Six Deck Shoe

4/1/2022admin

Six Deck Shoe Rating: 5,0/5 4089 votes

The best odds in Las Vegas blackjack games tend to be on single and double deck tables. Some players still prefer a six-shoe over those games. There are several in Las Vegas that offer favorable rules to players.

Counting Into A Six Deck Shoe
Basic Strategy Six Deck Shoe
Card Counting Six Deck Shoe
Counting A Six Deck Shoe
Six Deck Shoe Blackjack

Learn how to read a blackjack strategy chart and find examples of a 6 deck black jack strategy charts to use while playing online blackjack games. Now you can replicate the professional casino feel with the Brybelly Six Deck Blackjack Dealing Shoe. See details - Brybelly Six Deck Blackjack Dealing Shoe - Fits 6 Standard Size Poker Decks.

Playing Six-Deck Blackjack on Las Vegas

The best six-deck blackjack games in Las Vegas stand on all 17s, similar to online real money blackjack tables. Players may double down on any two cards and after splitting. These games also permit surrender and re-split aces up to four hands. The house edge in this game is 0.26%.
The casinos with these rules are listed below. The typical minimum bet is listed next to it.

Aria: $100
Bellagio: $50
Bally: $50
Cosmopolitan: $100
Encore: $100
Green Valley Ranch: $50
M Resort: $50
MGM Grand: $50

Mirage: $100
Palazzo: $100
Park MGM: $100
Sahara Las Vegas: $100
Treasure Island: $25
Tropicana: $25
Wynn: $200

Caesars and Station Casinos do not permit re-split aces in the stand on 17 shoes. This bumps the house edge up to 0.33%. These casinos generally have a $100 minimum bet. The games are found in the high limit lounge.

Bighorn and Longhorn Casinos Offer Odd Advantageous Rule

Bighorn and Longhorn Casinos are locals’ joints. Bighorn Casino is located on East Lake Mead in North Las Vegas. Longhorn is located at the corner of Harmon and Boulder Highway. These two casinos permit double down on any two cards and after splitting, as well as surrender and re-split aces. The dealer hits soft 17. These tables have a $5 minimum.

Bighorn and Longhorn offer players an unusual rule that is not found in any other traditional blackjack games in Las Vegas. Players may double down after hitting a card, something typically only found in Super Fun 21 and other carnival blackjack games that do not pay 3-2. This cuts the house edge nearly in half, making it 0.28%. This is only slightly worse than the high limit shoe games. That’s a great deal for a $5 game.

Previous Six-Deck Blackjack Surveys

Las Vegas Casinos are constantly changing and updating their games. We want to make sure you can always go back and check the information, you will be able to consult the data of previous years.

