Posts tagged Blackjack
Winning Blackjack Strategies: How to Beat the Casino at Their Own Game
Mar 29th
Blackjack is very easy to learn but can be very difficult to master. Many people make the mistake of thinking that the object of Blackjack is to get as close as possible to 21. Nothing can be farther from the truth. The object of playing Blackjack is to beat the dealer. It is a game of one on one with the dealer. While you may be playing at a table with up to 5 or 6 other players what they do or do not do does not impact your hand or the decision you should make when playing your hand.
The following is a list of don’ts about playing Blackjack:
- Don’t worry about how the others at the table are playing. Other players have no effect on your outcome long term.
- Don’t take insurance or even money. Insurance is a bad bet
- Don’t be afraid of the dealer’s deuce. More players lose to an Ace or 10 as the dealer’s up card.
- Don’t play the side bets. The side bets like Lucky Ladies or Push the Dealer are just incentives to get more money out of the players. Over the long run these side bets favor the house. Always consider who is setting the rules and who decides what incentives will be offered at the tables. If the casino didn’t think the side bets were favorable to them they would not be available to the players.
- Don’t drink alcohol at the table. Alcohol will impede your ability to remember the correct plays and make good decisions.
The following is a list of do’s that can turn you into a winner:
- Learn the rules before you go out to play.
- Memorize the basic strategy that is appropriate for the game you are playing.
- Vary your bets. Lower your bet when you’re cold but don’t be afraid to raise when your hot. If you only play one amount whether it’s $5.00 per chip or $100.00 per chip you will lose in the long run. When you have some of their chips use them to your advantage.
- Use your opportunities to double or split to your advantage.
- Only play with the amount of money you can afford to lose. Set yourself a predetermined bankroll and do not exceed it. If you’re afraid to bet you will not have a chance to win. If you’re losing, get up from the table. Take a break. Go find another table or even another casino.
You can find more articles by Kris Brietkopf about winning Blackjack strategies on the internet. The best strategy for winning at Blackjack is to know your game before you go. Learn Basic Strategy. You can get free guide at http://WinningBjStrategies.com/Free-Basic-Strategy-Guides.
21 Blackjack Tips – Las Vegas Blackjack Strategy
Feb 23rd
If you want to learn 21 blackjack tips, then read this. You will learn how to use a Las Vegas blackjack strategy.
Since its start in the 18th century in France, blackjack or twenty one became a popular game all around the world. The game is a challenging one as it needs special skills such as decision making, keen observation, fast thinking or computation, and statistical skills.
A better way to decrease your losing chances is to bust the dealer. How will you do this?
There are techniques on how to do this. You may use the basic strategies which are the card counting method or the table or chart use method. Yes, basically, blackjack is a game of math. It deals with numbers. Thus, you need to refresh and polish your mathematical skills especially your statistics. Also, as a player, you need to know the rules of the game. Casinos may vary in some rules so carefully read the rules of the casinos where you enter. Choose the casino that has a more favorable set of rules. Look for the one that favors your strategies. Because, there are casinos which consider card counting as ‘unlikely’. Thus, if they caught you counting cards, they will ask you to leave the casino. That is a better case because there are casinos which drag the card counter and let him be beaten by the security team. Card counting is a very and perfectly legal action but there are casinos which may consider it as cheating. So, be careful. You may think you are having an edge over the others but instead of bringing home money, you will be bringing home body aches and bruises.
Another thing that you should consider is the casino that has the most customers. Likewise, find the table that has the most people. This just means that, that casino or table makes players winners. However, even if that table has got lost of people around it if you see that a player is reckless (like for example, someone is drunk in the table), do not sit and play with them. You will just end up in a messy game.
Remember that you go in the casino to play, enjoy and win. Thus, even if the casino offers free alcoholic beverages, do not get any of these. The spirit of alcohol will blur your chances of winning because it will cloud your mind from thinking fast and clearly. You will end up making bad and even stupid decisions and judgments. Also, with alcohol, you are prone to misunderstandings and fights. So, again, do not taste the alluring temptation presented by the casino. This is their way to confuse their customers and get more money.
Further, when you play blackjack, do not get insurance. This is no help. It is just a façade for you to give more money and lose.
Blackjack is a GAME. Though it is also a form of gamble, use your time and money wisely. Do not spend all your money over the game. Set aside just an amount for the game. Also, use your leisure time for playing blackjack. There are other more important things to do other than this.
If you want to learn 21 blackjack tips, then subscribe to a FREE blackjack newsletter at http://www.HowToWinBlackjack21.com.
