NCL Blackjack Rules

[g35girl]

Whoa! What a rip off! I can understand hitton on soft 17 for a something like a $5 table, but a 6/5 payout on a blackjack?!

 

Unfortunately, this becoming the norm, even in Las Vegas. You can find 3/2 BJ, but the majority of the casinos pay 6/5 on the $15 or less tables. Even some $25 tables are 6/5! And I haven't seen a table in recent yrs where the dealer didn't hit on soft 17. Then again, I haven't played a $100 table.

[Nalagh]

Still looking to see if you can double after a split on NCL, and are all double downs allowed.....

 

Thanks

[johnql]

Still looking to see if you can double after a split on NCL, and are all double downs allowed.....

 

Thanks

You can definitely double down after splitting (other than aces, of course, where you get only 1 card apiece). Re-splitting is also allowed (up to 4 hands, I believe). I don't remember whether all double downs are allowed since I only consider doubling on 9's, 10's and 11's.

[Nalagh]

You can definitely double down after splitting (other than aces, of course, where you get only 1 card apiece). Re-splitting is also allowed (up to 4 hands, I believe). I don't remember whether all double downs are allowed since I only consider doubling on 9's, 10's and 11's.

 

Thank you very much. I agree with you about 9-11 for a hard hand, but I would also want to double on a pair of 5s (up to 9) and on some soft 13-18.

 

Thanks again for taking the time to answer,

 

Cherie

Edited August 20, 2014 by Nalagh

[johnql]

Thank you very much. I agree with you about 9-11 for a hard hand, but I would also want to double on a pair of 5s (up to 9) and on a some soft 13-18.

 

Thanks again for taking the time to answer,

 

Cherie

You're absolutely right. I forgot to mention the soft hands. I was just trying to remember whether the rule was "any first 2 cards" for doubling after a split. You can definitely double down on the soft hands, too.

[Nalagh]

You're absolutely right. I forgot to mention the soft hands. I was just trying to remember whether the rule was "any first 2 cards" for doubling after a split. You can definitely double down on the soft hands, too.

 

Thank you again! :D

[pokerpro5]

Hi everyone.

 

I am a professional gambler, and would like to few things up:

 

1) Unless you are playing at the $25 minimum tables, your odds at blackjack onboard are TERRIBLE. This is because they are reducing your blackjack payout to 6:5. This may not seem like a big deal, but it's TERRIBLE. How terrible? The $25 minimum game has a house edge of 0.74% per hand. The other games (6:5) have a house edge of 2.13% per hand. Therefore, you will lose almost three times as quickly at the game paying 6:5 on blackjack. Ouch.

 

2) If you still insist upon playing, never deviate from basic strategy or you will cost yourself more money. A lot of people say thing like, "I try basic strategy and I lose, and yet when I go with my gut feeling, I win!" That's garbage. You are either having atypical luck or are only remembering the times basic strategy hurts you. In both the long run and the short run, deviating from basic strategy is a killer.

 

3) NCL machines have continuous shuffling decks. You cannot count cards on those. Even if they weren't continuous shufflers, counting cards wouldn't be enough to overcome the casino edge of 2.13% on the 6:5 game.

 

4) Other players' actions have ZERO effect on you. Yes, you may win or lose a specific hand based upon another player hitting or standing, but in the long run (even the short-long-run) it will even out. Again, you will remember much more when a player "costs" you money by his "wrong" action than when he saves/makes you money. Human nature sadly remembers the bad more than the good in situations like these.

 

5) There is absolutely no way you can exercise "betting systems" or any other strategy to beat the blackjack game onboard. If you win, you got super lucky, and should feel fortunate. You will lose most of the time at these terrible odds.

 

6) The blackjack tournament typically rakes more than 50% for the house. For example, on the cruise I went on in December, they took in $1080 in buyins, and paid out a single $500 prize. (Sadly, I made the final table of 6 players, and was leading going into the final hand, but did not win.) I have a really good strategy to beat these things, but at such a horrendous rake of 50%+, even my strategy would not be profitable in the long run. Therefore, I will never play it again. (I didn't realize the rake until after I started playing.)