Six-Deck Blackjack Games at Las Vegas Casinos

Casino	# of Decks	Min Bet	Max Bet	H/S 17	DA	DAS	RSA	Surrender	# of Tables	6/5 BJ	Video	Exotic	House Hold %
4 Queens	6	5	500	H	–	–	–	–	2	No	No	BJ Switch	0.58000%
4 Queens	6	5	500	H	Yes	Yes	No	No	1	No	No	Bonus Spin	0.63873%
4 Queens	6	5	500	H	Yes	Yes	No	No	1	No	No	Zombie	0.63873%
Aliante Casino	6	5	500	H	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	3	No	No	No	0.57085%
Aliante Casino	6	25	500	H	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	–	No	No	No	0.57085%
Aria	6	15	5000	H	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	4	Yes	No	Free Bet	1.84232%
Aria	6	50	10000	H	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	6	No	No	No	0.48263%
Aria	6	300	10000	H	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	1	No	No	No	0.48263%
Aria	6	500	10000	H	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	1	No	No	No	0.48263%
Aria	6	25	5000	H	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	20	No	No	No	0.48263%
Aria	6	100	10000	H	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	11	No	No	No	0.48263%
Arizona Charlie’s – Decatur	6	5	500	H	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	2	No	No	No	0.57085%
Arizona Charlie’s – Decatur	6	5	500	H	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	1	No	No	Lucky Ladies	0.57085%
Arizona Charlie’s – Decatur	6	5	500	H	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	1	No	No	Let’s Play Blackjack	0.57085%
Arizona Charlie’s – Decatur	6	3	500	H	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	1	No	No	No	0.57085%
Bally’s	6	5	500	H	Yes	Yes	No	No	1	Even	No	Double Attack BJ	0.63873%
Bally’s	6	3	500	H	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	1	Yes	Yes	No	1.91020%
Bally’s	6	50	5000	S	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	2	No	No	No	0.28507%
Bally’s	6	50	2000	S	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	3	No	No	No	0.28507%
Bellagio	6	15	5000	H	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	2	Yes	No	Free Bet BJ	1.91020%
Bellagio	6	25	5000	H	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	6	Yes	No	No	1.91020%
Bellagio	6	50	10000	S	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	2	No	No	No	0.28507%
Bighorn	6	5	100	H	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	3	No	No	Lucky Ladies	0.48263%
Binion’s	6	3	200	H	Yes	Yes	No	No	2	Yes	Yes	No	1.99842%
Binion’s	6	5	500	H	Yes	Yes	No	No	1	No	No	Zombie	0.63873%
Boulder Station	6	5	500	H	Yes	Yes	No	No	1	Yes	No	Free Bet	1.99842%
Boulder Station	6	5	500	H	Yes	Yes	No	No	3	No	No	No	0.63873%
Boulder Station	6	5	500	H	Yes	Yes	No	No	1	No	No	Lucky Lucky	0.63873%
Boulder Station	6	5	500	H	Yes	Yes	No	No	1	No	No	Lucky Ladies	0.63873%
Caesars Palace	6	100	5000	S	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	2	No	No	No	0.28507%
Caesars Palace	6	25	5000	H	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	5	No	No	No	0.55051%
Caesars Palace	6	200	10000	S	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	14	No	No	No	0.28507%
Caesars Palace	6	500	10000	S	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	5	No	No	No	0.28507%
California	6	5	200	H	Yes	No	No	No	1	No	No	No	0.78327%
California	6	3	200	H	Yes	No	No	No	1	Yes	No	No	2.14296%
Cannery	6	5	500	H	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	3	No	No	No	0.48263%
Casino Royale	6	5	1000	H	Yes	Yes	No	No	3	Yes	No	BJ Switch	1.99842%
Casino Royale	6	10	1000	H	Yes	Yes	No	No	1	Yes	No	Free Bet	1.99842%
Circus Circus	6	5	500	H	Yes	Yes	No	No	22	Yes	No	No	1.99842%
Circus Circus	6	2	1100	H	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	4	Yes	Yes	No	1.91020%
Club Fortune	6	3	100	H	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	1	No	No	No	0.57085%
Cosmopolitan	6	100	5000	S	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	1	Yes	No	No	1.64476%
Cosmopolitan	6	100	10000	S	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	3	No	No	No	0.28507%
Cosmopolitan	6	200	10000	S	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	2	No	No	No	0.28507%
Cosmopolitan	6	300	10000	S	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	1	No	No	No	0.28507%
Cosmopolitan	6	500	10000	S	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	1	No	No	No	0.28507%
