How To Scout The Best Blackjack Tables
Casinos are a diversion. They're meant to be. But for the sake of your mental health, along with the health of your bankroll, it's a good thing to spend a little time looking for the blackjack table that best fits your needs.
You'll be searching for three things: Table stakes in range with your bankroll, great blackjack rules, and a table that you can relax and have fun at. You can find them all at https://top-casinos.co.nz/.
Step 1: Scout For The Right Minimums and Maximums
Table stakes are important because if you're playing at a table where the minimum bet is too large for your bankroll, chances are you're going to bust sooner. A couple of bad hands will ruin you. But if you're able to weather a few more minimum bets, you'll survive a short term of bad luck.
A general rule of thumb is a bankroll of 20 or more times the table stake, and preferably 40 times. That would be a minimum of $100 dollars for a $5 table, and $500 for a $25 table. Always try to set loss limits per gambling session and stick to them. Then use those limits when searching for blackjack tables to play.
Minimums are always displayed on the table sign at each table. You should be aware that management can (and does) change table minimums to fit demand, sometimes on short notice. Be prepared to leave if your $10 game becomes a $25 game and your bankroll is not up to it.
Depending on the size of the casino, lower limit games may be featured up front, sometimes in "fun pits" aimed at catching the attention of passersby.
More medium limits will probably be further in the casino in fairly quiet areas, and high limits will probably be off out of the way in a private room.
If uncertain, simply ask one of the blackjack dealers, floor staff, or even the cocktail waitresses where they carry the particular limits that you're looking for.
Step 2: Scout The Optimum Blackjack Conditions
Once you've found tables with acceptable stakes, you'd like to try to get the most bang for your buck. That is, minimize the house edge as much as possible.
The three largest things you can look for in order to keep the blackjack house edge minimal are table rules, the number of decks being utilized, and the type of shuffler being utilized.
1. Table Rules
While it would make sense, most casinos have different rules on their blackjack tables depending upon their table limits. You must find a middle ground between your preference for a specific minimum bet vs. ideal rules that are offered.
Several unscrupulous rules that are prevalent at low limit tables are only paying 6/5 for blackjack instead of 3/2 and even charging a 25 cents per hand commission to play. Avoid them under all circumstances.
Ask the dealers if they have full pay blackjack tables and if so are slightly higher limits it will be worth seeking them out in this case. Or simply ask if local casinos have full pay tables. Those 6/5 tables can add up to 300% of the house edge and the commission tables could be even more deplorable.
You then wish to look for other rules with smaller impacts on the house edge but that will have a big impact in the long term. You prefer to look for tables with:
- Dealer stands on soft 17.
- A player can double on any first two cards.
- A player can double after split.
- Aces split up to 4 times.
These general rules will cost you a great deal of money over the course of several hours of play.
2. Number Of Decks Used
Generally speaking, the fewer decks that are being used, the better off the player. Yet, while eight decks are extremely prevalent, the distinction between eight and six decks is only a few hundredths of a percent. If you can get your hands on a double-deck game, however, it is significantly more profitable for the player.
Double deck with all the above rules has about half as much house edge as an eight-deck game with those same rules. So half the money on average would be lost by you playing the double deck. The casino, naturally, is aware of this, and minimums are found for double deck games that you observe in recognition of this decreased house edge.
Once more, you will need to match your bankroll against the house rules in order to determine a suitable game that suits your finances.
3. Shufflers
There are three types of shufflers. One is where the casino still allows the dealer to take some time to shuffle. It might be a few-minute process depending on the dealer and number of decks involved, but it's a nice break where you're not risking money, where the casino is still appreciating you for being in play, and where you breathe easier.
Then on the other tables, there are shuffle machines. These are fixed on the table and are easily accessible once you have seen them.
On these tables, the dealer will be dumping their exhausted cards into the machine at the end of the shoe, and then simply pulling out newly shuffled stacks of cards from the machine. Then the dealer will resume dealing. It makes sense that the more bets you make in an hour, the greater the house edge.
And the casino has decided that they'd rather earn money than reshuffle.
Step 3: Scout For The Best Blackjack Environment
By this point, you'll have spent a lot of time searching for a blackjack table that is affordable and reduces the house edge. But at the end of the day, you want to have fun.
Sitting beside a belligerent intoxicated person who's smoking a pungent cigar and banging on the table isn't likely to be the most pleasant experience.
Take a few seconds extra before you sit down and have a good scan of the other players.
