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Who is Winning When?

Wednesday, June 16th, 2010

For those who play blackjack fairly often, for those who have researched blackjack, studied blackjack, they know the odds. They know that blackjack games start with a house edge of 2% to 5%. These studied blackjack players know that they can reduce the house edge to 0.5% just by playing perfect basic strategy.

Unfortunately 0.5% is the best odds an online blackjack player can be after. For blackjack players who play in brick and mortar casinos, they can employ their skills at card counting, and even out the odds or even tilt the odds in their favor.

But what do odds tell you about winning? They tell you the chances of you winning, but those odds apply to each and every hand. They do not tell you on average how often you could win at blackjack. And the well informed player should know how often they could win.

On average a player will only win 44% of the time while the dealer will win around 48% of the time. Those percentages apply to blackjack game when basic strategy is applied. But either the player winning or the dealer winning only accounts for 92% of games. The other 8% goes into pushes. Meaning that 8% the dealer and the player will have a push.

Of the average 44% of games that the player will win, 5% of those games will be won with a natural blackjack. Interestingly enough, the dealer’s natural blackjack account for 5% of their 48% of won games.

Do not be deceived by this. While the player and dealer will each win 5% of the time with blackjacks, do not assume that is the same number of blackjack. These are percentages, and 5% of 48% is larger than 5% of 4%. In short the dealer will have slightly more blackjacks than the player.

In the end, the average basic strategy playing blackjack player can expect to win an average of 44% of the time with 5%of those wins coming from natural blackjacks. And considering that this is a result of using basic strategy, these are the best odds on casino games, especially online casino games.

In short, online blackjack would be my game of choice. And if I were playing in a brick and mortar casino, I would be playing blackjack there too.

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Blackjack Strategy—Splitting 8s

Monday, December 21st, 2009

Why do you split 8s? Why is it a standard in blackjack strategy to do so?

Look at what blackjack strategy is first. In the first place you have a strategy so that you can improve your odds of winning. But what do you do when you find yourself in a situation that you know you are most likely going to lose?

This is the other part of your blackjack strategy: finding the least costly way out of a non-winning situation.

Now let’s look at being dealt a pair of 8s and the dealer has an upcard that is a 9, 10, or Ace.

If you were to stand on a hard 16, you are then playing with a stiff hand and will most likely lose. Interesting side note: you will be dealt a stiff hand about 43% of the time; and we all know that it’s easiest to lose with those hands.

Thankfully you can split those 8s. A pessimistic person might say that this is unwise blackjack strategy because you’re probably going to lose anyway. And this is why we don’t listen to pessimistic people.

Think of splitting those 8s as a second chance for you on this round. You can build two new hands, each starting with an 8 card. Yes, you do have to double your bet.

And, yes, you could lose all of that, but this is blackjack, this is gambling—you are going to lose sometimes. The trick here is to try to lose the least amount of money to get out of this round and on to the next.

By splitting your 8s and creating two new hands, you have the possibility of turning what could have been a pretty good shot at losing into one in which you have the possibility of winning with one hand, maybe even both.

The point to remember about pair splitting strategy is that this move is in place, for those who know how to use it, to lose less and win more in the long run. By only hitting or standing you are limiting your strategy and your odds at blackjack.

You can use this strategy for online blackjack or when playing at a casino.

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Adding More to Your Blackjack Strategy—Betting On Another Player’s Hand

Thursday, December 17th, 2009

Imagine making money off of another player’s hand. Can you do that? Yes, you can, it’s perfectly legal to do. And well worth adding to your blackjack strategy.

So why would you do this? Another player might have an advantage but not the nerve to up the wager to take full advantage of their hand. The good blackjack player that you are, remember your blackjack vows, you can’t let someone lose money to the house just because they’re a little nervous of putting out a few more chips. So you help them out.

Imagine that everyone’s betting the minimum of $20. The guy sitting next to you was just dealt a 7-4 against the dealer’s 10. Basic strategy for this set up is to double down. And the guy sitting next to you knows this, but you see him hesitating on putting out another $20. So instead of another $20, he put out only $10 and tries doubling for less.

This is where you become a blackjack hero. Step in, toss him $10 of your chips and tell him that you’ll go in with him on this hand. So now you’ve got money riding on your own hand that you can win from, and now you can win money off of your neighbor’s. For less than a full bet you can now win money from two hands.