Cosmopolitan	6	200	20000	S	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	2	No	No	No	0.28507%
Cosmopolitan	6	300	20000	S	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	2	No	No	No	0.28507%
Cromwell	6	100	3000	S	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	1	No	No	No	0.28507%
Cromwell	6	100	5000	S	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	2	No	No	No	0.28507%
Cromwell	6	100	10000	S	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	2	No	No	No	0.28507%
Downtown Grand	6	10	1000	H	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	5	No	No	No	0.48263%
Downtown Grand	6	5	500	H	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	1	No	No	No	0.48263%
Eastside Cannery	6	3	500	H	Yes	Yes	Yes	–	1	No	No	No	0.57085%
El Cortez	6	5	500	H	Yes	Yes	No	No	2	No	No	No	0.63873%
Ellis Island	6	5	300	H	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	6	No	No	No	0.55051%
Ellis Island	6	5	300	H	–	–	–	–	1	–	No	Blackjack Bonus Spin	6.36000%
Ellis Island	6	5	300	H	–	–	–	–	1	–	No	Buster Blackjack	6.21000%
Encore	6	25	5000	H	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	1	Yes	Yes	BJ Switch	0.58000%
Encore	6	50	10000	H	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	10	No	Yes	No	0.55051%
Encore	6	10	5000	H	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	1	Yes	Yes	No	1.91020%
Encore	6	100	10000	S	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	10	No	Yes	No	0.35361%
Encore	6	15	5000	H	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	9	Yes	Yes	No	1.91020%
Encore	6	15	5000	H	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	1	Yes	No	Blazing 7’s Blackjack	1.91020%
Encore	6	15	5000	H	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	1	Yes	No	Free Bet	1.91020%
Encore	6	25	5000	H	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	6	No	No	No	0.55051%
Excalibur	6	10	1000	H	Yes	Yes	No	No	19	Yes	No	BJ Switch	1.99842%
Fiesta Henderson	6	3	500	H	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	1	No	No	No	0.55051%
Fiesta Rancho	6	5	500	H	Yes	Yes	No	No	1	No	No	No	0.63873%
Fiesta Rancho	6	3	500	H	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	2	No	No	No	0.55051%
Flamingo	6	100	10000	S	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	1	No	No	No	0.28507%
Fremont	6	5	500	H	Yes	No	No	No	4	No	No	No	0.78327%
Fremont	6	3	200	H	Yes	No	No	No	4	Yes	No	No	2.14296%
Fremont	6	3	200	H	Yes	No	No	No	1	Yes	No	Kings Bounty	2.14296%
Fremont	6	10	200	H	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	1	Yes	No	Super Fun 21	1.98680%
Gold Coast	6	5	500	H	Yes	Yes	No	No	3	No	No	No	0.63873%
Golden Gate	6	10	1000	H	–	–	–	–	2	No	No	Free Bet	1.02000%
Golden Gate	6	5	2500	H	Yes	Yes	No	No	12	No	No	No	0.63873%
Golden Nugget	6	5	1000	H	Yes	Yes	No	No	4	Yes	No	Bonus Spin	1.99842%
Golden Nugget	6	10	1000	H	–	–	–	–	1	No	No	Free Bet	1.02000%
Golden Nugget	6	10	2500	H	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	6	No	No	No	0.55051%
Golden Nugget	6	25	5000	H	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	3	No	No	No	0.48263%
Golden Nugget	6	10	1000	H	Yes	Yes	No	No	3	Yes	No	No	1.99842%
Golden Nugget (Pool)	6	10	2500	H	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	4	Yes	No	No	1.93054%
Golden Nugget (RL)	6	10	2500	H	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	1	No	No	No	0.57085%
Golden Nugget (RL)	6	10	1000	H	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	1	Yes	No	No	1.93054%
Green Valley Ranch	6	15	1000	H	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	1	Yes	No	Free Bet	1.91020%
Green Valley Ranch	6	10	2500	H	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	7	No	No	No	0.55051%
Green Valley Ranch	6	50	5000	S	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	1	No	No	No	0.28507%
Green Valley Ranch	6	5	1000	H	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	1	No	No	No	0.55051%
Hard Rock	6	15	1000	H	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	2	Yes	No	No	1.93054%
Hard Rock	6	25	1000	H	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	2	Yes	No	No	1.93054%
Hard Rock	6	100	5000	H	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	4	No	No	No	0.48263%
Hard Rock	6	15	1000	H	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	1	Yes	No	Lucky Lucky	1.93054%
Hard Rock	6	25	1000	H	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	1	Yes	No	Lucky Lucky	1.93054%
