Blackjack conditions in Vegas ?

[Vegasfan]

Hi,
I'll be in Vegas in 10 days and would like some help in locating the casinos with the most favorable blackjack conditions. I usually play on the strip but I do make it downtown at least once while I'm there. I know enough to avoid games that don't offer 3-2 payouts for blackjack, but I'm interested in knowing where you get decent deck penetration, do they offer surrender, etc. Thanks

[wildpitcher]

I like the New Frontier. It's 2 or 4 deck. Late surrender is offered. All the other rules are what you'd expect. 3/2 of course.

[amurray]

IMHO the best blackjack games in Vegas right now are double-deck games. There are few full-pay single deck games left (the 4 Queens downtown is the most dependable). The best double deckers offer double any 2 and DAS. I don't think you will find surrender at less than 6 decks. You can find double deckers with good rules (at less than $25 minimums) at The Stardust (some of their tables also offer dealer stands on all 17's),Orleans, most of the Station casinos (GVR, Sunset, etc) and probably the best overall at the Plaza downtown. All the big places (Venetian, TI, Bellagio etc.) offer 2-deckers but mostly at $100 min although you can find some $25 early in the day. Good luck!

[livinthedream]

Can anyone update with the places with the best conditions? Is htere a site? Does anyone have surrender anymore?

[misterKeno]

Hey livin... i have NO idea who has surrender (and who doesnt)... i've never ventured into that 'factor'.

DT is probably still your best bet.. you can find a lot of 3/2 tables with double-decks.

4Q
MSS
the CAL

... and nearly all of these will let you play @ the $5 level.

[Victoria]

If you want to save a ton of shoe leather, spend $12 and purchase the latest issue of CBJN, current blackjack news, at bj21.com
It not only gives you the rules, tables, decks, penetration on every single blackjack table in the U.S. and Canada but a ton of other information.

Now for the games:

Everyday, they seem to make the games downtown worse and worse, but knowing your betting level would make things much easier.
El Cortez still has several good single deck tables while 4 Queens has one or two.
Most downtown double deck is playable but not exceptionable at all, penetration is poor and they cringe when you up your bet.
All six deck shoe games downtown are subpar except for the poor penetration $25 game at the Nugget.

Locals casinos: No good single deck
Double deck is mostly H-17, das like downtown, playable but nothing special but a few casinos offer very good penetration.
All six deck shoes are sub par at under $100 and few offer late surrender.

Strip: Best double deck and shoe games are found on the strip.
Single deck, No playable single deck, all 6/5 garbage.
Double deck: Good double deck game for $5 at Slots-A-Fun
Better double deck games are found at Mirage, Bellaggio, Wynn, NYNY and a few others but the minimums on these are $25 or higher.

By far the strip has the best 6 deck games: Dealer stays on soft 17, surrender, DAS, split to 4 and many with resplit aces. These games can be found at MGM, Monte Carlo for $10, Mandalay Bay for $15, places like Trop, Caesars, Mirage and several others for $25. (these casinos also have poorer games so you must search within the casino)

So downtown for single deck.
downtown or locals or slots a fun for $5 double deck
strip for $25 or higher double deck
strip for $10 shoe games
And only slots-a-fun for a decent $5 shoe.

Victoria

[wildpitcher]

I have seen late surrender recently at Luxor in a $5 game and at Golden Nugget in a $10 game ($5 after midnight and before 6pm). I saw it also some time ago at The New Frontier in a $5 game.

Sometimes the "payment" for surrender is "no double after split", which takes away most of the gain. However, this was not the case at the GN.

My observation is that blackjack rules are getting worse every year, and this includes downtown, too.

[PinkFloydActuary]

Can anyone update with the places with the best conditions? Is htere a site? Does anyone have surrender anymore?

Slightly off topic - two years ago we were at the Sahara and in the middle of a hand when I needed a surrender, I asked if they allowed it. The dealer burst out laughing at me and then later mentioned to the pit boss that I asked if I could surrender. I can only assume that she didn't know what a surrender was (as opposed to openly mocking me), but either way, we haven't gone back.