Question: I have been reading in several Vegas columns about the single-deck blackjack games paying out 6-to-5 on blackjacks. They say that this is bad. Can you tell me what is so bad about it?

Chris in Waukesha, Wis.

Answer: First of all, what are you doing reading other Vegas columns? Just kidding.

A lot of people believe that they have some sort of advantage in playing single-hand blackjack. In reality, you'd have to be an advanced player and card-counter to get any true advantage, and even then it would probably be minimal. Regardless, casinos tout the single-hand blackjack as being better for players, even though in most cases it is the same.

In standard blackjack, using multiple decks as they do at most tables, the payoff for a blackjack is 3-to-2, meaning if you bet $5 you'll win $7.50 for a blackjack.

However, to counter the supposed advantage the casino is giving you in single-hand blackjack, it often reduces the payoff on a blackjack to 6-to-5, meaning that if you bet $5 you'll win $6 instead of the $7.50 at a regular table.

Since the average Joe will not gain any advantage playing a single-deck blackjack game, all you are really doing is giving up $1.50 every time you hit a blackjack on a $5 bet.

To get the best payout odds, you have to play the multi-deck tables. Of course, that still doesn't mean you're going to hit a blackjack!

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