I’m generally not a fan of table game variants like Double Attack Blackjack as we normally stick to games that we know and enjoy like craps. The reason being that most “newer” table games tend to have more of an advantage to the casino. Still, I did stumble across an interesting version of Blackjack which I’ll admit that I only played because it was a $5 minimum at the time.
3.3M likes 3,412 talking about this. MyVEGAS slots brings Vegas to you with artful games and FREE rewards from top Las Vegas resorts like Bellagio, Aria, MGM Grand, and the Mirage. Answer 1 of 15: Up front, I’m sorry if this has been asked. I’ve been reading this forum about a month but haven’t seen a clear answer to this. My wife and I booked a Vegas weekend for the first weekend in December, staying at the Mirage.
What is Double Attack Blackjack?
I won’t go into too much detail on how the game differs as you can read a much better guide on how to play here. The biggest difference between Double Attack and a normal Blackjack game is that you are able to double or surrender at any time. In exchange, Blackjack only pays even money.
It’s a fun Blackjack variant that appears to have fallen in popularity over the years, but it isn’t gone just yet.
Where to Play
According to the Wizard of Odds article, the game could be found in roughly half of the casinos in Atlantic City as of 2010. Times have changed, though. I’ve poked around the newest casinos, but I’ve only found one remaining table located at the Tropicana. There is one table near the Baccarat and Pai Gow Poker tables.
Double Attack Blackjack Table Minimums
I may have never played a game of this variant if it wasn’t for the low minimums. On weeknights in the off season, I’ve seen the table run at $5 per hand, which is a rare find (The only live $5 blackjack table that I’ve found outside of the Borgata, in fact). On the weekends, minimums will vary. I’ve seen it stick around $10, though it will also go as high as $15 per hand during prime time.
So there you have it! The game may seem a bit archaic, but it’s worth sitting down for a few hand (Especially if you can manage it for $5).
Match play coupons can be found in a number of promotional coupon books, including the American Casino Guide. Some may simply pass over them, given that they are not as easily understood as a “free drink” coupon or your typical 2-for-1 deals.
Most match-play coupons are good for even money bets. So, the pass line in craps, a standard Blackjack bet, and the colors on roulette. You have to take the coupon to the player’s club desk. If you don’t have a card for the particular casino, you’ll have to sign up for one. You really should be doing this anyway if you’re going to gamble in any casino. Hint, create a separate email just for players club cards. Try yourname+casino @ gmail or something like that. It will keep your normal email address clean from the multitude of emails coming from casinos.
At the player’s club desk they’ll give you a special chip or coupon that you’ll place next to your even money bet. I’ve read some resources suggesting that if you don’t want to risk money, you can ask another player already playing if you can place your match-play coupon next to their already placed bet, virtually giving you no risk. The idea is that you would offer the player a portion of the winnings if the bet hits. I don’t have to do any research to tell you that this tactic is most likely not prohibited, but I can tell you with certainty that it’s an ethically flawed premise.
The coupon will be valid with an appropriate minimum bet, most range from $5 to $25, but your particular bet must meet that specific requirement. So, let’s say you have a match-play coupon for $25 and play the pass-line at the craps table. If the bet hits, you would be paid for your $25 bet along with an extra $25 for the match-play coupon. If you lose, you’d only lose your original $25 bet.
I always stress the idea of gambling within your financial comfort zone, whatever that may be. However, when using these coupons you turn a negative expectation bet into an overwhelmingly positive expected value- over 40% in most cases. So, while I’m typically a 5-10 better, I will on occasion jump to $25 if it is warranted with these coupons, simply because it gives me the advantage and I don’t maintain the $25 bets once the coupon has been used- I’ll simply drop down to 5 or 10 or simply leave the table.
These coupons can be found in a number of “fun books” at some casinos. If you’re a new club member, some casinos will offer up promotional books. Don’t simply throw them out; see if they have valuable coupons for your particular game of choice. Again, check out the American Casino Guide if you’re planning to travel to Vegas at all before the end of the year.
Myvegas Match Play
feature photo: “Las Vegas” by Perry Quan via CC 2.0