Blackjack? There’s an app for that
Posted on March 5th, 2010
I recently upgraded my cell phone to a smart phone for the first time. Not the iPhone (no thanks, AT&T network), but the Motorola Droid through Verizon. Great phone, love it. Why? Free apps. One of first I put on my phone and set on my home page was blackjack.
The [...]
10 value of intimidation
Posted on March 5th, 2010
There are a few intimidating sights in the gambling world. Staring down someone else’s full house. A jam-packed craps table all looking at you with the dice in your hands. The 9 p.m. line at the dessert buffet. When talking about blackjack, though, the one that comes to mind for me [...]
What’s a quarter chip?
Posted on February 28th, 2010
Casinos are there to make money. Yeah, thanks for the news flash. But my point is, every little thing they do, down – literally – to the quarter, is based off making money. And it’s for this reason that it surprises me whenever they make a rule or policy that’s to the [...]
The 12 dilemma
Posted on February 26th, 2010
12. The flip-side of 21, the unsure spot to be for many newcomers to the game of blackjack. Basic strategy tells you to hit against low dealer up-cards like a 2 or 3, but should that always be the case? Basic strategy? We don’t need no basic strategy. Well, actually, [...]
Indian casinos, cruises…legit?
Posted on February 19th, 2010
I’ve talked before about the validity of online cards, mostly poker, but you could certainly include black jack in that mix, as well. But there are plenty of other gambling entities that deserve scrutiny and questioning as to whether they’re not only valid as games, but valid as a fair option for gambling.
The biggest [...]
Watch the dealer
Posted on February 17th, 2010
We’re all paranoid. We have to be. We play cards in casinos that are designed to take our money and kick us out just for winning whenever they get suspicious. Of course, sometimes they have good reason. But other times, we’re the ones with the skeptical, accusatory eye. This relates [...]
It’s all about personality
Posted on February 12th, 2010
We all know we’re going to have to deal with annoying personalities at the blackjack table. These people think they’re God’s gift to the game (even though they’re playing the $5 minimum table), and are not about to sit back and let you hit that 14 when “you shouldn’t.” Of course, you probably [...]
But I wasn’t counting…
Posted on February 10th, 2010
I count cards. I learned 2 years ago, and while I don’t consider my skills to be as sharp as they could be in this area, I’m always looking to improve through practice. The best practice, of course, consists of taking your game to the casinos. And as the rest of you [...]
In blackjack, avoid the black (chips)
Posted on February 5th, 2010
If you’re counting cards in blackjack, I mean seriously there to win money with counting a significant part of your strategy, you know as well as anyone the last thing you want to do is draw attention to yourself. Hell, counters will employ all measure from losing on purpose to following what the pack [...]
Boxed cards
Posted on February 2nd, 2010
Blackjack terms are fairly easy to follow. Hit, stand, split, double…they’re all pretty straightforward (they mean what you think they mean). The only confusion usually comes in when people start talking to each other online in abbreviations. If you haven’t been part of those circles, the quick description of the rules of [...]
Hitting on 16
Posted on January 29th, 2010
Everyone likes giving advice, and some people even like receiving it – especially when it’s good, and even more so when it’s solicited. And there’s no shortage of advice in blackjack. Even if you’re following the strategy card as a beginner, you’re inevitably going to have times where you think you should stray [...]
Give yourself that extra “boost” to be successful
Posted on January 26th, 2010
Grinding out a profit in blackjack, much like in other games, takes discipline, patience and passion. That’s no surprise, and professionals and aspiring professional study as much as they can and take all appropriate measures to set themselves up for the long haul. By long haul, I’m talking specifically about lengthy single sessions, [...]
The blame game
Posted on January 22nd, 2010
When frustration builds, you’re not thinking clearly. Losing clouds your emotions more than a fight with a loved one or a blow call during the playoffs. You should be winning, but you’re not, and it kills you. And you’re looking for someone to blame.
Anyone but yourself, right? Or common sense. [...]
Split these Aces?
Posted on January 18th, 2010
What won’t the casinos do to entice you just a little bit more to come play their game rather than the other guy’s game – or no game at all. Sometimes it’s a free meal, others it’s a show and dance, blah blah blah you know the drill. But just as often, they’re [...]
Feeling charitable? Think again
Posted on January 15th, 2010
Strategy cards. The golden crutch of the uninitiated blackjack hopefuls. The magic ticket for the disillusioned. The backup plan for the masses. Everyone who’s ever been in a casino knows you can always rely on trusty strategy cards to help you through the tough situations – even if you foolishly choose [...]
