Octadeck Strategies for Niagara and Rama
1999 Update
by Rob McGarvey
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Recent trips to both Casino Niagara and Casino Rama in Southern Ontario have proven that a $15 minimum bet has become standard at both places. The cut card is also placed at 2 decks giving a 75% penetration. At Rama, on the signs at the tables, it is noted that the maximum bet is the total of any one persons bet, or any group of players. It seems they have been stung by some very good players and are trying to protect the game. Still the best odds in the house at -.47% for Basic Strategy players, Blackjack is the most popular table game.
In my previous article on 8 deck, I outlined the way I used to play during positive running counts when they were not high enough to be converted into a true count. This was all based on a $5 table minimum with movements in bet size from $5 to $25. To play this same way at a $15 minimum table, bets would have to range from $15 to $75, then match the true count in units of $75. This would require a large bankroll, a lot of nerve, or someone willing to take substantial risks with a smaller bankroll.
With a $15 table minimum and a house expectation of -.47%, each bet hands over 7.5 cents to the casino, all in theory. A true count of +1 basically wipes this advantage out and you have a virtually even game. Any table minimum can be played as long as the player has at least 100 units of this minimum amount to protect themselves from the normal swings in the game.
What we are looking for is not an added advantage, at least not in this case. What we are looking for is protection from the casinos greedy table minimum. It is becoming evident that it is not wise to sit and play at a table for any length of time when the true count is less than +1. This can be translated into a running count of +8 for this 8 deck game to simplify deciding when to play or not.
Enter the "Table Frog". The first time I heard this phrase I had to laugh as I pictured a big green frog jumping from table to table playing Blackjack. With a $5 table minimum, it is not necessary to protect yourself by moving during counts below a true count of +1. With a table minimum of $15 it becomes an attractive proposition.
There are a few ways to play this jumping game. One way of doing this is to sit at a table that has just shuffled the cards. Bet your $15 and watch the count. IF you win your bet stay. Keep betting $15 IF you keep winning and the count is good. Once you have a true count of +1 you have little to worry about and can play on. At +2 you can bet $25, +3, $50, and so on. IF the count drops below a true count of +1, wait until you lose a $15 bet for cover, and then move, stating "I think my luck is turning and I better take a break". Find your next table and repeat.
Another way to play this game is to look for tables with an open chair. Count the cards on the table and if they equal a running count of +8 place a bet for the next deal. IF the running count stays at +8 or higher and IF you win your hands, keep playing. Mathematically, we are playing as if the cards in the discard tray are behind the cut card with the other 2 decks found there. This does not matter in this case since we are only going to make the minimum bet for the table. When you play this way you leave when the cut card comes out, or play the next shoe as explained above.
A third more aggressive more obvious method is back counting. Back counting is simply standing near the table and counting the cards. You can wait until the true count is +1 and then place a bet. As stated above, at this point it doesn't matter what the table minimum is since you are playing virtually even with the casino. Tables with minimums of $25 often have empty seats at them which will allow you to use this method. You may chose to only play true counts of +2 and higher for added protection.
All of this moving around does seem like a lot of work and I must admit, does take some of the fun out of things. What it gives you in return is protection from high table minimums and a better chance at winning these large deck games designed to protect casinos from good Blackjack players.
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