Pick the right table: Not every blackjack table is a good table. When you walk into the casino do not automatically sit down at the first open seat you come to. Look for tables with no other players or only a few. Also, wait until a new shoe is being dealt before you sit down to play. It's because blackjack is ridiculously easy to play. The goal is simple - to get as close as possible to 21 without going over, and to have a higher hand than the dealer.
Yes, understanding the basics of blackjack is relatively easy. But, before you can walk away a winner, you need a deeper understanding of the nuances of the game and casino protocol.
Finding a table: Strategic seating
Blackjack begins by selecting a seat at the table. Typically, a blackjack table allows for five to seven players. Whenever you see an empty seat at a blackjack table, you may assume it’s for your taking (unless chips or a coat are holding the spot for a player who just stepped away for a moment or unless some player is playing two hands). In most cases, joining a game in progress is okay, although some tables have a No-Midshoe Entry policy (usually marked by a sign at the table), which means you have to wait until the shuffle before playing.
For your first trip to the tables, you’re better off finding a nearly full table. Although the number of players at the table hardly affects the odds on your hands, the game is much quicker with fewer players. A fuller table gives you more time to think about each hand without being rushed or pressured.
Seeking single-deck tables
Without getting into a lot of math, here’s a good rule to follow: The fewer decks the casino uses, the better for you. Your chances for success increase if you can find a single-deck game. Most casinos worldwide have gone to six or more decks in an attempt to thwart card counters (skilled players who keep track of cards). But some places still deal blackjack the old-fashioned way — with one deck of 52 cards. Most of the casinos in northern Nevada (Reno, Lake Tahoe, and Wendover) still use one deck of cards at many of their blackjack tables. If you aren’t sure how many decks the casino is using, just ask.
Eyeing table bet levels
Before you actually sit down, look for the table’s minimum and maximum betting limits. Every table has these fixed limits, which the casino usually posts on a small sign located on the table to the right of the dealer.
You may sit down at a table where the placard says $5–$500, which means you have to bet at least $5 on every hand and can never bet more than $500 on any one spot. Typically, the higher the minimum starting bet, the higher the maximum bet for that table.
When you’re starting out, find the lowest minimum table in the casino and begin there. Making smaller bets keeps you out of trouble until you understand the game better — and you’re less likely to end up sitting next to a high roller (who may not appreciate a novice at his table).
Purchasing chips
After you select your seat, you need to buy chips from the dealer. Select the amount of money you want to start with and lay your cash on the felt in front of you. The dealer changes your cash into chips and slides them across the felt to you.
Don’t hand your money directly to the dealer; doing so is a breach of etiquette and brands you as a greenhorn.
After you receive your chips, leave them on the table in front of you. Chips come in several denominations and are color-coded. Although every casino uses distinctive chips, most colors are standard.
Start off with a small amount of chips. A good approach is to cash in no more than 25 percent of your daily bankroll for chips. For example, if you budget $400 for the day, buy in for no more than $100 to start. This way, when you’re losing, you minimize the temptation to bet more than you planned. You can always buy more chips later if necessary.
Homing in on house rules
Blackjack rules are fairly similar worldwide — with a few variations. Sometimes a small placard sitting on the table indicates where the casino stands in regard to certain scenarios. If you don’t see a placard, you may ask the dealer what the house rules are, even when you’re in the middle of a hand.
Does the dealer hit on a soft 17?
A soft hand is any hand that counts an ace as 11 rather than 1. The hand is soft because it can’t bust on the next card. For example, if you hit (take another card) a soft 18 (an ace and a 7) with a 6, the ace automatically reverts to 1 (rather than 11), and the hand total is now 14 (rather than 24, which would be a bust).
Whether a dealer hits on a soft 17 is usually spelled out in bold white letters right on the felt. Normally the dealer counts an ace as 11 anytime he has a hand of 17 or more. However, about half the casinos worldwide deviate from this rule on soft 17 (an ace and a 6). In those cases, the ace counts as 1, and the dealer hits his soft 17.
Is doubling down restricted to certain card combinations?
In Las Vegas, casinos typically allow doubling down, an option that allows you to double your bet, on any two cards, but other places may restrict this move to just 10s or 11s. The placard probably won’t list restrictions to doubling down. If you aren’t sure whether restrictions are in place, don’t be afraid to ask the dealer, even if you’re in the middle of a hand.
Can you surrender?
A playing option known as surrender is an extremely profitable option for you as a player, but not many casinos offer it. When you surrender, you lose half of your initial bet and give up your hand. For example, if you bet $10 and are dealt a 16, you can surrender and only lose $5 (half your bet) rather than risk the entire $10 on a bad hand. Once again, the placard may not readily advertise this rule variation, so always ask if surrender is available.
Dealing what’s in the cards
All right, you’re situated at the table, you’ve made your bet in the betting box, and your heart is pumping like a jackhammer. The dealer flashes you a warm smile, wishes you good luck, shuffles the deck, and asks you to cut the cards.
If you’re playing a one- or two-deck game, the dealer holds the cards in his hands and deals you two cards face-down. You can pick up these cards, but make sure you only hold them in one hand.
However, the majority of blackjack games today use six or eight decks. In these cases, the dealer deals your two cards face-up from a shoe (a boxlike device that houses the cards).
Whether your cards are dealt face-up or face-down really doesn’t matter — dealers follow strict rules, and seeing the values of your cards doesn’t influence them. Dealers’ hands always start off with one card exposed and one card hidden, regardless of the number of decks.
