MJ: Beating Atlantic City BJ

[MJ]

If I play with the KO system in AC (8 deck game) would a 1-16 spread be enough to beat the AC game? I understand the proper bet spread in BJ is 2*N (where N = # of decks).

Is a 6 deck game with 70% penetration any good such as at Borgata(I would spread 1-12 units on this one)? For those AC players which casino offers the best rules?

Take a look at this Atlantic City Blackjack report from Blackjack Insider Newsletter, Aug. 2004, #55. What do you guys think?

http://bjinsider.com/newsletter_55_acity.shtml

-MJ

[KennilworthKid]

Yes, I would think you can beat it as you propose, provided you had enough of a bankroll and your KO counting system covers the I18 stategy variations.

The answer to your question is covered in Blackjack Attack, chapter 10. The average win rate for a game of "play-all" Hi-Lo, I18 for stategy variation, 6 deck S17, DAS game with about penetration to 75% (1.5 decks left) and a spread of 1-12 units ramped up at detailed in the book will result in a win of 1.06 units per 100 hands, and for 66% penetration, .55 units per 100. Thus, your 70% figure would be somewhere in that range. (I would also think KO with the I18 is almost as the same as Hi-Lo).

However, assuming your betting unit is $10, you would have between a 36.7% to 48.9% chance of being down by $4000 at one point, and a 13.5% to 23.9% chance of being down by $8000 sometime. You have a lot of more than $8000 to eliminate the risk of bankrupting. And all that is for a chance to win between $5.50 to $10.60 per 100 hands, and it would take probably an hour and half to play that much at a full table?

As they say in Broadway, keep your day job. Too much downside risk for a paltry return if you play the game only for profit. Blackjack for Profit Only is a game that big bankrolled players grind out wins over long periods of time.

For the rest of us, enjoy yourself, knowing that you are playing even or slightly better than the house and you are no one's fool. And buy the book i mentioned, it is a valuable companion book to any counting system you use (KO, Hi-Lo, Zen, AOII, Hi-Opt, etc.)

Good luck.

> If I play with the KO system in AC (8 deck
> game) would a 1-16 spread be enough to beat
> the AC game? I understand the proper bet
> spread in BJ is 2*N (where N = # of decks).

> Is a 6 deck game with 70% penetration any
> good such as at Borgata(I would spread 1-12
> units on this one)? For those AC players
> which casino offers the best rules?

> Take a look at this Atlantic City Blackjack
> report from Blackjack Insider Newsletter,
> Aug. 2004, #55. What do you guys think?

>
> http://bjinsider.com/newsletter_55_acity.shtml

> -MJ

[Sun Runner]

> I understand the proper bet
> spread in BJ is 2*N (where N = # of decks).

Where did you hear this?

The proper spread is generally whatever you can get down with out being tossed out on your a** and being welcome back the next time.

Your 2*N might be enough to win some $$$, but it will be a slow slow grind.

You can do better.

[MJ]

Hey Sun Runner. I got 2*N from the book "Getting the Edge at Blackjack" by John May. A great deal of advantage play techniques are discussed in the book. Perhaps this spread is just enough to make a slight profit. Obviously the bigger the spread the more $$$ you will make in the long run.

-MJ

> Where did you hear this?

> The proper spread is generally whatever you
> can get down with out being tossed out on
> your a** and being welcome back the next
> time.

> Your 2*N might be enough to win some $$$,
> but it will be a slow slow grind.

> You can do better.

[PunkEye]

> Hey Sun Runner. I got 2*N from the book
> "Getting the Edge at Blackjack" by
> John May.

John May doesn't play blackjack. Just like alot of other blackjack authors don't play it.
If you want to have fun while enjoying a positive EV, stick to blackjack tournaments.