Blackjack Blog

Splitting Your Chances in Blackjack Splits

The Blackjack Advisor — Fri, 27 Apr 2007 17:20:13 +0000

For blackjack players, they will encounter various means when they would have to consider a split to be able to improve their chances. It is similar to holding two hands for the price of one, something that usually occurs when blackjack players find themselves having two similar cards. In most scenarios, players would most likely recourse to splitting them so that they can have more options of playing combination cards and better chances of beating opponents and the dealer as well.

Tricky as it may seem, such is deemed something that will surely be anybody’s guess. The dealt cards will be the derivative factor for such and no one can really tell what would happen one they are hit. The only consolation and good part of it all is the fact that they can be able to take note that they have two hands to play, making it all the more riskier for the dealer to make hits since the number of opposing cards to consider has just been raised.

Of course there will also be bluffs in blackjack where a player’s cards may be hiding something. This is usually a high risk move, especially when a player continues to raise his wager. It may be to their advantage and then again may be not. The only person on the blackjack table to know this would be the person himself playing the cards and no one else.

So blackjack is more than just racing to the needed 21 total and people just have to face the fact that there is a challenge to it all. Two cards may be easy to depict but they are more than enough to make a difference when it comes to winning it all. The best way is to try and sum it all up to the desired twenty one total so that they can be sitting pretty watching the competition cram to perfection.

But players who may find themselves at an advantage cannot afford to be cocky and overconfident. The dealer and the other players cannot afford to be content with their hand since anything is possible from any new hit in the blackjack session. For all they know, something unexpected may happen and the only best way to heave a sigh of relief is to make sure that they have a total of twenty one. The worst thing that they can hope for is a draw. Otherwise, anything lower than a twenty one will be at risk all the time.

Blackjack Aces: Ones or Elevens?

The Blackjack Advisor — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 03:09:07 +0000

Everyone knows that the Ace card is the most desired card to have when a player find himself playing the game of blackjack. For upfront dealt cards, the wish that the second card would be a face card will surely be on their minds. The reason behind this is of course it would mean automatic winnings and no more need to worry about hitting and dealing of cards with the dealer and the other opponents on the table.

But in some scenarios, low card valued numbers may turn out, but the choices do not stop there. Blackjack players can have the option to call it an eleven or a one, depending on the next card that comes their way. The idea is still the same, try to have a total of twenty one with the cards on hand to be safe from losing everything in that dealt session. The consolation there is that they have wider choices because of the existence of Aces on their hand.

The flow of the game can go either way. Usually the advantage of Aces is the flexibility of having them that carries two optional values. However, it remains that players still have to do the necessary to be able to achieve the goal of getting the maximum available value through dealt cards. This can only be done through hits as long as they stay away from the high cards such as the tens and the face cards which will ruin the chances and limit options for sure.

The downside of a player having simultaneous Aces is the fact that the game would be harder as it progresses. The reason behind this is the fact that blackjack hits would become thinner as they go along until there is a new stack of cards to be dealt once a session has reached the last card of the rack. Thus, not all players are fond of using up all the aces although the game becomes a whole lot interesting at that point.

Whatever happens, dealing with the Aces is important in the game of blackjack. Many would want an instant Ace and face card to get instant winnings. However, no one can foretell how the game would turn out, especially if the game takes a turn on the different aspect of cards being dealt. Regardless, the matter of skill comes into play. The basics of blackjack will surely come into play and the enthusiastic blackjack players just have to deal with it from thereon.

Would You Fold in a Deck?

The Blackjack Advisor — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 18:49:59 +0000

One thing about blackjack is being wise. Many rely on intuition while others would want to play on the conservative side. This usually stems once the dealer shows his first card. With only two cards in the initial dealing, the chances of the next card being a high card or a face card is really something that would make a player think. The wiser ones would fold. But the others would simply want a hit to maximize their totals just in case the other card of the dealer may not be what it is.

Probabilities grace the game of blackjack and this is a given in any session of the game. Many would dare to defy the odds and some have won from these high risk decisions. But in the event of an Ace being shown, many would not take the risk and simply fold to save the humiliation and losses that they would readily incur once the faces of their chances of winning are slowly getting dimmer.

Some players would not fold for the manner that they believe they can still pull it off. Blackjack may be a simple card game, but it is also something that needs wise decisions. It is more than relying on plain intuition. It is about reading the cards and tracking the deck as well to see what probabilities and stakes they would have should they continue playing the game.

Folding is not an act of cowardice as some players would often refer to it. It is about being wise to your opponent in times where one would find himself in the doldrums of probable defeat. There is more to the game than being daring. It is also looking at your winnings and checking if you are ready to lose it all just in case people have trouble deciding when to stop.

