On this page
Spread-Bet Blackjack
Introduction
I noticed Spread-Bet blackjack at the Cammegh booth at the 2018 Global Gaming Expo. It is a set of three side bets, based on the sum of the player's initial two cards.
Rules
Following are the rules of what I will call Version 1.
- Spread-Bet blackjack is a set of three side bets in blackjack. Bets may be placed at the same time as the blackjack wager.
- All bets are based on the sum of the player's initial two cards. For purposes of the Spread Bets, aces count as one point.
- The three bets are:
- Player total of 2 or 3 — Wins pay 50 to 1
- Player total of 4 or 5 — Wins pay 21 to 1
- Player total of 6 to 9 — Wins pay 5 to 1
Version 2 is the same as Version 1, except a player "Royal Blackjack" is a push. A Royal Blackjack is defined as an ace and any face cards.
Version 1 Analysis
The following table shows my analysis of the 2 or 3 bet under Version 1, where a player blackjack is a loss, based on six decks. The lower right cell shows a house edge of 10.44%.
Player Total of 2 or 3 — Version 1 — Six Decks
| Event | Pays | Combinations | Probability | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 50 | 852 | 0.017561 | 0.878061 |
| Lose | -1 | 47,664 | 0.982439 | -0.982439 |
| Total | 48,516 | 1.000000 | -0.104378 |
The following table shows my analysis of the 4 or 5bet under Version 1, where a player blackjack is a loss, based on six decks. The lower right cell shows a house edge of 9.13%.
Player Total of 4 or 5 — Version 1 — Six Decks
| Event | Pays | Combinations | Probability | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 21 | 2,004 | 0.041306 | 0.867425 |
| Lose | -1 | 46,512 | 0.958694 | -0.958694 |
| Total | 48,516 | 1.000000 | -0.091269 |
The following table shows my analysis of the 6 to 9 bet under Version 1, where a player blackjack is a loss, based on six decks. The lower right cell shows a house edge of 7.69%.
Player Total of 6 to 9 — Version 1 — Six Decks
| Event | Pays | Combinations | Probability | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 5 | 7,464 | 0.153846 | 0.769231 |
| Lose | -1 | 41,052 | 0.846154 | -0.846154 |
| Total | 48,516 | 1.000000 | -0.076923 |
Version 2 Analysis
The following table shows my analysis of the 2 or 3 bet under Version 2, where a player blackjack is a push, based on six decks. The lower right cell shows a house edge of 6.88%.
Player Total of 2 or 3 — Version 2 — Six Decks
| Event | Pays | Combinations | Probability | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 50 | 852 | 0.017561 | 0.878061 |
| Push | 0 | 1,728 | 0.035617 | 0.000000 |
| Lose | -1 | 45,936 | 0.946822 | -0.946822 |
| Total | 48,516 | 1.000000 | -0.068761 |
The following table shows my analysis of the 4 or 5 bet under Version 2, where a player blackjack is a push, based on six decks. The lower right cell shows a house edge of 5.57%.
Player Total of 4 or 5 — Version 2 — Six Decks
| Event | Pays | Combinations | Probability | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 21 | 2,004 | 0.041306 | 0.867425 |
| Push | 0 | 1,728 | 0.035617 | 0.000000 |
| Loss | -1 | 44,784 | 0.923077 | -0.923077 |
| Total | 48,516 | 1.000000 | -0.055652 |
The following table shows my analysis of the 6 to 9 bet under Version 2, where a player blackjack is a push, based on six decks. The lower right cell shows a house edge of 4.13%.
Player Total of 6 to 9 — Version 2 — Six Decks
| Event | Pays | Combinations | Probability | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 5 | 7,464 | 0.153846 | 0.769231 |
| Push | 0 | 1,728 | 0.035617 | 0.000000 |
| Lose | -1 | 39,324 | 0.810537 | -0.810537 |
| Total | 48,516 | 1.000000 | -0.041306 |