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Live blackjack is an evolving game. It has gone through many rule changes throughout the years. It is now common to find games where a blackjack pays 6-5 instead of the standard 3-2. This may not seem like a big deal, but it is a huge disadvantage for the player.
When you are visiting a live casino in Las Vegas, be wary of the information that is listed on the blackjack tables. You will see that some single deck games have posted that a blackjack pays 6-5. Here’s a closer look at this variant of blackjack, how it affects the odds of the game, and why you should avoid it at all costs.
What is 6-5 Blackjack?
6-5 blackjack is not really new. It has been used in many live casinos for several years. The game changes the rules regarding the payoff for a blackjack. Instead of paying players 3-2 when a blackjack is dealt, the game pays 6-5.
A 3-2 payout on blackjack has long been one of the primary attractions of the game. It is the moment that all blackjack players long for, especially when they have a lot of money on the table. As you might expect, card counters in particular are able to take advantage of the 3-2 payout.
This is why the 6-5 payout for a blackjack is generally reserved for use in games of single-deck blackjack. Single deck games can be more attractive to card counters in a live casino. The casino uses the 6-5 payout to mitigate any advantage that the player might be able to gain.
The History of 6-5 Blackjack
The origin of 6-5 blackjack games can probably be traced back to the 1980s in Las Vegas. It was during the 80s that the skill of card counting really took off. Casinos first decided to offer single and double-deck games to actually attract counters. They believed that they could still beat these advantage players if they enticed them to bet big and play the new games.
It didn’t work. Card counters destroyed the games, winning millions in the process. At this point the live casinos decided to reduce the payout for a blackjack from 3-2 to 6-5. This started slowly, first in the major casinos. It then spread to the smaller casinos, and today it is a staple in most of the Las Vegas and Atlantic City live gambling venues.
Casinos and Rule Changes
Players should be aware that all rule changes are never in favor of the player. When a casino attempts to alter the rules of the game, it does so because it is losing money. The game has to be adjusted to preserve the house edge.
Blackjack has been especially vulnerable to rule changes throughout the years. It has seen a rule which requires the dealer to hit a soft 17, and it has also introduced many side bets. As we will see, these are changes to the game that you would be better off resisting.
Why You Should Not Play 6-5 Blackjack
The most obvious reasons that players should stay away from 6-5 blackjack is that giving in to rule changes only encourages the casino. If players were able to stand together and refuse these new changes, casinos would have no choice but to return the games to their original forms.
It may sound impossible to boycott a blackjack game. In most cases this is true. But the advent of online blackjack has also had an impact on rule changes. Players now have the opportunity to play online in more places, and live casinos are forced to adapt and compete for business.
It is also true that you should not play 6-5 blackjack because it increases the house edge by an average of 1.39%. That is a large difference when you consider that using basic strategy and card counting can almost eliminate the house edge altogether.
The good news today is that most online casinos are still offering 3-2 blackjack for their online games. There are also advantages to playing blackjack online which go beyond the lower house edge. You can play from home, and you can also receive a large welcome bonus when you sign up for an online casino account.
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