Posts Tagged ‘Blackjack’

Count Cards in Blackjack – Is it Really Possible?

March 10th, 2010

Blackjack has been around for awhile, we all have played it with friends, family or maybe even at the casino. Having a secret strategy to count cards in blackjack to some seems folly. Some would even argue that with black jack, there is no way to know and it is all just luck. This could not be further from the truth, in fact, card counting in blackjack at the blackjack table can be quite profitable when done correctly. Casinos have had to continuously modify the blackjack table and try to even their odds against the card counter. The reason they can only modify the game is due to card counting not being illegal. Unless a person is using a device, such as a calculator, a casino cannot have you arrested or press charges of any kind against you. They can, however, ban you from the casino and have you removed for any reason they see fit due to it being private property, and they will too. So, the stipulation here if you wish to learn how to count cards is, you must use your brain. I know some of you might read that and say to yourself “well, I’m not Rainman and I’m not a mathematician, so I can’t do it” You are wrong!

Counting cards comes in many forms applicable to blackjack. Some are very complicated and do require quite a brilliant mind to accomplish, but others are quite simple once you grasp the basics. Basic strategy is very important to master before you test it out at a casino. The basic concept is to watch the cards dealt and use a system to calculate the odds of winning. Low-value cards are good for your odds of winning, high value cards are good for the dealer. Essentially, you are deciphering when you as a player have an advantage over the house. Since 21 is the objective of blackjack, or to get as close to 21 as possible, the more high cards in the deck the better your chances of the dealer busting or you getting a natural. In its most simple form this is accomplished by using a system of numbers to keep a count on cards dealt, most systems use intervals of +1, 0, -1, for each group of cards. Low cards being +1 and high cards being -1, neutral cards being 0. Usually the lows are 2,3,4,5,6, the neutrals are 7,8,9, and the highs are, 10, J, Q, K, A. The reason there are neutral card numbers is simply because they have little influence on the positive or negative effect on the variables you will be keeping track of.

In all honesty, learning how to count cards in blackjack is not for everybody. Its not just about keeping a simple count, the real beauty of counting is in the player’s ability to blend in as a typical player riding on lady luck. If you appear to be counting, many dealers will pick up on it and attempt to break your concentration. A big part of learning to count cards is in learning to do it automatically without much effort, this is where most fail and get made. The trick is in training your brain to register the count nearly sub-consciously.

To learn the secrets on how to count cards in blackjack, click the links below.

Click Here to discover the real secrets on how to count cards in blackjack.

Your Winning Tips For Blackjack

March 9th, 2010

If you really want to win by gambling, then you have to play smart and act smart, not only on the table itself but outside it as well. Hence, if your skills are not worth anything when it comes to poker and you have the worst luck when it comes to the slot machine and the roulette wheel, then it may be time for you to switch gambling careers and focus on another game…like blackjack.

Blackjack is a very easy game to understand, play and master. More than that, blackjack is very fun to play as well, so if you haven’t tried playing blackjack yet, then you haven’t experienced all the pleasure in gambling yet.

How to Win in Blackjack

Now, before we get down to the winning tips in blackjack, let’s first recap the rules of blackjack. Remember that the main goal of all players in blackjack is to get cards that are equal to twenty one or one nearest to it like 20 or 19. Pray, however, that your cards don’t get busted by going over 21 because that means you’ve lost your bet right away.

Counting cards in blackjack is simple. 2-10 should be counted as they are. Face cards, on the other hand, should be counted as 10. Lastly, you have the option to count the ace as one or eleven. If you’ve noticed, with the exception of the ace rule, the counting system used in blackjack is very much similar to what’s used to play Lucky 9. But whereas 9 is the lucky number indeed in the other game, in blackjack, 21 is the luckiest number in the pack.

Now that we’re done recapping, here are the tips we’ve mentioned.

Don’t Make a Habit of Taking Insurance – You get the chance to take insurance if one of the cards showed up by the dealer is an ace. By taking insurance and placing a bet that’s not more than half the amount of the player’s bet, the player is able to insure that his money shall return to him in the case that the dealer has a blackjack hiding in his sleeve. But, anything beside that should warrant a victory for the dealer.

We advise you against taking insurance because your main opponent would be the dealer so it’s pointless to bet against yourself.

Go for a blackjack table on which the minimum bet is not more than five percent of your total stack.

Lastly, doubling down is the best advantage for a player in blackjack so remember to make use of this option if your cards show great potential!

Blackjack if both fun and can be very profitable. Learn it and win big next time you are at the casino.

Linda Harrison writes for [http://www.casinogamblingrevue.com] Stop by today to play online poker [http://www.casinogamblingrevue.com] and casino [http://www.casinogamblingrevue.com] games.

The Rules and History of Blackjack

March 8th, 2010

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

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.

Learn real tips, and strategies, find places to play online blackjack, and more at http://beatcasinoblackjack.com.

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

March 7th, 2010

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.

If you would like to win more when you’re playing blackjack, click here to review our New Basic Strategy Chart and to get a free copy of our outstanding Hi-Lo Card Counting Software program (No Strings Attached!) which has been presented with a Five Star rating for excellence.