Tired of rolling eyes

I am amazed that many excellent blackjack players still choose even money.

For me, the answer is simple and it boils down to whether or not I would "buy" a hand that a player has given up for even money.

Here's what I figure: the odds that the dealer has a 10 in the hole are about 31% (16 of 52); the return on the money I used to buy the hand is 50% (with a 3:2 game). Let's see--31% risk of losing versus a 50% payoff. I'll take those odds every day.

Some people tell me that the they don't want to risk losing their bet when they have blackjack. This would make sense to me if "your life depended on not losing your bet," but I doubt that this is ever the case.

This logic also applies to insurance. If a fellow player asked me to make a side bet with him for 1/2 his original bet in which I pay him back his original bet if the dealer has a ten in the hole, I would do it every time. Why, because the chance the dealer has a ten is 31%, which means I'm going to win the "side bet" 69% of the time and lose it 31% of the time. Since I need to pay him back 2x his side bet, I will be paying him back 2x 31% or 62% . Last time I checked, 69% is bigger than 62%.

What am I missing?

Jim

The only thing you are missing is that 95% of players don't care about the percentages. They are there for entertainment and it feels good to have guaranteed money when a deer has an ace.

Same reason people play 6-5 blackjack, High Card Flush with 1-1 on a four card flush rather than 2-1, don't take full odds on the craps bet, etc, etc, etc.


ZCore13

Quote: Zcore13

when a deer has an ace.

well, a deer can be *on* an ace anyway

Quote: Jim

I am amazed that many excellent blackjack players still choose even money.

For me, the answer is simple and it boils down to whether or not I would "buy" a hand that a player has given up for even money.

Here's what I figure: the odds that the dealer has a 10 in the hole are about 31% (16 of 52); the return on the money I used to buy the hand is 50% (with a 3:2 game). Let's see--31% risk of losing versus a 50% payoff. I'll take those odds every day.

Some people tell me that the they don't want to risk losing their bet when they have blackjack. This would make sense to me if "your life depended on not losing your bet," but I doubt that this is ever the case.

This logic also applies to insurance. If a fellow player asked me to make a side bet with him for 1/2 his original bet in which I pay him back his original bet if the dealer has a ten in the hole, I would do it every time. Why, because the chance the dealer has a ten is 31%, which means I'm going to win the "side bet" 69% of the time and lose it 31% of the time. Since I need to pay him back 2x his side bet, I will be paying him back 2x 31% or 62% . Last time I checked, 69% is bigger than 62%.

What am I missing?



Jim

Sometimes you should examine your moves through how others are perceiving you. What information are you sharing with the casino when you make moves like this?
Is the occasional extra money on a hand worth revealing you aren't a ploppy? Is the pit rating you an expert player going to cost more in comps than picking up a few bucks on a BJ?
Only you can decide.

I play bj on occasion. Always a red chip player at 5 or 10 table. Maybe 6 months ago I was playing and was pressing bets after wins. Had a streak where I won maybe 11 hands in a row and had a 150 bet. Got BJ and dealer had A. I took the even money. 150 is a huge bet for me. Even though I know the odds and I wasted money I may only have a $150 bet up 5 times this year so I was happy with the win.

Definitely take even money if you are playing a 6:5 table.

Quote: DRich

Definitely take even money if you are playing a 6:5 table.

I tried that once and was told no even money at a 6:5 table. Then I was like Ahhhhh F%$# didnt realize it was a damn 6:5 table.

Yeah they don’t allow even money on 6/5 anywhere I’ve seen it. And it’s generally a complete mindf*ck for dealers when someone takes insurance on one when the dealer has it, correct procedure would be to pay 2:1 on insurance then push the blackjack, MAYBE 10% of dealers do it correctly since it requires them going out of robot mode and thinking, and instead either just freeze or try to push the whole bet bet like they’re paying insurance on a regular bj hand. I am not saying dealers are generally dumb I’m saying their brains are in robot mode and not active while on the clock, generally speaking.

That’s literally the only time it bothers most 6/5 players that blackjack pays 6/5, that they can’t take even money, should probably let them have that one thing.

Quote: mcallister3200

Yeah they don’t allow even money on 6/5 anywhere I’ve seen it. And it’s generally a complete mindf*ck for dealers when someone takes insurance on one when the dealer has it, correct procedure would be to pay 2:1 on insurance then push the blackjack, MAYBE 10% of dealers do it correctly since it requires them going out of robot mode and thinking, and instead either just freeze or try to push the whole bet bet like they’re paying insurance on a regular bj hand. I am not saying dealers are generally dumb I’m saying their brains are in robot mode and not active while on the clock, generally speaking.

That’s literally the only time it bothers most 6/5 players that blackjack pays 6/5, that they can’t take even money, should probably let them have that one thing.

On the last cruise I was on, they offered even money at the 6:5 tables. Probably for the reasons you mentioned. Cruise ships tend to not have very experienced dealers.

As to the OP, be grateful there are players who play sub-optimally. They are the reason why your table is still 3:2. They also increase your comps.

I'll give up the game forever before I play 6:5 so it really doesn't matter to me.

I'll give up the game forever before I play 6:5 so it really doesn't matter to me.

Ian Anderson said always taking even money was a generally profitable play and his reasoning made sense.

Biggest bets are going to happen in higher counts when insurance is either less bad, or the correct play -- which then gives cover for taking insurance when it is called for (plus general cover that comes from making "recreational" plays that deviate from basic strategy).

It's usually those players that want to insure when they have a 20 because it's a good hand, not really thinking about the fact that it's two 10s. I have gotten so much incredulity when insuring a 12 or 16, but I don't think I ever have with a 20.