"No even money" rule

[fwb]

I recently sat down at a 6:5 single deck game that, to my initial amusement, had a rule posted saying "No even money" (before someone asks, there were reasons aside from counting alone to make this 6:5 game more than worthwhile). I wondered why the house would take away one of their biggest ploppie side-bet ploys known as even money, but after some simple math it makes sense:

Avg win when always taking even money, $10 bet: $10
Avg win when never taking even money (6:5 game): (9/13)*12 = $8.30

In a normal 3:2 game, these numbers are $10 and $10.38, respectively, which is why it's normally a bad choice.

Bottom line: if you ever find yourself playing a 6:5 game for whatever reason, always take even money at neutral counts (even at shallow negative counts, but I haven't calculated what the exact index would be yet).


Epilogue: The dealer still happily let me take insurance on my blackjacks :laugh:

 

[Automatic Monkey]

I recently sat down at a 6:5 single deck game that, to my initial amusement, had a rule posted saying "No even money" (before someone asks, there were reasons aside from counting alone to make this 6:5 game more than worthwhile). I wondered why the house would take away one of their biggest ploppie side-bet ploys known as even money, but after some simple math it makes sense:

Avg win when always taking even money, $10 bet: $10
Avg win when never taking even money (6:5 game): (9/13)*12 = $8.30

In a normal 3:2 game, these numbers are $10 and $10.38, respectively, which is why it's normally a bad choice.

Bottom line: if you ever find yourself playing a 6:5 game for whatever reason, always take even money at neutral counts (even at shallow negative counts, but I haven't calculated what the exact index would be yet).


Epilogue: The dealer still happily let me take insurance on my blackjacks :laugh:

The count would have to be really negative to make even money not worth it at 6:5.

 

[Sucker]

If you ever find a 6:5 game where the dealer allows you to take even money, I can almost guarantee that it's only a mistake on his part. If the PC allows it; it's a mistake on THEIR part also. I have never seen a 6:5 table that allows players to take even money on blackjacks, and I seriously doubt that one exists anywhere in the whole world.

 

[paddywhack]

They do exist and the "smart" players always take even money.

I'm not playing there though. :laugh::laugh::laugh:

 

[Cardcounter]

Sometimes on a 6:5 game they gave the even money conseision to keep ploppies playing. Yes it is smart in a 6:5 game to take even money. But it is smarter to not play.

 

[bjcount]

What if you played a 3:2 payout game and they let you take even money and also buy insurance when the count called for it? Humm.... I have to try that one out next week, do you think they will let it fly or tell me one or the other?

What's the +EV if they do let you take both on $25min 1-12 spread player? Insurance at +3.

BJC

 

[monte_vv]

What if you played a 3:2 payout game and they let you take even money and also buy insurance when the count called for it? Humm.... I have to try that one out next week, do you think they will let it fly or tell me one or the other?

What's the +EV if they do let you take both on $25min 1-12 spread player? Insurance at +3.

BJC

Hmmm I thought all that even money means is you are taking the insurance bet when you have a BJ.

 

[ChefJJ]

What if you played a 3:2 payout game and they let you take even money and also buy insurance when the count called for it? Humm.... I have to try that one out next week, do you think they will let it fly or tell me one or the other?

Off the top of my head, doesn't the dealer pay you immediately when you say "Even Money" making your wager completed? I do see what you are saying with a ignorant dealer though...nothing wrong with giving it the ol' college try.

good luck :joker:

 

[Thunder]

What if you played a 3:2 payout game and they let you take even money and also buy insurance when the count called for it? Humm.... I have to try that one out next week, do you think they will let it fly or tell me one or the other?

What's the +EV if they do let you take both on $25min 1-12 spread player? Insurance at +3.

BJC

BJcount, I've already tried that they won't let you do it in AC at least. At +3, your EV is virtually even. It's at +4 where you might start seeing some returns. Besides which, that's a major red flag.