Blackjack - which one to play?

[Addisyn]

I would like to try my hand at Blackjack but there are so many to choose from. Any suggestions which one I should play. I do know how to play, but simply way too many choices in the MG format. Any assistance or direction would be appreciated!

Definitely not a high roller so no more than $1.00 ante and I don't care to play progressives since I don't want to play too much money.

:notworthy

 

[Macgyver]

As far as the basic blackjack offered by Microgaming (not including variations like spanish blackjack or bonus blackjack), here are the house advantage breakdowns:

Classic Blackjack Gold -- .09% HA

Vegas Strip -- .35% HA

Vegas Downtown -- .36% HA

European -- .40% HA

Atlantic City -- .43% HA

HA figures computed in October and using the Wizard of Odds' blackjack edge calculator.

Obviously, the lower the HA, the better the benefit to the player.

 

[Addisyn]

Then I would probably do well to play Classic Blackjack Gold?

Thanks for the info. I will copy your info and use it to choose my games. Just getting bored with the slots.

 

[winbig]

Then I would probably do well to play Classic Blackjack Gold?

Thanks for the info. I will copy your info and use it to choose my games. Just getting bored with the slots.

Just make sure BJ is allowed when you take a bonus

 

[Addisyn]

A casino tried refund a portion of a cashout to InstaDebit. I kept trying to tell them I had never received it. Finally tonight the manager gave me my $50.00. The other part of the withdrawal was sent to my Neteller account. I had funded my account with InstaDebit. I hate when they split the cashout. It seems to always go awry.

They also gave me $20.00 for my trouble. It has been since the 6th of November I have been asking them to find this money. Anyway, I have met my WR on the $20.00 and now have over $120.00. So figured I would play some BJ.

I did and I'm not so good. Or the casino is much better. Everytime I got 21 so did the dealer! What a coincidence!

 

[Awai]

^ make sure your following best stratergy...those HA's above assume perfect play - remember you'll lose more often than you win but will make up for it by doubling/splitting at the requsite moments...the Wiz has a nice set of charts which show best stratergy in a rainbow of colours

 

[EasyRhino]

Computers are an excellent way to practice basic strategy, as you can have the references right in front of you, and there's no one to hurry you. Handy if you ever feel like firing it up at a brick and mortar.

Bear in mind that strategy is fairly different when playing a no hole card game like classic blackjack vs a hold card game, like the vegas or AC variants. (S17 vs H17 also has an impact)

 

[aka23]

As far as the basic blackjack offered by Microgaming (not including variations like spanish blackjack or bonus blackjack), here are the house advantage breakdowns:

Classic Blackjack Gold -- .09% HA

Vegas Strip -- .35% HA

Vegas Downtown -- .36% HA

European -- .40% HA

Atlantic City -- .43% HA

HA figures computed in October and using the Wizard of Odds' blackjack edge calculator.

Obviously, the lower the HA, the better the benefit to the player.

On the website, Wizard of Odds lists the house edges as:
Classic - .09% (.13-.04)
Vegas Strip - .361%
Atlantic City - .365%
European - .39%
Vegas Downtown - .40%

Using the Calculator I get:
Classic - .09%
Vegas Strip - .35%*
Atlantic City - .36%*
Vegas Downtown - .38%*
European - .40%

*.01% of the difference is saying resplit to 4 hands in the calc, while Wizard of odds lists repslit to 3 hands on the site. I recall seeing resplit to 4 hands while playing.

 

[Random#rs]

Your best Blackjack

In terms of a house edge, MG Classic BJ wins out. But bear in mind its not necessarly the best form of BJ to play. The house edge in BJ is very low and will only have meaning in the very long run playing a consistent Perfect stratagy.

More important is which version your comfortable with. There are many different versions! If you want to see how many different kinds you can play, check out 5 DIMES Casino. In case your interested Addisyn, They have a BJ version where all Ties win Half, created by the Wizard himself. Also, you will find Spanish BJ to have many playing advantages. The Wizard himself said "In locations where the dealer stands on a soft 17 or redoubling is allowed, Spanish 21 is probably a better bet than blackjack, depending on the specific blackjack rules." Another thing Addisyn, In Spanish BJ, player wins all 21 and Blackjack ties with the dealer.

So play what you feel is right for your style. I have made as much money at Spanish BJ as I have at Classic single deck BJ. Sometimes I'm more in the mood to bust the house so I play Classic. Sometimes I want to split and double a lot with a lower risk of busting so I play Spanish BJ. Sometimes I get so tired of pushing with the Dealer I play 'All Ties win Half at 5 DIMES' (FYI - its the only casino that offers that game to US players, online.)

