BJ variants used for cover?

[SPX]

I just bought Snyder's Big Book of Blackjack today and it's BADASS! Furthermore, it has solidified my decision to learn Red 7 because between BLACKBELT and BIG BOOK there's a TON of Red 7 info to assimilate and use in the casinos.

One thing I noticed was that he devotes entire sections to using Red 7 to beat a lot of the BJ variants, including Superfun 21, Double Exposure and Spanish 21.

So if these games are beatable, would it not be advisable to play them for cover purposes, especially when the "standard" BJ games aren't particularly high quality? I would assume that the pit wouldn't pay too much attention to these games as they are widely considered to be basically UNbeatable by counters. So it seems that you could sit at any one of these tables and play casually without too much attention.

Maybe I'm wrong. . .

EDIT: Furthermore, it would seem like if you are seen by the pit playing any one of these games then they would mentally label you as a non-threat and then wouldn't pay too much attention to you later in the day when you are at a regular blackjack game.

 

[zengrifter]

The variants, like Span21 and SF21, are generally worse than bad regular-21. zg

 

[EasyRhino]

What kind of % advantage does Snyder say you can get on those games, and what kind of spread would be required?

 

[SPX]

What kind of % advantage does Snyder say you can get on those games, and what kind of spread would be required?

Glancing back through the book, it seems that he doesn't give actual percentages, but. . .

SuperFun 21: He says that this game is loosely monitored by pit personnel and you can get away with higher spreads. As far as what to bet, he says at a count of:

+1: 2 units
+2: 4
+3: 8
+4: The Farm (or whatever you can get away with)

And then goes on to say, "If all your bankroll can afford is a $5 to $20 spread then SF21 is not for you. But if you can use a $5-$50, or better yet, a $5-$100 spread then you'll get them."

As far as Double Exposure goes, he says it can be beaten with a spread of at least 1-8, and more is better.

Regarding Spanish 21, he does give a strategy to beat it, but it's kind of ridiculous, and he admits this and says it's best to just stay way from this game.

 

[shadroch]

In AC, Spanish 21 has a lower HA than any BJ game I've found. I wonder why he'd say that.Its not any harder to learn the correct BS for SP21 than any other,as far as I'm concerned. Now BJ Switch,thats another story.

 

[Automatic Monkey]

In AC, Spanish 21 has a lower HA than any BJ game I've found. I wonder why he'd say that.Its not any harder to learn the correct BS for SP21 than any other,as far as I'm concerned. Now BJ Switch,thats another story.

The big problem with SP21 is that the player edge does not go up as quickly as a function of true count as it does with regular BJ. So you can't get as big an edge at it.

On the flip side, the standard deviation of SP21 is much lower than BJ, because of:

1) The double down rescue rule
2) Fewer split and double plays are called for by the strategy
3) There is more hitting stiffs, so a few of the hands that would be either wins or losses become pushes.

Thus, you can get down significantly larger bets for a given advantage without increasing your risk of ruin. Overall, it's about as good or maybe a little better as the BJ you can expect to see in AC, but it's not nearly as good as any shoe game with late surrender. The irony is the heat-deflecting property of playing SP21 is wasted in AC because we don't have a heat problem there.

 

[shadroch]

Just to clarify my point.
I find the Spanish 21 has the lowest HA of an BJ game offered in AC,not anywhere. I've never seen surrender offered in AC. Is it?

 

[Automatic Monkey]

Just to clarify my point.
I find the Spanish 21 has the lowest HA of an BJ game offered in AC,not anywhere. I've never seen surrender offered in AC. Is it?

Yes, at the Trump Marina on bets of $50 or more. Both CT stores have surrender too.

 

[21forme]

Yes, at the Trump Marina on bets of $50 or more. Both CT stores have surrender too.

However, you have to ask for it, then they watch you very closely (at Trump Marina.)

 

[shadroch]

I think hats the one casino I haven't played in in AC.

BTW- What rules are different in SP21 between AC and Vegas? I've read you should avoid the Vegas games elsewhere,and now read tThe Bishop says so as well.

 

[SPX]

I think hats the one casino I haven't played in in AC.

BTW- What rules are different in SP21 between AC and Vegas? I've read you should avoid the Vegas games elsewhere,and now read tThe Bishop says so as well.

In regard to Spanish 21, here are some excerpts:

Concerning the BS: "The Spanish 21 basic strategy is much more difficult than regular blackjack because of all those weird bonuses and options."

Concerning the Strategy (and remember this is Red 7-based): "In an 8 deck game, start your running count at -48. In a six deck game, start your running count at -36. . . . In an 8 deck game, bet one unit until you've reached the last three decks of the deal. Then, if your running count goes over 0, bet at least 30 units, i.e. raise your bet from $5 to $150. In a six deck game, bet one unit until the last three decks of the deal and if your running count goes over 0, bet at least 25 units, i.e. raise your bet from $5 to $125. . . . That's all there is to it!"

Concerning the Wisdom of Playing the Game: "Of course, I think the absolute best way for players to beat this game is to avoid playing it. If no one plays it, the game will die, and perhaps a real blackjack table will take its place." (NOTE: This is an interesting statement because he doesn't say this about any of the other variants, presumably because he believes that SF21, Double Exposure and BJ Switch are sufficiently exploitable.)

 

[21forme]

In case you're not aware, the "bible" of Sp21 is due out shortly. I don't recall the details, but it's been discussed on Don Schlesinger's board. He has reviewed it and says it's an excellent analysis of the game and details how to beat it.

 

[SPX]

In case you're not aware, the "bible" of Sp21 is due out shortly. I don't recall the details, but it's been discussed on Don Schlesinger's board. He has reviewed it and says it's an excellent analysis of the game and details how to beat it.

I took a look on the site but it doesn't seem particularly well organized. Do you have a link to the review?

 

[21forme]

I took a look on the site but it doesn't seem particularly well organized. Do you have a link to the review?

It wasn't a formal review. I probably should have said proofread, rather than review. Most recent post about it is (Dead link: http://www.advantageplayer.com/blackjack/forums/bj-main/webbbs.cgi?read=24281)

 

[Kasi]

What rules are different in SP21 between AC and Vegas?

The main ones are dealer hits soft 17 and re-doubling is not allowed almost doubling the HA vs AC.

But there are lots of other possible rule variations that may or not be in effect.

And, if they don't allow you to re-hit split aces, that really sucks too.

Also, in AC, not only is the HA lower but the element of risk is a LOT less than BJ.