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While exotic versions of blackjack do provide intriguing changes, and highly skillful players may well win playing those exotic versions, a general rule of thumb is that none of the blackjack variants give the player better odds than does standard blackjack. Listed below are some of the most disadvantageous blackjack variants. Casinos often cook up or perpetuate very unfavorable rules in the belief that relatively inexperienced tourists will take the bait. Educating yourself and others as regards the most unfavorable rules is the best defense; if nobody plays the worst games, casinos will have no incentive to offer them.
1) Using 8 decks of cards. This increases the casino's edge by 0.65%.
2) Dealer wins all ties. Don't play if such a rule is in force.
3) Dealer hits soft 17. Your odds are considerably better if dealer must stand on soft 17.
4) Single deck that pays 6 to 5 on blackjacks. Here a player's potential take is very substantially lower than in the standard 3 to 2 payout.
5) Hand-held multi-deck games. In this case, the dealer appears to be holding only one or two decks, but the cards in them are in reality from a 5 to 8 deck game. Savvy casino-goers know to be on the lookout for a "Hand-held Multi-deck Game" sign conveniently placed where seeing it is difficult.
6) Single deck games that pay even money for blackjack. Avoid them like the black plague. Casinos try to camouflage the horrible odds presented by the even blackjack payout by offering more liberal rules in other areas, such as allowing a surrender at any time, even after hitting. Don’t be taken in.
7) Doubling down on 11 only. This practice raises the house edge.
8) Continuous shuffling machines. Because the dealer inserts the used cards from each round back into the shuffling machine rather than into the usual discard tray, every round is played with a full deck, decreasing the player’s odds. Furthermore, the machines speed the pace of play and simultaneously, the pace at which the lesser-skilled players lose money.
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