MG Casinos include a perfect strategy guide with all their BJ games except Classic. (No I dont know why) You can use them in confidence. Switch on expert play.

Charts and details are available at:

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[silcnlayc]

^ make sure your following best stratergy

Ok, I am putting my 2 cents in worth here since I play bj almost everyday and then some to keep my bankroll for slots plumped up.

Nothing against any one who gave suggestions of what kind of play (best strategy etc etc) but in online bj, there is NO strategy IMO. I have played totally opposite online as I do in real life at the casinos and I am ahead many times over doing this.

I learned many many moons ago, you CANNOT play basic strategy online. It will break you quickly. There is another thread on here about his and it goes into more deatail (and I am too lazy right now to find it, sorry ) but if you feel the need to play this game...try it both ways before you invest too much money. For playing opposite of the "correct" way will win you much more than the "right" way.

I find that the multi hand spanish bj is the best overall in acquiring and multiplying your funds quickly for they have the option of doubling down more than once on any given hand. Then the multi hand clasic bj comes second.

whatever you choose, I wish you luck!

 

[aka23]

MG Casinos include a perfect strategy guide with all their BJ games except Classic. (No I dont know why) You can use them in confidence. Switch on expert play.

It relates to the low house edge of 0.09%. All Aces VP has similar house edge and also does not have autoplay.

Then the multi hand clasic bj comes second.

Multi-hand single deck would give the player an edge over the house, so multi-hand Classic BJ uses 5 decks instead of 1, resulting in a house edge of ~0.6%, worse than all of the others mentioned in this thread.

 

[Macgyver]

Nothing against any one who gave suggestions of what kind of play (best strategy etc etc) but in online bj, there is NO strategy IMO. I have played totally opposite online as I do in real life at the casinos and I am ahead many times over doing this.

I learned many many moons ago, you CANNOT play basic strategy online. It will break you quickly. There is another thread on here about his and it goes into more deatail (and I am too lazy right now to find it, sorry ) but if you feel the need to play this game...try it both ways before you invest too much money. For playing opposite of the "correct" way will win you much more than the "right" way.

And, for my 2 cents, I believe the exact opposite ... in the long run, playing perfect strategy is the best way to ensure that you don't lose as much money as you might not playing it.

Any gambling is a losing proposition anyways; the house always has an edge. However, the whole point of perfect strategy in BJ is to lower that edge to its lowest point.

I've played perfect strategy online (and IRL) for over 3 and 1/2 years now and am up in the five-figure range. The only variation I may make is when it comes to flat-betting, never to the strategy.

To each his/her own ...

 

[silcnlayc]

To each his/her own ...

Absolutley agree!

 

[Random#rs]

2 more cents

Any gambling is a losing proposition anyways; the house always has an edge. However, the whole point of perfect strategy in BJ is to lower that edge to its lowest point.

I've played perfect strategy online (and IRL) for over 3 and 1/2 years now and am up in the five-figure range. The only variation I may make is when it comes to flat-betting, never to the strategy.

This is essentially my position also. I have done a few switcharoos on the strategy just because I was sure I would draw a bust by the way my game was playing, or to say its pattern of play; and yes, the card that would have busted me, busted the dealer. But I don't practice that maneuver very often. Preferring to stick to mathematics, the statistical probability, is the way I play most of the time. The real trick to BJ is to know how to vary your bet and when to do it; that's the real skill of the game. Playing a Perfect strategy with a flat bet will leave you at the house edge in the long run; provided the standard of deviation does not swing your bankroll to zero at some point. This of course will depend on what your flat bet is, and what your bankroll is, together.

MG Classic BJ, single deck, with full analysis which includes hand composition compensation, will yield an HA of .088. But this very low HA does not mean that Classic is a whole lot easier to win than other forms of BJ. If your new at it, its best to try them all, giving each a good run in practice play, and see what feels best for your style of playing. Even Pontoon can feel better than BJ (although most BJ players dislike the game) Pontoon seems like a crazy way to play but it has HA of .39% and is profitable if you can stand longer losing runs.

But as a beginner at BJ, I really would recommend using the strategy charts before you venture into out-smarting statistical probability. (not saying that it can't be done)

 

[GrandMaster]

But as a beginner at BJ, I really would recommend using the strategy charts before you venture into out-smarting statistical probability. (not saying that it can't be done)

I and a lot of other mathematicians say that it can't be done.