Cards in Blackjack
June 3, 2008
There are readers who have plenty of questions dealing with cards in a blackjack game. We wanted to make sure that we cleared up all of these questions and then some so you can have some piece of mind at the tables. When the decks are placed on a game, do pit bosses check them beforehand to see if they are all there? Of course they are checking them before they shuffle the cards up and deal. There is no way that the casino would take the chance for the Gaming Commission to come in unannounced...
Plugging the Deck
June 3, 2008
There are people who read the articles on this site who are fascinated with how the dealer shuffles up the decks. One technique used by the casinos is when the cut-card is reached the remaining un-dealt cards inserted into the middle of the cards that have already been stacked up in the discard rack. This method is called plugging the deck. Once the dealer reaches the cut-card (the cut card marks the place where play will be stopped and the cards reshuffled) the game is stopped, and the remaining...
Dealer Rules on 17
June 3, 2008
A common question that blackjack players ask is if it is better for the dealer to have to hit on a soft 17 or if they have to stay. It is slightly better if you are sitting at a table where the house rules let the dealer stand on a soft 17 rather than hit on a soft 17. If the dealer is hitting on a soft 17, then you give the house an extra 0.2% of an edge. When the dealer has a soft 17 an A, 2, 3, or 4 improves the hand while a 10, Jack, Queen, or King leaves it the exact same. Using that math...
Lucky Ladies
June 3, 2008
There are several casinos out there who offer side bets on the blackjack table, and one that we are going to take a look at today is called Lucky Ladies. This is a side bet where you are hoping to see a natural 20 on your first two cards, if you do then the payback comes back at 4:1. The payout increases if the cards are suited (9:1), or matched (identical) and if you get two Queen of Hearts (the Lucky Ladies) then it is a whopping 125:1, unless the dealer has a blackjack that is, then it’s...
Worst Bet in the Casino
June 2, 2008
There are plenty of bad bets that you can make in a casino, and by bad we mean they have astronomical house edges. However, the casinos don’t want to get rid of these games because the suckers keep on coming in and laying down their hard earned cash. We don’t want you to be one of those suckers so let’s take a look at some of the worst of the worst. Blackjack Insurance - Unless you now how to count cards, this is a wager that you are going to want to avoid. Depending on the...
Mimicking the Dealer in Blackjack
May 22, 2008
There are people out there who mimick the dealer when playing blackjack and call that a strategy. Just because the dealer hits up to 16 and always stands on soft 17 or more doesn’t mean that you have to. Most Trusted Online Casino! The advantage the dealer has in blackjack doesn’t come from when they hit or stand, but on being able to go after the player has acted on his hand. Rule variations will have an effect on the player’s expected return, but the casino’s advantage...
Royal Match Blackjack
May 21, 2008
The Royal Match is a side bet in blackjack that is based on the first two cards that are dealt to the players. The rules are pretty simple to understand and follow, if the player’s first two cards are suited, then the player is paid 5 to 2. If the player has a royal match (a king and queen of the same suit) then the bet pays out at 25 to 1. It doesn’t matter if you win or lose your hand since you are paid out on your side bet as soon as the first two cards are dealt. Get up to 145%...
Ken Uston
May 20, 2008
Ken Uston is a legend of the Blackjack world whom everyone calls “The Master Of Blackjack”. Travelling over casinos in Nevada and Atlantic City, Ken and a number of teams of fellow programmers developed unique Blackjack strategies that basically made them rich. Using miniature computers hidden in their shoes for card counting and statistical analysis, fascinating teamplay and absolutely awesome mathematical layouts Ken and his people used to earn hundreds thousands of dollars in less...
Hi-Lo Card Counting in Blackjack
May 19, 2008
We’ve had plenty of questions coming in to the site concerning card counting in blackjack so wanted to address the issue. It is thought that with a little bit of research and practice a common player can improve their game to the point where the game is a break-even situation or else they may get the advantage to their side. The casinos have other plans in mind, and try to curtail this practice at all costs. They think it’s cheating, but it really seems to be a skill that only takes...
House Edge When Blackjack Pushes Go To House
March 15, 2008
Generally, charity blackjack events turn pushes into wins for the casino. Real casinos do not offer such a hard-line rule, because players would never belly up to the table when the odds are so stacked against them. There is an exception: Double Exposure blackjack. Here, as compensation for losing in pushes, all dealer’s cards are dealt face up, However, (there’s always an “however”) because you get to view both of the dealer’s up-cards, the playing rules are adjusted...