BlackJack Strategy For a Successful Run at the Table
Feb 21st
I’m an east coaster in New Jersey and I love my Atlantic City a few times a year. I am not a gamble-holic, if you will, but I do enjoy the table games when I go down, especially blackjack. There are hundreds of thousands of books out there that go over strategies and card counting techniques that can be cumbersome especially to the more novice player that just wants to enjoy his or her time in the casino. I have put together, in this article, some of the simpler strategies so that you can give yourself the best chance at being successful at the table. Like I said, I am not a millionaire nor claim to be one, just an average guy who knows when to walk away from the table and is happy with a couple hundred dollar win here and there. Here are some of my basic strategies that will give you better odds of success.
Step 1: Picking the Right Table to Sit At
I can’t emphasize how important this is. I always look at the minimum bet first. I will not go to any table that has more than a $15 minimum bet. I prefer a $10 minimum bet. My favorite casino is Bally’s Wild Wild West. You can find some $10 dollar tables there throughout the day.
Also, make sure it is either blackjack or blackjack with Lucky Ladies and there is more than one deck in play. The Lucky Ladies table has an extra bet that you can make that you get odds on certain hands that you get and the dealer gets. I rarely play that, I suggest you don’t make that extra bet; but even without that it is still like playing at a regular blackjack table.
Now there is one more thing that you will want to do before you sit down. Look at the dealer and the other players on the table and look at the dealer. Watch a hand or two. I want to make sure that the people at the table seem to have a grasp at what they are doing. I can’t tell you how many times you will find the drunk person on the table taking a hit when he or she shouldn’t or the clueless person splitting 10s and so on. Those people could really kill you and the rest of the table. I also want to make sure the dealer seems to be in good spirits. I am all into the karma part of the equation and a dealer with an attitude just gives off a bad vibe for me.
Step 2: Get a Feel for the Dealer
O.K. Now you have found your table and you are ready to sit down. Here’s what I want you to do. Play 10 straight hands with the minimum bet. Get a feel for how lucky the dealer is. If you win 5 or more hands, stay on and we can move to the next step of my advice. If you lose more than you win during that 10 hand sequence, bail out and follow step 1 again.
Step 3: Giving Yourself the Best Chance to Win Some Money
As I said earlier, I am not going to make you a million dollars. Nobody is, unless you are a high roller and can find a table with a $100,000 maximum, which you won’t, you are not going to even come close. I will assume everyone who is reading this at least knows the basic fundamentals of blackjack and the basics of when you should hit and stay (example: dealer is showing a 10 and you a 15, you hit; dealer showing a 10 and you an 18 you stay…stuff like that). Assuming that is true, let me make a quick point: YOU WILL NOT WIN EVERY HAND! Nobody does. The key to winning money is putting yourself in the best position to give yourself the best odds of winning on a particular hand. If you can know when to bet more and win, and bet the minimum when you lose, you can come out very much ahead.
Now I don’t count cards, per se, I like to relax and have fun, not feel like I am in Calculus class again. What I do is simple. I just observe the cards. Its pretty obvious to see since the high cars are pictured (except the 10 and the Ace) and the low cards aren’t how the deck is playing out. Never bet any more than the minimum when the shoe starts. Get a few deal feel of how the shoe is behaving before you start to go wild. If you have seen a lot of picture cards the first few deals, then stay with the minimum; a win is a win no matter what. If the first few deals (lets say 4 or 5) sees minimal picture card turns, then start to up your bet until the picture cards seem to come out more. The reason for this is that there is a better chance of you getting a desirable hand when the odds are in your favor (18, 19, 20, and even blackjack).
Its as simple as that for me. Don’t ride hot streaks..If you have won 3 in a row while betting higher than the minimum, tone it down for a hand or two..You will be happy you did. Here are a couple of notes I will throw in for good measure….just some notes that others will appreciate your wisdom at the table:
- Never split 8’s unless the dealer is showing a 7 or lower. If the dealer has an 8 or higher, then I am basically risking double my bet to get 2 18s. A hefty price to pay. I would rather take my chances on the 16 hit; if I bust, then so be it…but I didn’t bet twice
- If the dealer is showing less than a 7, always double on soft 15, 16, 17…..the reason for this is pretty straight forward: an Ace (16 and 17), 2,3,4,5 (15 and 16), and 6 (15) will give you a desirable result.
- Never double when showing an 11 and the dealer shows 10…I just can’t take that chance..I rarely do it when the dealer is showing a 9 or 8 either, but to each his or her own on that one.
- 16: OK I always hit on 16 when the dealer is showing a 7 or better. Some people don’t. What I will say is stay consistent. Either you hit all the time…or you stay all the time. Don’t start changing up your strategy.. The table will thank you for that.
