Looking to start playing single deck but casino options are limited. Wondering what percentage of cards dealt is too little to beat a game with reno rules. Right now it looks somewhere around the 40-60% range depending on dealer. If I get less than this should I move on? Thanks for any help.
Optimist
As you know your win rate depends on several things... counting system, rules, # of hands played per hour, etc. The most important factors affecting your win rate are penetration and bet spread. You can easily "beat" this game at 40% penetration but wether or not it is worth your time depends on your goals (recreation or profession). The best way to answer these types of questions is to purchase Blackjack Attack by Don Schlesinger or a simultor such as Statistical Blackjack Analyzer by Karel Janecek. Blackjack Attack has simulation results of over 500 distinct blackjack games with different rule variations, bet spreads, etc. A quick look at the 1 deck, H17, D10 game with 26 cards dealt (50% pen) and a 1-4 bet spread reveals a win rate of .85 units per 100 hands played; or approximately $8.50/hour betting $10 to $40. 60% pen gets 1.56 units per 100, a very good game. I did a quick sim with only 21 cards dealt (40% pen) and got a win rate of .64 per 100 hands, not so good. All these situations use Hi-Lo with 18 index numbers. Be carefule in single deck not to run into cheating dealers who deal seconds or preferential shuffling (dealer shuffless after lots of low cards come out and continues to deal after high cards come out). I don't know how to tell wether or not a dealer is dealing you seconds but if he/she looks at their watch 5 times in a row and doesn't know what time it is you better take your money and run. Hope this helps and good luck!
not sure about 60% being good enough for Reno rules. Schlesinger gives SCORE of less than 50. (31 cards).
Rather than trying to estimate single deck pen in percentage, use the standard single deck "Rule of --" that the casinos use.
"Rule of 7" means 7, minus the number of hands being played = number of rounds to be dealt.
"Rule of 6" means 6, minus the number of hands being played = number of rounds to be dealt.
From the BJ21.com BJ Glossary:
Rule of six. A policy followed by many casinos at single deck. They require a dealer to deal five rounds to one player, four rounds to two players, three rounds to three players and two rounds to four players. Some casinos carry this rule to the extreme and only deal one round to five or more players.
For example, under Rule of 6, with 2 players or 2 total spots being played, you should get 4 rounds; 6 - 2 = 4.
Except when using certain advanced techniques, single deck is playable with more than one other player only if Rule of 7 is in use. Even with Rule of 7, single deck is generally not worth playing with more than two other players at the table.
Under Rule of 6, single deck is only worth playing if heads-up playing two spots, or with one other player playing only one spot each. These conditions should yield four rounds.
You and two other players getting only three rounds is usually not worth your time, again except if you are using certain advanced techniques, which from the nature of your post, I assume you are not using.
Rule of 5 should be laughed at, not played. Paranoid casinos that use Rule of 5 (or Rule of 6) are shooting themselves in the foot. Such poorly-managed casinos reduce their hands per hour, and therefore their hourly win rate, far more than they would lose to skillful players if they offered a decent game.
The vast majority of casinos and dealers in the Reno area use Rule of 7. In Las Vegas, Rule of 6 and Rule of 5 are far more common.
commonly used in CA indian casinos as well?
Optimist
A while back I tested the Zen count against the rule of 6 to see the difference in win rate. I used downtown Vegas rules and 55 playing indices. I found that 4 rounds to 2 players was best, then heads up play followed closely by 3 rounds to 3 players. I didn't save the 2 rounds to 4 players simulation probably because I concluded it wasn't worth the time. It's advisable to play with as few players as possible for the simple fact that you will play many more hands in the same amount of time. So even if 2 players gives the best statistical results you should win more playing alone. Also, if the casino goes by penetration instead of a "rule of--" the dealer is more likely to keep dealing if there's only 1 player. However, playing with other players may help disguise your counting:-)
Where do they play single deck in California? (I am hoping you are talking about So. California)
I've looked up three or four indian joints in northern CA that deal single deck. I haven't been able to play any of them yet (still practicing). There are some in southern CA but I didn't research them since the trip would be too far for myself. The easiest way to find them is online. I highly recommend running them through the archives here before you go (to make sure it's worth the trip). Hope this helps.
Optimist
Barona casino has 1 deck, H17, DAS, with Late Surrender; but it's also $100 mininimum.
with H17 D10 rules you need a rule of 7 game to equal a rule of 6 H17 Double any game.
There are three bad elements about H17 D10 games.
1. You need a bigger spread to beat it and therefore are more likely to get backed off.
2. The D10 rule hurts people who spread their bets more than basic strategy players.
3. The D10 rule hurts casinos more as most poor players make most of their mistakes in plays involving soft doubles.
of alone at a 1D when they deal more than "rule of 5 or 6" hands. When it is negative they use up less cards and thus have more available to continue the deal in negative decks.
