Posts tagged Blackjack
Blackjack Basic Strategy
Jan 11th
If you’re like most casual gamblers, you visit the casinos a few times a year, lose a few hundred dollars, and shrug it off as “entertainment”. Oh sure, once in awhile you ride a winning streak and earn a few hundred, maybe even a few thousand bucks. But in spite of your stock answer to friends and family about breaking even – (you know, question: “How much did you win?” answer: “Oh, I broke even”) you’re quite aware that you’ve lost far more than you’ve won over the years.
I’d love to tell you that there’s some secret gambling strategy that could make you rich. However, there isn’t. The only way to get rich from casino gambling is to own the casino. The casinos always have the advantage, and over the long run, you will always lose. Well, almost always. There is one casino game which offers you a chance to break even, and sometimes even gain a slight advantage over the house. That game? Blackjack.
Blackjack is by far the best bet in the casino. If a player uses the basic strategy that I describe below, the house will have only about a 1.5% advantage over the player. Compare that to the 20% or more advantage casinos have at slots. No other casino game even comes close to these odds. And if you use the simple counting strategy that I’ll teach you in the next issue, the player can actually have a slight advantage over the house.
Will you make millions of dollars a year and be able to retire from your day job by using this strategy? Highly unlikely. But at the very least, if you learn and play the basic strategy exactly as it’s described, you’ll virtually break even in the long run. This may not sound like much. But I’m sure if you add up all of the money you’ve ever lost gambling, you’ll find we’re talking about a considerable sum of money.
WHAT MAKES YOUR STRATEGY THE BEST?
My basic strategy isn’t the best. It’s not the worst. It’s the same as any other “correct” basic strategy, based on the laws of probability. This basic strategy is the result of computer runs using the laws of probability. It’s precise and exact.
HOW TO LEARN THESE STRATEGIES
The only way you’ll become a successful Blackjack player is to take the time to study and practice it. You first have to master the basic strategy. It should take you about four or five hours to memorize it, then an hour or so to review prior to any trip to a casino. Remember, you’ll only get out of this strategy what you put into it. If you put in nothing, you’ll get back nothing. If you put in a lot, you could make a lot. It’s that simple. Playing basic strategy will not make you rich. But it will help you win about as many hands as you lose, if you play it perfectly.
RULES OF THE GAME
Object
The object of Blackjack is to beat the dealer. Whatever hand the dealer has, you must have a better one in order to win. Your hand also has to be better than the dealer’s without going over 21. If you go over 21, then you bust. You turn your cards over and the dealer takes your money. If you beat the dealer, you win and the dealer pays you the amount of your bet.
Values
The card values are as follows. Cards 2 through 9 are worth their face value. For example, if you’re dealt an 8 and a 9 you have 17. The 10 and face cards are worth 10. For example, if you have a king and a 10 you have 20. Aces are worth either 1 or 11. For example if you have an ace and an 8, you have either 9 or 19; your choice. An ace and any 10 value card is considered a blackjack and pays 3 to 2. All other wins pay 1 to 1, or even money. The dealer must hit until they get hard 17 (17 without an Ace) in most casinos. At some casinos, the dealer will stand on soft 17 (A-6).
Splitting
If you have two cards of the same number, for example two 8’s, you may split them. To split, you turn your cards over, face up. You then put an additional bet that’s equal to your first bet, next to your first bet. The dealer will then deal you one card on your first 8, and ask if you want to hit or stand. After you stand or bust on your first hand, he will do the same for your other 8.
Double Down
You also have the option of doubling down. In most Las Vegas casinos, you may double down on any of your first two cards. In Lake Tahoe or Reno you normally can only double down on a 10 or 11. Here’s how to do it. The dealer deals you two cards that total 11. You turn your cards over, face up. You put an additional bet equal to your first bet, next to your first bet. The dealer then deals you one card face down.
Playing
Most casinos have Blackjack tables with minimum bets ranging from $5 to $100, with maximum bets up to $10,000. To start the game, you place some cash on the table. The dealer will then shuffle the cards. After the shuffle, the dealer will take your cash and exchange it for chips. You place the chips you wish to bet for that hand in a small betting circle in front of you. One to seven players may play at a time. The dealer then deals the cards. The dealer asks each player if they want to hit or stand.
THE STRATEGY OF BASIC PLAY
Most players ‘guess’ at blackjack; every hand is played on a hunch. You’ll notice this when you play. You’ll see a person stand on a 16 when the dealer has an Ace showing on one hand, then they will hit it the next.
