Probably gonna be laughed off the forum for this . . .

[Lurkily]

Okay, I play a game online that isn't blackjack, but it contains blackjack. I'm not a gambler by nature, but I have noticed something. The dealer seems to always hit under 17. ALWAYS hit under 17. Even if I stand at 15, and he has 16, he'll hit. Also, when both player and dealer have equal cards, the bet is returned - no money changes hands.

This means zero dealer advantage. So I should have a statistical edge, since I know when to stay between 12-16 and the dealer doesn't, right? However, I seem to come out behind every time I play for a long time. I've discussed it with the guy who wrote the blackjack part of the game, and it is supposed to be purely statistical.

Two questions. One, why am I coming out behind with a statistical edge? Simple bad luck, or am I missing something? Two, how does the dealer ALWAYS hitting under 17 change basic strategy -- how can I take advantage of that?

EDIT: Rules are simple as dirt in this game. No doubling, no splitting - just hit or stay. Don't know how many decks.

 

[rukus]

Okay, I play a game online that isn't blackjack, but it contains blackjack. I'm not a gambler by nature, but I have noticed something. The dealer seems to always hit under 17. ALWAYS hit under 17. Even if I stand at 15, and he has 16, he'll hit. Also, when both player and dealer have equal cards, the bet is returned - no money changes hands.

This means zero dealer advantage. So I should have a statistical edge, since I know when to stay between 12-16 and the dealer doesn't, right? However, I seem to come out behind every time I play for a long time. I've discussed it with the guy who wrote the blackjack part of the game, and it is supposed to be purely statistical.

Two questions. One, why am I coming out behind with a statistical edge? Simple bad luck, or am I missing something? Two, how does the dealer ALWAYS hitting under 17 change basic strategy -- how can I take advantage of that?

EDIT: Rules are simple as dirt in this game. No doubling, no splitting - just hit or stay. Don't know how many decks.

if this is truly like blackjack (with the worst rules...), you have to act before the dealer. that is basically where the house edge comes from - there are times you will bust before the dealer even has a chance to act. i still cant say for sure because im not exactly sure how the game works (in terms of who makes decisions when, what the object of the game is, etc).

 

[itakeyourmoney]

Are you playing this game for real money? If so, you should delete your account on that site and never play again.

I can give you some simple advice which is to just always avoid online blackjack. For some it may be able to be beaten, but most sites reshuffle after every hand, and you never know what kind of tricky coding might be dealing you 16v10 everythime

Go to casinos and play the real deal, it's more fun and more easily beaten.

 

[daddybo]

Okay, I play a game online that isn't blackjack, but it contains blackjack. I'm not a gambler by nature, but I have noticed something. The dealer seems to always hit under 17. ALWAYS hit under 17. Even if I stand at 15, and he has 16, he'll hit. Also, when both player and dealer have equal cards, the bet is returned - no money changes hands.

This means zero dealer advantage. So I should have a statistical edge, since I know when to stay between 12-16 and the dealer doesn't, right? However, I seem to come out behind every time I play for a long time. I've discussed it with the guy who wrote the blackjack part of the game, and it is supposed to be purely statistical.

Two questions. One, why am I coming out behind with a statistical edge? Simple bad luck, or am I missing something? Two, how does the dealer ALWAYS hitting under 17 change basic strategy -- how can I take advantage of that?

EDIT: Rules are simple as dirt in this game. No doubling, no splitting - just hit or stay. Don't know how many decks.

With out asking any questions or explaining anything.

Answer number 1: Because you don't have a statistical advantage.
Answer number 2: It Doesn't :Basic Strategy assumes Dealer ALWAYS HITS to 17.

 

[ihate17]

By far, you have missed the most important rule in blackjack

People can talk about rules all they want but there is one rule in blackjack that is always the most important and never changes. It is such a big advantage that in order to make blackjack at least playable we have player advantage rules such as 3/2 blackjack, DAS, splitting etc.

The rule of course is that if you bust, you lose. You lose even if the dealer later busts.

ihate17

 

[Lurkily]

Ah - everybody who commented is right, of course. Player can bust before the dealer's turn, which is a stage of the game that I had not considered statistically. No, it isn't for real money, and as mentioned, I am not a gambler by nature, so I did not, and am not likely to seek out a high-class online blackjack game, or a casino.

