Blackjack Strategy

Single Deck Blackjack

2006-11-14T12:12:00.000-08:00

So I took a break today for a little bit to play a cleopatras slot machine and then went on a hunt for casinos that offered single deck blackjack. For the life of me I could find any when I searched the net. Very frustrating. If you know of any, email me and I will compile a list to share with everyone.

If you ever get a chance, play a little single deck. It can be alot of fun ;-) Read the fine print though as some of the dingle deck rules may have been changed to put the edge back in the house's favor.

Cheers,

BJ

Legalities of Online Gambling

2006-10-23T14:32:00.000-07:00

I have been very quite over the past couple of months waiting to see what is going to happen to the online gambling industry. In the past I have mention about playing online and I have myself. Over the past few months there have been many developments with respect to the state of online gambling for people living within the United States. I am not a laywer, and do not offer any legal advise. However I will provide a list of resources so you can make an informed decisions

First off: Is online gambling illegal?

then there is Wired Magazines take on the issue

Also to look at is MSNBC's report.

Hope this helps you decide for yourself. I will provide ongoing updates on this issue as I can.

BJ

The Goal of Blackjack

2006-07-21T15:07:00.000-07:00

One thing I figured out early on in learning how to play blackjack was what the goal of the game is. Casinos will tell you in their rules that your goal is to come as close to "21" as you can without going over to beat the dealer.

What I think this does in the minds of novices is convince them that they need to get really close to 21. Some people may even think that there is no way you can win unless you get over 16. I for one use to think this way. If you look at any basic strategy chart you know this is not the case. What I learned, which basically evey blackjack player out there knows, is that the goal of the game is to beat the dealer. Yes thats right, I dont give a damn about getting close to 21. All I care about is beating the dealing and collecting my chips.

I will elaborate on this subject more in coming posts and how you can use this to your advantage.

Until next time,

BJ.

Internet Gambling Ban Follow Up

2006-07-14T11:59:00.000-07:00

Just a follow up on the on the internet gambling ban post from the other day. I was watching Jon Stewart the other night when he was making fun of the whole internet gambling ban and how rediculous it is. You can check out the clip on youtube. Pretty freakin hilarious.

Internet Gambling Debate Goes On

2006-07-11T11:35:00.000-07:00

The Washington Post today is reporting that congress is debating to ban online gambling. This has been tried before and failed, so why are they still at it? Online gambling is legal in the UK and they have decided that instead of fighting a losing battle, they will embrace and regulate it. The article talks about trying to stop payments to gambling websites and forcing ISP's to block Internet access to gambling web sites. I dont think this will ever happen and is a complete waste of time and resources. This is a complete waste of tax payers dollars. Washington state has already banned online gambling and I wonder how many people in that state have stopped.

Blackjack at an online casino

2006-07-07T13:11:00.000-07:00

Now that my team has been eliminated from the World Cup, time to get back in the saddle and start with some more blackjack. Learning to play blackjack online has its ups and downs. Sometime when I am on a bad streak, the best thing to do is to take a break. The next couple of weeks I am going to devote my time to going to my local casino, and also playing at an online casino I figure the combination of offline vs online play will help me become a better player, no matter the conditions. If you want some tips on playing drop me a line.

Till next time,

BJ

The World Cup is Here

2006-06-09T09:04:00.000-07:00

My posts on blackjack will have to take a break for a while as there is something far more important happening right now. Today is the kick off to the World Cup! The biggest sporting event of the World. Team USA is set for a big year and I am keeping my fingers crossed. Eveyone always thinks their team will win. Why lay a little down with some world cup betting action. If you talk the talk, then walk the walk.

BJ.

Blackjack Directory

2006-06-06T15:51:00.000-07:00

If you are looking for a Directory organized by subject, including Blackjack then check out the hot or not directory. Some good blackjack sites listed.

Tip Your Dealer

2006-05-31T11:45:00.000-07:00

As a strong believer in customer service, I think it's important to show your appreciation. Therefore, tip your blackjack dealer.

Though it may not change the odds or your luck, it will ensure that the dealer stays on your side and makes your playing experience an enjoyable one.
It could also work out your advantage, as tipping can increase your comps if you're keeping your blackjack dealer happy.

Most people tip on how much they're betting. For $5 playing, I would tip $1-$2 for the dealer. For $25 playing, I would tip around $5.
Obviously tip amount is a personal thing, and the only time I would suggest not tipping is for unfriendly service.

