Small house edge makes blackjack attractive

By Alan Vaughn

It sounds so simple: the person closest to 21 without going over wins. But it is a game that is so complex you could spend a lifetime learning it and only scratch the surface. I have spent years studying the game of blackjack and it is my hope that over the next several months I can teach you some of the basic elements of this fascinating game. Let’s start with the first question that any player should ask before playing a new casino game: why does the house have an advantage and how big is it?

If you think about the basic rules of blackjack almost all of them favor the players in some way. The dealer is forced to act like a robot losing to your 18 with their 17 knowing full well that they have almost a 25% chance of beating you if they draw another card. Additionally, the players are given options like doubling down, splitting and getting paid extra on a blackjack. Below is a list of rules that favor the players and the relative advantage of each.

• Double Down 1.5%
• Split .5%
• Blackjack (3:2) 2.25%
• Dealer Restrictions 3.25%

These rules combine for a total advantage of 7.5% for a player that uses perfect basic strategy. The casino, on the other hand, only has one rule in their favor: The dealer acts last. It may not seem like a very strong advantage but by acting last the dealer gains an 8% edge that is not available to the players. This huge benefit results from instances where the dealer is allowed to “bust” and still win the hand. When the dealer busts, all of the players with cards are paid while players that exceeded 21 before the dealer’s turn have already forfeited their money.

By subtracting the player advantage from the dealer advantage, you come to an overall house advantage of approximately .5% making blackjack one of the cheapest games in the casino per dollar bet.

Unfortunately, due to improper play and over-betting, the average blackjack player is at a disadvantage of between 4% and 6%. By taking the time to learn basic strategy and being disciplined enough to play at the appropriate level, players can save themselves hundreds or even thousands of dollars over their lifetime. Blackjack is also one of the few casino games where a skilled player can beat the house using advanced techniques.

Alan Vaughn has played high stakes blackjack for several years in casinos all across the US. He recently moved to Denver where he teaches blackjack to players of all skill levels. For questions, comments, or information on lessons please email denver21school@yahoo.com.