Taking a hit: New blackjack odds further tilt advantage toward the house

Since this column appeared, 6-5 blackjack has continued to spread like a venereal disease. I still like this lede (journalism slang for lead, or the introductory section of a story) and the "Fools die" callback/kicker a few paragraphs down.

Mario Puzo once compared the house's edge in a casino game to a sharp sword.

In modern-day Las Vegas, that sword has grown considerably sharper.

Many casinos now offer blackjack games in which blackjacks pay off at odds of 6-5 rather than the traditional 3-2 -- that is, $6 for a $5 bet rather than $7.50 for a $5 bet.