This is about all I can say about this. If you want you can try some of this strategy with online blackjack first (for free or for real money).
Check my How to Win at Betting blog for some great links for Blackjack strategy
Scott Boehler
[http://www.philliesdiary.com]
Blackjack History and Basic Strategy
Feb 18th
Most people who have gone to a casino before have probably heard or even played a game of blackjack. Many people who have not even set foot in a casino before might have heard about this game or played it with friends or at parties. Unlike many card games where players pit themselves against each other, blackjack plays you against the bank or the dealer rather than against other people seated on the same table. Its most basic rule – come as close as possible to 21 without going over – can be fun and exciting and mentally challenging as well.
The game of blackjack is one of the older games that are still in existence and played extensively throughout the world. It is not flashy or attracts much attention than other card games such as Texas Hold’em Poker, but the game does have its own following at both online and offline gaming sites at most parts of the world. With its rich history, several strategies were developed and tested throughout the years and have been used by prominent players as well as renowned blackjack teams to gain an advantage over dealers and win the game. The following gives a brief overview of the history of blackjack and how it developed over the years as well as some brief insights into the basic strategies that newbies and veterans alike can use with their game.
A Brief History of Blackjack
Blackjack is played by millions of players worldwide and continues to grow more popular as many more people learn the magic behind this amazing game. To have a full understand of what blackjack is, it would be quite helpful to know a little bit of its history and how the game was developed. However, no one really knows exactly how or when and where the game actually started but the earliest recorded histories point to France, Italy or Spain as the birthplace of this card game.
Blackjack has several elements that are quite similar to the French chemin de fer. Spain on the other hand claims that blackjack is a descendant of an old game called “One and Thirty”, while the Italians believe that blackjack evolved from two other card games called “Baccarat” and “Seven and One-Half”. The term “blackjack” however, may have come from the French term vingt-et-un which means “twenty and one” which was used in the early eighteenth century France to call a hand with a jack of spades and an ace of spades as the first two cards drawn. A special price was given to anyone who receives such a hand and was eventually called “blackjack” as an alternative to the term vingt-et-un.
The game became famous in Europe but it took another hundred years before the game reached American soil, particularly during the early 1800s when the Wild West was born. Gambling was not illegal and there were actually several licensed gambling parlors available operating in various areas across the county and was a good source of revenues for civic purposes.
Basic Strategies Blackjack
The basic rules and strategies behind blackjack changed very little over the years, although most casinos employ certain in-house rules that would increase house advantage. Unlike other card games that rely solely on blind luck, blackjack is affected by mathematical percentages and probabilities that players can utilize to their advantage to balance out or even nullify the house advantage. However, you don’t have to be a mathematical genius to succeed in this game.
For anyone who is just learning the ropes and wanting to know more about blackjack, they must first learn the basic rules on how the game is played. Bets are placed first and the dealer deals the card and each of the players at the table get two. The cards can be played face up or handled manually by the players, while the dealers can have one card facing up while the other down. Players can now decide whether to hit or hold. If your hand is too low you can hit and try not to exceed 21. On the other hand, if your cards are high enough for you, you can simply hold or stand until the dealer shows his face down card to decide who won the deal.
Knowing these basic rules, you can now employ basic strategies such as: hitting or standing; splitting pairs; playing a soft hand; doubling down on a hard or soft hand and several other strategies that increase your chance of beating the dealer. These strategies may just be basic but these fundamentals are vital to have a full understanding of how the game should be played as what past and existing master have done – which eventually led to them winning the game.
Martin Zimerman is an expert Blackjack player. For more information on Blackjack training, and how to defeat the casino’s huge edge, go to http://www.edgeof21.com.
Winning Blackjack Strategies: Which Table Gives the Player the Best Chance to Win?
Feb 13th
You may know how to play Blackjack but do you know how to win? Do you know where to sit? Do you know which tables and which casinos to avoid? The following article will you help you determine the answers to those questions and maybe you will be better prepared the next time you go. The casino sets the rules that you have to play by. Each rule they tweak will affect your chances of winning. If you’re going to pick the table with the best odds for the player, you have to know something about how the odds change as the rules change.
Following is a list of the more common rules that the casinos tend to change and how they affect your ability to win.
- Does the dealer hit soft 17?
- Can you surrender?
- Can you re-split aces?
- How many times can you split pairs?
- Double down rules: any first 2 cards, 9-11 or 10-11 only.
- Can you double after splitting a pair?
- What does a Blackjack pay; 3:2 or 6:5?
Now let’s examine just how much the casino advantage increases or decreases based on their rules.
