Bill: France and Italy

[Bill]

Do either of these countries have blackjack. If so where and how good are they? Rule differences?

[Norm Wattenberger]

I can?t answer your question as to current conditions. But I thought I?d make some comments on history.

France & Italy are where casinos originated. Casinos were not legalized in Nevada until 1931. The first casino (actually casini for small house) is thought to have opened in Venice in 1626, three hundred years earlier. Baccarat was invented in Italy. The word baccarat is derived from the Italian word baccara, meaning zero. Although Napolean didn?t legalize casinos in France until 1860, they existed illegally long before. It is believed that French mathematician Pascal invented the roulette wheel in 1657. Roulette means ?little wheel? in French. Blackjack originated from the French game Vingt-et-Un. So, yes they certainly have BJ in France. (No hole card I?m afraid.)

[gpap]

Italy has very few casinos although Venice and San Remo will have a few. There are official websites that explain the rules. There is a Casino della Vallee in the mountains. From what I remember of the websites (this is summer 2002) the conditions were 6 deck, NHC, Insurance and you can double on 9, 10, 11 (NB. you were allowed to double on A8, A9 and BJ but beware for if you double on A8 and you catch a deuce you now have 11 and not 21). Also the casino uses 3 blue packs and 3 red packs of cards (I remember someone mentioning you could count the cards in two groups of three packs to get more accurate info on betting strategy since in first base you can see what colour the next card is and you know what the running count for the red and blue packs. I have no idea how much of an edge this would give. Perhaps Don Schlesinger could clarify this and also how feasible the stategy is if an unbalanced system were used).

I do not recall anything about RSA or DAS. In my non load bearing opinion if the cut is bad I wouldn't play at all and if it is good/excellent and there were not too many tables I would go for a 1-100 spread and no camoflage. This way you are effectively table hopping. When I compare how often I was analysed by the pit in Vegas to Continental Europe I actually believe Europe may be more profitable as long as you find excellent cuts.

Good luck

[Orson]

Haven't played in France and very little in Italy, but, yes, both have casinos and both have BJ (although there are very few casinos in Italy). You can search at the internet (for example www.casinoguide.com) to find if there are casinos in particular city. Rules are 6D, S17, ENHC, D9, DAS (not everywhere), no surrender. Then, of course there is Monaco (Montecarlo), which is basically the tourist trap but I think you can get RSA in addition to the above. If you want to play against better rules, try Belgium.

Regards,
Orson

[sunfighter]

> Haven't played in France and very little in
> Italy, but, yes, both have casinos and both
> have BJ (although there are very few casinos
> in Italy). You can search at the internet
> (for example www.casinoguide.com) to find if
> there are casinos in particular city. Rules
> are 6D, S17, ENHC, D9, DAS (not everywhere),
> no surrender. Then, of course there is
> Monaco (Montecarlo), which is basically the
> tourist trap but I think you can get RSA in
> addition to the above. If you want to play
> against better rules, try Belgium.

> Regards,
> Orson
Yes there are two casinos in Cannes pen=75%
no surrender,no double on soft hands.