Thanks for Rukus for being concise without being brusque, and to itakeyourmoney for being helpful, rather than merely informative.

 

[Katweezel]

The edge

Okay, I play a game online that isn't blackjack, but it contains blackjack. I'm not a gambler by nature, but I have noticed something. The dealer seems to always hit under 17. ALWAYS hit under 17. Even if I stand at 15, and he has 16, he'll hit. Also, when both player and dealer have equal cards, the bet is returned - no money changes hands.

This means zero dealer advantage. So I should have a statistical edge, since I know when to stay between 12-16 and the dealer doesn't, right? However, I seem to come out behind every time I play for a long time. I've discussed it with the guy who wrote the blackjack part of the game, and it is supposed to be purely statistical.

Two questions. One, why am I coming out behind with a statistical edge? Simple bad luck, or am I missing something? Two, how does the dealer ALWAYS hitting under 17 change basic strategy -- how can I take advantage of that?

EDIT: Rules are simple as dirt in this game. No doubling, no splitting - just hit or stay. Don't know how many decks.

No doubling or splitting, no 3:2 Blackjack, and you must go first would make the house edge more than 7% negative. If you get 3:2 BJ paid, you are still playing against more than negative 5% HE. How did you figure you had a 'purely statistical' edge?

 

[KOLAN]

Okay, I play a game online that isn't blackjack, but it contains blackjack. I'm not a gambler by nature, but I have noticed something. The dealer seems to always hit under 17. ALWAYS hit under 17. Even if I stand at 15, and he has 16, he'll hit. Also, when both player and dealer have equal cards, the bet is returned - no money changes hands.

This means zero dealer advantage. So I should have a statistical edge, since I know when to stay between 12-16 and the dealer doesn't, right? However, I seem to come out behind every time I play for a long time. I've discussed it with the guy who wrote the blackjack part of the game, and it is supposed to be purely statistical.

Two questions. One, why am I coming out behind with a statistical edge? Simple bad luck, or am I missing something? Two, how does the dealer ALWAYS hitting under 17 change basic strategy -- how can I take advantage of that?

EDIT: Rules are simple as dirt in this game. No doubling, no splitting - just hit or stay. Don't know how many decks.

only 1 way to win online casino all times it is cheating

 

[itakeyourmoney]

Ah - everybody who commented is right, of course. Player can bust before the dealer's turn, which is a stage of the game that I had not considered statistically. No, it isn't for real money, and as mentioned, I am not a gambler by nature, so I did not, and am not likely to seek out a high-class online blackjack game, or a casino.

Thanks for Rukus for being concise without being brusque, and to itakeyourmoney for being helpful, rather than merely informative.

Well if it's not for real money then don't worry about it -- play to your heart's content.

Edit: Just don't be surprised when you don't win.

 

[Lurkily]

only 1 way to win online casino all times it is cheating

Thank you for being so helpful, succinct, and for your incredibly goodhearted lack of sarcasm. It's always so refreshing and heartwarming to deal with straightforward and good-natured people.

 

[callipygian]

Assuming that this is one of those "sub-games" found in long RPG's, it's not unusual for the games to be EV+ with basic strategy. After all, the point of having the sub-game is for the character to gain money/experience, not to mimic real life.

Games that aren't for real money are in general pretty lol.

I played a blackjack charity game (sorority fundraiser casino night :grin where you paid a set amount for a certain number of play chips; the person with the most play chips at the end of the night got a prize but otherwise the chips were worthless. There were a slew of absurdly favorable rules that I'm sure the game was EV+ from a play chip standpoint. I'm pretty sure "player wins ties" was one rule, but honestly, I had never played blackjack before and the only reason I played the game at all was because the dealer was cute.

 

[Lurkily]

Yes, it's exactly that. However, most of the rules only eliminate dealer advantage rather than add a player advantage, (Such as no money changing hands on ties) and the player still busts before the dealer has to play, as many posters have pointed out, and I completely overlooked. So it's still a house advantage. So in this case it's more of a coin sink to help create an outlet for all the coin that's introduced into the game via other means.