Blackjack Tips?

[whosyer12]

Here's the most basic of strategies:

 

1. Learn the rules-paying particular attention as to when the dealer has to take a card and when he stands.

2. ALWAYS play your hand as if the dealer has a ten counter in the hole, but NEVER hit a 17 or above.

 

Don't worry about splits and double downs until you're comfortable playing--then research that topic.

[diane.in.ny]

I just got off the Pacific Princess which has a CSM. I did OK the first night. My experience the remainder of the cruise made me swear never to, again, play at a table with a CSM. There is simply no feel for cards.

 

I don't count cards. But with a normal shoe sometimes a lot of pictures will come out first....or a lot of small cards.....there is some feel for what might come towards the end. Nada, of course, with the CSM.

 

BTW, the rule to NEVER split 10's doesn't hold in a tournament. Depending upon what the dealer has, of course, splitting 10's is acceptable.

[CruznTom]

There is an online site called hitorstand.net that has tutorials and free practice play that will tell you what mistake you made

[SailBadtheSinner]

GreySkies asked: .....Can you post what your cheat sheet has on it? ......

 

Here's the link to the Wizard of Odds site for basic strategy for blackjack - http://wizardofodds.com/blackjack/strategy/calculator.html

 

Also offered at WoO site is the Wizard's Simple Strategy - http://wizardofodds.com/blackjack . Screen down about 4 times to find it.

 

 

SBtS

[Casino Player]

HHHHHEEEEELLLLLLLLLLOOOOO Fellow Players: Why split a hand of 10's? A twenty is a good hand, stick with it and take the win.

[diane.in.ny]

HHHHHEEEEELLLLLLLLLLOOOOO Fellow Players: Why split a hand of 10's? A twenty is a good hand, stick with it and take the win.

 

Of course that is the way to play in a regular game. But in a tournament, splitting 10's against a 3-6 is acceptable. Anything goes in a tournament.

[Casino Player]

Of course that is the way to play in a regular game. But in a tournament, splitting 10's against a 3-6 is acceptable. Anything goes in a tournament.

 

HHHHHEEEEELLLLLLLLLLOOOOO diane.in.ny: I don't understand why what would be good in game play isn't in a tournament. The best possible play in a game should go in a tournament. I don't abide by the theory that in a tournament someone by playing poorly will beat someone playing a sound game. If you take chances the odds will catch up to you.

[diane.in.ny]

HHHHHEEEEELLLLLLLLLLOOOOO diane.in.ny: I don't understand why what would be good in game play isn't in a tournament. The best possible play in a game should go in a tournament. I don't abide by the theory that in a tournament someone by playing poorly will beat someone playing a sound game. If you take chances the odds will catch up to you.

 

Easy there......I didn't say I played that way...I'm just telling you what the dealers have told me and what I have seen for myself. The logic of those players is that it is a opportunity to pick up more $ faster. After all, they've got only 7 rounds to max out.

 

Me? I play by the book and have still managed to win two tournaments.

[AndyTheK]

HHHHHEEEEELLLLLLLLLLOOOOO diane.in.ny: I don't understand why what would be good in game play isn't in a tournament. The best possible play in a game should go in a tournament. I don't abide by the theory that in a tournament someone by playing poorly will beat someone playing a sound game. If you take chances the odds will catch up to you.

Hi CP: The object in a tournament is a little different from in a regular game. The site at http://www.blackjackinfo.com/bjtourn-basics.php has a good discussion of strategy at blackjack tournaments. There. it's all about money management.

 

Let me give you an example: suppose it's the last of the hands to be played., and the table max is $500 Now suppose that before the hand, the leader , who as luck has it bets and plays before you, has $1400 and you have $800. He bets $25, giving him a final range of 1350-1450. Betting max will still have you come out second best. So, you bet $400 and hope for opportunity to double or split so you can get $800 down - that is the ONLY way to come out ahead of him (I'm leaving out the possibility of t getting blackjack, but that's out of your control completely)! If you stand on your 20, you will likely beat the dealer, but you will still lose the tournament round! Split them and hope to win both.

 

The moral: tournament blackjack has a different goals from regular blackjack. It is not simply "Beat the Dealer". Situations may arise where "doing the right thing" will lose you the round.

 

PS - I don't play tournaments.

 

Shalom, Andy.

[Casino Player]

Hi CP: The object in a tournament is a little different from in a regular game. The site at http://www.blackjackinfo.com/bjtourn-basics.php has a good discussion of strategy at blackjack tournaments. There. it's all about money management.