 

7) Unless you are counting cards, a continuous shuffling machine does not change the house's edge against you, aside from a negligible "cut card effect" which isn't even worth discussing here.

 

 

Unless you REALLY enjoy gambling on board, I would suggest curtailing your gambling and sticking to land based casinos, where the odds are much better for both blackjack and the machines.

 

I will be glad to answer any other questions in this thread regarding gambling.

[Nalagh]

Hi everyone.

 

2) If you still insist upon playing, never deviate from basic strategy or you will cost yourself more money. A lot of people say thing like, "I try basic strategy and I lose, and yet when I go with my gut feeling, I win!" That's garbage. You are either having atypical luck or are only remembering the times basic strategy hurts you. In both the long run and the short run, deviating from basic strategy is a killer.

 

I will be glad to answer any other questions in this thread regarding gambling.

 

What is your perspective on 3 card poker regarding playing the bonus and would you play on a Queen-6-4 (defined as basic strategy)? The lowest I will play is a Queen-10, and most of the time I won't play unless I have a king.

 

Thanks for your thoughts,

 

Cherie

[pokerpro5]

What is your perspective on 3 card poker regarding playing the bonus and would you play on a Queen-6-4 (defined as basic strategy)? The lowest I will play is a Queen-10, and most of the time I won't play unless I have a king.

 

Thanks for your thoughts,

 

Cherie

 

You should raise with Q64 or better, as the basic strategy says.

 

You are giving up too much by folding hands like Q9x, Q8x, Q7x, Q6x.

 

If you're folding all queens, that's especially harmful to your odds.

 

BTW, do they pay 3-to-1 on a flush, or 4-to-1? If they are paying 3-to-1, you should not play the game, as the house edge is a staggering 7.28%!

[cod]

If the dealer is showing a 10 card, do you hit 'everything'? I mean like 14, 15, or 16 (just examples) or do you stand hoping he will have a like hand and bust instead of you.

 

I seldom play blackjack but I remember another player telling me once that 'whatever you do, stick to it'. Seconding the don't deviate advice I guess.

 

Thanks!

[bjlaac]

If the dealer is showing a 10 card, do you hit 'everything'? I mean like 14, 15, or 16 (just examples) or do you stand hoping he will have a like hand and bust instead of you.

 

I seldom play blackjack but I remember another player telling me once that 'whatever you do, stick to it'. Seconding the don't deviate advice I guess.

 

Thanks!

 

You need to look into the basic strategy for blackjack. The simplest rule if you don't want to play all the basic strategy rules is assume the dealer always has a ten in the hole and compare his hand to your hand. If you have less than 17, take a hit if the dealer looks like he has a 17 or more and always hit if you have 11 or less. Unfortunately, this method gives the house a large advantage as there are times to hit, double, split, stand or surrender (if allowed) that depend on the dealers up card.

Edited August 21, 2014 by bjlaac

[Nalagh]

If the dealer is showing a 10 card, do you hit 'everything'? I mean like 14, 15, or 16 (just examples) or do you stand hoping he will have a like hand and bust instead of you.

 

I seldom play blackjack but I remember another player telling me once that 'whatever you do, stick to it'. Seconding the don't deviate advice I guess.

 

Thanks!

 

No, you need to get to 17 and stand. You also want to double down on 11.

[pokerpro5]

If the dealer is showing a 10 card, do you hit 'everything'? I mean like 14, 15, or 16 (just examples) or do you stand hoping he will have a like hand and bust instead of you.

 

I seldom play blackjack but I remember another player telling me once that 'whatever you do, stick to it'. Seconding the don't deviate advice I guess.

 

Thanks!

 

Yeah, bjlaac answered your question well.

 

However, the "don't deviate" advice is nonsense. If you're doing the right thing, deviating is wrong, and if you're doing the wrong thing, deviating is right. If you're doing a mixture of right and wrong, you should strive to deviate from only the wrong stuff. If you don't know which is right and which is wrong, then deviating isn't going to matter.

