How much of a casino edge is acceptable at blackjack?

Frank,

I'm a Speed Count player who's experienced great success using your system. I love knowing that I'm an advantage player and not a ploppy.

My question is this: I didn't see the hotel we usually stay at in Vegas on your list of the best blackjack games in this month's edition of Casino Player. Or if it was, the denomination was higher than I play. (I'm a $25 player.)

I know you don't base gambling decisions purely on comps, nor do you ever play at casinos that offer 6:5 for a blackjack, however, how much of a casino edge is acceptable if you're speed counting and playing sound basic strategy? I'd like to play where I stay and try to have the best of both worlds: a good, fair game and the opportunity to get comped accordingly.

Mike

P.S. I asked Santa for an entry into your two-day blackjack course . . . and I've been real good this year.

Hi Mike:

Glad you are getting success with Speed Count and the new Optimum Basic Strategy. Just about every blackjack player can benefit by using this easy way to get the edge over the house.

I did not write the article in the recent issue of Casino Player, so I am sending this letter to Henry Tamburin, who did.

I am giving you a free 30-day subscription to my private members-only web site at www.goldentouchcraps.com. We have over 5,000 members on this site and I think you will enjoy it.

Frank Scoblete

FROM HENRY TAMBURIN:

Hi Mike,

Frank forwarded your e-mail to me about the question you had about my blackjack article in November issue of Casino Player.

The reason your LV casino didn't make my list of best blackjack games is because the game exceeded the 0.36% house edge I used as the upper end of my criteria for best games. If you are using Speed Count, you are much better off playing blackjack in Vegas at one of the casinos I mentioned in my article (the games they offer have an initial house edge at, or lower than, 0.36%).

At the minimum, I wouldn't play any game in Vegas where the house edge is greater than 0.5% — the reason is that there are plenty of casinos in town that offer blackjack games with a house edge at 0.5% or lower (even at $5 and $10 minimum betting levels — see my article). If you e-mail me the name of the casino you want to "stay and play," I'll let you know what the house edge is for their blackjack games.

Regards,
Henry