# Blackjack math: Play 3:2 against a dealer and tipping vs 6:5 at a machine?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blackjack-math-play-3-2-against-a-dealer-and-tipping-vs-6-5-at-a-machine/984998>\
**Category:** The Game Room\
**Tags:** board-card-word-game\
**Created:** [June 4, 2023, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blackjack-math-play-3-2-against-a-dealer-and-tipping-vs-6-5-at-a-machine/984998 "2023-06-04T20:00:45Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\
**Post date:** [June 4, 2023, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blackjack-math-play-3-2-against-a-dealer-and-tipping-vs-6-5-at-a-machine/984998/1 "2023-06-04T20:00:45Z")

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6:5 ‘blackjack’ is a scourge. However, I was wondering about the difference in playing 6:5 against a machine where you don’t have to tip would work out against playing 3:2 against a dealer but you’re tipping that dealer.

I think playing 6:5 against a machine would still cause you to lose more money. While you don’t have to tip a machine, you’re certainly going to end up with more hands per hour which increases the house advantage.

Am I right? Have there been any studies on this?

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**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\
**Post date:** [June 4, 2023, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blackjack-math-play-3-2-against-a-dealer-and-tipping-vs-6-5-at-a-machine/984998/2 "2023-06-04T20:28:03Z")

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You also don’t have to tip a human dealer. You can if you want, of course, and it might increase your enjoyment of the game to feel like a Big Roller, but dealers are paid well enough by the casino already.

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**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\
**Post date:** [June 4, 2023, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blackjack-math-play-3-2-against-a-dealer-and-tipping-vs-6-5-at-a-machine/984998/3 "2023-06-04T20:50:50Z")

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I was under the impression, at least in Nevada, that they’re tipped employees and are paid this low wage because of tips. I have always tipped human dealers and always will (in the USA)

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**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\
**Post date:** [June 5, 2023, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blackjack-math-play-3-2-against-a-dealer-and-tipping-vs-6-5-at-a-machine/984998/4 "2023-06-05T03:50:52Z")

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> [@Chronos](#):
>
> dealers are paid well enough by the casino already.

My daughter’s boyfriend works at a casino in Baltimore. He just told me that the starting wage for a blackjack dealer there is fifteen bucks an hour. The dealers appreciate tips.

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**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\
**Post date:** [June 5, 2023, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blackjack-math-play-3-2-against-a-dealer-and-tipping-vs-6-5-at-a-machine/984998/5 "2023-06-05T04:25:41Z")

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eh, nevermind