4 deck game now a 6 decker

It just goes to show you whats happening to blackjack. I remember reading a post a few days ago stating that Montreal Casinos are now using 8 decks. I read through the charts (Blackjack attack 2nd edition) and 6 deck and 8 deck games are just plain pathetic, I now the penetration is what really matters not the number of decks but its one of those things.. you know, kinda like having a bad player at the table is'nt supposed to affect you but really it does. Anyways I think, NO, I KNOW 6 DECKERS ARE HARD TO BEAT. Let me say it again, 6 DECKERS ARE HARD TO BEAT. My opinion is 1, 2 and 4 decks are cool but anything else sucks. The penetration offered on these games just isnt good enough. Even 4.5 of 6 dealt(which is what most casinos offer) is still a low score on the desirability index and lets not even get into 8 deckers because I refuse to count down an 8 deck shoe %$^$&*@#$ that.

be 6/5 single deck and CSM's? I'll take the 6 and 8 deckers anytime. Sure i would rather play handhelds, or 4 deck shoes, but this is what we are stuck with....6 and 8 deck SHOES!!! Either start coming up with a bankroll and correct strategy to beat them, or never plan on making MAJOR money at this game!

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Unfortunately, if the table has the name blackjack on it, there are alot of people who are willing to throw their money down on it no matter how bad the game is. It doesn't matter if it is ten decks, CSM's or even money for blackjacks, right now there are plenty of people willing to lose their $50 to $100.

I don't know why the casinos are willing to trade a reduced gross income from the tables for an increase in the house hold of a few percents. If I own a casino, I rather make more money. So what if a few people consistently walk out the door winners, they make great advertisement.

As the casinos continue to kill blackjack, more and more tables, blackjack dealers and pit managers will continue to be replaced by slot machines.

We can only continue to let our friends and other know, only the fools will play the CSM's, 8-decks, 6:5, keno, double zero roulette, war, etc.

Is it any wonder why poker it booming?

I don't want you to think that i am saying that making big money can't be done at handhelds, as i am sure there are many that do it and do it well. But i have to assume that "most" big money pros these days especially(not counting BP type teams even) make the big money at shoe games.

regards,

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8 deck games. If attacked right, an eight deck shoe can yield a better profit than a six-decker. Of course the conditions would have to be right, but they have to be right to play in the first place anyways! There are 8 deck shoes where it feels as if the shoe will never end...this is great when the count skyrockets. If the count goes bad, we have the choice to walk immediately and look for a fresh shoe. I honestly would be happy if all casinos decided to put all 8 deckers, 1.5 cutoff at worst, and S17,DS,LS. At least i wouldn't have to scout like crazy, and jot down good pen dealers, and then pass through a casino cause the main dealer cuts off 2 decks of the 6 deck shoe, and the relief about a deck. The problem is that the relief is hardly ever there. Nowadays lots of the relief dealers don't movedown the line to the next bj table, they seem to move to entirely different pits to deal carnival games. You may not see that good cutting dealer again for an hour or more on any bj table.

Eight decks with the conditions i mentioned above, would be great at every casino we walk in to. I can only wish i guess!!!

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I read through the charts (Blackjack attack 2nd edition) and 6 deck and 8 deck games are just plain pathetic, I now the penetration is what really matters not the number of decks but its one of those things.

Most casinos deal only 1/2 the cards in single and double deck. This yields SCOREs lower than wonging 6 decks with 1.5 cut off. If you read the articles instead of looking at the pictures, excuse me, charts, you will realize that shoe games are better in general. Pay particular attention to Chapters 11 and 12.

If you read the articles instead of looking at the pictures, excuse me, charts, you will realize that shoe games are better in general. Pay particular attention to Chapters 11 and 12.

There is some bias in the charts due to Don's shoe preference. The generalization that SD games are worse due to intensity pit scrutiny, poor pen and/or rules, and certainly table limits is basically accurate, but there are ways to get round those problems, and you have to take the game on its merits.

Mathematically, all things being equal (which they are not), SD is vastly superior to the shoe.

has the ability and patience to play 8 deck and your play depends on a ton of variables. As you noted, "1.5 cutoff at worst, and S17,DS,LS", may make the game playable, but are hard to find.

But some other issues which make 8 decks almost impossible to play. Such as, the tables have to be empty enough that you can get a seat when you find this type of table with a good count, if you wong out on bad counts you may not be able to get back in the game at all, alot of shoes never get to that great count, if you set thru the poor or bad counts so that you can keep your seat, the cost of all those flat bets makes the game almost unbeatable, if you do get a cut of 1.5 (very rare today)even great counters occasionally get disturbed and lose count due to the large number of hands dealt in 8 deck resulting in more wasted time, if you are setting thru most shoes to get a playable advantage requires a large increase in bets to make up for all the flat bets and makes you more subject bad variance, the other players and pit may get intolerant of you jumping in and out a game, if the casino is busy it can take an hour or two or even more to get a shoe that justify increasing your bet. If you play when the casino is slow you are more likely to be notices by the casino personnel, which requires keeping you playable sessions short. And this is only a few of the problems with 8 decks.

Team play may help, but still requires that a empty seat(s) is available at the right time, plus a lot of stand around trying to not be noticed by the wrong people. If you play at the same casino on a regular basis, team play, jumping bets and wonging becomes risker.

In summary, to play 8 deck with an advantage requires alot of patience and wasted nights.

But I rather discuss 8 deck than 6:5 blackjack. Can you believe even on the GC pages some people are discussing theories on how to play 6:5 games? As I said no matter how bad the game gets some people will claim they can play it and at least play even.