The casinos that I play blackjack at out in Wendover just changed their house rules a few weeks back. The two changes they made are:
1) Can only double down on 10 or 11 (can't double down on 55 for some reason). You used to be able to double on any two.
2) Can only split aces once, you used to be able to split again if one of them drew an ace.
How much did these changes help the house edge?
I don't know the exact numbers on how it changes the house edge, but I can tell you one thing:Originally Posted by Serial Fail
This sucks.
The no-resplit-aces rule isn't a big deal. It's nice to be able to do it, but it doesn't come up very often, so it doesn't affect your overall odds that much.
The double restricted to 10 & 11 is a disaster, and greatly adds to the house edge. The fact that they also removed the 55 double is the extra "fuck you", even lowering your odds of winning further.
Basically, doubling down is one of your ways to neutralize the huge advantage that the house has by acting second. (Think of it as a poker game where the house always has the button!)
Since you're always playing "out of position" (meaning the house wins if you bust first), doubling down gives you a tool that the house doesn't -- the ability to double your bet when dealt favorable drawing hands.
Since it is mathematically correct at times to double with 9 or A2/A3/A4/A5/A6/A7, you are losing that edge by the removal of those doubling opportunities. Unlike the resplitting aces scenario, these come up fairly often, and it's a killer to not be able to double in these spots.
These games are unbeatable even if counting cards (probably the reason they made the change), and I would avoid them whether you count or not.
You can't double down on 55? That's insane. What kind of rule is that?
Also, how is Wendover? They are trying to get a regular flight from here & can get some great flight prices but scared it's actually a shithole. Is it even worth seeing?
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You can't double down on 55? That's insane. What kind of rule is that?
Also, how is Wendover? They are trying to get a regular flight from here & can get some great flight prices but scared it's actually a shithole. Is it even worth seeing?
It's not a shit hole but it's nothing special. It's a small little town with 4 "big" casinos and a couple small casinos that are mostly inhabited by truck drivers. There is a strip club, a grocery store, and a handful of fast food joints.
The games are "meh" depending on what you are looking to play. Obviously the blackjack game just took a big hit. The 1-2NL game has a 10% rake up to $4 and they WILL break it down into .50 pieces just to squeeze every penny out of the action that they can. They take out a blue $1 chip and then change out another blue chip and replace it with two 50 cent pieces so that they can take that rake. Odd thing is that, once they do that, the 50 cent piece that they just gave you can't be bet. If you were to shove all in the next hand for $xx.50 they would take your chips and toss you back the 50 cent piece.
They do have a laundry list of extras in the poker room though. A full house match bonus, 4 flushes of every suit within 24 hours bonus, dead mans hand bonus, bad beat jackpot, etc. More than I have ever seen going on at one time in a Vegas casino.
the changes make the Wendover game similar to the games that have offered in Reno for years, provided it is a single deck game...its still a beatable, and the house edge is about .55%...with a spread of 1-5 and penetration to about 30 cards and no more than one other person at the table you have a good shot of beating the game by counting. (Penetration is the number of cards left undealt when the final round of hands begins--after that round the dealer shuffles)
if it is a double deck game, you need a spread of 1 - 8 penetation to about 80 cards with only one other player at the table...that is rare
the double down rule is so bad... 55 is a 10 so idk why they wouldnt allow it. the only people i ever see split it can hardly sit in a chair without falling.
They switched all the rules back to normal. Resplit aces and double on any two.
Interesting. People probably bitched too much about this and the games died.
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