 

BTW, there are two spots where it's almost exactly even as to your odds whether you do one thing or the other. Here are those two spots:

 

1) Hard 12 versus the dealer 4

 

2) Hard 16 versus the dealer 10

 

In both cases, hitting or standing is almost equivalent. So just go with your gut on those two.

Edited August 21, 2014 by pokerpro5

[cod]

I think perhaps this is not my game!lol I can hardly make the 'hit me' sign with a 16 (or even a 15) even if the dealer is showing a 10 because 9 times out of 10 I seem to bust with a 12 under those conditions. But should I decide to try again, I will 'try' to follow the advice given here

 

Years ago we went to a casino in Tunica and I sat down at the blackjack table with $20. When I had to leave, I had about $140. Everybody was winning...and kept winning. Some big bettors were really raking it in. They changed dealers twice and the cards, too. No matter what anyone did, the dealer just seemed to keep busting. And from what I've told you, you know my good fortune had nothing to do with my expertise. Something like that probably seldom happens.

 

Years ago (I think it was on a RC ship) I played a game of blackjack where ALL the cards were turned up. I remember there were payout restrictions and that it was a $3 table. Is that version played anywhere anymore?

 

Thanks again.

[AndyCapn]

The simplest rule if you don't want to play all the basic strategy rules is assume the dealer always has a ten in the hole and compare his hand to your hand. If you have less than 17, take a hit if the dealer looks like he has a 17 or more and always hit if you have 11 or less. Unfortunately, this method gives the house a large advantage as there are times to hit, double, split, stand or surrender (if allowed) that depend on the dealers up card.

 

"Assume the dealer always has a hole 10" is a terrible strategy, giving up over a 10% house edge under liberal blackjack rules. You'd be better off playing "never bust" (stand on anything 12 or higher) at a 3.9% house edge. (Stats from http://wizardofodds.com/games/blackjack/basics)

 

Of course, even better is to go online and print off a basic strategy card and consult it when you need to. Casinos don't mind, they already have the house edge. Some players might if you take too long, but sit towards third base and you'll have time to study the chart before your turn to act comes up.

 

And of course there will be the players who tell you to ignore the chart and go with your gut ... these people are not your friends! :)

[valleyvillage]

As I have said in earlier posts... if you are counting, then your play, and to some extent, the other players play could make a difference. If only playing basic strategy and NOT COUNTING, then....

Oh, Gary Carla or whoever, I know this is an older post, but I just have to add my two cents to say you are a breath of fresh air! "The dice have no memory!"

[johnql]

Years ago (I think it was on a RC ship) I played a game of blackjack where ALL the cards were turned up. I remember there were payout restrictions and that it was a $3 table. Is that version played anywhere anymore?

I saw that game played in LV years ago but not recently. The catch is that all pushes (ties) are losses for the player. So, if you have a hard 18 and the dealer is showing an 18, you have to take a hit. Good luck with those odds! Terrible game.

[garycarla]

Oh, Gary Carla or whoever, I know this is an older post, but I just have to add my two cents to say you are a breath of fresh air! "The dice have no memory!"

 

 

Golly, gee whiz. Thanks

 

BUT - there are folks that are convinced that auto shuffle changes the odds. And continuous shuffle even more. A bunch of random cards are still a bunch of random cards. (unless someone is doing even a little counting/tracking of cards played - and even that is questionable based on the skill level)

 

By the way, I sometimes play a certain slot because it is "due" to hit. I know darn well that is a fallacy, but I like to wish/hope/pray anyways. LOL! Okay, I don't play just sometimes - a lot of times.

Edited January 20, 2015 by garycarla

[peak17]

Hi everyone.

 

I am a professional gambler, and would like to few things up:

 

1) Unless you are playing at the $25 minimum tables, your odds at blackjack onboard are TERRIBLE. This is because they are reducing your blackjack payout to 6:5. This may not seem like a big deal, but it's TERRIBLE. How terrible? The $25 minimum game has a house edge of 0.74% per hand. The other games (6:5) have a house edge of 2.13% per hand. Therefore, you will lose almost three times as quickly at the game paying 6:5 on blackjack. Ouch.