Hard Rock	6	100	5000	H	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	1	No	No	Lucky Lucky	0.48263%
Harrah’s	6	15	1000	H	Yes	Yes	No	No	6	No	No	No	0.63873%
Harrah’s	6	15	1000	H	Yes	Yes	No	No	1	No	No	Free Bet	0.63873%
Harrah’s	6	15	1000	H	Yes	Yes	No	No	1	No	No	EZ Bust	0.63873%
Harrah’s	6	15	1000	H	Yes	Yes	No	No	1	No	No	Blazing 7’s Blackjack	0.63873%
Harrah’s	6	15	1000	H	Yes	Yes	No	No	1	No	No	Buster Blackjack	0.63873%
Harrah’s	6	15	1000	H	Yes	Yes	No	No	1	No	No	War Blackjack	0.63873%
Harrah’s	6	100	10000	S	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	3	No	No	No	0.35361%
OYO	6	5	500	H	Yes	Yes	No	No	4	Yes	No	No	1.99842%
OYO	6	1	200	H	Yes	Yes	No	No	1	Yes	No	No	1.99842%
OYO	6	10	500	H	Yes	Yes	No	No	1	Yes	Yes	No	1.99842%
Jokers Wild	6	3	300	H	Yes	Yes	No	No	1	No	No	No	0.63873%
Linq	6	10	3000	H	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	2	Yes	No	No	1.91020%
Linq	6	15	3000	H	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	9	Yes	Yes	No	1.91020%
Linq	6	15	3000	H	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	1	Yes	No	Blazing 7’s Blackjack	1.91020%
Linq	6	15	3000	H	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	1	Yes	No	Buster Blackjack	1.91020%
Linq	6	15	3000	H	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	1	Yes	No	21+3 Xtreme	1.91020%
Linq	6	15	3000	H	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	1	Yes	No	BJ Spin	1.91020%
Linq	6	15	3000	H	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	1	Yes	No	Free Bet	1.91020%
Longhorn	6	1	50	H	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	1	No	No	No	0.48263%
Longhorn	6	3	100	H	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	1	No	No	No	0.48263%
Longhorn	6	5	100	H	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	1	No	No	No	0.48263%
Lucky Club	6	1	50	H	Yes	Yes	No	No	1	No	No	No	0.63873%
Lucky Club	6	3	100	H	Yes	Yes	No	No	1	No	No	No	0.63873%
Lucky Club	6	5	100	H	Yes	Yes	No	No	2	No	No	No	0.63873%
Luxor	6	100	5000	H	Yes	Yes	No	No	3	No	No	No	0.63873%
Luxor	6	10	1000	H	Yes	Yes	No	No	8	Yes	Yes	No	0.63873%
Luxor	6	15	1000	H	Yes	Yes	No	No	14	Yes	No	No	1.99842%
Luxor	6	15	1000	H	Yes	Yes	No	No	1	Yes	No	Lucky Lucky	1.99842%
Luxor	6	15	1000	H	Yes	Yes	No	No	1	Yes	No	Free Bet	1.99842%
Luxor	6	15	1000	H	Yes	Yes	No	No	1	Yes	No	Buster Blackjack	1.99842%
M Resort	6	5	1000	H	Yes	Yes	No	No	6	No	No	No	0.63873%
M Resort	6	50	5000	S	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	2	No	No	No	0.28507%
Mandalay Bay	6	15	2500	H	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	1	Yes	No	BJ Switch	1.84232%
Mandalay Bay	6	25	5000	H	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	4	Yes	No	No	1.84232%
Mandalay Bay	6	25	5000	H	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	1	Yes	No	Lucky Lucky	1.84232%
Mandalay Bay	6	25	5000	H	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	1	Yes	No	Buster Blackjack	1.84232%
Mandalay Bay	6	25	5000	H	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	1	Yes	No	Blackjack Spin	1.84232%
Mandalay Bay	6	100	5000	S	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	5	No	No	No	0.35361%
Mandalay Bay	6	50	5000	H	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	5	Yes	No	No	1.84232%
MGM	6	100	10000	H	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	9	No	No	Free Bet	0.48263%
MGM	6	25	10000	H	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	2	No	No	No	0.48263%
MGM	6	25	5000	H	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	12	No	No	No	0.48263%
MGM	6	25	5000	H	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	1	No	No	Buster Blackjack	0.48263%
MGM	6	25	5000	H	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	1	No	No	Lucky Lucky	0.48263%
MGM	6	25	5000	H	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	1	No	No	Blackjack Spin	0.48263%
MGM	6	25	2000	H	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	2	No	No	No	0.48263%
MGM	6	50	10000	H	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	1	No	Yes	No	0.48263%
MGM	6	500	10000	H	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	1	No	Yes	No	0.48263%
Mirage	6	15	2000	H	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	23	Yes	Yes	No	1.84232%
Mirage	6	15	2000	H	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	1	Yes	No	Blackjack Spin	1.84232%
