BLACKJACK CHANGING

While it’s getting tough out there for intelligent blackjack players, there are still some good ‘plays’ online and off.

In this article, I discuss the good and bad news along with the good and bad strategies for this game.

Progressive betting is definitely the road to profit; however, do not double your bet after every win. Smart players should increase their bets about 20-30% at a time, thus, instead of pressing or upping your bet from five bucks to ten, bet seven dollars.

Some facts: the dealer will bust about once every 4 hands played (28%), player will be dealt a blackjack about once every 21 hands. You will lose more often than you win when you are dealt a hand of 18.

Don’t use the ‘mimic the dealer’ technique -- that is drawing on all 16’s or less and standing on all totals 17-21 — in turn, expecting that the dealer wins and losses will match the player. In fact, the player is at a disadvantage because he/she must act upon their hand first.

Do not stand on every hand totaling 12 and 16; you increase your losses by about 8% as opposed to playing each hand strategically.

‘Dealer Tells’ from friendly dealers is one of the most useful strategies in this game, however this player advantage could disappear with continuous shuffling and sensors detecting the whole card wherein a peek is no longer required. Therefore, continuous shuffling machines where the cards are returned to the shuffler after each round should be avoided.

When the dealer checks the hole card, what does he or she tell you after receiving that second card?

A stiff or bad hand should produce these signs: no eye contact, head and body leaning backwards, or even leaning toward the next player to receive cards. Holding the deck higher than usual and close in to the chest, other hand is held very still and far away from your betting circle and slower movements.

A pat or good hand, friendly dealers will often talk a lot faster than usual and sound happy, overconfident. There is sustained eye contact, a stiff or hard stance and even leaning in your direction.

Start a conversation about your lousy hand, commenting that you sure hate to hit this one. The reply “maybe, so do I, or me too”, in other words don’t hit that hand. Or “I would hit it”, you must take another card. Generally, the dealers are not out to trick you and want you to win especially if you placed a winning bet for them previously.

Additionally, avoid tables where blackjacks pay 6-5 or even money. These games are popular as they offer a single deck game as a come-on. Getting paid 6-5 is much worse then the standard 3 to 2.

Lastly, a slot machine that offers a blackjack game option or free play at an online casino is a prudent alternative for players to save money and practice strategies.

Until next time we meet in cyberspace...

Gayle Mitchell is the author of Casino Gambling Made Easier books, EBooks, booklets & Slots Trilogy.

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