Das Blackjack

Single Deck Blackjack

Table Limits: $5 minimum – $2, 000 maximum
Blackjack Rules: dealer hits on Soft 17 (H17), double down after split (DAS), no resplitting aces, no surrender, blackjack pays 6:5

Double Deck Blackjack (S17)

Table Limits: $50/$100 minimum – $10, 000 maximum
Blackjack Rules: dealer stands on Soft 17 (S17), double down after split (DAS), no resplitting aces, no surrendering

Double Deck Blackjack (H17)

Table Limits: $25 minimum – $10, 000 maximum
Blackjack Rules: dealer hits on Soft 17 (H17), double down after split (DAS), no resplitting aces, no surrendering

6 Deck Blackjack (H17)

Table Limits: $25 minimum – $10, 000 maximum
Blackjack Rules: dealer hits on Soft 17 (H17), double after splitting allowed (DAS), resplit aces (RSA), surrender offered

6 Deck with Continuous Shuffle (H17)

Table Limits: $5/$10 minimum – $5, 000 maximum
Blackjack Rules: dealer hits on Soft 17 (H17), double after splitting allowed (DAS), resplit aces (RSA), surrender offered

8 Deck Blackjack

Table Limits: $5/$10 minimum – $5, 000 maximum
Blackjack Rules: dealer hits Soft 17 (H17), double after splitting allowed (DAS), resplit aces (RSA), surrender offered

Don’t like all the RED? Turn the red into $$$

Card Counting at Mirage in Las Vegas

Up until recently this year (2011) Mirage was “Standing on Soft 17” on their 6-deck shoes. I played those tables for years to avoid double deck heat, but now with all the 6-deck shoes hitting on Soft 17, the double deck blackjack (S17) is clearly a superior game. I have to admit that when it comes to card counter tolerance I’ve found Mirage to be a little more uptight than most other MGM properties. Still I play the S17 double deck when I need a backup option to the better games in Vegas.

If you’re a casual basic strategy player looking for comps, it’s definitely worth playing the $50 minimum double deck to get the better rules. The house edge on S17 is about half what it is on H17, so you’re going to have a similar expected loss while playing $50 on S17 instead of $25 on H17. In theory you should get double the comp value from Mirage with no change in your expected losses. You just have to put up with greater variance on your action. If you still want a $25 S17 double deck, head on over to Aria in City Center.

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