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FRONT PAGE - Back to THE ADVISOR PAGE GameMaster,
Is that near 2% or more like 5%, 10%? Hello, Lepto. Realistically, "perfect play" when flat-betting in a six-deck game with 50%
penetration (like many games available on the 'Net) will cut the casino's
edge to about 0.25% (assuming that the rules give the casino a 0.5% edge
"off the top") so this must be overcome by the betting spread. If a player
bets one unit in any negative count and, say, 50 units in any positive
count, the average edge might be about 1.50%, but the swings in the
bankroll would be breathtaking. A more realistic 1-16 spread will produce
an average edge of about 1.10%. An additional gain is available to the
player who leaves the game when the count goes minus. That can add 0.5% to
the average edge. By the way, my calculations here are based upon
empirical evidence, not mathematical calculation but I think they'll serve
to make the point which is that it doesn't get much over 2% under the best
of conditions when faced with shallow penetration.
Yours for winning, Hi GM,
Hello, Joe.
By having a separate bankroll for this venture, the player takes a
long-term view and I think that helps to reduce the frustration which this
game can create. If you have the mental discipline to deal with the
short-term swings, however, your idea can work for you because, as I said
earlier, it's all the same from a mathematical point of view.
Yours for winning, GameMaster,
Also, as a player, would you prefer to play against a casino that used
shuffling machines as supposed to those with a normal shoe, since with a
machine you cannot keep a true count, although you do get more hands in.
Hello, Chris.
What you use is what we call a "continuous" shuffling machine and it
basically neutralizes the power of card-counting. Needless to say, I'm not
in favor of that, even though it will produce more hands per hour. Playing
more hands per hour when the "house" has an edge only makes my $$$
disappear more quickly. Adding the cards back after two or three hands are
played is not, unfortunately, any help. Thanks for asking, though.
Yours for winning,
GM,
Hello, Bob.
Yours for winning, Hi there,
In my opinion, yes. Video Poker may offer a better return, but it takes a much bigger bankroll to successfully attack the game.
I love your blackjack school lessons by the way, BRILLIANT!!
Thank you.
I have noticed that most of the internet casinos shuffle shoes after every hand, thus ruining the counters strategy to beat
them. However you list some casinos which shuffle a six deck shoe after 50% of the cards have gone. Has this increased
in any casinos since your last review?
Not that I know of.
This can't be bad I thought: I can learn to count, follow all the lessons and play perfect blackjack until I read in
one of your lessons a quote saying 'if the shoe is cut at 50% or below don't even think about counting'.
I am confused, it seems that there is no real stategy apart from basic strategy and money management
to play online blackjack which is not going to beat the casinos, am I right?
With software like Card Counter (see my review of it on the "GameMaster's Secrets" page - Internet Blackjack Report: Part 3), an edge can be gained with only 50% penetration. The other way to win is to play a game where the casino's rules are so favorable that the Basic Strategy player has an edge.
Your extensive blackjack reports etc seem to be for real world casino's not online ones? The site is extensive and
I may have missed something. What about online single deck strategy??.
You could not have written at a better time. We just put up a new section called "Gamblin' With The GameMaster" and it has a specific recommendation for a single-deck game AND the proper playing strategy is included! Also, there is a good 6-deck game which offers penetration and the playing strategy is there for that as well.
It seems to me that video poker is the way to go at the online virtual venues because the games do not change much;
it just depends on what the payout is set to am I right?.
That's correct, assuming the games are "honest". But, like I said earlier, you need a much larger bankroll.
Finally, If you were to rate the online games
what would be the order from best odds to worst odd?
Before I list the games, I have to mention that the best way to make $$$ playing online is to take advantage of sign-up and other bonuses which the casinos offer. See my review on the book, "Beatwebcasinos.com". That's in the "GameMaster's Secrets" section also. For play without bonuses, here's my opinion:
#1. Full-pay Deuces Wild Video Poker (a 0.7% player advantage)
Being a gambling guru you must get tired off all these trivia questions
Not at all . It's what I'm here for.
Just a final note I spent a month searching for a free site which would provide comprehensive reports on all aspects of online gambling your site is by far the best I have seen and I have see a few!!
Thanks, Tom. You're very kind.
Yours for winning,
Hello Gamemaster, It doesn't really matter if the table is full as long as the game offers sufficient penetration. Placing a "rider" bet is a great way to "wong" a game, but as you mention, the other player must know the proper Basic Strategy.
What is the best box to sit at? Because can't the count change rapidly once you have placed youre bet.what i mean is say i have a big bet out and i am sitting in the center the count could swing negative by the time it gets to me, that means i have a large bet out when the count is be negative. I would be grateful for a reply
That is true, so if at all possible, try to bet on the box that gets the cards first. However, remember that a count can also go up under the same circumstances so it will all average out in the long run. The most important thing is to bet with a player who knows the proper Basic Strategy.
I'm currently working on a new Blackjack lesson which covers "rider" bets, so look for it soon.
Yours for winning, |