That's all for now

BJ

Card Counting in Blackjack: A Hard Way to Make Easy Money

2006-05-25T10:15:00.000-07:00

I read a pretty good aricle on Card Counting by Kevin Blackwood this morning. He goes through his experiences over the past two decades as a professional card counter. Kevin has played Blackjack all over the world, and has won over $1 million in single and double deck blackjack games. The best part of it is that he says that you don't have to be a mathematical genius, or play on some highly capitalized team to succeed at card counting. With enough practice and determination, anyone can do it.

Here is a link to the article: Worlds Greatest Job by Kevin Blackwood

Enjoy

BJ

Help With Blackjack

2006-05-01T10:00:00.000-07:00

So as I review the posts that I have done over the past few months I realize that I have neglected to post some material on strategy for blackjack. Strange as this site is all about blackjack and strategy, hmmmm.

So I thought I would do a post about learning for the beginner. I remember when I was learning to play, the game looked so simple. Yet only after I started to understand the mathematics behind the game did I realize that there is much more to the game than meets the eye. So in an interest in helping to understand the basics and the entire game, I found this site that has some great lessons on playing blackjack.

I like this site because it takes a player through the natural progression of the game. Providing a lot of useful info but without making it too heavy. Don't get me wrong, learning to play can be quite intimidating and the site does get technical, but it does so in a way that is easy for the average joe to understand.

Enjoy...

BJ.

Poker Reality TV Show

2006-04-06T15:06:00.000-07:00

Ok Ok, I know this is not Blackjack. But I know that there are a ton of poker players out there and the game is growing in populairty every day. This just came accross my inbox so I thought I would pass it along.

So what do you get when you combine poker with reality tv? You get the Calvin Ayre Wild Card Poker show. The show is set at the Calvin's Estate in Costa Rica and will have some of the biggest names in poker along side some celebrities who battle it out for a top prize of 500K. Not too bad and should be entertaining to watch. If your interested in watching the show, tune in to Fox Sports Net as it is ayreing (pun definately intended) the episodes in April.

Till next time.

BJ

View related poker posts at Technorati

Customer Service is Huge

2006-03-13T16:39:00.000-08:00

So in my last post I mentioned that there are several factors you need to consider when looking for an online casino to play blackjack at. Besides the graphics and smoothness of the screen, customer service is huge for me. I need to know that if something happens with my game, I can call someone and talk to them. This is such a huge part of playing online and its often understated. One of the online casinos that I know I can get a hold of someone at is bodog.

Playing online is not 100% perfect. Things will always happen when playing blackjack online it's inevitable. And there is nothing more frustrating than when something goes wrong and you have to send off an email and wait for a response. That is garbage.

Until Next Time,

Choppy screen

2006-01-27T11:38:00.000-08:00

Another important aspect to playing online is the smoothness of the animation. There are a few factors that are out of the control of casino providers such as computer speed, graphics cards, and internet conection. Personally, I have a new 64 bit processor computer with a broadband internet connection so all in all there should be few glitches. However sometime when I play blackjack the game is not optimal. Cards turning over are slow and choppy, when I place a bet the screen jerks. These are items that for me dont make online playing that enjoyable.

So I am creating a list of my favorites that have good, smooth animation. Makes playing online that much enjoyable.

Until next time,

BJ

Blackjack Casinos

2006-01-10T17:02:00.000-08:00

Well its the start of 2006 and Blackjack is once again on my mind. I took a break over the holidays and am now fresh and ready to start practicing. One thing that I am going to do is this year is provide a list of great casinos to play blackjack at. Now I know what you may be thinking? Isn’t blackjack at all casinos the same?

This couldn’t be further from the truth. I am not going to get into any issues with payout and customer service, just playing the game. What am I talking about? There are certain elements that make playing the game fun. Some people have their own preferences, likes and dislikes. The main ones being the speed of the game, playing multiple hands at a time, re-bet option.

I will be covering the main issues and which casinos to play blackjack at over the next couple of posts.

Till them,

BJ

Hit or Stand Chart - Blackjack Strategy

2005-12-14T10:14:00.000-08:00

When I first started blogging about blackjack strategy I posted a basic strategy chart. Well, the graphic was less than readable so I have scoured the net to find a better one. Voila, the new and improved hit or stand blackjack chart.

Use this blackjack chart as a reference guide. It is a basic hit or stand chart that you can use to lower the house edge and improve your odds at the game. Remember you won't always win but with a little help from your friend, you will help to maximize your bankroll when playing.

With this basic chart, there are 4 main actions, Hit, Stand, Double or Split. To use the chart find your hand from the far left column and then locate the Dealers Up Card from the top. You can then locate what you should do. Using this hit or stand chart won't guarantee a win, but it will help you to reduce the house edge.

