[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
> Professionals, please help with this question.
> In the game of Blackjack (Las Vegas style) the house is said to have a
>slight statistical advantage over the average player. Here are the house
>rules:
>Dealer must "stand" (no more cards) on 17 or more; Dealer must take a card if
>Dealer has 16 or less.
> Meanwhile, the player may stand on any two cards or take additional card
>at any time. The player may also split pairs, may "double down" (double the
>bet
>and take one more card only).
> Here is my problem. The Player may choose to play exactly the same rules
>as the Dealer is REQUIRED to play; or the Player may choose some of the other
>options. Since the Player has more choices or options in play than does the
>Dealer, why does the Dealer have the statistical advantage? It seems to me
>the
>Player would have the advantage. Can you help? (I have one year of college
>statistics.)
>
>
I am not a blackjack expert, but it seems to me that the major reason for the
house advantage is not strategy, but rather some other rules of play which you
have not mentioned.
1. You have to take your cards before the dealer. If you go bust, the dealer
automatically wins without having to take any cards. This results in a win
when the dealer might have otherwise gone bust.
2. I think in most games, the dealer automatically wins with a blackjack
regardless of what you have.
There are probably other rules that favor the house as well.
Hope this helps,
Dan Nordlund
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