# How bad of a Blackjack strategy is “never bust”? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** board-card-word-game\ **Created:** [March 11, 2022, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-bad-of-a-blackjack-strategy-is-never-bust/960925 "2022-03-11T22:57:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![sitchensis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sitchensis/32/4892_2.png) [@sitchensis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sitchensis)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2022, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-bad-of-a-blackjack-strategy-is-never-bust/960925/21 "2022-04-18T20:09:48Z")
3.91% is better than a slot machine (5-10%) and the play is a lot slower. Unless I’m missing something it would be a better way to spend and evening at the casino\*. Improving on it, even a little bit, without memorizing perfect play tables would be easy. \*In almost all cases, spending an evening at the casino is at odds with potential income/losses. ---
**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:** [April 18, 2022, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-bad-of-a-blackjack-strategy-is-never-bust/960925/22 "2022-04-18T20:10:16Z")
Is that literally just on exactly 20 (so they can still stand on 17, 18, and 19), or is that “hit on anything that’s less than 21”? Because if the latter, it’s not a game any more; it’s just a way to give away money. Actually, it’s probably that even in the “exactly 20” case, too. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2022, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-bad-of-a-blackjack-strategy-is-never-bust/960925/23 "2022-04-18T20:12:03Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Actually, it’s probably that even in the “exactly 20” case, too. The house would have a monumental disadvantage. I would quit my job to play that game. ---
**Author:** ![sitchensis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sitchensis/32/4892_2.png) [@sitchensis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sitchensis)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2022, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-bad-of-a-blackjack-strategy-is-never-bust/960925/24 "2022-04-18T20:21:21Z")
I went through 20+ variations that are being played in the US and didn’t see anything. Maybe a poker derivative that allows the deal to change hand between friends? My best guess. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2022, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-bad-of-a-blackjack-strategy-is-never-bust/960925/25 "2022-04-18T21:15:29Z")
I read the question as a hypothetical. Like, what would the odds be if that were the rule. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2022, 8:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-bad-of-a-blackjack-strategy-is-never-bust/960925/26 "2022-04-19T08:42:06Z")
I didn’t. The question was : > [@Asuka](#): > > How much does the house rule (literally, it’s a rule for playing with your buddies) of “Dealers Must Hit on 20” change the game? It sounds to me like this is a rule that Asuka has actually played, in home games with friends. Not in any casino. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2022, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-bad-of-a-blackjack-strategy-is-never-bust/960925/27 "2022-04-20T20:51:30Z")
Ah. Somehow I skipped over the parentheses. ---
**Author:** ![Asuka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2022, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-bad-of-a-blackjack-strategy-is-never-bust/960925/28 "2022-04-22T00:51:37Z")
Yeah it was just one of those rules you play with friends “to make it interesting”, whoever was dealer could stop at 17 -19, but 20 they had to draw. Similar to when you keep both the jokers and the “How to play Poker” cards in the deck during normal poker. ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2022, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-bad-of-a-blackjack-strategy-is-never-bust/960925/29 "2022-04-22T11:44:53Z")
I assume you rotated who was dealer every hand, or at least every deck? In that case I guess it evens out (assuming consistent bet limits). ---
**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:** [April 26, 2022, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-bad-of-a-blackjack-strategy-is-never-bust/960925/30 "2022-04-26T05:12:37Z")
You never win if you are not in the game. A better strategy is “never drink”, and “never play” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-bad-of-a-blackjack-strategy-is-never-bust/960925.md?page=1)