12 vs 2 Blackjack
July 8, 2008
One of the most painful hands in blackjack is when you get a 12 versus a dealer who is showing a two? Oh sure, there are plenty of hands out there that are worse mathematically, since by the book a 12 against a 2 balances out to a loss of just over $0.25 per dollar bet. Lots of player-dealer combinations are far more taxing. For instance, a 16 versus nine, 10, or ace is projected to cost above $0.50 on the dollar. And a 17, which many bettors erroneously think is a safe plateau, bears theoretical...
Blackjack Variations
July 8, 2008
Most seasoned blackjack buffs either suspect or know for sure, that variations of the game occasionally popping up in casinos are gimmicks. They needn’t be math mavens to make this inference. Intuition born of experience suggests that the features mask a high house advantage. While this may be a deterrent for serious gamblers, it shouldn’t necessarily keep casual players away. For instance, “side bets” of various types promise huge returns on small wagers. But something must...
Past Basic Strategy
July 8, 2008
Everyone who plays blackjack regularly has probably at least tried to learn basic strategy, but many fall short. Even people I have talked to who think they are experts miss up to 20 different hands on the chart, but before you take your game to the next level you need to be perfect. Now let’s say you happen to be that one player in 50 who plays all his hands correctly. What’s next? Most prevailing blackjack literature says that card counting is the next step, but in actuality there...
Speed Count
July 8, 2008
True card counters at the blackjack tables are a rare breed, but they have the unique ability to get an edge on the casino. Most people who try to count can’t keep an accurate enough number to make a difference, or they lose their concentration a little too easily. You don’t only have to have the ability to count cards, but also have a big enough bankroll to sustain a large losing streak. Dr. Henry Tamburin, who for a very long time had success using the Hi-Lo system, thought there...
12 Against A 2
June 23, 2008
We have said time and time again that the never-bust strategy in blackjack is a bad bet and the players need to focus in on playing perfect basic strategy. This means that there are no real hard and fast rules that can be broken down in a single line, but there are a few nuances worked in. One invovles a 12 against a two or a three. Even if we do not consider the depletion of the deck, the 12 hand is different from most other stiff hands because you have 9 cards that will improve your hand...
Research to Win at the Casino
June 16, 2008
Everybody likes to win money at the casinos. Second best is being able to participate in the action for a satisfactorily long session on a stake that seemed sensible before leaving home. A distant third is not tapping a spouse, friend, or debit/credit kiosk in the lobby in a desperate effort to continue or recover. Frequent players know they can enhance their prospects by diligently studying their favorite games. They learn or devise strategies for decisions, alternate wagers, and betting combinations...
Tips for Occassional Casino Goers
June 16, 2008
There are plenty of players out there who only occasionally make a trip to the casino, and we want to make sure that if this is the case for you then you get the most out of your trips. These are three strategies that we think you can put into play right away to win more and have more fun at the casino. Video Poker Over Slots Video Poker gives you the advantage of higher paybacks than if you play slots. If you want to learn more about the game, pick up a few books from the experts and read some...
Choosing a Casino for Blackjack
June 16, 2008
Smart players realize that not all casinos offer up the same kind of value when it comes to playing blackjack. There is some type of local government that regulates all casinos, but in most cases the casino itself sets its own specific rules for each game. In Nevada, riverboats, and even Native American casinos located throughout the country regulate their own games. Let’s take a look at Las Vegas, where most casinos on the strip require dealers to stand on all 17s, which includes a soft...
Drawing Bad Cards
June 4, 2008
Winning gamblers often credit lady luck or some higher being who is responsible for miracles, but what’s happening even more often is they attribute their success to their gambling prowess. Losers on the other hand look to blame others, even when these people have absolutely nothing to do with their winning or losing. There isn’t a game that this is more apparent than in blackjack. If someone isn’t following basic strategy while playing blackjack they are are going to be blamed...
Single Deck Blackjack
June 3, 2008
A common rule difference in today’s single deck blackjack games over the old days is that they pay six for five instead of three to two for blackjacks. Many players don’t think this is such a bad thing, but we are going to try to change your mind. The rule used to be it was always to your advantage to play on a game with the fewest decks. Compared to the math of a single deck game, that of a multi-deck game seriously handicaps your play: 0.35% for two decks 0.48% for four 0.54% for...