 

Let me give you an example: suppose it's the last of the hands to be played., and the table max is $500 Now suppose that before the hand, the leader , who as luck has it bets and plays before you, has $1400 and you have $800. He bets $25, giving him a final range of 1350-1450. Betting max will still have you come out second best. So, you bet $400 and hope for opportunity to double or split so you can get $800 down - that is the ONLY way to come out ahead of him (I'm leaving out the possibility of t getting blackjack, but that's out of your control completely)! If you stand on your 20, you will likely beat the dealer, but you will still lose the tournament round! Split them and hope to win both.

 

The moral: tournament blackjack has a different goals from regular blackjack. It is not simply "Beat the Dealer". Situations may arise where "doing the right thing" will lose you the round.

 

PS - I don't play tournaments.

 

Shalom, Andy.

 

HHHHHEEEEELLLLLLLLLLOOOOO AndyTheK: Thanks for the differences in the tournament as opposed to sound game play. And you shouldn't play in tournaments were sound play doesn't seem to win.

How did you like your trip to New England/Canada in October? That is the favorite itenary for my wife and I. We usually go with either Carnival or Celebrity. Celebrity has longer trips and goes to Quebec City.

[AndyTheK]

We had a great cruise, except for the casino, which was a disaster this trip. This was an exceptionally wam summer and fall, so the leaves had not done their full color thing yet, except just around Quebec City. We had done Canada/NE on Carnival in 2005 which was another warm year. Oh, well <shrug>. Except for that and a missed port (Sydney) due to high winds, it was wonderful. We've settled into Princess. Didn't like Carnival at all, and Royal Carib went down significantly in the two years between our two Med cruises. Regardless of what you read here about casino comps on Princess - and in the main it's true - that isn't what makes or breaks a cruise line for us. Unfortunately, Celebrity is out - there's a show stopper which if you read enough Cruise Critic, you'll know which one I mean without getting into great detail and starting a feud here.

 

FYI. Princess rule on rating players is $25 play for two hours a night. On the craps table it can be spread, but odds (2X) are not counted in the spread. We got comped drinks a couple of times, and some goodies sent to the stateroom, but nothing like what the NCL folks rave about.

 

So now we're saving up casino money for our next fall transatlantic. In 17 days there will be LOTS of casino time.

 

Happy Thanksgiving to all. Andy.

[Casino Player]

We had a great cruise, except for the casino, which was a disaster this trip. This was an exceptionally wam summer and fall, so the leaves had not done their full color thing yet, except just around Quebec City. We had done Canada/NE on Carnival in 2005 which was another warm year. Oh, well <shrug>. Except for that and a missed port (Sydney) due to high winds, it was wonderful. We've settled into Princess. Didn't like Carnival at all, and Royal Carib went down significantly in the two years between our two Med cruises. Regardless of what you read here about casino comps on Princess - and in the main it's true - that isn't what makes or breaks a cruise line for us. Unfortunately, Celebrity is out - there's a show stopper which if you read enough Cruise Critic, you'll know which one I mean without getting into great detail and starting a feud here.

 

FYI. Princess rule on rating players is $25 play for two hours a night. On the craps table it can be spread, but odds (2X) are not counted in the spread. We got comped drinks a couple of times, and some goodies sent to the stateroom, but nothing like what the NCL folks rave about.

 

So now we're saving up casino money for our next fall transatlantic. In 17 days there will be LOTS of casino time.

 

Happy Thanksgiving to all. Andy.

 

HHHHHEEEEELLLLLLLLLLOOOOO AndyTheK: Thanks for the information about your trip. We like Carnival. The staterooms are real nice, and the food is good. We also like Celebrity Cruise Line although they are not part of the Carnival family.

Princess only requires two hours? I'm used to playing much more than that. Your bet could be spread? Ten dollars on four or five numbers? That would cut down your exposure. Most places you need a $25 to $50 bet to get rated and it usually is over four hours. Also, most casinos don't count the odds portion since that is a break even for them.

Glad you had a nice time on your cruise. I have one coming up and hope for the best. It is on a cruise line we haven't been on before.

Happy Thanksgiving AndyTheK.

[MMsteffey]

Hi All -- there are two different issues to consider at a blackjack table: blackjack strategy and the social experience. You will most likely have the best experience if you learn a little strategy and ettiquette, already outlined here, in order to get along with your fellow players. Yep, they have short term selective memories, and will remember how your play appears to impact their losses and forget about how it appears to impact their wins. My players (I'm a blackjack dealer) have the most fun when they cooperate a little. The player who does not care what other players think may, or may not, win the most. They frequently end up playing alone. My best nights are when I get six players with different levels of experience who talk and listen to each other and have fun trying to beat the house.