Mirage	6	15	2000	H	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	1	Yes	No	Buster Blackjack	1.84232%
Mirage	6	15	2000	H	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	1	Yes	No	Lucky Lucky	1.84232%
Mirage	6	25	2000	H	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	3	Yes	No	No	1.84232%
Mirage	6	50	5000	H	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	6	Yes	No	No	1.84232%
Mirage	6	100	10000	S	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	4	Yes	No	No	1.64476%
Mirage	6	300	10000	S	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	5	Yes	No	No	1.64476%
Mirage	6	500	10000	S	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	4	Yes	No	No	1.64476%
NYNY	6	10	1000	H	Yes	Yes	No	No	6	Yes	No	BJ Switch	1.99842%
NYNY	6	5	100	H	Yes	Yes	No	No	2	Yes	No	Free Bet	1.99842%
NYNY	6	15	1000	H	Yes	Yes	No	No	21	Yes	Yes	No	1.99842%
NYNY	6	15	1000	H	Yes	Yes	No	No	1	Yes	Yes	Buster Blackjack	1.99842%
NYNY	6	15	1000	H	Yes	Yes	No	No	1	Yes	Yes	Lucky Lucky	1.99842%
NYNY	6	15	1000	H	Yes	Yes	No	No	1	Yes	Yes	Blackjack Spin	1.99842%
NYNY	6	100	5000	H	Yes	Yes	No	No	6	Yes	No	No	1.99842%
Orleans	6	5	1000	H	Yes	Yes	No	No	3	No	No	No	0.63873%
Palace Station	6	10	1000	H	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	1	Yes	No	Free Bet	1.91020%
Palace Station	6	5	1000	H	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	3	No	No	No	0.55051%
Palazzo	6	15	7000	H	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	1	Yes	No	BJ Switch	1.84232%
Palazzo	6	50	10000	H	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	4	Yes	No	BJ Switch	1.84232%
Palazzo	6	25	10000	H	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	17	Yes	No	Free Bet	1.84232%
Palazzo	6	100	10000	S	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	3	Yes	No	No	1.64476%
Palms	6	10	1000	H	Yes	No	Yes	No	12	No	No	No	0.71539%
Palms	6	15	1000	H	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	1	Yes	No	No	1.98680%
Palms	6	100	10000	S	Yes	No	Yes	No	6	No	No	Super 4	0.49945%
Palms	6	100	10000	S	Yes	No	Yes	No	1	No	No	Bet the Set 21	0.49945%
Palms	6	10	1000	H	Yes	No	Yes	No	1	No	No	Bet the Set 21	0.71539%
Paris	6	10	200	H	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	1	No	No	No	0.55051%
Paris	6	15	2000	H	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	1	No	No	BJ Switch	0.55051%
Paris	6	100	10000	S	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	3	No	No	No	0.35361%
Park MGM Casino	6	10	500	H	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	1	No	No	BJ Switch	0.57085%
Park MGM – NOMAD Casino	6	100	10000	S	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	4	No	No	No	0.28507%
Planet Hollywood	6	100	10000	H	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	2	No	No	No	0.48263%
Plaza	6	5	1000	H	–	–	–	–	1	No	No	Most Liberal 21	1.33000%
Plaza	6	5	1000	H	Yes	Yes	No	No	8	No	No	No	0.63873%
Plaza	6	5	1000	H	Yes	Yes	No	No	1	No	No	Free Bet	0.63873%
Plaza	6	5	1000	H	Yes	Yes	No	No	1	Yes	No	Bonus Spin	1.99842%
Plaza	6	5	1000	H	Yes	Yes	No	No	1	No	No	Buster Blackjack	0.63873%
Poker Palace	6	2	50	H	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	4	No	No	No	0.57085%
Railroad Pass	6	3	200	H	Yes	Yes	No	No	1	No	No	No	0.63873%
Rampart	6	5	1000	H	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	2	No	No	No	0.48263%
Red Rock	6	10	2000	H	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	4	No	No	No	0.55051%
Red Rock	6	5	1000	H	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	5	Yes	No	No	1.91020%
Red Rock	6	100	10000	S	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	4	No	No	No	0.35361%
Rio	6	15	5000	H	Yes	No	No	No	3	Yes	No	Free Bet	1.99842%
Rio	6	100	10000	S	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	7	No	Yes	No	0.35361%
Rio	6	25	5000	H	Yes	Yes	No	No	1	No	Yes	No	0.63873%
Rio	6	15	2000	H	Yes	Yes	No	No	2	Yes	Yes	No	1.99842%
Rio	6	10	2000	H	Yes	Yes	No	No	3	Yes	Yes	No	1.99842%
Rio	6	10	2000	H	Yes	Yes	No	No	1	Yes	No	Blazing 7’s Blackjack	1.99842%
Rio	6	10	2000	H	Yes	Yes	No	No	1	Yes	No	EZ Bust	1.99842%
Rio	6	10	2000	H	Yes	Yes	No	No	1	Yes	No	Kings Bounty	1.99842%
Sam’s Town	6	3	500	H	Yes	No	No	No	2	No	No	No	0.63873%
Santa Fe Station	6	10	2000	H	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	2	No	No	No	0.55051%
