Readers Write

Dear Frank,

Recently, the Indian Gaming Casinos have implemented automatic shufflers on their blackjack tables. What impact does this have on the player, and is there a basic strategy change?

Ron

Dear Ron:

Don Catlin, the math whiz of our website, showed that continuous automatic shufflers actually reduce the house edge against basic strategy players. Unfortunately, that reduction is not enough to offset the approximately 20 percent increase in the number of hands played per hour. So, these machines should be avoided, or, as the Luddittes of old would suggest, destroyed. The only way we can destroy them is never to play them, even if they are the only game in town. If the casinos see a reduction of revenues on these tables, they'll go back to dealer's shuffling. There is no basic strategy change required to play these machines.

All the best in and out of the casinos!
Frank Scoblete