Two cards, one winner. A player can simply get his share through a lucky pick of the cards. However, some people just need to wise up at times since they may find themselves losing more than what they have actually won. Blackjack is simple if a person looks at it. Even the teens can take a crack at it. However, all these things change once people are on a different setting such as casinos and online casino games. There is a disparity of probabilities and people should know how to deal with them as well.

Training with Hit or Stand Decisions in Blackjack

The Blackjack Advisor — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 06:43:34 +0000

In blackjack, practicing and training in the best possible ways from available software and sites will be the key towards developing future good blackjack players. While there are a lot of sites that offer free games where there is no actual money involved, sites such as Hit or Stand will provide various tutorials and tips to help improve player strategies. Through the technology of flash developed interactive programs, visitors can try their hand in the game and even get tips on how to further improve their blackjack decision making and skills.

Technically, players who visit the site may find their strategies unorthodox and it would not be surprising if the trial program at Hit or Stand may not totally agree with the entire manner of play. While they are not required to be always leaned on, the fact that people can have an idea of what approach they may possibly be doing wrong is something that they should take into consideration if and when they do play the game in actual blackjack games.

No one can tell a player what to do. All that a blackjack enthusiast can do is look at the possibilities and the rest would be up to him. In most cases, they would not immediately adapt the learned strategies. People will still vouch for their own style and slowly integrate their new found style from thereon. The implementation of new approaches and strategies in card games is not easy. They need careful deliberation and getting used to as well. It is not an overnight success to which anyone can immediately experience enhanced improvement from them.

Taking their time and practicing in depth with the free games using supposed dummy bets which take the place of actual bets in real games will provide a better overview. In the Hit and Stand Trainer, decisions and moves made will have tips as well. Tips on potential risky moves that may force a player to bust against the dealer will be shown. This is the best way to analyze the approach towards the game. A card for a card shown will be something that limits the areas that need to be addressed in such situations.

Blackjack players are not expected to adjust their approach based on the trainer’s advice. For sure, the mental attitude of seasoned blackjack players that they still know the best moves can never be taken out of them. But as for the Hit and Stand Trainer module, they are simply there to help beginners and people who seek improvements to their game. It is not a module where blackjack players need to listen to. They are entirely flexible and open.

Blackjack Myths: Dealing with a New Deck

The Blackjack Advisor — Wed, 18 Apr 2007 16:32:48 +0000

It is only normal for people to have superstitious beliefs with regards to how they approach their games and blackjack is not spared from this. Things like where they are seated in the table, their approach towards the dealer and even the deck used are among the notable things that come into play when people play the game. On whether these things have a bearing on the whole issue is something beyond a player’s ability to win. But no one can stop them from doing what they want, especially if they believe that these are important aspects in their game.

One of the common blackjack myths is that of the use of new decks in a session. Unlike old decks, the arrangement of the cards have been so used up that chances are their chronological order has been messed up. Hence, it may not necessarily follow that the hits that they get upon dealt cards would be consistent. People have this knack that disembarking cards from their original order would usually provide better chances and such would be something that be to their advantage.

There are many myths in blackjack but regardless, it all depends on the approach of players and the degree to which they hooked on to the game. There are a lot of online gambling games that people can play and each would have their own variant for sure. However, the use of cards is something that carries on to most of them, especially to the ones who supposedly keep track and all. Myths or superstitious approaches are only common. These practices are what player believes in and no one can interfere with them for as long as they believe they have something to do with the actual game in tow.

So one has to ask, does the change of the deck of cards truly have a bearing on the entire scenario. Many would give a loud yes while other would care less. Either way, people will believe in what they want to and no one else can do anything about it. Blackjack may sound like a simple game compared to the other gambling games. But it is more than just that. Online gambling will always need all the assists in can get. And in this case, believing in the blackjack myths just so happens to be one of them. The players will take them any time.

Blackjack: Dealing with Bets

The Blackjack Advisor — Mon, 16 Apr 2007 03:47:38 +0000

In most blackjack games, there will always be a set minimum bet to get things rolling. While blackjack players are free to wager and increase their bets as they please, it is advisable for people to start off things with the required minimum bet before they venture out into the nitty gritty. The flow of the game is something that should be carefully considered as well. In this game, there is also the matter of wising up when it comes to the bets they make, especially actual money.

When we say actual money, this refers to blackjack played in the gambling level like in casinos or online blackjack. Some people play blackjack for the fun of it, hence sometimes, they use alternative methods of wagering such as fake money just for the fun of it.

But the real meat comes when players who have been fond of gambling games take it to another level. They may have similarities to other card games such as Poker but blackjack is actually based on a much manageable level. It does not hold the long list of card combinations needed to be able to get a winning hand. In fact, a player can even immediately win one deal with an ace and a face card, known as “Blackjack” to most. Their wages are doubled and the next deal of cards automatically ensues.