Enjoy!

BJ

Blackjack Blues

2005-12-05T23:30:00.000-08:00

It's Been a while since I have posted. I needed since I posted the last series. And I haven't had any luck playing Blackjack lately. Sometimes I think I would be better off playing the lottery.

Oh well, thats how it goes sometimes. Next week I will dive into some more strategy.

BJ.

Part 3 - Blackjack Splitting Wrap-Up

2005-11-08T15:03:00.000-08:00

This is the final installment in my series on splitting pairs in blackjack. If you didn't read my last weeks posts I covered Part 1 - Split Blackjack Cards and Part 2 - Split Pairs in Blackjack.

Today I just wanted to wrap up this topic. Spitting cards in Blackjack is always an option, espcially when you are delt pairs and you know the dealers up card. There are times when splitting your pairs makes the most sense and other times it doesn't. Remember, the game of Blackjack is all about math. Memorize the strategy chart in order to know when to split your cards. This will give you the best odds in blackjack

Until next time,

BJ

Part 2 - Splitting Pairs in Blackjack

2005-10-27T13:56:00.000-07:00

This is the second part in my series on splitting pairs in blackjack. Earlier this week I started off the series with Part 1 Split Blackjack Cards. Today I am going to discuss the strategy behind splitting pairs and when you should split your cards.

Part 2 – Strategy Behind Split Blackjack Cards

When you are dealt a pair of matching cards in blackjack, regardless of their suit, you are able to split the hand into two separate hands, and play each hand independently. Let's say you are dealt a pair of eights for a total of sixteen. Sixteen is the worst possible hand you be delt in blackjack, since it is unlikely to win as is, but is very likely to bust if you draw to it. Here's a great chance to improve your hand.

If you are playing a hand-held game, split your blackjack cards by turning the cards face-up in front of your bet just like a double down. Then, in either type of game, place a matching bet beside the original bet in the circle. Note that you must bet the exact same amount on a split, unlike a double-down, where you are allowed to double for less. The dealer will separate the two cards, and treat them as two independent hands. Let's say you draw a 3 on the first 8, for a total of 11. Many casinos will allow you to double down on that hand total of 11 at this point. When this is allowed, the rule is called "Double after Split", predictably enough. Regardless, you can play the first hand to completion, at which point the dealer will deal a second card to the second hand, and you can begin making play decisions on it.

If you receive additional pairs (in the first two cards of a hand), most casinos will allow you to re-split, making yet another hand. The most common rules allow a player to split blackjack hands up to 3 times, making 4 separate hands, with 4 separate bets. If double after split is allowed, you could have up to 8 times your initial bet on the table if you chose! Some casinos restrict re-splitting, and some allow unlimited splitting of blackjack cards. Another fine point is that you are allowed to split any 10-valued cards, so you could split a (Jack and Queen) hand. However, this is usually a bad play: Keep the 20 points.

The other complication for blackjack pair splits concerns splitting Aces. Splitting your Aces is a very strong player move, so the casino restricts you to drawing only one additional card on each Ace. Also, if you draw a ten-valued card on one of your split Aces, the hand is not considered a true Blackjack, but is instead treated as a normal 21, and therefore does not collect the 3:2 odds. Some casinos do allow re-splitting Aces if you draw another card, while many do not allow re-splitting Aces although they often allow re-splitting of any other pairs of cards. With these restrictions, you may wonder whether it is worth it to split Aces. The answer is a BIG YES. Always split pairs of Aces if you can.

For accurate pair splitting advice, consult the basic blackjack strategy chart I originally posted.

Stay tuned for my third and final installment of splitting blackjack cards.

Till then,

Part 1 - Split Blackjack Cards

2005-10-24T14:41:00.000-07:00

This week I am going to discuss splitting blackjack cards and get back into blackjack strategy that you can use when playing. This is the first in a series of posts this week about splitting cards when playing blackjack. I am going to cover, what splitting cards is (definition), the strategy behind splitting cards, and why you would want to split your cards.

Part 1 - What is Splitting Cards?

Before I get into when to split blackjack cards and when not split, I first need to let you know what splitting cards is. Below is a technical definition for you.

Splitting your cards in blackjack refers to the action of creating 2 new hands when you are dealt 2 cards of identical value. You can physically split these 2 cards into 2 new blackjack hands and each of the cards will be the first card in the new hands. Thus, you will be playing 2 hands of blackjack at the same time. However to split your cards, you will need to place an additional wager for the new hand in order to be playing 2 hands at the same time.

