Blackjack Bonus
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Even though the ten-to-ten bonus was later scrapped, the ‘blackjack’ hand stuck. Now, in the modern day game, blackjack means a ten card and any hand of an ace irrespective of the colours or suits. It was in 1956 that the first attempt was made to devise a scientific and mathematical strategy for playing the blackjack game. Best blackjack bonus for your first deposit William Hill Casino £300 Welcome Bonus All new users can start playing with £300 First Deposit Bonus! Among the best online blackjack bonuses. Blackjack bonus playing systems were created to encourage new players to try their strengths and to help experienced gamblers to improve their skills. These bonuses you will meet at the best online casinos and they will help you to get the best from the game.
Introduction
I first noticed the Bust Bonus side bet at the Silver Dollar casino in Seatac Washington on August 21, 2015. The bet pays when the dealer busts. Unlike other bets based on the dealer busting, this one lets the player make the decision after seeing the dealer's up card. Wins pay based on the up card, whether all the dealer cards are suited, with premium wins for a dealer 8-8-8.
The bet is by Galaxy Gaming.
Rules
The side bet is based on standard blackjack rules. Where I saw the game, at the Silver Dollar casino, eight decks were used and the dealer hit a soft 17. When the dealer has a 10 or ace up, he will peek for a blackjack before offering the Bust Bonus bet. The pay table used at the Silver Dollar is as follows.
Bust Bonus — Pay Table
| Up Card | Non-suited | Suited |
|---|---|---|
| Ace | 3 | 50 |
| 2 | 1 | 25 |
| 3 | 1 | 15 |
| 4 | 1 | 10 |
| 5 | 1 | 5 |
| 6 | 1 | 3 |
| 7 | 2 | 15 |
| 8 | 2 | 10 |
| 8-8-8 | 25 | 75 |
| 9 | 2 | 20 |
| 10 | 2 | 20 |
All wins are on a 'to one' basis, meaning the player keeps his original bet if he wins. I assume that 8-8-8 wins are in lieu of the lower wins based on just an 8 up card.
Analysis
The following return tables are based on the Silver Dollar rules, namely eight decks and the dealer hits a soft 17 and peeks for a blackjack before the Bust Bonus bet is made.
Ace Up
| Event | Pays | Probability | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suited bust | 50 | 0.002238 | 0.111920 |
| Bust | 3 | 0.198886 | 0.596659 |
| All other | -1 | 0.798875 | -0.798875 |
| Total | 1.000000 | -0.090297 |
2 Up
| Event | Pays | Probability | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suited bust | 25 | 0.008834 | 0.220850 |
| Bust | 1 | 0.347843 | 0.347843 |
| All other | -1 | 0.643323 | -0.643323 |
| Total | 1.000000 | -0.074630 |
3 Up
| Event | Pays | Probability | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suited bust | 15 | 0.011606 | 0.174090 |
| Bust | 1 | 0.365285 | 0.365285 |
| All other | -1 | 0.623109 | -0.623109 |
| Total | 1.000000 | -0.083734 |
4 Up
| Event | Pays | Probability | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suited bust | 10 | 0.014647 | 0.146470 |
| Bust | 1 | 0.383472 | 0.383472 |
| All other | -1 | 0.601881 | -0.601881 |
| Total | 1.000000 | -0.071939 |
5 Up
| Event | Pays | Probability | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suited bust | 5 | 0.017942 | 0.089710 |
| Bust | 1 | 0.401194 | 0.401194 |
| All other | -1 | 0.580864 | -0.580864 |
| Total | 1.000000 | -0.089960 |
6 Up
| Event | Pays | Probability | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suited bust | 3 | 0.021036 | 0.063108 |
| Bust | 1 | 0.418278 | 0.418278 |
| All other | -1 | 0.560686 | -0.560686 |
| Total | 1.000000 | -0.079300 |
7 Up
| Event | Pays | Probability | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suited bust | 15 | 0.011857 | 0.177855 |
| Bust | 2 | 0.250174 | 0.500348 |
| All other | -1 | 0.737969 | -0.737969 |
| Total | 1.000000 | -0.059766 |
8 Up
| Event | Pays | Probability | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suited 888 | 75 | 0.000244 | 0.018334 |
| 888 | 25 | 0.005169 | 0.129213 |
| Suited bust | 10 | 0.011271 | 0.112705 |
| Bust | 2 | 0.227270 | 0.454541 |
| All other | -1 | 0.756046 | -0.756046 |
| Total | 1.000000 | -0.041253 |
9 Up
| Event | Pays | Probability | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suited bust | 20 | 0.011658 | 0.233160 |
| Bust | 2 | 0.217379 | 0.434758 |
| All other | -1 | 0.770963 | -0.770963 |
| Total | 1.000000 | -0.103045 |
10 Up
| Event | Pays | Probability | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suited bust | 20 | 0.012341 | 0.246811 |
| Bust | 2 | 0.217785 | 0.435570 |
| All other | -1 | 0.769874 | -0.769874 |
| Total | 1.000000 | -0.087493 |
Summary
The next table summarizes the house edge under the Silver Dollar pay table and the dealer hitting a soft 17, according to the dealer up card and the number of decks.