Silverton	6	5	1000	H	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	1	No	No	No	0.57085%
Silverton	6	10	1000	H	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	7	No	Yes	No	0.57085%
Silverton	6	10	1000	H	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	1	No	No	Royal Match	0.57085%
Silverton	6	10	1000	H	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	1	No	No	Blackjack Spin	0.57085%
Sahara Las Vegas	6	10	1000	H	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	14	Yes	No	BJ Switch	1.93054%
Sahara Las Vegas	6	10	1000	H	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	1	Yes	No	Blazing 7’s Blackjack	1.93054%
Sahara Las Vegas	6	15	1000	H	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	3	Yes	No	No	1.93054%
Sahara Las Vegas	6	20	2000	H	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	1	Yes	No	No	1.93054%
Sahara Las Vegas	6	25	1000	H	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	1	Yes	No	No	1.93054%
Sahara Las Vegas	6	25	2000	H	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	1	Yes	No	No	1.93054%
Sahara Las Vegas	6	100	5000	S	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	1	No	Yes	No	0.28507%
Saraha Las Vegas	6	200	2000	S	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	2	No	Yes	No	0.28507%
South Point	6	10	1000	H	Yes	Yes	No	No	10	No	No	No	0.63873%
South Point	6	10	1000	H	Yes	Yes	No	No	1	No	No	Pair Square	0.63873%
South Point	6	15	2000	H	Yes	Yes	No	No	1	No	No	No	0.63873%
Stratosphere	6	5	1000	H	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	14	No	Yes	No	0.57085%
Suncoast	6	5	1000	H	Yes	Yes	No	No	2	No	No	No	0.63873%
Suncoast	6	5	1000	H	Yes	Yes	No	No	1	No	–	Spin 21	0.63873%
Texas Station	6	5	500	H	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	5	No	No	No	0.55051%
Texas Station	6	10	500	H	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	5	No	No	No	0.55051%
Treasure Island	6	5	1000	H	Yes	Yes	No	No	1	No	Yes	No	0.63873%
Treasure Island	6	10	2000	H	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	7	No	No	No	0.48263%
Treasure Island	6	10	2000	H	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	7	No	No	No	0.48263%
Treasure Island	6	25	5000	S	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	3	No	No	No	0.28507%
Tropicana	6	10	1000	H	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	6	Yes	No	No	1.93054%
Tropicana	6	5	1000	H	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	1	Yes	No	No	1.93054%
Tropicana	6	100	5000	S	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	2	No	No	No	0.28507%
Tropicana	6	25	3000	S	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	1	No	No	No	0.28507%
Tuscany	6	3	300	H	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	1	Even	No	Super Fun 21	0.48263%
Tuscany	6	5	300	H	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	6	No	No	No	0.48263%
Venetian	6	15	7500	H	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	4	No	No	BJ Switch	0.48263%
Venetian	6	50	15000	H	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	3	No	No	No	0.48263%
Venetian	6	100	15000	H	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	3	Yes	No	No	1.84232%
Westgate	6	15	2000	H	Yes	Yes	No	No	1	Yes	No	No	1.99842%
Westgate	6	5	2000	H	Yes	Yes	No	No	6	Yes	No	No	1.99842%
Westgate	6	5	2000	H	Yes	Yes	No	No	1	Yes	No	Free Bet BJ	1.99842%
Westgate	6	100	5000	H	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	2	No	No	No	0.55051%
Westgate	6	100	5000	H	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	2	Yes	No	No	1.91020%
Wynn	6	50	5000	H	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	7	No	No	No	0.55051%
Wynn	6	50	10000	H	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	1	No	No	No	0.55051%
Wynn	6	15	2500	H	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	1	No	No	BJ Switch	0.55051%
Wynn	6	25	5000	H	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	5	No	No	No	0.55051%
Wynn	6	15	5000	H	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	29	Yes	No	No	1.91020%
Wynn	6	15	5000	H	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	1	Yes	No	Blazing 7’s Blackjack	1.91020%
Wynn	6	15	5000	H	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	1	Yes	No	Free Bet	1.91020%
Wynn	6	100	10000	S	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	10	No	No	No	0.35361%

