Different Forms of Blackjack

On 09.19.11, In Blackjack Games, Blackjack Rules, By Vivi

When it comes to blackjack there are several forms that you can choose to play, usually playing online gives you the most choices. The average player doesn’t realize there are so many different varieties, and the advantages and disadvantages that go along with each rendition. Luckily Google.com was around to help me out with the differences.

American Blackjack: Played with four decks of cards, dealer stands on soft 17, player may double down on any two cards; you can also double down after splitting. You can only split an ace once, and cannot get blackjack from a split ace.

European Blackjack: Played with two decks, player can only split once, whether it be an ace or not. If both the dealer and player have blackjack the game is a push.

Blackjack switch: You play two hands at one time, and can interchange the cards dealt to each hand.

Double Exposure: First two cards dealt to the deal are face up, players lose on ties.

Caribbean 21: Same rules as regular blackjack except you try to reach 31 instead of 21.

Spanish 21:  Unlimited amount of double downs, no 10s in the deck, the option to rescue, or surrender and wager, and in some casinos an unlicensed version is called “Pontoon” and is played without a hole card.

Multiple Action:  allows a player to place up to 3 bets on a single hand. The dealer gets a hand for each bet the player places. This doubles the amount of hands a dealer can play. You can split and double, but it is limited.

French/German: No splitting. One ace is one or eleven, but two aces are 21.

Ok, now that you know the different rules and advantages for each rendition, you need to find the perfect Blackjack for you.

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Dealer’s “Tells” Tell a Lot

On 08.31.11, In Uncategorized, By Vivi

When playing black jack you have one objective: Beat the dealer. What if you could not only beat the dealer, but actually know what they are thinking, and what cards they are holding?

Knowing a dealer’s tells is an acquired skill, but a very helpful one. It has a lot to do with facial expressions, and subconscious movements. You’re not expected to know how to do this your first sit down at a table, it will come with time.

Not every dealer is the same. Your best bet is to survey the casino and observe the mannerisms of different dealers. Some are stone cold, while others are very casual, and obvious, so to speak. As soon as you’ve found the table you’d like, sit down and play for a while. This skill is not going to perfect itself. Eventually you will get a feel for the dealer, and be able to tap into their subconscious.

Figuring out the dealer’s hole card or facedown card is the first step. The dealer isn’t actually playing with their own money so they tend to be less careful with their “poker face”.

First pay attention to how long the dealer looks at their card. Also, pay close attention to how much the card is bent; this can give you vital clues as to what the card may be.
Dealers tend to bend a stiff card (2, 3, 4, 5, and 6) up higher and for longer than paint cards to assure that it is not an Ace.
If the dealer is holding a paint card (any card higher than 6) they will most likely look at the card very briefly, and if it is a face card, hardly even look at it because they will be able to tell almost instantly, with hardly even bending the card.

This is a great tool whether you’re a novice player, or have been playing your whole life. You are now on your way to becoming a Black Jack Master Go out and try it!

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Splitting a Pair of 8’s in Blackjack

On 08.17.11, In Blackjack Tips, By Vivi

It is basic strategy. Any blackjack professional player will tell you. When it comes to being dealt a pair of 8’s in blackjack your best route is to split them.

The reluctant player will tell you, ‘Why split and risk losing twice as much money?’

Sure, that is a viable argument, but let me give you a better one.

Let’s start with the math: 8 plus 8 equals 16. In this case it is a hard 16 and it is one of the toughest hands to play out in blackjack. It is the stiffest of the stiff hands. It is this close to being in the ‘standing against anything’ category but not quite. The dealer can still beat this with relative ease since he will hit until he has a 17 or higher. But it is a hard hand to hit simply because its total is already so high.

But unlike an ordinary hard 16 this one is made up of a pair of 8’s and that means you can split it—you have a way out of that hard 16 spot. True you have to wager more money, but you have double the chance of making a profit. And logically speaking it is easier to build a hand from an 8 than from a 16.

In terms of potential loss, since that is the reason most blackjack players have for not splitting, let’s take a look at the money you stand to lose over time. If you were to not split pairs of 8’s, over time you would have lost around $52 for every $100 wagered. Now compare that to the average $43 you would lose per $100 wagered if you split pairs of 8’s every time. That is $9 you would have lost per $100.

The logic is there. The math is there. They both back up basic strategy and the pros. So there it is, my blackjack friends. It only makes sense to split a pair of 8’s when dealt them in blackjack. It does not matter if you are playing blackjack in a land casino or are playing online blackjack. Splitting pairs of 8’s is the way to go.

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Does the Dealer Have a 10 or Not?

On 07.26.11, In Blackjack Tips, By Vivi

There is a common online blackjack strategy that many novice blackjack players rely on. Unfortunately it is not a sound strategy, and can lead players down a road to loss.

