Mega Blackjack

This game was touched on in the NEW GAME FIELD TRIALS IN NEVADA thread, but I think it is deserving of its own thread.

AGS, the distributor, was kind enough to share their math report with me. I used it to create my new page on Mega Blackjack. Please click the link and let me know what you think. As always, I welcome all questions, comments, and especially corrections.

Note the significantly different basic strategy compared to regular blackjack. That is because with the rule on pushing if the dealer busts with four or more cards calls for being more aggressive with hitting and conservative with doubling and and splitting.

The question for the poll is would you play Mega Blackjack? Multiple votes allowed.

I saw this game at the Monte Carlo last week. I took an information card, but said there was no way I'd play until I read what you had to say. After reading your analysis, I'll definitely take a pass. Four-card busts happen waaaaay too often.

I feel like the dealer busting with 4 or more cards happens... a lot. It's a different approach than the standard push22 rules, etc, so it's something new at least.

Which version of the paytable does Monte Carlo use?

Seems interesting.

But as others have said, a 4 or more card bust happens a lot. Far more often than the 22 bust.

Does hitting to 21 to earn 3:2 happen enough to mentally offset the 4 card busts? Certainly not with standard strategy. Would it happen enough with the more aggressive strategy you posted in that article? Don't know.

But add the 3:1 BJs and this game has some possibilities.

I'd certainly give it a shot. Particularly since the edge you're showing is fairly low. Then again, if the game gets popular, how long will it be before a BJ starts paying 5:2 instead of 3:1?

I'm curious in Version 2 & 3 if the AK BJs are countable, and if it so, how much of an edge would it give you...

Quote: DJTeddyBear

...I'm curious in Version 2 & 3 if the AK BJs are countable, and if it so, how much of an edge would it give you...

You wouldn't just have to focus the AK though. =)... From a counting standpoint this is just the same as a "crappy house edge" game of blackjack, but since there's emphasis on blackjacks in the payouts (which is one of the biggest "advantages" we leverage in the game) I'd be interested to run some SIMS.

I calculate dealer busting with 4 or more cards at 11.27% of hands or just under 1 in 9 hands. Too high a frequency!

The Buster BJ bet on this game I have seen has a reduced the pay table that only pays when the dealer busts with 4 or more cards (e.g. a dealer bust on three cards loses on the side bet). This takes AGS' normal Buster BJ side bet and its 28.6% hit rate down to an 11.27% hit rate...a huge change in player experience for players that like the low pay/high frequency action of regular Buster BJ.

From the strategy chart, it looks like you double & split a lot less often in Mega BJ than the regular game. Doubling and Splitting are the exciting hands in the regular game for recreational players, so having that happen less often doesn't seem like a positive.

All of this for larger pays on blackjacks that occur once every 21.5 hands and an extra half unit on multi-card 21's?

Wiz, can you calculate the frequency of a blackjack or a multi-card 21 occurring in Mega based on the revised strategy? It has to be in the 8-9% range. If correct, players are going to feel like they are getting screwed on a 4+ card dealer bust hand on 1 in 9 hands and feel some benefit from the higher pay out hands one in 11 or 12 hands.

It's a Blackjack game using the idea that some of Dealer's busts are standoffs and giving some of this back via bonuses. Personally I think the non-paying hands will appear to happen too often and the payback isn't that interesting compared to a free split. As with most reductions in paying out for Dealer busting, the player hits more/all 12s and doubles less.

Quote: Paradigm

I calculate dealer busting with 4 or more cards at 11.27% of hands or just under 1 in 9 hands. Too high a frequency!..

Yes; Miplet's Excel workbook gets 11.27%, too.

Thanks for the comments everyone. To catch up:

1. The Monte Carlo uses pay table 1 of the main game, that pays 3 to 1 on all blackjacks.
2. I agree with the 11.27% of a dealer bust with four or more cards.
3. Thanks for letting me know the Buster Blackjack uses different pay tables than regular blackjack. I just added them to the page.
4. I do not know which Buster Blackjack pay table is used. If anyone else knows, please let me know. I never had a chance to visit today.

Wiz, do you have a frequency for blackjacks plus multi-card 21's using optimum Mega BJ Strategy (e.g. the bonus pay hands in MBJ)? I guessed at around 9% of player hands.

I'm not a nit that looks for this sort of thing but these errors jumped out at me.
From the Mega Blackjack page -

Buster BlackJKack Analysis
Game literature mentions TO pay tables for the Buster Blackjack.

Just asking for a clarification on the Mega Blackjack rules:

If a player draws or doubles to a 21 and the dealer also draws to 2 (or more) cards and makes a 21, is the player still paid 3:2?