From: hall@kronos.arc.nasa.gov (Michael Hall)
Subject: Re: Trip report Foxwood Conn.
Organization: NASA/ARC Information Sciences Division
Distribution: usa
Date: Thu, 23 Jul 1992 19:35:43 GMT

In article <14mf81INN976@network.ucsd.edu> erwin@bend.ucsd.edu (Sean Erwin) writes:
>In article <1992Jul23.003059.2747@tc.cornell.edu> beers@theory.TC.Cornell.EDU (Jim Beers) writes:
>>I found myself need the Foxwood casino is Eastern Conn this weekend
>>and I figure I probably owe a trip report since so many people 
>>send reports about Vegas, and everybody loves a trip report.
>[stuff deleted]
>
>>So I sat down, 6 decks, (I think) and they dealt about %80.  DAS, one card
>>on split A's, resplitting, DOA, and there was over/under side bet.

Whoh.  Impressive.  That game may be as good as Nevada single deckers.
The thing that makes me say that is 80% penetration over/under.  Plus,
the casino encourages back-playing.  Max over/under bet of $100 or your
blackjack bet, whichever is higher, I assume?

>Could someone please post or send me the appropriate over-under count for
>this game?

I'll append the (old?) FAQ listings on over/under.  See also 21 NEWS
issues #1 and #3 in the rec.gambling archive at soda.berkeley.edu.

>Am I correct in assuming that the over/under bet offers the best
>odds for the player here (using the over/under count, of course)....?

That's an understatement!

Q:B22  What is "Over/Under" Blackjack?
A:B22  (Steve Jacobs)

  Caesar's Tahoe introduced the Over-13 and Under-13 side bets that are
  allowed at some blackjack tables.  These bets are based on the player's
  total for the first two cards, when aces are counted as one.  Over-13
  bets win when the player's cards total 14 or higher, while under-13 bets
  win when the player's cards total 12 or under.  Either bet will lose
  when the player's total is exactly 13.  These bets are placed at the
  same time as the blackjack bet, and usually the side bet can be no larger
  than the bet on the blackjack hand.  Over/under games are usually dealt
  from a six deck shoe, and the player's first two cards are always dealt
  face up.  Although these are "sucker" bets for basic strategy players,
  with a house edge of 6% to 10%, special card counting strategies can be
  used to give the player a significant edge on these bets.


Q:B23  What is the counting strategy for Over/Under blackjack?
A:B23  (Steve Jacobs)

  The card weights used for the Over/Under count are as follows:  count
  +1 for Ace, 2, 3, and 4, and count -1 for tens and face cards.  The deck
  becomes favorable for counts of +2 and above, and for counts -4 and below.
  Over-13 bets should be placed when the count is +3 and above.  Under-13
  bets should be placed when the count is -4 and below.

  When playing Over/Under blackjack with this counting scheme, virtually
  all of the player's profit comes from the over-13 and under-13 side bets.
  This counting scheme is very poor for playing the blackjack portion of
  the bet, and will only allow the player to play about even with the house
  on the blackjack bets.  However, the over/under bets can be very profitable
  if the game has good penetration.  A 6-deck over/under game with good
  penetration can give the player an advantage of 1.5% or more.  Single deck
  over/under games with good penetration (very rare) can give the player
  an edge of over 4% when using the over/under count.

  Snyder's "Over/Under Report" discusses the over/under game in detail, and
  is available from RGE at an outrageous price.

-- 
Michael Hall            \ I'm sorry sir, but you can no longer play coupons
NASA Ames Research Center\ in our casino.  Feel free to play slots, craps,
hall@ptolemy.arc.nasa.gov \ blackjack, or any other game.  But no coupons.