Why Basic Strategy Makes Insurance Not Necessary

On 02.03.10, In Blackjack Strategy, Online Blackjack, By Vivi

Basic Strategy was created and then tested to give players the best play possible for the hand that they are dealt against the dealer’s up card. And while this does not mean that you will win every time you play according to basic strategy, you will tend to win more in blackjack.

This is because basic strategy has taken into consideration the cards that dealers are more likely to bust on and which ones they are less likely to. This explains why you stand on stiff hands when faced with anything below a dealer’s 6. Those cards, 2 through 6, are the ones the dealer is more likely to bust on. This does not mean that they will but the chances are higher with a 6 than with a 10.

By playing blackjack according to basic strategy you can lower the house edge to about 0.05%. This happens over time. And some blackjack players feel that once they are winning more that they need to protect their strong hands against a dealer’s Ace.

Not only is the Ace the least likely card a dealer will bust on, it is necessary for having a natural blackjack. A dealer will offer you insurance.

As a basic strategy player you should decline.

Insurance is essentially a side beat that casinos have in blackjack that can help to not only increase their profit, but to also raise their edge. This is because the chance of winning versus the chance of losing creates, on average, an edge increase of 7%. And it is in the house’s favor.

Taking insurance has the potential to undo the work you have done to lower the house’s edge in blackjack to 0.05%. That impact has the potential to lower the house edge to below what the average blackjack game’s house edge is to begin with.

Most blackjack games will have an average of 2-5%. If you play basic strategy and lower the house edge to 0.05%, taking insurance will bounce the edge back to the house around 6.5%, which is likely to be worse than where you started.

When you are playing basic strategy never take insurance. If you watch you will see that serious players will not take it. And if they are not then neither should you.

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Blackjack Strategy for Soft 18

On 12.30.09, In Blackjack Strategy, Online Blackjack, By Vivi

Soft 18 is one of those hands that is not always played to its best advantage. Most blackjack players see that their hand total is 18 and stand, thinking that they have a pretty strong hand.

And in some cases standing is still the most advantageous blackjack strategy play to make. If the dealer’s upcard is a 2 through 8 it is better to stand.

If your blackjack strategy includes assuming the worst case scenario is that the dealer’s hole card is a 10, then he could have a 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 or 18. Since the dealer has to up on the 12 through 16, he stands a pretty good chance of busting. If he has a 17 you will beat him with your 18. And if he has an 18 you will push, but at least you will not have lost any money.

It is only when the dealer’s upcard is a 9, 10 or Ace that your blackjack strategy changes.

Normally if you were playing with a hard 18 you would be stuck and would have to stand. Assuming that the dealer’s hole card is a 10, he would then have a 19, 20 or blackjack. This would cause the hard 18 to lose, but having a soft 18 gives your hand a second chance.

While there is nothing you can do to beat a dealer having blackjack, you do have a shot at beating his assumed 19 or 20. Here, your strategy would be to reduce your Ace from 11 to 1 so that you are now playing with a hard 8. Now you can hit and possibly build a hand to compete with the dealer’s assumed 19 or 20.

You might beat him or you might not. But at least playing your soft 18 this way against a dealer 9 or 10 you have a chance, whereas a hard 18 would leave you standing with no chance to rebuild your hand

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Splitting 8s as a Part of Your Blackjack Strategy

On 12.22.09, In Blackjack Strategy, Online Blackjack, By Vivi

It is in the best interest of your blackjack strategy to split a pair of 8s when you are dealt them.

There are two parts to a blackjack strategy, an offensive side geared towards lowering the house edge, and a defensive side to keep from losing too much in unfavorable situations.

Splitting 8s would be a part of the defensive part of your blackjack strategy.

If you do not split you are then playing with a hard 16—a stiff hand. Stiff hands are harder to play with because they have a better chance of busting than of hitting and staying below 21. In the case of stiff hands you are hoping that the dealer will bust.

But in the case of being dealt a pair of 8s, there is a way to turn what could most likely be a loss into a possible win. Your blackjack strategy in this case must be to split.

While it is true that you are betting more money because of splitting, you now have two hands to play, both of which start with an 8. You can think of this sort of strategy as giving your cards a second chance in this round. There now exists the possibility of winning one hand maybe two.

This is defensive blackjack strategy—utilizing playing options to turn unfavorable situations into situations in which you will lose less or improve your chances for that round.

You do not want to split every single pair that you are dealt, you do not want to split a pair of 5s or 10s for example. But should you ever be dealt a pair 0f 8s, remember to split them.

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Online Blackjack Can Improve Your Health

On 12.10.09, In Online Blackjack, Online Casino, Uncategorized, By Vivi

It has been shown in several studies that playing online games, such as online blackjack can actually lower your stress.

Studies at Oxford University in the UK and at McGill University in Canada have found that after playing games online, participants had lowered the amount of the stress hormone cortisol by an average of seventeen percent. Participants also found that they felt happier afterwards as well. Similar results were found in a study conducted by an Eastern Carolina University in the US.

The reason proposed for lowered stress and a happier feeling is that playing games online serves as an escape mechanism. When one’s mind is focus on games, such as online blackjack, their mind was diverted from the worries, anger and frustration that was causing them to be stressed.

As it pertains to online blackjack, after seeing the results from these universities studies, an online casino conducted its own independent casual survey. They found that 74% for their online blackjack players felt that they were less stress and happier after playing; they felt that playing was good for their health.

The remaining 26% of those online blackjack players did not feel that their stress had been reduced. Of that 26%, the majority of those players were playing in high stakes games. With large amounts of their money on the line it is no wonder that their stress was not reduced.

Stress has been linked to health issues including hearth problems, a reduced immune system, irritable bowel syndrome and headaches. Stress has also been linked to cancer as a possible contributing factor. Destructive behaviors are also linked to stress: excessive drinking, social instability and over eating, all of which can cause more health related issues.

So if playing some low stakes online blackjack can lower your stress a bit, you might want to give it a try. Or if you are not in the position to wager money, you can even try playing for free at online casinos.

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