Blackjack Tips
In blackjack – the most popular casino card game – the house edge is very fine. There are numerous ways players can reduce the already flimsy advantage the casino possesses, because casino blackjack is set up to make money off clueless players without any sort of experience. Most of the players they get are indeed of the above described type, but that doesn’t mean you should jump on the same bandwagon yourself.
You can learn basic strategy (a list of recommended moves based on your card(s) and the dealer’s upcard) and that alone will give you a huge advantage compared to the other players.
Learning a card counting technique can’t hurt either, although you should know that while it’s not illegal, card counting is something casinos are extremely sensitive about.
Here’s a short list of some of the other factors that can help you improve your blackjack performance.
Distractions. Every casino is set up in a way that will hit players with a plethora of sights, sounds, flashing lights and whatnot to cause a sensory overload and to distract them. Don’t be intimidated by this display of gambling glamour and don’t rush head-first to the first table to become a part of it yourself. Walk around, keep focused on your objective and keep your eyes open for things that carry significance for you and for your blackjack mission.
Table selection
Table selection is extremely important in poker. It’s actually the second thing you need to learn after making sure that you sign up for a good rakeback deal. Table selection is just as important for blackjack. Here, there are winning and losing tables. Of course, you always have to look at it from the players’ perspective. If you see a table where players have chip-stacks that obviously exceed the size of an average buy-in, you’re on to something. Take a look at the bet sizes players use: whenever someone’s winning he has a tendency of over-betting to take full advantage of the good run (even though mathematically that doesn’t make any kind of sense). If you see an opening at such a table, you should rush over and take a seat there. These dumping tables (where dealers break around 50-75% of the hands) are a blessing in disguise for the players. These winning streaks may also be the result of non random shuffling which cause good runs for both the players and the dealer.
Tables that are obvious losers should be avoided of course. At such tables, players have flimsy stacks in front of them and they’re obviously not applauding the dealer’s moves. They’re grumpy and seats that free up take a long time to fill back up.
Basic strategy is obviously important. Get those basic strategy charts out and learn them all by heart because the casino won’t allow you to take them to the tables.
Make sure that the casino at which you play offers a reasonable comp point scheme. Comp points work like the Full Tilt rakeback or prop deals: they offer you rebate on the money you spend and this way they further reduce the house edge and the house drop you’re up against.
|
Types Of Blackjack
|