Always play the Basic Strategy exact. Never make a mistake and never guess. Your days of playing hunches are over. You must use this strategy exactly as it appears in the table that follows. If you don’t, you’re giving away your money. Sure, playing hunches may make you some money occasionally. But the basic strategy is proven mathematically, using the laws of probability. Hunches are proven mathematically as well – they are proven to make you go broke over the long run.
If you deviate from this strategy, then you’re giving away small percentages to the house. The players who play on hunches, which is about 99% of the players, are playing with anywhere from an 8% to 20% disadvantage. Using this basic strategy you can cut that disadvantage to about 1.5%.
The average player has never read a book on blackjack and has no idea how to play correctly. This includes the dealer. Don’t ever let a dealer tell you how to play the game. They’ve likely never studied the game. They don’t know the basic strategy. If you listen to them, even if they mean well, they’ll help you lose your money very quickly.
I don’t mean to suggest that the dealer is your enemy; quite the contrary. The dealer can be used to your advantage. When you’re winning, always tip the dealer. Create an atmosphere of goodwill. By establishing this rapport with the dealer you may be able to influence them to keep dealing through a deck, rather than shuffling, when the cards are good. And you can influence them to shuffle when the cards are bad.
Other players will often tell you how to play your hand, or scoff at you for standing or hitting a hand. Pay no attention to them. They don’t know the game. Don’t let them influence your play. Chances are they won’t be around for long anyway.
The basic strategy I’m about to present is based on the laws of probability. It was developed using a computer. It’s totally accurate. This isn’t some “system” that many people try to sell the unsuspecting player. This strategy is based on mathematics and the laws of probability. I did not develop this strategy. It has been proven by persons expert in the field of computers and mathematics. You can pick up some of the better books on blackjack and find the same strategy. It may be presented in another format, but it’s the same. It’s the same because it’s mathematical fact. It does not change. Play this strategy completely accurately and you’ll notice the results.
LEARNING THE BASIC STRATEGY
The best way to learn the basic strategy is to use this chart and study it. Study it over and over until you know it without even thinking; until the plays are second nature. When you’re playing in a casino there are many distractions. You have the noise. The cocktail waitresses will be asking for orders, bringing drinks, and walking by. You have bad players making unbelievable plays sitting next to you. You have dealers with bad attitudes. You have to be able to concentrate through all of these distractions. You have to be able to play each hand perfectly. Make even one mistake and your odds drop.
THE BASIC STRATEGY
Study the table at realmanmag.com and memorize it. It’s for a single deck game. Many casinos will even allow you to bring in your own basic strategy table and use it while you’re playing blackjack.
CONCLUSION
If it’s so easy why isn’t everyone doing it? First of all, it’s not that easy. Second, it takes some hard work, and not everyone is motivated enough to put in that hard work. Finally, everyone isn’t doing it, but a lot of people are. Many great card counters have been barred from playing in the casinos because they consistently win big money. They’ve resorted to writing books and teaching others how to beat the game of Blackjack.
Casinos love players who try to play the basic strategy, but use it incorrectly. They also love players who try to count cards, but do it incorrectly. The reason is because those players continue to give the house a large advantage. That’s the reason I’ve stressed to you throughout this book that you must play each hand perfectly. Otherwise you’re giving away your odds in favor of the house.
At the very least, study and use the basic strategy. This will enable you to have hours of gambling entertainment and not lose your money. You can go home with the money you started with instead of that empty feeling of going home broke. If you learn the count strategy perfectly, you can have many years of very profitable entertainment. Be sure and check out our next issue where we teach you the basics of counting cards.
Franklin Pierce is Editor and Publisher of Real Man Magazine. The world’s most popular online magazine for the man’s man. WARNING! Contains politically incorrect material. Not for girlie men or the easily offended. May cause hair growth, increased testosterone, and spontaneous attacks by aroused women. Read at your own risk! http://www.realmanmag.com ©2008 Real Man Magazine
A Simple Three Stage Blackjack Strategy
Dec 30th
Blackjack is a great game and I love to play it. But if I’m honest, I get a little frustrated having to constantly consult the strategy cards.
I know why the strategy cards exist – to lower the house edge (ie the percentage of money staked that the casino expects to win) to as close as 0 as possible.
But because the ultimate strategy must cover every possible combination of your cards and the dealer’s cards, I find them too complex to memorize exactly. The result is that I’m taking time away from the game to pore over the charts to see what the optimal move is. All of which reduces my enjoyment of the game.
And of course, this is only possible when I’m playing Blackjack online. If I were playing it at a real bricks and mortar casino, I’d be politely asked to leave before I’d made half a dozen bets!
