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Bonus Blackjacks: Part 2

In the prior lesson, we looked at special promotions that revoved around bonus payoffs for receiving a 'natural' or Blackjack. Here we'll look at other bonus hands, as well as match-play chips, coupons and how to create a bonus of your own.

Casino marketing people often amaze me, not by the originality of their promotions (because there's damn little of that), but by their lack of knowledge about the games they offer. They probably know how to play the game, but few truly understand the mathematical impact of a special promotion. The best example of this was the decision of the Alton Belle casino to pay 2 for 1 on all Blackjacks on Tuesdays during December, 1994. I've written about this before, so I won't go over it again but let it suffice to say that it cost them a bundle. Why? Probably because some marketing wallah didn't know the impact of such a decision. But most err the other way; they offer a promo which has little impact on their bottom line, so why bother? I'm not applying for a casino consulting job, but I could show some of these places how to pack the house and make a lot more $$$, just through the mathematics of the game.

But enough of that, I'm on the players' side and intend to stay there. So, how can you create a promotion of your own? It's rare, but it's very, very lucrative when it happens and it only happens to those who are prepared. So, here's the story. A lot of casinos are experimenting with the 'surrender' rule which basically says that a player may surrender his or her hand before playing it by giving up 50% of the bet. Most people think it's a sucker bet and they are wrong. It's a good deal for the player who uses it properly (see my lesson, "Taking Advantage of Surrender") and an even better deal for the player who exploits it to the fullest. As you may or may not know, surrender comes in two forms, early and late. Some casinos know the difference very well; others don't. Over the years I've read several accounts of players who were able to convince the casino to let them surrender their hand before the dealer checks to see if s/he has a Blackjack. What's that worth? Oh, just about .5% - to the player's favor. Sometimes, even though the casino knows the difference, a new dealer may not. Ask; it can't hurt.

Another casino promo which can work to the player's advantage is the use of match-play chips. Often you'll see a casino offer something like "$120 for a $100 buy-in". What you typically receive is $100 in 'regular' chips and $20 in match-play chips. The match play chips are usually redeemed for regular chips if the hand is won and forfeited if the hand loses. So, if you are betting $5 in regular chips and add a $5 match-play chip, you lose $5, but win $10 and the match chip is taken away and replaced by a regular $5 chip. This gives the match-play chip a value of about half the face value. If you are betting with match-play chips and get a hand which you should double (say an 11 versus a 6), put up $10 in regular chips, rather than a $5 regular and a $5 match-play chip. The reason for doing that is because you are a great favorite to win the hand, so it's to your advantage to get as much money on the table as possible. Since your original bet is basically $7.50 ( a 'regular' $5 and a match-play $5), a double bet of $10 is like doubling for more. Hey, it all adds up.

A local casino here in St. Louis graciously sends me coupons which are good for $25 each week in cash, chips or slot tokens with no strings attached. They're just a gift and I gladly accept the casino's $$$; I make almost $100 a week in such giveaways. Few promos at Blackjack are better than something like that, but there are some special payouts which can help your edge over the house (or reduce the casino's edge over you, if you're not a counter). My only point for adding this in here is to encourage you to take advantage of such offers. With a 1.5% average edge over the house in Blackjack, I have to bet $1600 to make $25. That's almost an hour's play.

Most of the standard bonuses are worth very little. A suited hand of 6,7,8 which pays 2 to 1 adds .01% to your game. In other words, it adds nothing. It's the same for a hand of 7,7,7 paying 3 to 2. But one interesting rule which pops up every once in a while is where the dealer's hand which has a ten up and an Ace in the hole counts as a 'regular' 21 (that is, the player doesn't automatically lose). Believe it or not, that little bonus is worth about .22% to the player in a 6-deck game.

So, those are a few bonuses which you may see out there; if you're curious about others you've seen, e-mail me and I'll try to figure their value.

See you here next time.

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