Blackjack odds based on spots at the table

Does the house edge go up or down based on how many players can play at a table? Which is better for me to play, a 5, 6, or 7 spot table?

Thank you

Hi masterofnone, welcome to the forums.

The house edge on the game doesn't change based on the number of players at the table. For that matter another common misconception is whatever another player at the table does doesn't affect you in the long run. So over the course of your blackjack days having other people at the table literally doesn't affect you.

The only time it would affect someone is if they were a card counter or potentially another type of AP. Card counters have a small (~1%) edge over the house and to realize that edge they need to get a large enough sampling size... RE: The Law of Large Numbers. Thus, hands per hour are VERY important to a card counter and if the table is full, especially with people taking their sweet old time, then this would actually make the game worse for the card counter. Again though, it would not affect their edge nor would their playing decisions affect the counters hand... just the hourly win rate based on the number of hands per hour the counter is getting.

Quote: Romes

Hi masterofnone, welcome to the forums.

The house edge on the game doesn't change based on the number of players at the table. For that matter another common misconception is whatever another player at the table does doesn't affect you in the long run. So over the course of your blackjack days having other people at the table literally doesn't affect you.

The only time it would affect someone is if they were a card counter or potentially another type of AP. Card counters have a small (~1%) edge over the house and to realize that edge they need to get a large enough sampling size... RE: The Law of Large Numbers. Thus, hands per hour are VERY important to a card counter and if the table is full, especially with people taking their sweet old time, then this would actually make the game worse for the card counter. Again though, it would not affect their edge nor would their playing decisions affect the counters hand... just the hourly win rate based on the number of hands per hour the counter is getting.

Not all counters have a 1% edge. My average edge is around 2.5% these days and depending on the pen it can be anywhere from 2.3% to 2.7%.

It's also important to mention that full tables are not always bad because it can be +EV for someone who is comp hustling the casino because the play will be much slower and more time at the table means more comps. Not blaming you for not mentioning this because the OP wasn't about comps, but thought it would be important to note that as he seems to be a 'newer' player and can probably benefit from the comp game.

Technically playing last hand (3rd base) has slightly more information on the cards gone than earlier players. Thus sometimes, (e.g. 16v10, 12vs4) you can have a slightly better assessment whether to hit or stand.

Welcome to the forum!

Only two things determine the house edge: the cards remaining in the shoe and the rules in effect. Other players affect the house edge because their hands and play remove cards from the shoe. Whether or not cards removed before your turn are good or bad for you is just a matter of luck.

The house edge for a game and basic strategy discussed in these forums applies to a newly shuffled shoe and the rules in effect. Every card removed from the shoe changes the house edge, including the burn card. The basic strategy for a game defines the best playing decisions at the start of a shoe which will minimizes the house edge by minimizing your potential loss.

As play progresses for a shoe the house edge fluctuates as cards are removed from the shoe. Systems that track how played cards increase or decrease the house edge are the subject of card counting. If you are not card counting your best bet is to use the same basic strategy decisions for the whole shoe.

Whether or not you count cards there will be times when you have the edge on the house. If you count cards, you will be aware of these times. The game rules define a starting point for the house edge. The higher the house edge at the start of a shoe, the less likely it is the edge will be in your favor at some point whether you are aware of it or not.

If you do not count cards a continuous shuffle machine (CSM) is an advantage for you. Rather than having the house edge fluctuate as cards are removed from a shoe virtually every hand starts with all the cards “in the shoe.” Search this site for “card removal effect” if you want to know more about this advantage.

If you want to know more about card counting, search this site for Rome’s outstanding and comprehensive articles about the subject.

So does the casino make more having 7 spots compared to 6 or 5 spots?

In general yes, because more bets will be placed in a given amount of time, not because the house edge changes (it won’t). In practice, a casino will make more money by adding a side bet rather than increasing seats at a table. Side bets typically have a house edge many times greater than the base game.