What is your opinion of the continuous shuffle machines now being used at the blackjack tables in Las Vegas? Do these machines give the house more of and edge even when a person is using basic strategy?

For those who don't understand what you're asking, there are new machines that take the blackjack discards and place them randomly back in the deck after each hand. If you are using basic strategy, then the shufflers actually lower the house edge slightly, due to the omission of the cut card effect. It is my understanding that they do provide an honest random shuffle. However, the shuffling machine allows the dealer to waste less time shuffling and spend more time dealing. This means you will spend more time playing, and thus more hands for the house edge to grind you down.
For more information on the mathematical effect of continuous shufflers, please see my blackjack appendix 10.

When playing online blackjack, how do you tell when the deck is shuffled? I play Microgaming casinos (which you report as using 1 deck), but I do not know if each time I play if it is a new deck, and there are no signs of knowing when the deck is shuffled.

Most online casinos shuffle after every hand. Others shuffle at random times but do not indicate exactly when to the player. I have noticed Microgaming casinos flash the word 'shuffling' about one hand in four.
However, if you track the cards between these announcements you will sometimes see the same card twice, which is impossible in a single-deck game, assuming you believe them about when they shuffle. As far as I know, they actually shuffle after every hand, but for reasons I do not understand, only indicate a shuffle occasionally. If I remember correctly, Cryptologic casinos do indeed indicate when they are shuffling their eight-deck shoe.

What do you know about the randomization process that online casinos use to simulate shuffling? How closely does it approximate the actual manual shuffling of cards in a casino? And finally the obvious: wouldn't it be fairly simple to write a randomization (shuffling) program that would give the house a bigger edge -- sort of stack the deck? Enjoy your site. Thanks.

I know that one software company randomly picks two cards in the deck and reverses them, and repeats this numerous times. Since learning of this technique, that is also how I shuffle in my random simulation programs. As long as any method of shuffling is done enough times the deck should be properly randomized.
Manual shuffling is more vulnerable to a biased shuffle and consequently some players try to exploit this by shuffle tracking and card clumping. There are numerous ways an online casino might cheat, but a bad shuffle I don't think is one of them.

I was wondering if you thought continuous shufflers have an effect on basic strategy? I know they speed up the number of hands per hour which is usually bad for the player, but is basic strategy still effective in this instance? Doesn't basic strategy slightly change depending on the number of decks?

I first addressed this topic in my December 1, 2000, newsletter. For those who missed it I just added blackjack appendix 10 to my site, which explains the effect on the house edge under both a cut card and continuous shuffler game. To answer your question, no, the basic strategy does not change. Basic strategy is always developed based on a freshly shuffled shoe, which is always the case when playing against a continuous shuffler.

I’ve noticed that the CSM (Continuous Shuffler Machine) at the blackjack table does not shuffle ALL of the cards at the end of each hand. There are a few cards left in the shoe part of the machine (anywhere from 1 to 20 or so) that are not shuffled. Is there any way this can be used to advantage? For example, I was thinking that there is a lower (but still not zero) probability of having a card repeated two hands in a row. Sit out if there were a lot of high cards last hand . . . bet higher if there are a lot of low cards last hand. The CSM I saw used four decks so, on a full table, there are actually quite a few cards played each hand and you could potentially get a true value of plus/minus one if you made the simplifying assumption that none of those would repeat. Maybe enough to skew the odds?

You’re right, the discards are not mixed among all the cards but can not be placed close to the top of the shoe. I don’t know the exact size of this buffer but it is about 10-20 cards I think. As a card counter it would probably be safe to use a true count from just the last hand played and off the top of a shoe. When converting to the true count you will rarely get anything far from +/-1. If you’re any kind of counter at all I would forget about playing against a CSM, it isn’t worth the bother.

Counting Into A Six Deck Shoe

On a CSM blackjack game, 5 deck, what would be the effect of the dealer not putting discards back into the machine every hand if 24 of 52 cards in the discard rack were face cards? What about 48 of 102? What would be the effect if 44 of 52 cards were non-face cards? Can the odds be heavily skewed? I have a feeling that the odds skyrocket in the casino’s favor if the dealer leaves face cards in the discard.

The exact numbers would be difficult to calculate and I won’t get into that. However your speculation is right that the odds favor the dealer if he leaves a lot of high cards in the discard rack yet will put back into play a lot of small cards. This would be the same kind of thing as preferential shuffling, in which the dealer of a hand held game shuffles when the count is good but deals another round on a bad count. Preferential shuffling is something that definitely does happen here in Las Vegas so what you describe would not surprise me either.

I was just wondering if Las Vegas Video Blackjack reshuffles after every hand or after all the decks are played. I know the tables in Las Vegas do it after all the decks are played because if they did it after every hand no one would play. Are the odds that you’ll win worse if there is a shuffle after every hand? Is this even legal or necessary?

I don’t know when they shuffle but I would speculate after every hand. From my blackjack appendix 10 you will learn that the player’s odds improve slightly if the dealer plays exactly n hands between shuffles (including one) rather than playing to cut card, finishing the hand, and then shuffling.

First, thank you for the great site. I went to Las Vegas for this first time this past summer and I played double-deck blackjack at the Orleans. I noticed that after a dealer shuffled both decks, the dealer asked the player to cut the deck. Most players refused. I did not mind, so I cut the deck. Is there a blackjack cut superstition that I am not aware of, or is there a better reason why?