House Edge Summary — Dealer Hits Soft 17
| Up Card | 1 Deck | 2 Decks | 4 Decks | 5 Decks | 6 Decks | 8 Decks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ace | 9.23% | 9.15% | 9.08% | 9.06% | 9.05% | 9.03% |
| 2 | 11.74% | 9.29% | 8.07% | 7.83% | 7.67% | 7.46% |
| 3 | 10.62% | 9.31% | 8.68% | 8.56% | 8.47% | 8.37% |
| 4 | 7.06% | 7.15% | 7.18% | 7.19% | 7.19% | 7.19% |
| 5 | 7.33% | 8.30% | 8.77% | 8.86% | 8.92% | 9.00% |
| 6 | 9.09% | 8.39% | 8.08% | 8.02% | 7.98% | 7.93% |
| 7 | 10.64% | 7.92% | 6.61% | 6.36% | 6.19% | 5.98% |
| 8 | 16.41% | 10.31% | 6.33% | 5.47% | 4.88% | 4.13% |
| 9 | 11.22% | 10.68% | 10.43% | 10.38% | 10.34% | 10.30% |
| 10 | 11.11% | 9.72% | 9.07% | 8.94% | 8.85% | 8.75% |
Note that for the dealer hits a soft 17 rules above the best bet is on a dealer 8 for four or more decks, and on a dealer 4 for one or two decks.
The next table shows the same information except the dealer stands on a soft 17.
Blackjack Bonus
House Edge Summary — Dealer Stands on Soft 17
Blackjack Bonus Odds
| Up Card | 1 Deck | 2 Decks | 4 Decks | 5 Decks | 6 Decks | 8 Decks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ace | 24.44% | 24.43% | 24.37% | 24.36% | 24.35% | 24.33% |
| 2 | 12.44% | 9.96% | 8.73% | 8.48% | 8.32% | 8.11% |
| 3 | 11.11% | 9.84% | 9.24% | 9.12% | 9.04% | 8.94% |
| 4 | 7.67% | 7.71% | 7.73% | 7.73% | 7.73% | 7.73% |
| 5 | 7.54% | 8.54% | 9.01% | 9.11% | 9.17% | 9.24% |
| 6 | 12.51% | 11.76% | 11.42% | 11.35% | 11.31% | 11.25% |
| 7 | 10.64% | 7.92% | 6.61% | 6.36% | 6.19% | 5.98% |
| 8 | 16.41% | 10.31% | 6.33% | 5.47% | 4.88% | 4.13% |
| 9 | 11.22% | 10.68% | 10.43% | 10.38% | 10.34% | 10.30% |
| 10 | 11.11% | 9.72% | 9.07% | 8.94% | 8.85% | 8.75% |
Free Blackjack 777
Note the house edge is equal or higher when the dealer stands on a soft 17. This is simply because the dealer busts less. I do not know if Galaxy Gaming, the game maker, has a separate pay table under this rule.
Blackjack Bonus Poker
Strategy
Above all the math above, remember commandment number 9 of my Ten Commandments of Gambling, 'Thou shalt not make side bets.' However, if you must, the best odds with four or more decks, whether or not the dealer hits or stands on a soft 17, is against a dealer 8.
Blackjack Bonus Hoosier Lottery
Finally, it isn't difficult to see this side bet would be very vulnerable to card counters. I'll leave the details of how to do that up to the reader (don't you hate it when I say that).
Blackjack Bonus Side Bets
Internal Links
There is a very similar side bet called Bet the Bust.
Written by: Michael Shackleford