The ideal Blackjack strategy would be easy to remember and apply, and result in a house edge of 0%. Of course, that ideal can’t exist, so all Blackjack strategies are a compromise between those two goals – simplicity and accuracy.
Any strategy is going to be more or less inclined towards one of these extremes. When choosing a strategy, your decision comes down to which end of the scale you want to be at – do you want an easy strategy with a lower chance of winning, or a complex one that means that the last 0.01% has been shaved off the house edge?
Personally, my ideal is one that is smack in the middle – a strategy that has an acceptable house edge, but which is so straightforward that I can just get on with playing and enjoying the game.
After studying the available strategy cards, I’ve devised a strategy that is intended to take players from beginner to high roller in 3 easy stages.
The beauty of this is that as you master each stage, you add on the next one when you feel ready, but you can always step back down again when you don’t!
The house edge is a little over the optimal, but the accuracy (ie the percentage of times it makes the right call) is around 98%. But what’s important is that it’s really simple to remember (even the third stage.)
Although not complex, it’s easier to present the strategy in tabular form. My website Fortune Palace (see link in the resource box below) is designed to provide strategies for popular gambling games aimed at all risk levels and styles of play. On my simple 3 stage Blackjack strategy page, I explain everything clearly and simply.
You’ll also find a straightforward guide to the rules and bets of Blackjack and – perhaps best of all! – you’ll get the chance to play Blackjack for free. I’m very confident of the effectiveness of my system. Once you’ve tried it, I hope you’ll agree that it’s the best of all possible strategies – it gives you a great chance of winning without having to remember endless charts.
And best of all – it keeps Blackjack fun! Happy playing.
Andy Follin is author of Fortune Palace fortunepalace.co.uk, an eCOGRA ‘reputable gambling portal’ that explains how to play the most exciting online casino games, gives you tried and trusted gambling strategies and recommends the very best online casinos With full, impartial reviews, detailed online casino bonus and deposit information and a complete beginner’s guide to online gambling, it’s all you need to win!. The site also features a comprehensive online casino depositing guide.
Be a Blackjack Pro – Simple Blackjack Strategy
Dec 17th
As we mentioned in our Blackjack Rules page already showed a lot before going to actually play blackjack. Below we have our Blackjack strategy for you a bit further expanded. It will become clear that a good blackjack strategy not only consists of strategies that you use the blackjack table.
Towards the Blackjack table
Choosing a Blackjack table is the first step you should well consider. Let’s start with looking at the live casinos. When you play in the Netherlands you will end up with one of the branches of Holland Casino. Holland Casino Black Jack comes in two forms – the Holland Casino black jack version and the original version of Blackjack.
The version of the Holland Casino blackjack rules have lower limits and therefore much more run. You will therefore tend to themselves to sit here. It is fine to do this but keep in mind that the ‘own’ Holland Casino blackjack rules blackjack table at their diversity and Blackjack odds are worse than the original version of Blackjack.
We take you to a Blackjack table where the original version of Blackjack is played.
Choose where you want to sit
Choosing a position to sit is very important for the progress of your own game. You gonna sit at the beginning, you have no clue what you do with the players after their cards and thus it would happen to ‘inexperienced’ Blackjack players destroy your hand – here we come later. And if you sit down at the end you have the pressure of any ‘good’ become / remain the hands of the other blackjack players at the Blackjack table.
Two identical cards, now what?
In case you get two cards, it is important that you know what to do with such a pair. Depending on the value of your cards you decide to split your cards.
Example, do you two think it’s advice to split. Two consider making a score of 16 points, which is pretty much the worst hand at Blackjack. When you use the blackjack strategy and you two think you have a chance to split two hands, for example 18.
Another couple that you should always split between two aces. Two aces give 12 points. Also there can be little with it. While if you split them then you suddenly get twice blackjack. That is of course much better. Two tens or nines, you can never split, which are far too good hands. All other pairs are dependent on the cards of the dealer and if you make more money in hand to stabbing.
All or nothing!
Doubling is a great blackjack strategy that you can earn much money. Doubling done only on a very good hand. When you double your hand at blackjack you place your first bet the same bet again and tell it to the dealer that you still want a card.
Doubling do otherwise only if, for instance 10 or 11 with your two starting cards. You get only one card to your hand with it. So if you have 10 points and you get a 3 by 13 points then your hand and adjust automatically. It is obviously meant to be a ten there that makes you have 20 points or even an ace and you get Black Jack.
Benefit to the dealer
Not only according to the Holland Casino blackjack rules, but simply in most casinos, live casinos and online casinos, the dealer reveals one of his cards. Most players see the power of this one card over the head or use it in their blackjack strategy.
