Be the dealer [blackjack]

Dear Wizzard of Odds,

I just found out about a new game; Be the dealer. In this game the players rotate to be the dealer.
If you are the dealer you can do whatever you like, for example stand on 15 or hit on 17.
DAS is not allowed and it is a 2 deck game with reshufle after every hand.

The hole cards for the player are dealt face down,
If the player decided to double or split, the initial cards are faced up and the last cards dealt face down.
As said, the dealer then can do whatever he likes.

For example

You play the dealer holding 16 while showing a 6 ,
The Player takes one card, it is a 5 and decides to stand.

I guess the best play here is to stand on 16, as you only lose if the player decided to hit the range 11-16. I guess we can eliminate 11 from this because this whould've be an easy double. So basicly the only hands possible we are only losing against are a hited 12,13 asuming he whould've stand 14+. And even I think we are good most of the time.

But what about if we were holding 15 instead showing a 5, or hold 15 showing a 7.

Ofcourse how this game should be played depends on how your opponent(s) plays the game.
What will be optimal strategy asuming basic strategy from your opponent? How does the optimal play change once you assume the player makes mistakes such as not hitting 16.

There is a rake of 3.75% on net winnings involved once you are the dealer, is this game still beatable?
How does optimal play change once you play the player role?

The game is fun and I whould love to hear some strategy about it.

Best,
Bjplayer

While I don't have all of your exact answers I can tell you just from reading that the dealer will have a decent advantage, so long as most of the rules are the same. Anyone who plays this game will probably have "regular" blackjack mentality, but this game is VERY different. Your example highlights that perfectly. Normally a player might take 1 card then stand to a 6 because the dealer has to hit... but in this game, they don't. I could see the vast majority of ploppies holding 13 there and REFUSING to hit because you have a 6 showing, even though with those game rules you pretty much must hit to make a hand.

I wonder how much bluffing would work. Say you have 2-3, to a dealer 5... You take a hit and get a face card for 15, but as you get a face you yell "Yes!!!" Clearly the dealer thinks you made a good hand and will now hit their 16 if that's what they have. Could be fun =P.

Is this the game at pokerstars? Or a live game somewhere?

I take it you would be better off being the dealer VS one player at a time?

This is indeed the game on pokerstars

This would be a tough analysis. There would probably be some plays you should randomize, much like in poker.

Dealer strategy obviously will vary depending on number of players. And will vary hugely if players are allowed a variety of bets.

If player one hits and you see 15 and he has 2 hidden cards and he has bet $1000, and you have 17, you will hit if the other players stand if they bet $10 each. I would say to develop an optimal strategy would be extremely complex in a multi-player game, and not so complex in a one on one game. I'd say the house banker edge would be huge. Someone smarter than me can define "huge".

The important rule is what happens when both player and dealer bust. Does the dealer win like in normal BJ.
Or even better if the player busts, is his hand revealed as busted immediately.

Quote: AceTwo

The important rule is what happens when both player and dealer bust. Does the dealer win like in normal BJ.
Or even better if the player busts, is his hand revealed as busted immediately.

You said what?

Once busted the player his hand is shown immediately including which cards made him bust.