Come back later this week when I dive into the strategy of when to split cards and when not to split. There are some fairly straight forward rules, so stay tuned for more info on split blackjack cards.

That’s it for now,

Blackjack Casino Money Management

2005-10-18T14:08:00.000-07:00

Here is a great article I found this week while surfin around. The article is not specific to blackjack strategy but can be used for money management when playing blackjack at an online casino. The most important thing to remember is that playing blackjack, especially online can burn through your bankroll quickly. Blackjack is a great game, but can be played very quickly, especially online.

Here it is http://ezinearticles.com/?id=79251

Read this casino strategy article on money management and keep these principals in mind when playing online blackjack. These tips will help to maximize your bankroll and prolong the entertainment while playing blackjack.

Enjoy,

BJ

Back in the Saddle and Ready For Some Blackjack

2005-10-03T17:00:00.000-07:00

I am back from my vacation, wow did I need that, so I am ready fora little blackjack. Its been a while since my last post on blackjack strategy so it will take me a couple of days to get back into the swing of things. Stay tuned for some more great blackjack strategy.

Until next time,

BJ

Free Blackjack Game

2005-08-15T14:09:00.000-07:00

Now that you have the foundation set for playing blackjack, it is time to practice playing. As they say, practice makes perfect. While seaching the net the other day I found this great free blackjack game for computer so that you can practice the tips that I have posted.

Remember that while playing this free blackjack game, you can always refer to the strategy chart that I have posted if you are stumped at what you should do.

Enjoy!

B.J.

Basic Blackjack Strategy Chart

2005-08-04T09:37:00.000-07:00

I'm back. Today I have included a blackjack strategy card that I found while surfing the Internet. Now that you have the basics under your belt, this blackjack strategy chart will help you with those critical decisions. Also do some digging around yourself for some other strategy charts. There are alot out there that may help you make better decisions.

The chart is pretty much self-explanatory so take some time to study it. Blackjack is a strategy game and if you base your decisions around the possible outcomes of what is known, the better your odds.

But remember to have fun! Good luck hitting 21!

B.J

PS - Click on the blackjack strategy chart for a better version of it. It doesnt look so good in this template

Blackjack for Beginners

2005-08-02T09:07:00.000-07:00

Back from the weekend and my head is a little fuzzy. So today I am going to dive right into the basics of blackjack. Because so many people have access to computers and the Internet, learning the game has never been easier. Learning online, beginners can easily pick up the game of blackjack before heading to the casino. So here is the first installment of online blackjack for beginers! Today’s post begins with blackjack terminology.

Some basic terms of the game:

21 wins: Aces count as either a 1 or 11, face cards 10, all other cards counted as they are marked.

Hard Hand: is a hand that does not include an ace. What you see on your two cards is your total count, such as 6 + 8 = 14.

Soft Hand: a hand that includes an ace in the first two cards dealt. It has two values, depending on whether you use the ace as 1 or 11. So a 5 and an ace could be 6 or 16.

Stiff Hand: a potential bust hand, such as a 13 or 14, but especially a hard 15 or 16, which are the two worst hands you can get (unless the 16 is two 8s, then you split). Push: same count as the dealer -- a tie -- no money is exchanged, you don't win or lose.

Burn Cards: number of cards casino discards at the beginning of a new shuffle.

Multiple Decks: four or more decks played in a game, always dealt face up.

Single or Double Decks: played in a game, first two cards are dealt face down.

If you play blackjack with poor strategy or instinct, you give the casino an advantage of over 5%.

Remember, focus on the dealer. The objective is not to get as close to 21 as possible, but to beat the dealer. It's very possible to win with a 13 or 14 count.

Tomorrow I will post a chart that will help you make the critical decision. Hit or Stand. That concludes today’s post of online blackjack for beginners.

Until next time,

B.J.

Lets Get Started

2005-07-29T09:09:00.000-07:00

Blackjack, also known as 21, is one of the most popular casino card games in the world. This is because you can learn blackjack in a couple of minutes. However it can take much longer to master. Its popularity is due to the mix of chance with elements of skill and decision making. Another reason blackjack has been so widely publicized is the practice of counting cards that has added an element of mystique to the game. Card counting in blackjack is a skill in which players can turn the odds of the game in their favor by making betting and strategy decisions based on the cards that have been dealt. Officially, casinos greatly frown upon card counting and have tried to deal with it in several ways.

If you are looking for some great blackjack tips and strategies, come along for the ride as we explore the fascinating game of blackjack.

So go ahead. Hit-Me!