 

2) If you still insist upon playing, never deviate from basic strategy or you will cost yourself more money. A lot of people say thing like, "I try basic strategy and I lose, and yet when I go with my gut feeling, I win!" That's garbage. You are either having atypical luck or are only remembering the times basic strategy hurts you. In both the long run and the short run, deviating from basic strategy is a killer.

 

3) NCL machines have continuous shuffling decks. You cannot count cards on those. Even if they weren't continuous shufflers, counting cards wouldn't be enough to overcome the casino edge of 2.13% on the 6:5 game.

 

4) Other players' actions have ZERO effect on you. Yes, you may win or lose a specific hand based upon another player hitting or standing, but in the long run (even the short-long-run) it will even out. Again, you will remember much more when a player "costs" you money by his "wrong" action than when he saves/makes you money. Human nature sadly remembers the bad more than the good in situations like these.

 

5) There is absolutely no way you can exercise "betting systems" or any other strategy to beat the blackjack game onboard. If you win, you got super lucky, and should feel fortunate. You will lose most of the time at these terrible odds.

 

6) The blackjack tournament typically rakes more than 50% for the house. For example, on the cruise I went on in December, they took in $1080 in buyins, and paid out a single $500 prize. (Sadly, I made the final table of 6 players, and was leading going into the final hand, but did not win.) I have a really good strategy to beat these things, but at such a horrendous rake of 50%+, even my strategy would not be profitable in the long run. Therefore, I will never play it again. (I didn't realize the rake until after I started playing.)

 

7) Unless you are counting cards, a continuous shuffling machine does not change the house's edge against you, aside from a negligible "cut card effect" which isn't even worth discussing here.

 

 

Unless you REALLY enjoy gambling on board, I would suggest curtailing your gambling and sticking to land based casinos, where the odds are much better for both blackjack and the machines.

 

I will be glad to answer any other questions in this thread regarding gambling.

Just got off the Jewel and wanted to throw in my two cents. I'm not a professional gambler but play blackjack regularly using "perfect" basic stragegy, and agree with everything you have said. I figured out the terrible tournament deal and didn't sign up.

 

This time I played at my regular $25 minimum table, but next time I might go with the poker machines, simply because the rating difference between the two is huge. Even though I normally was the only player at the table, and played a few hours at a time, every day, I never even got to the 1500 points needed to get more than a $6.00 slot credit. So I definitely agree with you about sticking to land based casinos where you literally get more bang for your buck.

[JohnLocke2012]

Can someone confirm that NCL doesn't allow surrender of any hands?

[leisuretraveler223]

A continuous shuffle increases the house edge per hand by 0.020% on a six deck shoe. The fact that there are approximately 20% more hands dealt increases the house edge over a period of time a more considerable amount.

 

This is true regardless of strategy or attempted card counting (which obviously, is pointless with a CSM).

 

If the payouts are different on a hand shuffle game, then that difference likely WILL trump the 0.020% house edge per hand, thereby making the CSM game more favorable.

 

As for 6:5 blackjack. While it is a strategic disadvantage, for most low limit players, it will be a negligible difference in anticipate win/loss. Furthermore, if you are so inclined to ever take even money on a blackjack with a dealer Ace, then don't EVER complain about 6:5, because you are hurting your odds much more with the even money.

[Tallyfins]

This is an old thread, but the only one I could find on here :) Can anyone update me on the current status of blackjack aboard NCL? How many decks? CSM vs. ASM and/or hand shuffle. Min bets? BJ payout? 3/2, 6/5, etc. Thanks - any info will be helpful.

 

In reading the posts above, I understand the odds of winning are even lower. Just trying to figure out if I should host a game in my suite or play in the real casino! LOL

 

Thanks, 

TF

[Tutontow]

5 hours ago, Tallyfins said:

This is an old thread, but the only one I could find on here 🙂 Can anyone update me on the current status of blackjack aboard NCL? How many decks? CSM vs. ASM and/or hand shuffle. Min bets? BJ payout? 3/2, 6/5, etc. Thanks - any info will be helpful.