It does sound simple but complicated once the player is at the actual session already. Usually the sane manner of making bets would be encountering hardship since pressure will sure to mount for the serious blackjack player who wants to achieve his goal, that of which is to win every deal which everyone knows is close to impossible. Basing it on analytical probabilities they may win but not consecutively. Chances are part of it which makes it tempting to play and watch.

Players can go on making minimum bets throughout if they wish. But going back to some hands where they would wonder how much they could win if they increased the ante will always run around their mind. However, this needs guts and risk. Not all blackjack players except the professional ones, would usually resort to it. The veteran blackjack players would always place everything on the line. They are the players to look up to especially for players who have difficulty in knowing when to hit and when to fold.

The Basic Strategy of Blackjack

The Blackjack Advisor — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 18:40:39 +0000

Unlike other usual card games, blackjack players can win instantly, assuming of course their cards are either totaling 21 or are nearer to the needed denomination to be able to do so. A lot of people have turned to blackjack as well, finding it easier to play and understand. However, some basic strategies of the game should be done, especially when it comes to a hit or stand situation.

Hit of course refers to being dealt additional cards to add more points to a given hand. This occurs when the total of the cards in hand are way beyond the safe level of getting a good chance of beating the dealer. But then again, it would be best for blackjack players to keep track of the dealt cards. Usually, once a deck has been consumed, the entire deck will reset to which better card values may be gotten again.

Stand refers to sticking with what a player has and waiting for the cards to be revealed. The best combination is of course a total of 21 where a face card or a ten and an Ace of any suit will be the key for a player’s chances of winning. In a way, players can also bluff and keep mum about their cards. Going over the limit of 21 is something no player would want to do since it would be a bust for them.

Blackjack does sound easy but it still depends on the people playing it. It is not entirely about what goes on or around with the other players. It is about trying to secure a safe sum to play on and using this as leverage towards other hands of co-players during a game session. In such scenarios, people would rarely get a consistent hand of 21. Hence it all lies on what total players can accomplish to have during a dealt deck.

Overall blackjack has a following of its own. Many consider it as something entirely less appealing and exciting due to it’s simplicity of play. But if people would look a little bit closer, there is more to the game of just getting to a total of 21. It also includes good analysis and presumptions to conquer and win a hand. Besides, it is not just the dealer that blackjack players have to deal with. There is also the dealer to which is surely someone that will be good at the game in most cases as well.

Win At Blackjack Online

The Blackjack Advisor — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 05:58:51 +0000

For those of you who are merely starting out as online gamblers, then blackjack is the perfect place to begin. Blackjack has always been touted as one of the most winnable gambling endeavors – both in the real life gambling scene and in online casinos. With online casinos, there seem to be more perks for the blackjack player.

We all know that blackjack is the casino game that offers the highest odds of winning. That is, a blackjack player has high chances of beating the casino. With online casinos, the odds are made even more favorable with the various promotions and offers that they lay on the line. For example, some online casinos offer matching bonuses. That is, for you initial deposit of, say, up to $200, they will deposit a matching bonus of $200 into your account. That means you have $400 to work with. Not bad at all, is it? Another scenario may be for the online casino to give you a flat bonus. That is, a casino may give you an exact amount of, say, $500, just for signing up with them. This amount will be deposited into your account once you have put in some money.

These are not the only promos and bonuses that you may avail of with online casinos. With the myriad choices available to online gamblers, casinos are trying to outdo one another and give the players something better than other casinos give. As such, there are so many perks that online players can avail of, if only they do a quick survey of the online casinos.

Combine these bonuses and promotions with the fact that blackjack is quite easy to win at, then you shouldn’t have any doubts as to what online gambling game to play. As we have emphasized before, all you need is to know the ins and outs of basic blackjack strategy and a little bit more knowledge of the advanced techniques and you are in good standing. New players have as much as an advantage as more experienced players as you are actually playing against the house and not each other.

Even well seasoned players would do well to spend more time playing blackjack than any other gambling game online. Blackjack is less risky than other card games. With the odds in your favor, you are more likely to win and add to your bankroll than with other card games online. You may receive the same bonuses and perks even if you play another game online. However, it may be easier to lose all that money as compared to playing blackjack.

That is why a lot of people consider blackjack as the “winner” when it comes to online casino games. Of course, there is more to it than just simply playing. As mentioned earlier, at the very least, master your basic strategy first. There is no excuse for not knowing it. There are uncountable resources online which can help you work at this. Then also, you should know the rules of the casino that you have signed up with. Throw caution to the wind and you may just find yourself bust without any chances of coming back.

Technorati Tags: blackjack, online blackjack, online casinos, matching bonus, sign up bonus

The Positive Side of Continous Shuffling Machines?

