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Gaming Guru
Continuous Shuffle Machines and House Edge7 January 2020
I am a recreational blackjack player. I visit AC a few times a year. I have my days and the casinos have theirs. I use basic strategy. People do look at you funny when you hit a soft 18 against a 9 -10 – A. Over the past year Caesars, Bally’s and Harrah’s have incorporated more continuous shuffle machines. So I wanted to find out what the house edge is when using the continuous shuffle machine (csm). The house edge decreases but because there are more hands played the house will win more. The reason for this is that basic strategy is based on a freshly shuffled shoe and with a csm the deck is always shuffled. So does that mean after the first hand of a new six or 8 deck shoe without a csm basic strategy is no longer the correct way to play? I have wanted to ask this question for some time now. FRANK RESPONDS: Unless you are counting cards any changes in the makeup of the shoe has no influence on basic strategy. Why is that? Because no one knows what cards are remaining and what cards are finished for play. You have to follow the content of the cards to change your strategy and that can’t be done with a fresh deck or a deck that has been played as basic strategy players are not keeping track of the individual cards. The continuous shuffle machines are voracious and you have to avoid them if you can or, if you can’t help but have this deep need to play then only do so at a full table and sit out some hands now and again. Now to hitting a soft 18 against the 8, 9 and 10 up-cards of a dealer – keep in mind that the average win for the player is 18.8. You will lose money if you don’t hit that soft 18 against those other cards. Ignore the looks of the disapproving players. It is your money and it is best to play it the correct way. All the best in and out of the casinos! Visit Frank’s web site at www.frankscoblete.com. Frank’s books are available at Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble, Kindle, e-books and at bookstores. This article is provided by the Frank Scoblete Network. Melissa A. Kaplan is the network's managing editor. If you would like to use this article on your website, please contact Casino City Press, the exclusive web syndication outlet for the Frank Scoblete Network. To contact Frank, please e-mail him at fscobe@optonline.net. Recent Articles
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