Dp 6:5 blackjack games allow you to double down on blackjacks?
What's the EV difference in doubling down on a blackjack in a 3:2 game versus a 6:5 game? Obviously, you shouldn't be playing a 6:5 game to begin with, but if you're forced to, something inside of me tells me that doubling down a "soft 21" in that game is a lot less stupid than in a 3:2 game, mainly due to the 40% difference in the final payout of a successful double down rather than 25% of a 3:2 game.
Can anyone share their opinion on this?
you lose about -1.4% house edge going from a 3:2 game to a 6:5 game
and you lose about -.85% more going from 6:5 to even money.
the only way i would play 6:5 is at gunpoint.
I'm fairly sure this question was asked before, but I couldn't find it.
For what it's worth, on the Wizard's BJ page, in the rule variations chart, he states that 6:5 increases the edge 1.39%
Quote: FunboxI was dealing blackjack at work today and talking to a customer about the double deck game they have available in the local competing casino. We discussed doubling down on blackjacks when he was dealt one. While my casino gladly lets you make this (stupid) play, he told me that the other casino does not allow it at all. I don't know if it was just in their 6:5 game. He suggested that they don't allow it there because players can make more money by doubling on blackjacks rather than standing on them. $20 for a successful double down sounds more enticing to some players than taking the $12 on a $10 bet. It's probably still a dumb move, but it got me thinking anyway.
What's the EV difference in doubling down on a blackjack in a 3:2 game versus a 6:5 game? Obviously, you shouldn't be playing a 6:5 game to begin with, but if you're forced to, something inside of me tells me that doubling down a "soft 21" in that game is a lot less stupid than in a 3:2 game, mainly due to the 40% difference in the final payout of a successful double down rather than 25% of a 3:2 game.
Can anyone share their opinion on this?
Even in a 6:5 (or even money for that matter) game, taking the guaranteed payoff is still higher EV than doubling down on 11 (which is essentially what you'd be doing when doubling a BJ) regardless of the upcard. (In the best case, against a dealer 6, the EV of doubling 11 is a little under 0.7 which is still much worse than a 1.0 or 1.2 payoff.)
Quote: QuadDeucesforced to?
Of course if you prefer not to sit next to the hot babe giving you the eye at the 6/5 table, we understand,
LOL
Quote: FunboxExcellent answer. Thank you.
If you think through the question you will see that any time you elect to play a hand, there is always some possibility that you will lose. So EV must logically always be less than one.
The highest EV possible is for a single deck of cards where the dealer must stand on soft 17, and "double after split" is permitted. This game actually has a player advantage of 0.2% playing perfect strategy even without counting cards.
0.787307 is the highest possible EV for a single hand (double on player 6,5 against a dealer 5).
So you should never refuse a blackjack even if blackjacks only play even money. But if you are playing that game you should be sitting poolside and the dealer should be a bronzed hardbody in a bikini (or in a speedo if you are on the other team).