 

In reading the posts above, I understand the odds of winning are even lower. Just trying to figure out if I should host a game in my suite or play in the real casino! LOL

 

Thanks, 

TF

Hey Tallyfins, I know I answered this for you over in the Cruise Casino's forum.  I know it is hard to believe that out of the thousands of members here nobody plays BJ on NCL other than me.  Having said that if you can see your way clear try this.  Get some liquid courage in you and take $500.00 and go to the $50.00 table which is an eight deck shoe that is hand shuffled.  The dealer hits soft 17 but everything else is good.  Just try it.  We were always $10.00 dollar players and we did the above in Biloxi.  I told my wife let's just try it.  If we catch a couple of good hand great, otherwise we will leave.  Anyway we stayed for 45 minutes and won $1200.00.  My point is after 35 years of playing BJ I can vouch the only way you will ever leave "really" ahead is to play at $25.00 or greater.  The $25.00 tables on NCL are continuous shufflers and believe it or not the odds are actually a little better than a six deck hand shuffled shoe.  The thing is I just don't like CSM's.  Believe me if you sit down at that $50.00 table and get a Blackjack or win a double down you will not believe the adrenaline rush.  The first time you are paid with a purple chip it is a great feeling.  Good Luck and don't play with money you can't afford to lose.

[Tallyfins]

Thanks Tutontow. I may have to try that. It is definitely all about the rush! :) I also do not like the CSMs. An even greater advantage to the house :( With the 'Free at Sea', it won't be very hard to build up that liquid courage lol!

 

My older son just turned 18 and wants to play BJ. However, I've told him our luck ON the ship will most likely not be very good. It's all about luck with those @#$% CSMs! We are going to seek out some land-based casinos during our stops (Roatan, Harvest Cay, Costa Maya, and Cozumel). We did this itinerary about 10 years ago so we've already been to these places once. This trip is all about relaxing and seeking out new adventures and not getting caught up in shore excursions, etc. We leave on 3/15, so I'll report back how I do!

 

Again, thanks for the info. It's definitely appreciated. Like you said, now it looks like the total is up to TWO that play BJ on NCL! :)

 

Have a good day,

 

TF

 

[Mike_DeA]

2 hours ago, Tallyfins said:

Thanks Tutontow. I may have to try that. It is definitely all about the rush! 🙂 I also do not like the CSMs. An even greater advantage to the house 😞 With the 'Free at Sea', it won't be very hard to build up that liquid courage lol!

 

My older son just turned 18 and wants to play BJ. However, I've told him our luck ON the ship will most likely not be very good. It's all about luck with those @#$% CSMs! We are going to seek out some land-based casinos during our stops (Roatan, Harvest Cay, Costa Maya, and Cozumel). We did this itinerary about 10 years ago so we've already been to these places once. This trip is all about relaxing and seeking out new adventures and not getting caught up in shore excursions, etc. We leave on 3/15, so I'll report back how I do!

 

Again, thanks for the info. It's definitely appreciated. Like you said, now it looks like the total is up to TWO that play BJ on NCL! 🙂

 

Have a good day,

 

TF

 

 

You're not going to find land casinos at those ports.  Belize City has a casino but it's not near Harvest Cay and it's not very safe getting there apparently.  Casinos are limited in the Caribbean, with Aruba coming to mind, and of course Nassau has two large ones.

 

If sailing from Miami, there are several in the area.  Extend your trip a day or two, or visit before a late afternoon flight after disembarking as I've done multiple times (out of Miami and Ft. Lauderdale).   If you're sailing from NYC, Atlantic City is about 90 minutes away. 

 

I play BJ on NCL often, but poker is my main game, with some slots thrown in to accumulate points.  Table games just don't get tracked accurately enough on NCL to build up points, unless you are a high roller and play a lot of hours.

Edited March 5, 2020 by Mike_DeA