Wiz in LV Sun today
Nice story on Blackjack basics quoting the Wiz.
Although I really liked the "Don't talk sh** on 3rd base" kinda thing.
Quote: billryanNice read, but reading the comments was more fun.
The comments are always the best part of articles. Joe and Charlie must work for casinos.
One thing I wish the article did differently is point out just how bad 6:5 is... Sure it says it's 1.4% worse! But no one knows the base percentage (or any percentages really) to gauge just how bad that is. The article should say "6:5 blackjack is FOUR TIMES worse than regular 3:2 blackjack!" Then, hopefully some ploppies would realize just how bad it really is.
Quote: mcallister3200Well for the people playing 6:5 it's probably only 2x as bad since none of them are playing anything remotely close to basic strategy.
Aside from some form of AP, anyone playing 6:5 ISN'T playing basic strategy.
Quote: WizardThanks for the comments everyone. There are a few more in another thread on this topic, which I just closed, at 5 TIPS TO BEAT BLACKJACK.
Nice read Wizard.
It says Mike is "the owner of the The Wizard of Odds website."
Uh, nope, he aint't.
Quote: MrVOne error in the article.
It says Mike is "the owner of the The Wizard of Odds website."
Uh, nope, he aint't.
Another error is that I'm an adjunct professor at UNLV. Haven't had that job in about ten years now.
Dont play 6/5
Play with a strategy card.
Quote: WizardAnother error is that I'm an adjunct professor at UNLV. Haven't had that job in about ten years now.
Then your bio on the Odds site needs updating:
Quote: WoO (highlight mine)About the Wizard
The Wizard of Odds is Michael Shackleford, A.S.A., a professional actuary who has made a career of analyzing casino games. He runs the numbers on new games for casinos and game developers and has helped design many of the popular slot machines on the Internet. He is currently an Adjunct Professor of Casino Math at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, a former contributing editor to Casino Player magazine, and the author of the book Gambling 102, recently published by Huntington Press. The Wizard's landmark research into the actual returns of slot machines on the Las Vegas strip garnered international attention in 2002, and he has appeared numerous times on national television as a recognized expert on gambling strategy.
Quote: AyecarumbaThen your bio on the Odds site needs updating:
Thank you for bringing that to my attention. I just fixed it. I'm not an actuary anymore either -- I decided against paying $630 for 2017 to keep that going.
Quote: JohnnyQComments are interesting. Someone going by "kewlJ" is having a little on-line hissy fit there.
It must be that time of the month already.
Cinco de Mayo ?Quote: RSIt must be that time of the month already.
Quote: JohnnyQComments are interesting. Someone going by "kewlJ" is having a little on-line hissy fit there.
Yeah, he enjoys stamping his ruby red slippers and bitching about the Wiz to whatever audience he can.
Sad.
Some folks just can't handle rejection.
Quote: WizardAnother error is that I'm an adjunct professor at UNLV. Haven't had that job in about ten years now.
Fake News!
: )
Kj's comments are pathetic and mostly incorrect. I feel sorry for him at this point, letting himself be that petty and rude.
Its more like statistician's tips on how not to lessen your odds, but big deal.Quote: AxelWolfStatistician’s tips on increasing your odds at blackjack in Las Vegas
Note: I understand that Judge is a term used even if a man has not sat on the bench for years and that it is the same way with professor. Unless UNLV tossed him out or he formally resigned, its still professor even if he has been inactive for quite some time, he may use the term professor.
It used to be common for men to affect their military ranks but this does not seem to be done anymore.
Quote: WizardI'm not an actuary anymore either -- I decided against paying $630 for 2017 to keep that going.
Is that true that because you do not pay a fee you are no longer an actuary? When I retire and stop paying the myriad of fees, I will still be a doctor, just one without the legal right to practice medicine in my state.
Quote: SOOPOOIs that true that because you do not pay a fee you are no longer an actuary? When I retire and stop paying the myriad of fees, I will still be a doctor, just one without the legal right to practice medicine in my state.
I think I can still still truthfully say I'm an actuary. However, to put the A.S.A. after my name, you have to be a member of the Society in good standing. I didn't think I was getting $630 in value to be able to say that. Most people I deal with in the business world probably don't know what an actuary is.