I would say about 1/3 to 1/2 of players would at least initially decline to cut. However if everyone initially declines somebody has to rise to the occasion and do it. Sometimes when players who refuse to cut will say something like 'I don’t want the blame for a bad shoe' or 'I’m unlucky.' I’ve never seen it put into words but there does seem to be a superstition that the cut is critical to the flow of the shoe, and thus the act should only be done by a competent cutter. Of course this is nonsense. For recreational play it doesn’t make any difference whom cuts or where they cut.

Playing blackjack on a continuous shuffling 5-deck system, are the odds of winning different than playing the dealer with 1 deck or 2 decks?

For the beneit of other readers, my blackjack appendix 10 explains, the house edge in a five-deck game is 0.028% less if a continuous shuffler is used, as opposed to a hand shuffle. The difference between five decks and two decks, all other rules being equal, is 0.18%. So the two-deck game without a shuffler would be much better. Let’s compare a 5-deck continuous shuffler game to a 4-deck hand shuffled game. As my blackjack calculator show difference in house edge between four decks and five decks is 0.0329%. So the benefit of a continuous shuffler is worth less than removing a single deck.

Basic Strategy Six Deck Shoe

While playing blackjack at a locals casino in Las Vegas, a dealer from another locals casino sat at my table. While making small talk, she told me that she could wipe out any player using what she called the 'house shuffle.' The lady dealing to us, who claimed to have been a dealer for 25 years agreed with her telling me that it’s 'all about the shuffle.' They were both referring to games dealt by hand as opposed to from a shoe. Is there a way to shuffle that lowers the players chances of winning, and if so wouldn’t this be a form of cheating? Have you ever heard of anything called the house shuffle?

I don’t believe it. Dealers are not the most skeptical group, often believing all the usual gambling myths. Usually the term 'house shuffle' refers to the way the dealers are supposed to shuffle. For example, shuffle twice, riffle, and shuffle again. In this context, she seems to be saying she could alter the shuffle to the player’s disadvantage, which I doubt.

Card Counting Six Deck Shoe

I absolutely love your site. I enjoy the strategies and probability discussions as much as, or more than, the actual gambling! I was playing six-deck Blackjack in a St. Louis casino recently. After playing a shoe, the cards were returned to the auto shuffler, which indicated a card was missing. The dealer proceeded to deal the next shoe while the floor person inspected the returned set of cards. Upon completion of this shoe, the missing card from the previous shoe (a king) was found in the un-dealt portion of the second shoe.

Assuming this King was the bottom card and was left in the shuffler, it would have been in play in this first shoe (the cut was in rear portion of the deck). How much of an additional advantage did the house gain on me with this mistake?

Thank you for the kind words. I’m going to assume the dealer hits a soft 17, and double after a split is allowed. According to table D17 in Blackjack Attack by Don Schlesinger, removing one ten per deck increases the house edge by 0.5512%. Dividing that by six, for the six-deck game, the effect is an increase in house edge of 0.09%.

For recreational blackjack players, who use basic strategy, and don’t count, does the house advantage increase as the penetration increases? I believe it does because the deeper you get into the shoe, the greater the absolute value of the count will tend to get, which should trigger count-based strategy changes. Since the non-counter wouldn’t know when and how to make such changes, he would be making more mistakes as the count gets further away from zero. Thus, wouldn’t a non-counter be better off at a table with shallow penetration?

In a non-cut-card game, the house advantage is always the same for the non-counter. Clumps of high or low cards are just as likely to appear at the beginning of the shoe, as the middle, as the end. Just because the count is zero at the top of the shoe doesn’t mean you’ll have an exact balance of high and low cards. You seem to be suggesting that the cards are more clumpy at the end of the deck. However, if that were true, then the odds would change if the dealer dealt the cards in reverse order. Surely that is a ridiculous notion.

Counting A Six Deck Shoe

Let’s say the basic strategy player has 16 against a 10 late in the shoe, and hits. If the count were high, standing would be the right play, resulting in what would look like an error to a counter who was watching. However, if the count were negative then hitting would be all the better. In the end, it averages out, for the basic strategy player.

Six Deck Shoe Blackjack

For reasons I explain in my blackjack appendix 10, the basic strategy player should prefer a game with a continuous shuffler, if his goal is to minimize the house edge. Aside from that, the house edge is not affected by penetration. I should add that with a shallower penetration there will be more time spent shuffling, and thus a lower expected loss on an hourly basis.