In theory assuming the dealer has a hole card worth 10 kind of makes sense. A card worth 10 is a strong card. It is one of the required cards for the dealer to have a blackjack. It can also pair with a 7, 8, 9 or another 10 card for a strong hand. So players will choose how to play their hands based on the notion that the hole card is worth 10.

But there is one teeny problem with that notion of blackjack strategy. The probability is not in favor of that strategy.

Let’s just count the cards in a single desk. There are four cards per suit that are worth 10, but there are thirteen cards in a suit. This means that while there are four cards that are worth 10, there are nine cards with values other than 10.

Now let’s bring those numbers up to a six deck game, which is a common number of decks to be used. In six decks there are a total of twenty four suits present; this means there are twenty four sets of 10 value cards for a total of 96 cards worth ten out of a total number of 312 cards. With only 96 cards being worth 10 out of 312, there is only a probability of 31% that the hole card will be worth 10. This means that there is 69% chance that the hole card will have a different value.

So now we must ask the question: Would you really base your online blackjack strategy on a probability of 31%? The answer should be no.

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Making the Best Bet in Blackjack

On 07.20.11, In Blackjack Strategy, By Vivi

Do you know when that is? A lot of blackjack players both online and off think they do, but they may not be right. Especially if they are not playing with any blackjack strategy. For players who are looking to make money from playing blackjack online or off, strategy is a must.

Strategy can tell a player when the best time to bet is in blackjack and what the best plays are given the cards being held and what the dealer is showing. Normally this means knowing the math and probability of the game. Unfortunately most blackjack players do not want to take the time to go that deep into the game. Generally only professional gamblers will go that deep into the game.

However, there is nothing wrong with wanting to make some serious extra money and that is where knowing the best times and best plays comes in. For players that want to make that serious real money on the side but do not want to do the math there is another way to know when and what the best bets in blackjack are: basic strategy.

In basic strategy the math and the probability has already been calculated and put into an easy to use chart. This chart is not only the best strategy tool for both online blackjack and casino players, it also has another benefit: it is free. It costs nothing to obtain a basic strategy chart and it does not require any extra investment other than what you would normally be wagering in a game of blackjack.

Basic strategy is a char that gives the best play for each combination of dealer up card and player starting hand. Playing according to basic strategy can open a player’s eyes up to more double down options, which in turn opens players up to more winning opportunities and more opportunities to increase their own edge. Playing according to basic strategy can drop the house edge to 0.5%.

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Knowing When to Double Down

On 06.29.11, In Blackjack Tips, By Vivi

Do you know all of the times when it is opportune to double down in blackjack? I know most players, including novices, know that a hard 10 and a hard 11 can be doubled down on in most cases, but doubling down options do not end with hard 10 and hard 11.

While not every variation of blackjack allows for doubling down on hands other than a hard 10 or hard 11, there are other variations with more expansive double down options. For example did you know that there are 18 hands soft hands that have better odds when doubling down than if you were to only hit or stand? There are also 8 pairs whose odds are better as a double down than splitting.

Considering that doubling down can increase your blackjack odds by 1.6%, it pays to know when the best times to double down are—all of your options. It also pays to find the blackjack games which offer few or no restrictions on when a player can double down.

But as for knowing the best times to double down, blackjack players can find that on any basic strategy chart. This is an easy—not to mention free—way of knowing what play to make when. Think of it as an easy to use blackjack strategy tool. Basic strategy can be used in land casinos and in online casinos without fear of being busted and tossed out of the casino or banned from playing. Despite the fact that playing perfect basic strategy can lower the house edge to 0.5%, casinos do not fear it. So print a copy of the chart and take it with you on your next visit to a land casino; or pull it up in another window when playing blackjack online.

With an increase of 1.6% to your blackjack odds, knowing all of the times when it is best double down pays off.

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How to Play a Hard 12

On 06.15.11, In Blackjack Tips, By Vivi

Some stiff hands are harder to play than others. These would be the stiff hands, which are hard 12 through hard 16. These are the hands that are not favorites to win. But that does not mean that there is no strategy for them. Believe me there is blackjack strategy for these hands which can help reduce potential losses and even increase the chances of winning.

Out of those stiff hands, hard 12 is the one that confuses online blackjack players the most. Typically hard hands will stand if the dealer’s up card is 6 or smaller, and hit if the up card is 7 or higher. But that is only for hard 13 through hard 16. Hard 12 is a tad different.

While the other stiff hands are split 50/50 on hitting and standing, the hard 12 requires more hitting. If facing down a dealer up card of 2 or 3 in a game of online blackjack, it is better for the player to hit instead of stand. The reason behind hitting against those two up cards stands up when comparing potential losses.

