The Rules and History of Blackjack

March 8th, 2010 by admin No comments »

Blackjack History

It’s widely accepted that Blackjack originated in a French game called Vingt En Un in the early 17th century, though card playing began as early as 900 AD in China. Gamblers, scholars and people of all walks of life have enjoyed trying their luck at a hand of cards or two. Once confined to the casinos, Blackjack is now played at parties and in other casual settings, through video games, even on the computer. This is one card game which can be learned by everyone, and with a little basic strategy anyone can become a master of 21. Even before you could play Blackjack online free, this game was enjoyed by many different gamers.

Basic Blackjack

The objective for all parties in Blackjack is simple: reach 21 without going over. You’ll be dealt two cards right away, and can either accept more cards or stay with the cards you already have. Within this very simple structure, lots of different strategies can be employed in order to achieve a win.

In all forms Blackjack, online or otherwise, all face cards (the royal family of King, Queen and Jack) have a point value of 10. All the numbered cards, from 2 to 10, are worth the same number of points as their numerical value (for instance, the 2 is worth 2 points and the 10 worth 10). The Ace is a special card in the Blackjack deck, as its worth either 1 point or 11 points depending upon what other cards you have in your hand. Using these point values, your goal is to get as close as you can to 21 without going over. If you do go over, even only to 22, you’ve instantly lost. If you get 21 with your first two cards, however (a face card or 10 and an Ace), then you’ve instantly won.

There are some other, lesser known blackjack rules that you should get to know if you are going to play at the casinos, so get to know your game!

Debunking Some Common Blackjack Myths

March 7th, 2010 by admin No comments »

There are many myths in blackjack that you should disabuse yourself of if you want to win at the game. One of the most basic is this: the objective of the game is to reach 21 or as close to it as possible. Wrong! The objective is to beat the dealer, either by getting a higher hand than he has or by not busting when he busts.

Another myth is that you have to be good at math to be successful at blackjack. This is another mistaken belief. While math geniuses generally do better at the game, there are many basic strategies you can use to improve the odds of you winning; all you have to do is familiarize yourself with them.

It is also a mistake to assume that all blackjack games have the same house advantage. In fact, the rules under which the game operates make a huge difference; for example, if the casino has a soft 17 rule (in which the dealer has to take another card if his hand contains an ace counted as an 11), it gives the house a slight advantage of 0.2%; while this may not seem like much, over the long-term it could substantially swing the odds further in favor of the house.

Finally, the worst myth that gamblers can subscribe to is that if the dealer has experienced a winning streak, the tide will eventually turn in the player’s favor. While this may be true if you play long enough, a few hours of play is not enough to eventually turn the odds your way.

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Blackjack Tips That Will Improve the Way in Which You Play Blackjack

March 7th, 2010 by admin No comments »

All of the following blackjack tips are meant to help you to enhance your game of blackjack. These blackjack tips will definitely help you to concentrate on the various facets of the game which will help you to maximize your profits. The time that you spend reading this article will definitely be well worth your time.

* The Casino Will Always Have the Advantage…

You need to be aware of and totally understand that the casino always has a clear-cut long-term advantage over the players while offering the players the possibility of a robust short-term payout. Even though a blackjack player may play proficiently which would help to minimize the casino’s overall advantage, it is exceedingly rare that the average blackjack player will possess sufficient skills to completely eradicate their long-term disadvantage.

* Players Must Be Prepared Before Playing Blackjack

Preparation is the key to reducing the casino’s advantage and to afford you with the best opportunity to become a winner. If you ever expect to win when you’re playing at the blackjack tables, you will absolutely need to know the basic rules of the game, the odds that are associated to blackjack, and basic blackjack strategy. The ability to count cards will definitely enhance your basic playing and betting strategies that will probably give you a distinct advantage over the dealer. If you’re going to put at risk your hard-earned money to play blackjack, you should be prepared to play blackjack to the best of your ability.

* When You Should Never Play Blackjack

You should never play blackjack when you’re upset, angry or depressed. Your attitude is vital to making decisions when you are placing your money at jeopardy that you have worked so hard for. It is a proven fact that anger and depression can easily obscure your good judgment and diminish your chances of winning.

* What to Look For When Selecting a Blackjack Table…

You will find that there are basically two separate sets of criteria when determining which table to play blackjack at. First and foremost, you should only play blackjack at a table where the minimum bet meets your specific financial requirements. You should never sit down at a blackjack table where you feel uncomfortable playing because the minimum table bet is in all reality more than you can afford. Doing so, will sooner or later affect your mental attitude and will probably cause you to change proper basic playing strategy.

Secondly, never sit down at the first table that you stumble upon that happens to meet your minimum betting requirements. You should always look for a blackjack table where the players are having a very good time, where they are making bets that are somewhat larger than normal, and where the players have somewhat larger chip stacks than found on the average table. These are all good signs that a table is winning and this is the type of blackjack table that you should consider playing at.

* Always Practice Good Money Management…

Excellent money management is the key to leaving a winner. Before sitting down at a blackjack table, set a practical and achievable goal for yourself as to the amount that you want win while playing. When you reach your personal objective, quit playing and go home. If you have reached your goal and you continue to play, you may quite easily lose all that you have just won. If you practice very good money management, you’ll be a winner more frequently.

* The Truth About Blackjack Betting Strategies…

It has been well documented by the mathematical experts in this particular field that all blackjack betting strategies are completely worthless. During recent times there have been abundant betting systems devised and published but when they were put to the test, they were all ineffective. You might be able to trick yourself into thinking that a particular betting system is working by risking a lot to win a little. However, you will find that none of the devised betting strategies can withstand the test of time.

