC and ES10
ENHC: you lose all bets when double or split. This changes basic and EV for certain Hands and overall EV and you calulate change of EV only on this rule.
ES10: you can eraly surrender against 10. This changes basic and EV for certain Hands and overall EV and you calulate change of EV only on this rule.

For example a Hand like 8,8 v 10.
If you only have ENHC then the strategy becomes Hit (instead of Split) and the Rule variation EV change includes this. From Split to Hit. Negative EV Effect.
If you only have ES10 then the Strategy becomes Surrender (instead of Split) and the Rule variation EV change includes this. From Split to Surrender. Positive EV Effect
If you have both ENHC and ES0 then the Strategy becomes Surrender (instead of Split) and the Rule variation EV change includes this. From Split to Surrender.

BUT when you calculate the Sum of the change of EV in the 2 rules variations, you add both the Negative change of EV from Split to Hit and the Positive change of EV from Split to Surrender. But the actual efect is only the positive effect from Split to Surrender.
So for this particular hand the sum of the 2 rule variations EV is not the correct figure.

Here is another example:

I've heard that some casinos (in the UK?) do not allow you to split 4s or 5s.

In a game with a noDAS rule, the effect of "no splits of 4s or 5s" is 0 (since you never split 5s, and never split 4s if you can't DAS).

On the other hand, in a game with DAS, the effect of "no splits of 4s or 5s" is negative (since you want to split your 4s sometimes).

Quote: AceTwo

Quote: AcesAndEights

I'm fairly certain this is the place I played in Prague. Was it in the same building as the communist museum? I took this picture:

If this is the same place, they have changed the rules, as I played a 4 deck game that was hand shuffled. The penetration was abysmal, about 50%. But I didn't know how to count at the time anyway, so I was just playing BS.

That's Casino Palais Savarin. I think it recently changed its name which is the word 'Savarin' with something else.
I do not remember this casino (or any casino in Prague) ever having 4 decks.

Yeah, there is some kind of chain situation going on. When I played at the casino in question (the one in the same building as the communist museum), I have no idea what was on the sign, but I got a chip that said "Casino Kartáč", as I documented in the Chip of the Day thread. Anyway, looking at their website it appears that specific location is now known as "Casino Savarin." They were definitely dealing out of 4 decks when I was there, but this was early 2011.

Is there mid shoe entry in the Czech Republic? Can anyone confirm?

"For 6D, S17, DAS, DOA, Resplit to 4 hands, 3-2, Player loses all bet on dealer BJ (which might actually not be true), No Surrender (factor in ES later).... I get: ~.54 (realistic).

https://wizardofodds.com/games/blackjack/calculator/

Factor in no hole card (+.11 to the house), early surrender to 10 (-.24) and that totals up to = ~.41 ...I was taking a rough guess with ~.45."


You've counted ENHC twice here so the house edge should be more like .30

Quote: BlackjackGuy123

"6D, S17, DAS, DOA, Resplit to 4 hands, 3-2, Player loses all bet on dealer BJ..... I get: ~.54 (realistic).

Apart from limited splits this is the same as the UK rules. If you see http://www.ukcasinotablegames.info/blackjack.html it gives .55%, although my quick sims of 6 decks a few years ago gave between .47 and .49% and .44% for 4 decks. So I'd say your .54% figure isn't that far out.

Well for the game reported by the OP: 3-2, 6D, S17, ENHC (Player loses all bets on dealer BJ), ES10, DAS, DOA, Resplit to 4 hands (except split AA), I calcuate EV= - 0.2655%

Quote: BlackjackGuy123

"6D, S17, DAS, DOA, Resplit to 4 hands, 3-2, Player loses all bet on dealer BJ..... I get: ~.54 (realistic).

Quote: charliepatrick

Apart from limited splits this is the same as the UK rules. If you see http://www.ukcasinotablegames.info/blackjack.html it gives .55%, although my quick sims of 6 decks a few years ago gave between .47 and .49% and .44% for 4 decks. So I'd say your .54% figure isn't that far out.

For: "6D, S17, DAS, DOA, Resplit to 4 hands(except AA), 3-2, Player loses all bet on dealer BJ (ENHC) I calculate: EV = - 0.5141%

If you are allowed to re-split Aces up to 4 hands then I calculate EV = -0.4505%

yes, taht is correct