Double-deck blackjack not all it seems

Double-deck blackjack is a novelty in the Chicago-area gaming market. When two decks of cards are used in a game instead of the six and eight decks that have become the norm at casinos across the country, serious players usually take notice.

There's an implication of player advantage that surrounds blackjack played with two decks of cards, a throwback to the good old days of the single-deck game -- the general perception being the fewer number of decks the better.

But the most important factor in determining house advantage is not the number of decks but the proprietary rules.

Double-deck blackjack with player-friendly rules is an outstanding game. When (among other strategic decisions) you may double down on any two cards and double after splitting, the house edge with perfect basic strategy is around .45 percent. Take away the perk of doubling after splitting and it escalates to .59 percent.

You'll find both versions at casinos in Las Vegas, even at some of the larger Strip properties. it's a better proposition than the new-wave single-deck game that pays a budget-busting 6-to-5 on blackjacks (21) instead of 3-to-2.

Many of the so-called "locals" establishments, such as Sam's Town, Gold Coast and South Point, offer $5 minimum tables.

Gamblers accustomed to playing the game with cards dealt face-up out of a shoe should know most two-deck games are "pitch"; in other words, the dealer holds the cards and deals them face down to each player.

Players pick up their cards with one hand and opt for a "hit" by scratching the felt table layout with them, or deciding to "stand" by slipping the cards under their chips in the betting circle.

The most oppressive tactic casinos impose on a double-deck game is permitting players to double down ONLY on two-card totals of 10 or 11.

That's the way the game is played at the two Midwest casinos that offer it, Majestic Star Casinos in Gary and Potawatomi Bingo Casino in Milwaukee.

Majestic has two double-deck tables, one $10 game and one $25 game.

In addition to being able to double down only on 10 or 11, players cannot split aces or double down after splitting. But throw in the advantage of the dealer standing on soft-17, and the house edge settles at around .60 percent.

Potawatomi also has two tables, but both of them are in the casino's high-limit room (the Solstice) and have betting minimums of $50. By letting players split aces and double down after splitting, the house edge stands at around .70 percent, a figure that's inflated because the dealers hit soft-17.

Now contrast these versions of two-deck blackjack to the game played out of a shoe with six decks and featuring such player-friendly rules as splitting any two cards, doubling after splitting, and splitting to up to four hands. The house edge with perfect basic strategy is around .60 percent, equal to or better, than its two-deck cousin. If the dealer stands on soft-17, the edge plummets to around .35 percent.

Analyze the rules before you count the decks, and you can't go wrong when it comes to scouting the best blackjack games.