Possible to beat 6:5 SD?

[hopson77]

I know it's a terrible, terrible game, but could a counter consistently beat the game given the higher frequency of positive counts?

 

[ranran]

Yes, you can beat it. The whole thing that makes 6:5 BJ soooo bad is the low payout for getting Blackjack.

 

[hopson77]

I know the house edge is something like 1.5% for a BS player, but counting only yields roughly that much in advantage, so at that point it would be a break even proposition, correct? All the while, one would be giving the dreaded 6:5 tables some action. I'd like to see some math behind the idea of beating this game, if possible.

 

[Dyepaintball12]

If you stop playing this game, maybe it will die away and get replaced with a good game.

6:5 Blackjacks add 1.4% to the House Edge in a single deck game. (From Blackbelt in Blackjack)

I wouldnt want to be part of that.

 

[Automatic Monkey]

I know the house edge is something like 1.5% for a BS player, but counting only yields roughly that much in advantage, so at that point it would be a break even proposition, correct? All the while, one would be giving the dreaded 6:5 tables some action. I'd like to see some math behind the idea of beating this game, if possible.

It can be beaten, but only under certain conditions, and there is no place in the world where 6:5 SD is the best game in the house. You need to use a Zen type count, UBZ is fine, and a 1:20 spread, and most importantly you need exactly two hands in the game, no more and no less. In Atlantic City the 6:5 SD game would slightly excel the shoe games, except for the fact that the 6:5 tables are always full. You are better off backcounting the shoe games.

 

[Automatic Monkey]

If you stop playing this game, maybe it will die away and get replaced with a good game.

6:5 Blackjacks add 1.4% to the House Edge in a single deck game. (From Blackbelt in Blackjack)

I wouldnt want to be part of that.

On the other hand, if you play it as an AP you are hurting it's hold and contributing to the demise of the game. But that's still not a good reason to play it.

 

[zengrifter]

6:5 is a great game for holecarding. zg

 

[hopson77]

Automatic Monkey, where are you getting the advice for the 6:5 game? The only casino I've seen in AC that offers 6:5 usually has an open spot or 3, but they have to audacity to have more than one table going at a time.

Backcounting is obviously advantageous, but how do you do it without looking like you're counting? Surely pit bosses aren't as dumb as they look?

ZG, I've never seen 6:5 games dealt with a holecard. The dealer takes their upcard, then deals out the 2nd card, and after all hands are played, they draw their hole card.

 

[avs21]

I have only come across one BJ 6:5 game that I would play over the casinos normal SD game. I still will not play the 6:5 game.

 

[ihate17]

Coast Casinos?

Automatic Monkey, where are you getting the advice for the 6:5 game? The only casino I've seen in AC that offers 6:5 usually has an open spot or 3, but they have to audacity to have more than one table going at a time.

Backcounting is obviously advantageous, but how do you do it without looking like you're counting? Surely pit bosses aren't as dumb as they look?

ZG, I've never seen 6:5 games dealt with a holecard. The dealer takes their upcard, then deals out the 2nd card, and after all hands are played, they draw their hole card.

Like ZG, I am guilty of playing and beating 6/5 games but only if I can read the dealers hole card also. I know Coast Casinos do not take a hole card until after all the players have played their hands, but everyone else in Vegas, I believe, does not. So, go elsewhere, if you are planning on holecarding.

ihate17

 

[Automatic Monkey]

Automatic Monkey, where are you getting the advice for the 6:5 game? The only casino I've seen in AC that offers 6:5 usually has an open spot or 3, but they have to audacity to have more than one table going at a time....

An open spot or 3 is no good at all. You need an empty table or at most one other player playing one hand. Anything else is a waste of time.

There are 5-6 6:5 SD games in AC but they all use autoshufflers and none of them take a holecard before the players play so those techniques can't be used there either.

 

[hopson77]

An open spot or 3 is no good at all. You need an empty table or at most one other player playing one hand. Anything else is a waste of time.

There are 5-6 6:5 SD games in AC but they all use autoshufflers and none of them take a holecard before the players play so those techniques can't be used there either.

I'm pretty sure the Sands doesn't use a CSM. I'm just glad to know that the game actually can be beaten despite the fact its rules are so shady.

 

[zengrifter]

ZG, I've never seen 6:5 games dealt with a holecard. The dealer takes their upcard, then deals out the 2nd card, and after all hands are played, they draw their hole card.

I've never seen 6/5 dealt that way - must be an AC thang. zg