Always walk away on a “low” note
Posted on January 13th, 2010
Card counting can be a tricky proposition. Learning how to count cards is just the beginning. The real challenge comes from understanding that just because you’ve learned this ability doesn’t guarantee returns on a regular basis. That can lead to feelings of frustration and defeat – meaning either an exit from the [...]
Not even the dealer is perfect
Posted on January 8th, 2010
It’s never fun when you screw up playing a game like blackjack. It’s frustrating, you get down on yourself and generally sink into a nasty mood for a few hours. But what about when the dealer screws up? It puts you in a very difficult situation.
First, and I know from experience, [...]
Good game…or is it?
Posted on January 4th, 2010
What defines a “good game” in blackjack? Because it’s certainly not losing $500, your shirt and self-respect to the dealer on duty, getting up, brushing the peanut crumbs off your chest, shaking the hand of the guy who was shaking his head after every one of your moves and telling the group “good game” [...]
Shifty shuffling?
Posted on January 1st, 2010
Is there ever a time where you should be suspicious of a blackjack dealer in terms of how he or she is shuffling the cards? This is a question that was part of a discussion I was in recently, as we were talking about games and both player and dealer advantages. Blackjack is [...]
Not five-card Charlie, but Perfect Charlie!
Posted on December 29th, 2009
This is the last side-bet for the time being that I have to offer you, and it just so happens that it’s by far and away the worst odds of any side-bet I’ve talked about thus far. Perhaps that in and of itself is the best illustration for why you should approach these additions [...]
Embrace the big loss
Posted on December 25th, 2009
It hurts to lose, everyone knows that. Tanking it to the tune of a grand or more feels worse than a punch in the stomach, and it gets your mind swirling in ways it otherwise wouldn’t dare. Negative emotions flood into the brain. Revenge comes first, accompanied by frustration, determination and just [...]
Super split
Posted on December 23rd, 2009
Sometimes, the side bets available to you during blackjack are a stretch, and as such are ridiculous in rules and in the house advantage. They require no extra skill or decision-making, they aren’t fun and they severely kill your chances of making any money off your regular bets. So why are they there? [...]
Dealer Busts Side Bet
Posted on December 18th, 2009
It’s always fun to bet on the dealer busting. After all, that’s what we hope happens every hand. So it’s an added bonus when a side bet comes along that allows up to directly bet on that happening on top of our normal blackjack bet.
Here’s how it works. You put your side [...]
Double down double trouble?
Posted on December 16th, 2009
It’s easy to take a player for granted if they make a move that goes against what the strategy charts tell you. You assume they’re an amateur, of course, and even consider moving to a different table so their decisions don’t affect your ability to win your hand. The last part is ridiculous, [...]
Situational play
Posted on December 13th, 2009
It’s generally accepted you double down on 11. Especially for those who aren’t counting cards, almost any strategy card you bring into the casino across the world will tell you to double down on 11. But like in all games, blackjack can sometimes be a beast of gut feelings, and if you get [...]
21 to the River
Posted on December 11th, 2009
A great side-bet also found mostly at Las Vegas casinos, 21 to the River is my favorite side bet of all, probably because it so heavily involves the game of poker, as well. Here’s how it goes. A player makes a standard blackjack bet and, in addition, a standard poker bet separately. [...]
MIT Blackjack Team
Posted on December 10th, 2009
The MIT Blackjack Team is the oldest organized team of blackjack players and the players were students and graduated students from some of the top schools in the United States including Harvard University, Harvard Business School and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The team consisted of very educated individuals who used every technique available to [...]
Doubling Questions
Posted on December 4th, 2009
OK, so the rulebook states that you split 10s against a five when the true count is five. And you split 10s against a six when the true count is four. My apologies for those who aren’t counters, but stick with me here.
So what do you do if you get an [...]
Winner’s Option
Posted on December 4th, 2009
We’ve all received a nice dose of blackjack side bets by now, but it’s important to know all the ones being offered currently, and how they stack up against each other if you’re going to try them, and intend to maximize your opportunity to profit from all aspects of the game.
So, with Winner’s Option (commonly [...]
Edward Thorp Biography
Posted on November 20th, 2009
Edward Thorp was born August 14th 1932 in Chicago and is one of the most successful blackjack players in the world. Edward Thorp is a mathematics professor, hedge fund manager and also one of the best professional blackjack players in history. Edward gained most of his popularity from his book which is called “Beat the [...]
Ken Uston Biography
Posted on October 15th, 2009
Ken Uston whose birth name is Kenneth Senzo Usui is one of the most famous blackjack players in the world who has won millions at the blackjack tables in a variety of different and unique ways. Ken was born in New York City and at the age of only sixteen he started attending Yale University [...]
