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Reason #3 why the Wizard likes Bovada:
Excellent Odds
In my opinion many online casinos are too stingy when setting the odds on their games. They think they will make more money that way but I believe they are misguided, because when players lose too quickly it’s not fun, and those players might not come back.
Bovada is one of the few casinos that understands this. They offer generous odds to let you play longer and get you a better chance of winning. Among their generous offerings are Full-Pay Jacks or Better returning 99.54%, six other video poker games paying over 99%, single-zero roulette, and my favorite, Pick ’em Poker, returning 99.95%!
Kudos to Bovada for not being afraid to give their players a good gamble.
Basic Strategy for European Blackjack - charts
Last Update: Sep 21, 2007
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The following basic strategy table is appropriate for European blackjack, at least the variation I saw played in Berlin and Hamburg, and specifically excepting the United Kingdom. The specific rules are as follows:
- Six decks (this chart is also accurate for 4 or 8 decks)
- Dealer stands on soft 17
- Player may only double on hard totals of 9-11
- Player may double after a split
- No-peek (player loses total bet, including after doubling or splitting, if dealer has blackjack)
The house edge under this rules is 0.62%.
To use the basic strategy look up your hand along the left vertical edge and the dealer's up card along the top. In both cases an A stands for ace. From top to bottom are the hard totals, soft totals, and splittable hands.
United Kingdom Blackjack
Prior to September 1, 2007, splitting fours, fives, and tens was not allowed. This only affected the basic strategy player with fours, increasing the house edge by 0.003%. I have heard that with the new law allowing all splits, doubling on any first two cards is also permitted, at least at the Grosvenor casinos. Following is the basic strategy for post 9/1/07 U.K. rules.
Early Surrender
If you should find a table that allows early surrender then take it with any of the following hands. I have heard rumors such games exist in Russia, and I know they do in Macau, except against a dealer ace.
- 12 to 17 vs. ace, including a pair of 6's, 7's or 8's
- 5 to 7 vs. ace, including a pair of 3's
- 14 to 16 vs 10, including pair of 7's or 8's
- 16 vs 9