From: jacobs@cs.utah.edu (Steven R Jacobs)
Subject: rec.gambling Changes to Frequently Asked Questions
Followup-To: rec.gambling
Reply-To: jacobs@cs.utah.edu
Organization: University of Utah CS Dept
Date: 4 Oct 92 22:09:43

Expires: Fri, 13 Nov 1992 08:00:00 GMT

Archive-name: gambling-faq/diff

Note: This "diff" file has been edited and is not intended for use by any
automatic update software.

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>    G10 What are some cheap places to stay in Vegas?
---
>    B14 Why are single deck games better than multi-deck games?
---
>    B23  What is the correct strategy for "multi action" blackjack?


513,514c516,517
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> Q:G10  What are some cheap places to stay in Vegas?
> A:G10  (Ron Birnbaum)
>
>   In response to those looking for nice but inexpensive accomodations in
>   Vegas, I can recommend two places:
> 
>   Downtown:  The Ogden House  - Fremont Street  
>              I don't have their number, but some friends stayed there in
>              June for $18 per night, and found it clean and comfortable.
>              Their phone number is (702) 385-5200.
> 
>   Strip:  King Alburt Motel
>           It's behind the Flamingo Hilton/Imperial Palace/Barbary Coast area.
>           Every unit is furnished with a kitchen, tv, and private bath, with
>           simple but clean furnishings. Their location is ideal, and they
>           quoted me day rates of $25/wk $40/wkend  per night for a single.
>           And these prices were for March,('92) - usually a busy and high
>           priced season. And you can do even better than these rates for a
>           weekly rental. They are happy to negotiate! I don't believe they 
>           have a toll-free number, but I'm not sure. Their regular number is
>           (702) 732- 1555 
> 
>    Call the Las Vegas Tourism Beareau for details of other low-cost
>    area lodging. They have an toll-free number - 1-800-522-9555. Woops - I 
>    just called it and they only handle casinos.
> 
>    But these 800 numbers DO handle the smaller places as well. I called the 
>    LV Chamber of Commerece for these numbers, and they had even more than 
>    these:
> 
>    800 - 548-2008
>    800 - 345-7177
> 
>    Through the 7177 number, I arranged a room in the beautiful new tower at
>    the Stardust for much lower than what the hotel quoted me directly, also
>    at a lower rate than the other 800 numbers could offer (32/wk 40/wkend).
>    They are a room 'wholesaler' and seem to be the best place to make
>    reservations through. The new tower at the Stardust is supposed to
>    be ****1/2, according to Julie - the agent I spoke with. She also asked
>    for a high floor which she said have spectatular views of the entire strip.
> 
>    They know all the deals in town! Good luck, hotel bargain hunters!! 
> 

1138,1139c1185,1186
---
> Q:B14  Why are single deck games better than multi-deck games?
> A:B14  (Michael Hall)
>
>   There are some surface differences, such as single and double deck usually
>   being hand-held, while four or more decks are dealt from a shoe, but there
>   are fundamental mathematical differences too.
> 
>   Single deck blackjack is usually better than multiple deck blackjack
>   for card counters, basic strategists, and the clueless.  Additional decks
>   make busts less likely, since one can draw to hands like 2,2,2,2,2,2,2,2,2
>   (for 18) which are improbable/impossible in single deck.  Busting less
>   often helps the dealer's hand more than yours, since the dealer is forced
>   by the rigid rules to hit more often than you.  Blackjacks are also less
>   frequent, which is bad since you get paid 3 to 2 for those.  All in all,
>   multiple decks will cost a basic strategist nearly 0.5% in advantage, which
>   is more than all but the very best package of favorable extra rules will
>   give you.  This was an intuitive explanation; a complete mathematically
>   sound (albeit huge) proof can be generated by a combinatorial analysis
>   program.
> 
>   Card counters face the additional problem that the count is less volatile
>   with multiple decks and hence offers less frequent opportunities for large
>   favorable bets.  Consider the difference between an urn with 1 black and
>   1 white marble versus an urn with 100 black and 100 white marbles.  Draw
>   half the marbles: what is the probability that all the remaining marbles
>   are white?  In the 1 and 1 case, there is a 1 in 2 chance.  In the 100 and
>   100 case, there is only a 1 in 100,891,344,545,564,193,334,812,497,256
>   chance!
> 
> 

1392,1393c1469,1470
> Q:B23  What is the correct strategy for "multi action" blackjack?
> A:B23  (Steve Jacobs)
>
>   Multi Action blackjack allows the player to place up to three bets
>   simultaneously on the same blackjack hand.  The player is dealt a
>   single hand, and the three bets are played out against the same dealer
>   upcard, but with different "drawn" cards for each bet.  Many players
>   feel nervous about hitting stiff hands against a high dealer's upcard
>   (7 or higher), since they will lose all three bets if they bust.
>   However, basic strategy is COMPLETELY UNCHANGED for this game, and the
>   correct strategy is no different than if the player had only a single
>   bet at risk.
> 
--
Steve Jacobs  ({bellcore,hplabs,uunet}!utah-cs!jacobs, jacobs@cs.utah.edu)
"Be afraid.  Be very afraid.  I have K-10 offsuit...."
Newsgroups: rec.gambling