Going on the example that a player is wagering $100 per hand, standing against a dealer’s 2 will on average result in a $29 loss while hitting against that 2 only results in about a $25 loss.

Still using the example $100 wager, standing against a dealer 3 will result in about a $25. Now compare that $25 potential loss to the $23 potential loss when hitting against a dealer 3.

While the differences are not huge when looking at a single hand outcome, over time the difference adds up. Hence the reason behind hitting a hard 12 against a dealer 2 or 3 when playing blackjack online. Such plays can also be found on a basic strategy chart, which is a strong strategy tool to use when playing online blackjack.

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$15.1 Million for AC Blackjack Player

On 05.25.11, In Uncategorized, By Vivi

I am sure you recall the last time I posted it was about an unnamed blackjack player who won $5.8 million from the Tropicana in Atlantic City in a high stakes blackjack game. That unnamed player is now revealed to be Don Johnson, and he is being very closed lipped about his blackjack strategy.

He admits that he does not use card counting as a part of his strategy though. Johnson has been playing and studying the game of blackjack for fifteen years, slowly working on his strategy. What started out fifteen years ago as $25 bets per hand have moved up to as much as $100,000 per hand at the Tropicana. And while he obviously has a sound blackjack strategy, Johnson also attributes his success to money:

“[The casinos] beat most people in the long run because the average person will not have the bankroll. But I have my own bankroll. If you can take the swings, you are going to win. You also have to understand the math.”

Johnson raises two very good points: 1. Smart wagering and, 2. Knowing the game.

Notice that I said that Johnson started out with what is for him to be small wagers. What this means is not going to the blackjack table or to an online blackjack game and wagering the most you can on a hand. Start small and build your bankroll slowly.

Know the game. Know blackjack. Take the time to study the game, its rules, its odds and work off of some basic strategy. Basic strategy is a good place to start, but it is not the end-all of blackjack strategies. Look at the game’s math and odds.

The $5.8 million won at the Tropicana was the icing on the cake for Johnson. He had two other big wins that make up the largest portion of his wins. The other big wins were $5 million at the Borgata and over $4 million at Caesar’s.

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Can You Make Money Playing Blackjack?

On 05.12.11, In Blackjack Tips, By Vivi

While it is true that blackjack is a gambling game and that you stand a chance of losing money, blackjack is one of the casino games in which players have a decent shot at making some money playing. But there are do’s and do not’s when trying to turn a profit with blackjack, be it online blackjack or blackjack in a brick and mortar casino.

First of the do’s is to play with a blackjack strategy, preferably using basic strategy. Blackjack for real money is not a guessing game. Guessing or “intuitive” playing is a quick way to lose your bankroll. Also, when I say strategy I do not mean some pseudo strategy. Strategy for blackjack has to be based on math, on numbers, statistics and odds. That is what makes something as simple as basic strategy so effective.

Basic strategy is simple a chart with the best statistical play for every hand in blackjack against any of the dealer up cards. It is a simple way to play out every hand while being effective. Playing blackjack according to basic strategy can lower the house edge to 0.5%.

Now it is time for a do not. Do not ever (and I do mean not ever) take insurance. Or play in a blackjack variation with a side bet. Side bets are another way for the house to very quickly swipe your bankroll out from under you. Understand this: insurance and side bets do not have player favorable odds. That is why they should be avoided. Stick to standard blackjack games. And no insurance!

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Stiff Hands in Blackjack and What to do With Them

On 04.28.11, In Blackjack Strategy, By Vivi

Stiff hands are like bad days. They happen and they suck and there really is not a thing you can do about them except to push on and play them out. Unless of course they are one of the four hands that you can surrender, in which case surrender and wait until the next round and hope for better cards.

So what do you do with stiff hands when you are dealt them?

Well, if it is a hard 13, 14, 15 or 16 your hitting or standing will be split in half. If the blackjack dealer is showing a 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 you will stand. This is because it would be too easy for you to hit and bust. At least with standing you have the shot at winning if the dealer busts. But if you hit and bust then you definitely lose. But if the dealer has a 7, 8, 9, 10, king, queen, jack or Ace showing you had better hit. It is likely that they will win so what does it hurt taking a stab at improving your hand? Your odds of losing here are greater anyway.

Now if you have a hard 12 the options are a little bit different. You would still hit against a 7, 8, 9, 10, king, queen, jack or Ace; but you would also hit against a dealer 2 or 3. Because a hard 12 is still a relatively small hand, there is the chance of improving the hand so blackjack players should hit!

Above all it should be understood about stiff hands in blackjack that they are the underdog hands of the game. These blackjack hands do not have the odds with them to win. But following basic strategy and winning with one is good feeling.

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