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Sometimes I write really philosophical articles about why you should play blackjack, and how building character is a reason for playing blackjack. And sometimes I write silly articles mocking blackjack system salesmen. But this article is a list of practical, hard-core blackjack tips. These are some practical ideas about how to become a better blackjack player and how to win at blackjack.
12 Hard Core Blackjack Tips - A List
Re-learn basic strategy once a year.
Play blackjack at 5 new casinos this month.
Read 2 new blackjack books a year.
Stop playing blackjack online.
Stop playing blackjack for a month.
Find 3 blackjack forums where people ask questions. Write 20 thoughtful, detailed answers to their blackjack questions.
Create your own blackjack book by collecting your favorite online blackjack articles into a file on your computer. Review this blackjack book periodically.
Play a blackjack session well below your typical stakes.
Play a blackjack session well above your typical stakes.
Find a friend or relative who doesn't know how to play blackjack, and teach that person how to play blackjack, basic strategy, and card counting.
Track your wins and losses in a blackjack journal.
Launch your own blackjack website or blog.
12 Hard Core Blackjack Tips - Elaborations
Constant and never-ending improvement should be your goal playing blackjack. The basic principles and math behind the game of blackjack don't really change much, but your skills as a player can and do change. If you want to become really good at blackjack, then you need to focus on changing and improving. You're either getting better at blackjack or getting worse. Focus on getting better at the game. That's how to win at blackjack.
Re-learn basic strategy once a year. Why? Because basic strategy is the foundation of all other blackjack success. People who want to earn a blackbelt in karate must master only seven basic moves. The ones who succeed are the ones who focus on these fundamentals. The ones who fail want to learn something new all the time. Focus on mastering the fundamentals, and basic strategy is the most fundamental of all blackjack skills.
Play blackjack at 5 new casinos this month. Why? Because playing blackjack at new casinos means you'll be dealing with different table conditions. And dealing with different table conditions will help you to improve your game. You'll challenge your mind and learn something different. You'll become more flexible and expand your repertoire of blackjack skills.
Read 2 new blackjack books a year. Why? Because if they're good blackjack books, you'll gain new insights into the game. And because if they're bad blackjack books, you'll be able to recognize the mistakes. Knowing what not to do when playing blackjack can be just as important as knowing what to do.
Stop playing blackjack online. Why? Because you can't count cards online. So if you're playing online, you're always playing with a disadvantage. If you want to play blackjack really well, then avoiding negative expectation situation is a critical habit to develop. Live blackjack is radically different from online blackjack. Become good at live blackjack.
Stop playing blackjack for a month.Why? Because you probably need a break anyway. After your month-long vacation from blackjack, you'll be more eager to play, you'll be more relaxed, and your game will improve because of the time off you took. Boredom breeds mistakes, and if you never take a break from playing blackjack, then you'll get bored and make mistakes.
Find 3 blackjack forums where people ask questions and write 20 detailed posts answering these questions. Why? Because writing about blackjack and answering questions will clarify your thoughts on some of the finer points of blackjack strategy. The best way to master a skill is to teach it to someone else. And the act of having to write about blackjack strategy will force you to think about blackjack strategy. And thoughtful blackjack play is winning blackjack play.
Create your own blackjack book by collecting your favorite online blackjack articles into a file on your computer. Review this blackjack book periodically. Why? This will expose you to some of the new ideas about blackjack on the Internet. You'll learn to discern the good advice from the bad advice. Creation and synthesis will force you to think about your game. The examined life also applies to a blackjack player's life.
Play a blackjack session well below your usual stakes. Why? You'll be able to test your discipline levels. Most mediocre blackjack players play more carelessly when they're playing for stakes that don't matter to them. Your goal is to be an excellent blackjack player. Demonstrate the discipline to play perfect blackjack even when you're playing for stakes which don't mean much to you.
Play a blackjack session well above your usual stakes. Why? This is another test of your discipline level. If you're playing over your bankroll, you might make incorrect decisions or conservative decisions you wouldn't make if you were playing your usual stakes. You'll get to know your own tendencies better at the blackjack table by doing this. Physician, heal thyself. Know yourself.
Find a friend or relative who doesn't know how to play blackjack, and teach that person how to play blackjack, basic strategy, and card counting. Why? Because teaching other people how to play blackjack will force you to think about the game. Mastering a skill becomes easier when you're forced to teach that skill to someone else. Besides that, blackjack is fun, and teaching someone how to play will remind you of how much fun it is to play blackjack at an extremely high level of skill.
Track your wins and losses in a blackjack journal. Why? Because in blackjack, wins and losses are how you keep score. If you're losing consistently, session after session, month after month, year after year, then something is wrong. You cannot manage what you don't measure. By tracking your performance in a blackjack journal, you're measuring your performance.
Launch your own blackjack website or blog Why? If you haven't figured it out yet, I think that thinking about the game will improve your skill level. And writing about the game of blackjack will force you to think about the game of blackjack. This will put you ahead of 99% of the blackjack players out there, because that's how many blackjack players DON'T think about the game.
12 Hard Core Blackjack Tips - Applications and Meaning
If you read through that list of blackjack tips and the elaborations on each tip, you'll pick up on a few themes. The main themes are that your blackjack game should be constantly improving, and improvement comes from thinking about the game. What I want for you is to be constantly learning and improving as a blackjack player. Excellence is worth pursuing, in blackjack and in life.
And the techniques for becoming excellent in blackjack apply to your entire life. Thinking about what you do, making rational decisions, helping others. These things all help you become a better person, not just a better blackjack player. These are the things that will demonstrate for you how to win at blackjack.
Take action on one or more of the hard core blackjack tips in this article, and see for yourself if your game doesn't improve.
See also:
How To Get Good At Blackjack
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