* Never Take Insurance When You Are Playing Blackjack

Whenever the dealer’s up-card is an Ace, the dealer will offer the players the opportunity to buy insurance. It has been mathematically proven that buying insurance is strictly a sucker’s bet and players should never take it. Here are the real facts. You’ll find that there are 9 cards that will not give the dealer a blackjack and only 4 cards that will give the dealer a blackjack. The casinos are usually paying players 8 to 4 odds (or 2 to 1) if they win instead of the actual 9 to 4 odds. If you buy insurance, you will definitely lose money over the years.

* Do Not Take Even Money When You Are Playing Blackjack

Many individuals feel quite strongly that if you have a blackjack when the dealer has an Ace up and offers insurance, you should take “Even Money” which pays an amount that is equal to your bet before the dealer checks to see if he has blackjack. The reasoning behind their thinking is that “Something is Better than Nothing!” Over the long-term, you will find that you will lose if you take “Even Money” every time that this situation presents itself.

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4 Deck Blackjack Dealing Shoe Review

March 7th, 2010 by admin No comments »

Have you ever fantasized about being a dealer in Las Vegas and knowing all the hottest Blackjack Tips? There’s something about the ringing slot machines, the excitement in the air and of course the money being won and lost! For some people Las Vegas has some beautiful memories; maybe those memories are bittersweet, but if you have them, you already know that you wouldn’t trade them for anything. Maybe you have spent some time as a person who won and lost the money, but have you ever considered what it would be like to be the person who was behind the table that already knows How to Play Blackjack?

For people who are very interested in the idea of playing the dealer, why not do so with some of the most professional equipment around? Check out the 4 Deck Blackjack Dealing Shoe and see what it can do to make your fantasies come true. This is a professional grade 4 deck dealing shoe, and what this means is that you are going to get something can easily shuffle you up four decks. With a smooth rolling action that is amazingly pleasing to your hand and with edges that are delightfully smooth, this dealing shoe is a marvel to work with.

Have you ever thought about being the person running the show on those fascinatingly fast-paced nights? While many people think only of their game, the dealer is the person who cares how the game is played and how style can mesh with power, skill and luck. When you are ready to deal out a game of blackjack, you are going to be in a position where you have utmost control over the board and the players and having the 4 Deck Blackjack Dealing Shoe is something that shows you how to really use that control! Don’t let this one get away from you. If you’ve ever wanted to deal the way the pros do, this is the shoe that you should have.

When you are thinking about the 4 Deck Blackjack Dealing Shoe, you will find that you can bring some of the charm and glamor of Las Vegas home with you. When you go to Las Vegas, there is a part of you that always wants to go back. What draws you back there, and what part of the experience could you never forget?

This town, with its focus on luck, chance, and yes, even skill, is a place where anyone could become a king or queen, and if you have ever wanted to be treated like royalty, this is where you can go. Consider what this town means to you and what having the right prop could do for your game at home!

If you are someone who loves the thrill of Vegas, but you simply can’t get out there as much as you would like, this doesn’t mean that the magic is gone from your life. Just try handling this dealing shoe and you will find that there is plenty to love about the motion, the feel and the glamor of a professional tool like this one you can play all the Free Blackjack you want to!

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Blackjack Card Counting Pro

March 6th, 2010 by admin No comments »

Card Counting in Blackjack is somewhat a thing of the past. And for the most part people feel that card counting is old school and were only a benefit when casino’s and backroom parlors used one or two decks.

Now day’s players are faced with 6-8 decks. As discussed in an early article we touched briefly on the card counting aspect.

This article will break down the basic concepts; anyone can become a card counter. The most important aspect is concentration and you also have to have a decent grasp on mathematics.

The Hi-Lo count system assigns simple values to a group of cards. The following values are given to the cards.

Low Cards 2-3-4-5-6 receive a value of {+1}

No Count Cards 7-8-9 receive no count {0}

High Cards 10-J-Q-K-A receive a value of {-1}

Now let’s have a look at the groups:

Low Cards are not good for the player. Low card’s turn bad totals into good hands: i.e. dealer has 12-16 a low card can turn those into 17-21 rather easily.

There is nothing worse than a dealer drawing to 15-16 and then nailing a 6 or a 5 to bust everyone.

No Count Cards- a lot of people ask me why not count the 7-8-9, simple answer is that these cards do not help the dealer nor the player so are assigned a zero.

High Cards -These cards are great for the player but not so for the dealer. High cards aide in achieving your 21 and also help bust the dealer.

So the cards are dealt, when you see a low card you add a point, for every low card that comes off, you gain an advantage over the dealer.

When this number gets high, we know that we are going to get a streak of good cards very soon and should bet accordingly. The opposite when the card count is in the high negative

People often ask, what makes it easier for the player when there is 1 deck compared to 6-8 decks? Simply put casinos implemented additional decks to the shoe in order to scare off card counters.

Early on this did diminish the edge the counter had, however professional counters began working in teams to get around the increase in the number of cards per shoe. Casino’s further complicated the process by what is known as ‘deck penetration’.

This is basically a percentage of the shoe that it dealt before it is re-shuffled. Most casinos’ use a cut off card and deal anywhere from 60-75%.

If a player can concentrate and maintain the count there is still a profitability edge to the player. This is based on the number of decks in the shoe, the percentage of cut off.

So you have all the information you need. All that is left for you to do it practice the method. Take a few decks of cards and simulate a black jack game.

Keep track of the count. It is very important that you try to get good at the count as well make it look like you are not trying to count. This can be difficult. Have fun.

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