I haven't worked it out but these are a few ideas...
(i) Never play 6to5 Blackjack, look for 3to2;
(ii) Avoid sidebets (or accept they're fun and in the long term it will cost you more money to play them);
(iii) Learn the correct way to play hands, if not adopt a simple set of rules:
- Stand on 12 or more vs 2-6
- Hit until you reach 17 vs 7+
- Double 9, 10 or 11 if your total is 2 more than the dealer's.
- Never take insurance.
Quote: SOOPOOIs that true that because you do not pay a fee you are no longer an actuary? When I retire and stop paying the myriad of fees, I will still be a doctor, just one without the legal right to practice medicine in my state.
A recent thread discussed the legal danger of calling oneself an engineer in Oregon unless you are licensed by the state.
My friend ,who is a non-practicing lawyer always introduces himself as Dr Wol@#$itz. I suppose he is entitled to it, but its pretentious.
For what it's worth ,imo, if one isn't a working actuary, one isn't an actuary. They are a former actuary. Every bit as impressive but strangely more accurate.
Doctor is an honorific. Actuary is a job title.
Quote: charliepatrickA very interesting thread would be which five simple things we would recommend. Personally soft doubles aren't that important - yes they're a nice addition but not terrible if you don't do it.
I haven't worked it out but these are a few ideas...
(i) Never play 6to5 Blackjack, look for 3to2;
(ii) Avoid sidebets (or accept they're fun and in the long term it will cost you more money to play them);
(iii) Learn the correct way to play hands, if not adopt a simple set of rules:
- Stand on 12 or more vs 2-6
- Hit until you reach 17 vs 7+
- Double 9, 10 or 11 if your total is 2 more than the dealer's.
- Never take insurance.
I like this idea. Kind of the 80/20 rule of what is most important to know. Basic Strategy "lite".
Quote: charliepatrickA very interesting thread would be which five simple things we would recommend. Personally soft doubles aren't that important - yes they're a nice addition but not terrible if you don't do it.
I haven't worked it out but these are a few ideas...
(i) Never play 6to5 Blackjack, look for 3to2;
(ii) Avoid sidebets (or accept they're fun and in the long term it will cost you more money to play them);
(iii) Learn the correct way to play hands, if not adopt a simple set of rules:
- Stand on 12 or more vs 2-6
- Hit until you reach 17 vs 7+
- Double 9, 10 or 11 if your total is 2 more than the dealer's.
- Never take insurance.
That's a fair point. When the reporter interviewed me over the phone I rattled off the first four pretty quick and considered other things. While soft doubling may not help much, I see other players misplay those situations so often, that I wanted to shed light on the problem. Same with surrender 16 vs 10. It isn't worth that much but usually when I see surrender other players ask, "What did you just do?"
Also, in trying to teach blackjack for 20 years, I find people are very averse to memorizing numbers. I didn't want to make it too dry with just a simplified basic strategy.
Quote: billryanMy friend ,who is a non-practicing lawyer always introduces himself as Dr Wol@#$itz. I suppose he is entitled to it, but its pretentious.
My father had a PhD in physics. His mail usually was addressed as Dr. ... As a young kid I was confused, because I thought a doctor was the guy who helped sick people, and had trouble with the title explanation. Anyway, my father never went around introducing himself as "Dr." I think he preferred to be just Bill.
Quote: WizardMy father had a PhD in physics. His mail usually was addressed as Dr. ... As a young kid I was confused, because I thought a doctor was the guy who helped sick people, and had trouble with the title explanation. Anyway, my father never went around introducing himself as "Dr." I think he preferred to be just Bill.
As a graduate student, whenever I interacted with a professor who insisted on being called Dr. XXXX, they were almost always a toolbag. 95% of the time you usually called them by their first name.
And nice article! But I do agree saying 6:5 is 4X worse than 3:2 (ignoring errors) would drive the point home to avoid 6:5.
Quote: tringlomaneAnd nice article! But I do agree saying 6:5 is 4X worse than 3:2 (ignoring errors) would drive the point home to avoid 6:5.
Thanks. If I said that I'd have to qualify the statement with the other rules and I know editors like to keep things as simple as possible.