When preparing your blackjack strategy should this not be missed. The map of the dealer can tell you because you continue to play or to fold. If the dealer has 2 to 6 can be of relatively low fit their own hands because the dealer is little prospect of busting.
If the dealer’s up card are high (7, 8, 9, 10 or Ace) then play them to the highest possible score above 17 points.
The best titan casino blackjack articles or if you wish check out our extensive range of titan casino games
How to Split Cards in Blackjack
Dec 14th
Once new players grasp the basic strategy of blackjack the first thing they generally ask is, “When and why should I split my cards?”
Generally any card that starts with “F” should not be split; this is a simple rule to go by. So Face cards, Fives, and Fours should not be split.
The reason for not splitting face cards is pretty straightforward. You do not want to throw away 20 which almost guarantee you a winning hand.
Fours and fives also shouldn’t be split, splitting these cards only set a player up to get a very low end chance of winning, “14″ or “15″ or worse.
So why you might ask why split other pairs? This is a bit trickier as the general rule of thumb here is only to split when the dealer is showing an up card of between 4-7.
The reason being that you’re better off taking the chance to double your money when the dealer has shows a bust card.
Splitting Aces, as with any gambling venture you par take in it is essential you are aware of the house rules. These rules can differ when faced with Ace Ace. Obviously you want to split these cards, two is useless, and the other option being 12 is also no good for the player.
So you have to split aces EVERY time. Most Casino’s have a rule with regard to splitting aces, generally most stick with the one draw rule. This means that you can only draw one card to each Ace.
It is also a common rule that casino’s will not honor a true blackjack when you receive a face card on a split ace. This eliminates the bonus payout.
Splitting eights, a lot of professional players will only split Aces and Eights. The reason being the four horseman as they were known ran these cards through a mathematical algorithm and it was determined that the player splitting the eights has a much higher probability of winning the hand splitting the 8’s then standing on 16.
The four horseman were (Roger Baldwin, Wilbert Cantey, Herbert Maisel and James McDermott). They ere responsible for creating what is known today as basic mathematical strategy. We will discuss these fellows later on.
So you know have a good grasp on when and why you should be splitting cards at the blackjack table. Splitting is an essential part of the game, and provides excellent opportunity for player edge and increasing ones bankroll.
If you are looking for an excellent strategy component please visit. http://www.blackjackstrategypro.com
If you want to know what will give you the edge when playing blackjack so that you win more, click here: http://www.blackjackstrategypro.com/
Blackjack Strategy, Tips and Odds
Dec 2nd
The key to winning at blackjack is to know your odds. A little luck also helps. Essentially not busting and beating the dealer is all it takes.
So how do you find the proper measure, let’s say the dealer is showing cards 2-6. The dealers under card has a high probability of being a 10, giving them anywhere from 12-16. These are great totals for you as a player as they are bust totals. Meaning the dealer will hit on any of these numbers.
A situation as above, also provides the player with a chance to double their bet, ideally the player should be holding a total of 8,9,10 or 11. Doubling down is explained further in another article.
Odds, blackjack like all other casino games has odds, the house or casino always holds the edge. How else do you think cities like Las Vegas, Atlantic City etc. boomed and have all the fancy hotels and lights.
Blackjack odds are the best for the player of all casino games. Poker players may disagree here. The fact is when playing blackjack the player has the ability to change their style, and wager to fit the environment of the game. The best way to do this is to play with strategy, and a clear mind. A good memory and math skills also helps a ton.
The main goal is to decrease that edge that the casino dealer holds. This can be manipulated by using the strategy matrix provided in another article using this as a guideline increases your odds by 2-5%. Basic strategy is derived from probability and mathematical calculations so there is always a chance that you can go on bad runs.
A couple of golden rules never bet more than you can afford and decrease your bets when you are on a losing streak increase when winning.
Some essential tips,
-ALWAYS split aces and eights
-Never split cards that start with “f”
-If Surrendering is available (generally not) do so on hands of 15-16 against dealers 10 or ace.
-Double- 9 if dealer has 3-6-10 if dealer doesn’t show 10 or ace- and 11 if the dealer does not show and ace
-Insurance is for suckers, don’t so it. In the long run the edge goes to the casino. Unless you are well versed in card counting or your playing single or double deck casino avoid insurance at all costs.
-17 is a stand total when the dealer shows 7 or less
-Stand on a hard 13-16 when dealer shows a 6 or less
Always remember to check with the casino rules before sitting at the table. If you are looking for an excellent strategy component please visit. http://www.blackjackstrategypro.com
If you want to know what will give you the edge when playing blackjack so that you win more, click here: http://www.blackjackstrategypro.com/