Buster Side Bet

The Buster Blackjack side bet pays based on the dealer busting, and then based on the number of cards in the dealer's busted hand. It is very popular in California card rooms, and from what I can tell, it is available elsewhere. Mike analyzes it here. My analysis confirms Mike's, but curiously, we both get different results than the original mathematician.

I've done a bit of preliminary work and I've found a very good count system to use, as well as the win rate, for one specific pay table on a 6 deck shoe game (win rate = 0.70 units per 100 hands). The count system is:

A = -2
2 = -3
3 = -2
4,5,6 = 0
7,8,9,T = +1.

I am not sure what's really out there for this bet as far as casino placements. So, if you don't mind, please post (or PM or e-mail me) any version (number of decks and pay table) that you observe in a casino. The max bet is also of interest. I intend to post about this on my blog towards the end of the week.

Thanks in advance.

Quote: teliot

The Buster Blackjack side bet pays based on the dealer busting, and then based on the number of cards in the dealer's busted hand. It is very popular in California card rooms, and from what I can tell, it is available elsewhere. Mike analyzes it here. My analysis confirms Mike's, but curiously, we both get different results than the original mathematician.

I've done a bit of preliminary work and I've found a very good count system to use, as well as the win rate, for one specific pay table on a 6 deck shoe game (win rate = 0.70 units per 100 hands). The count system is:

A = -2
2 = -3
3 = -2
4,5,6 = 0
7,8,9,T = +1.

I am not sure what's really out there for this bet as far as casino placements. So, if you don't mind, please post (or PM or e-mail me) any version (number of decks and pay table) that you observe in a casino. The max bet is also of interest. I intend to post about this on my blog towards the end of the week.

Thanks in advance.

Unfortunately I can't help you with limits/paytables on this specific side bet, but the Bust Bonus side bet is becoming quite popular around the WA State card rooms. I'm surprised that the Wiz hasn't added it to his list of BJ side bets.

Buster BJ and Perfect Pairs were the two BJ side bets used by Barona when I was there in early December. Lots of tables with both bets, I did not verify what pay table was being used.