The Blackjack Advisor — Wed, 01 Nov 2006 16:34:08 +0000

On my last post on Continous Shuffling Machines (CSM) I said that CSMs are the card counters’ enemy. What I didn’t mention though is that CSMs actually, in a way, work in favor of non card counters. It seems stupid then for casinos to install CSMs since the large majority of blackjack players are in truth not card counters and just plain straightforward old fashioned blackjack players.

So does this mean that casinos are freely giving the ordinary player a better chance at winning? Are casinos really willing to give away their money or is this an oversight on their part? Today’s post will try to explain why CSMs are supposedly beneficial for non counters and why it really isn’t in the end.

According to an article written by Michael Shackleford using a CSM actually lowers the house advantage. This is true for the simple reason that compared to games that use cut cards, CSM games on the average have more tens (10) in each hand. If you’re confused as to why you only need to remember that the discarded cards are mixed together with unplayed cards when using a CSM. This means that the 10s that otherwise could have been among the discards are placed back with the rest of the cards so that the chances of being dealt with a 10 is greater than if the 10 wasn’t placed back. Because of that fact the probability of getting a blackjack actually increases or, expressed in another way, the house advantage actually decreases by using a CSM.

So just how much does the CSM affect the house advantage. Michael Shackelford gave the following table relating the number of decks used and the effect of the CSM on the house advantage.

Reduction in House Advantage with the Use of CSM
No. of Decks        Reduction
1                0.113%
2                  0.063%
4                  0.034%
5                  0.028%
6                  0.020%
8                0.014%

It can be noted that the reduction in house edge is greater with a fewer number of decks. This isn’t surprising since we all know that the more decks used the higher the house advantage always is.

Despite this fact though casinos still cannot be called stupid because another characteristic of the CSM effectively neutralizes the positive effect for players. As the name of the machine implies the one thing it does is to continously shuffle the card for the dealer. This means no manual shuffling and thus less work for the dealer and the increased ability to deal a greater number of hands for a given time. In fact the CSM increases the number of hands dealt per hour by as much as 20%. This means that if you are an ordinary player you’ll be playing games each hour and thus lose more money quickly. Unless you are a really good professinal player you are expected (and statistics back this up) to lose money in the long run. The faster you play the faster you’ll lose money. This means that the very small advantage that the CSM actually gave you is more than made up for by the fater rate at which you’ll be losing money.

In the end CSMs really are disadvantageous to both card counters and ordinary players. The only positive side of CSMs are seen by casinos as their profit rise by the minute.

Technorati Tags: Card Counting, Card Counter, CSM, Continuous Shuffling Machine, Cut Card, House Advantage, House Edge, Michael Shackleford

Blackjack Myth Busters

The Blackjack Advisor — Fri, 08 Sep 2006 02:29:25 +0000

Card counting is not the only aspect of blackjack that can be shrouded in myths. Perhaps it is human nature to come up with all sorts of beliefs – for whatever reason, we can just contemplate on that. Anyhow, let’s take a look at some other common myths surrounding blackjack. Identifying these myths and knowing that they are fallacious will surely bring nothing but good things down you way – when playing blackjack, that is.

Myth Number 1 – To be a winner in blackjack, your hand must be 21. Ahhhh duhhh, doesn’t everyone know that isn’t exactly correct? Funny as it may seem, the answer is no. You might be surprised at the number of people who try their hand at blackjack for the first time. They actually think that the object of the game is to reach 21. The truth is that the object of the game is to beat the dealer’s hand. That’s it. Getting a 21 is well and good but not always necessary.

Myth Number 2 – Individual players in a table affect how the game goes for all the other players. This is the myth that makes other people hate stupid players on their table. However, the reality is that though other players’ mistakes may have an effect on the current hand, if you add up all the mistakes and good moves, at the end of the day, it all evens out. So don’t be too quick to blame the newbie on the table. Again, it all evens out in the end. If I were you just focus on your play – it will reap you more benefits.

Myth Number 3 – Going on the same track as Myth Number 2, there is this belief that if a new player joins the table in the middle of the game, it will make YOU lose. Now if that were true, that would really really suck. Imagine the scenario: there you are working hard at your game, finally doing well when this guy suddenly joins the table – there goes away all your hard work! Fortunately for all of us, this simply isn’t true. Whether or not a player leaves or joins mid-game, the chances of you winning or losing in blackjack do not change. The chances lie in the deck of cards, not whether or not someone leaves or joins the game.

Myth Number 4 – When the dealer is hot, there is nothing you can do. This is the most common myth people who totally have faith in lady luck believe in. Bear in mind though, the dealer has no choices when it comes to blackjack. He merely follows the rules and deals. That’s it. On the other hand, you as a player can make choices, and that is what counts the most.
There are still many blackjack myths circulating in the casinos, be it an online casino or a real one. This post is getting to be too long though. So be patient and we’ll take a look at some more in the next posts.