For the purposes of our illustration the list below assumes these standard rules:
- Dealer hits all 17’s.
- Surrender not offered.
- Split aces get one card each. Re-splitting aces is not allowed.
- Re-splitting is allowed up to 4 hands for all pairs except aces.
- Player can double any first two cards.
- Player can double after a split.
- Blackjack pays 3:2.
Note: To get the following percentages you must be playing basic strategy. We cannot begin to estimate what to expect if you just make random decisions when you play Blackjack. A plus sign “+” indicates the house advantage. A minus sign “-” indicates the player’s advantage.
Baseline using rules above:
- 1 Deck: +0.16%
- 2 Decks: +0.46%
- 6 Decks: +0.64%
For the lists below we will be changing just one rule per list to illustrate how it affects the house advantage. You should compare these lists against the baseline list above.
Late Surrender is allowed:
- 1 Deck: +0.12%
- 2 Decks: +0.39%
- 6 Decks: +0.55%
Re-splitting Aces is allowed:
- 1 Deck: +0.13%
- 2 Decks: +0.40%
- 6 Decks: +0.57%
No Re-split allowed:
- 1 Deck: +0.19%
- 2 Decks: +0.50%
- 6 Decks: +0.69%
No Doubling after split:
- 1 Deck: +0.29%
- 2 Decks: +0.60%
- 6 Decks: +0.78%
Doubling on 9, 10 or 11 only:
- 1 Deck: +0.30%
- 2 Decks: +0.57%
- 6 Decks: +0.74%
Blackjack pays 6:5:
- 1 Deck: +1.55%
- 2 Decks: +1.83%
- 6 Decks: +2.00%
Baseline list showing how the percentages change when the dealer stands on all 17s.
- 1 Deck: -0.03%
- 2 Decks: +0.25%
- 6 Decks: +0.43%
For the lists below we will be changing just one rule per list to illustrate how it affects the house advantage. Compare these results with the baseline list above.
Late Surrender is allowed:
- 1 Deck: -0.05%
- 2 Decks: +0.20%
- 6 Decks: +0.36%
Re-splitting Aces is allowed:
- 1 Deck: -0.06%
- 2 Decks: +0.15%
- 6 Decks: +0.28%
No Re-split allowed:
- 1 Deck: +0.00%
- 2 Decks: +0.30%
- 6 Decks: +0.48%
No Doubling after split:
- 1 Deck: +0.10%
- 2 Decks: +0.40%
- 6 Decks: +0.57%
Doubling on 9, 10 or 11 only:
- 1 Deck: +0.11%
- 2 Decks: +0.37%
- 6 Decks: +0.52%
Blackjack pays 6:5:
- 1 Deck: +1.36%
- 2 Decks: +1.62%
- 6 Decks: +1.78%
You can see from the previous lists that the best thing the house can do for the player is to have the dealer stand on all hands totaling 17. The worst thing they can do is to change the payout for Blackjack to 6:5.
Now let’s examine one more scenario. This time we’re looking at the most desirable set of casino rules. See for yourself how much it affects their advantage.
For the purposes of our illustration the lists below assumes these standard rules:
- Dealer stands on all 17’s.
- Late Surrender offered.
- Re-splitting is allowed up to 4 hands for all pairs including aces.
- Player can double any first two cards.
- Player can double after a split.
- Blackjack pays 3:2
Split Aces Get One Card Each:
- 1 Deck: -0.08%
- 2 Decks: +0.15%
- 6 Decks: +0.28%
You Can Hit Split Aces:
- 1 Deck: +0.22%
- 2 Decks: +0.01%
- 6 Decks: +0.10%
Let’s sum up what we’ve just discovered. The casino rules at each table will affect your chances of winning at Blackjack even when you play perfect basic strategy. Fewer decks reduce the casino’s edge. More decks increase the casino’s edge. If the dealer stands on all 17’s the player has a better chance of winning. If they dealer hits all 17s the house has a better chance to win the hand. The next item to remember is what happens when you split Aces. If you can split Aces the same as the other cards you get the best odds. If they restrict you to one split and one card on each Ace they have just diminished your odds. The final rule to look out for is the Blackjack payout. Don’t sit at a table that only pays 6:5 for a Blackjack. This one rule gives the casino the biggest advantage over the player.
You can find more articles by Kris Brietkopf at http://www.winningbjstrategies.com
Arm yourself the next time you go out to play at the Casino. Blackjack is the casino game that gives you the best chance of winning. However you must be ready. You must at least know basic strategy and you must know which table rules favor the player and which ones favor the house. If you don’t know basic strategy you can get a free guide at: http://WinningBjStrategies.com/Free-Basic-Strategy-Guides