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While it is certainly true that the game of Blackjack favors the dealer
over the player (if both you and the dealer bust, for instance, you’re
the one who loses), there are various things you can do to increase
your odds of winning. These are relatively simple things and they are
worth noting (and memorizing) since they are pretty much clear-cut
“do’s” and “don’ts” that won’t require a lot of thinking or deliberating
over. With so many things in life (and poker) tinged with ambiguity,
it is sometimes a pleasure just to have some simple rules to follow!
- Picking your table. Do not underestimate the
value of picking the table that’s most helpful
to you. What does this mean? For one thing, the
minimum bet at the table you choose should be no
more than 5% of your bankroll. For another thing,
the rule variations should be those that are “player-friendly”
– for instance, the doubling-down option, and the
dealer being required to stand on soft 17 (a soft
hand is one in which the ace counts as 11). Learn
which rules favor the player and which favor the
dealer so that you can eliminate certain tables
right off the bat.
- Knowing when to hit (or, take a card). The dealer
must hit on any hand of 16 or lower. With this
information in mind, you know that you cannot win
with less than 17 (unless, of course, the dealer
busts). Therefore, you’re going to want to take
a hit on any hand under 17 when you see that the
dealer has any of the following cards: K, Q, J,
10, 9 or 8. If, on the other hand, he’s showing
a 4, 5, or 6 (with these cards, the dealer will
bust 40% of the time), you should stand on any
hand above 11.
- The doubling-down option. This is an area where
you can be proactive, so take advantage of it.
Basically, what this option entitles you to is
doubling your bet and getting one additional card.
You will only exercise this option when you are
very sure you’re going to beat the dealer by doing
so. The hands you’ll want to double-down with are
as follows: a) with a 10 against a 9 or lower,
b) with any hand of 11, and c) with a 9, or with
soft hands of 13-17, against a 4, 5 or 6.
- When to split. Let’s say the dealer deals you
two cards of the same value. You can “split” this
hand, double your bet and play the two hands you
now have. But when should you do this? I’ll tell
you exactly when, and under which conditions.
ALWAYS: split 8’s or 7’s against a dealer’s card of equal or lesser
value.
ALWAYS: split 2’s or 3’s against a 4, 5 or 6.
ALWAYS: split aces.
NEVER: split 10’s, 5’s or 4’s.
NEVER: split face cards.
- Surrendering. This is when a player can decide
not to play the original hand against the dealer,
the downside being he’s got to forfeit half his
bet. This is something that is not always allowed,
but when it is, you should exercise this option
when you’ve got a hard 15 against a dealer’s 10,
or when you’ve got a 16 (not 8’s) against a dealer’s
9, 10 or Ace.
- Insurance. Never take it (unless you’re counting
cards).
- Hard hands. A hard hand is one in which the
ace counts as 1, and there are some pretty hard
(excuse the pun!) and fast rules on how to play
hard hands. A) If the dealer’s up card is 7 or
lower, stand on hard 17 or higher.
B) If the dealer’s up card is 6 or lower, stand on hard 13-16. Hit
if his up-card is 7-Ace.
C) If the dealer’s up-card is 2, 3, 7 or higher, stand on hard 12.
- Getting the dealer to bust. If you’re aiming
to win in a situation in which you’re standing
on 17 or lower, the only way for that to happen
is for the dealer to bust. It is impossible to
bust a soft hand with just one hit, so here are
some guidelines:
- Dealer’s got 7 or higher? Hit soft 13 through
17.
- A hand of 3 cards or more? Ditto: hit soft 13
through 17.
- Dealer’s got 5 or 6? Double down with two-card
soft 13-17. (Doubling down is only an option with
the first two cards).
- Dealer’s got 3? Double down soft 17.
- Dealer’s got 4? Double down soft 15-17.
- Dealer’s up-card is 9, 10 or Ace? Hit a soft
18. Dealer’s up-card is 2, 7 or 8? Stand on soft
18. Dealer’s up-card is 3, 4, 5 or 6? Double down.
- On a soft 19 or higher, you should always stand.
- Be kind, and generous, to the dealer. You want
the dealer on your good side. And not only that,
you want to be a decent human being. So tip the
dealer (or, in poker-speak, “toke” him), because
frankly he’s working for pretty bad wages, he’s
not part of any union, and he depends on “the kindness
of strangers.” There are no hard and fast rules
for how much to tip, but I’d say a dollar chip
per every twenty hands is reasonable. If you put
the tip right there in front of you with your wager,
you basically turn it into a side bet on your hand,
in which case the dealer’s tip will double if you
win. Now there’s an incentive for the guy to root
for you!
- Be observant. Do a careful study of the other
players at your table. If you sense, in particular,
that the last man at your table is either a novice
or desperate, you should get up and move on.
- If you can join the deck from the beginning,
you should; it’s to your advantage. If you lose
in the first half, stay to full deck. If you’ve
done well in the first half (i.e., made a profit),
move on.
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