The point of blackjack strategy is to take full advantage of the cards. And if you see another player who isn’t taking full advantage, get in on the action and take the part of the advantage that they aren’t willing to take. Make sure they’re okay with you betting on their hand first. The added benefit to betting on another player’s hand is that such strategy can also help lower the house edge by around 0.15%.

Another time to go in on another player’s hand is when another player has two 7s versus a dealer’s 6. He splits and gets another 7. He needs to split again, but he’s already put out an extra $20 already. Offer to cover the amount of the second split. This gets you in on the action, lowers the house edge and allows you both to take advantage of a money-making situation since 7s against a dealer’s 6 is a moneymaker.

So why add this to your blackjack strategy?

When you’re playing blackjack, it’s you versus the dealer, but there are other players against the dealer. And the dealer represents the casino. So why let the casino take more blackjack player money when they should be paying out to us. So help your fellow players out so that they can take full advantage of their hands, and let’s make those casinos payout some more.

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A Little Something Extra for Your Basic Strategy

Tuesday, December 15th, 2009

Basic strategy is already an awesome skill to have in your blackjack arsenal. But you can add to it, tweek at bit you might say.

Let’s look at this situation: you have just been dealt a 16 against a dealer’s 10.

Basic strategy dictates that you hit here. And for the most part that’s going to be the best thing for you to do for your overall blackjack game. But let’s look at the makeup of that 16 and think about tweeking how you play out this hand.

Your 16 could be made up of two cards, 10-6 or 9-7, or it could be made up with three cards, like a 4-5-7. And there’s a difference on how you play your hands depending on how your hand is constructed.

If your 16 is made up of three cards you are actually better off standing rather than hitting. The reason for this is because when you have three cards making up your 16, it means that you’re already holding smaller number cards. You would need more in order to stay below 21. And because you already have small cards in your hand, and you figure that other players have small cards as well, means that you don’t have very good odds of getting more.

Another hand you can apply this strategy to is a starting total of 12 versus a dealer who has a 4 up. Normally you would stand here, according to basic strategy. But what you need to consider is what your 12 is made up of. Most combinations of 12 (9-3, 8-4, 7-5) are fine for standing; they’re made up of low or neutral value cards, which increases your chances of busting if you hit.

But if your 12 is made up of 10-2 then you’re better off hitting. The only cards that can bust you are ten value cards. Everything else will just raise your total, possibly putting you near 21.

What you need to take from this posting is that while basic strategy is still the best way to play, to advance your blackjack strategy and finer tune your odds, consider the makeup of a stiff hand and how it reflects on the remaining deck.

If card counting is already a part of your blackjack strategy, you will already know whether the deck is rich in highs or lows. Take that into consideration when you are dealt a stiff hand. Look at the cards you have versus the cards that have already been played. At that point you can decide whether you should hit or stand.

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Stressed? Prescribe Yourself Some Online Blackjack!

Thursday, December 10th, 2009

Feeling out of control? Feeling like you’re at your wit’s end?

Try some online blackjack. Seriously.

Online blackjack has actually seen to reduce stress.

A study at Oxford University in the UK found that online gaming can reduce stress and its side effects. A similar study done at McGill University in Canada also found such results. The reason they found for this is that playing games, including blackjack, online serves as an escape mechanism.

When playing, the person’s mind is diverted from its worries and other such things that induce cortisol, the stress hormone. Researchers at Oxford found that cortisol dropped by an average of seventeen percent after people were done playing online.

Another study, conducted over a course of six months with 134 subjects, at an Eastern Carolina University in the US found that those who played could reduce their stress through playing, and were a little happier overall.

And then an online casino did its own independent survey. The online casino said that 74% of their players who played online blackjack felt that, through playing blackjack, they were lowering their stress and making themselves happier.

However, there was a group of blackjack players whose stress wasn’t reduced. But the majority of those players were playing in high stakes games. No surprise there. You’re going to up your stress when you’ve got a large amount of your money on the line.

So what does this mean to you? It means that playing some low stakes online blackjack games can actually lower your stress, improve your health and make you feel happier. And I’ll bet you feel happier when you win a bit of money too.

Stress has been cited to create destructive behavior in people, such as excessive drinking and over eating, along with social instability. But there are other health problems linked to stress: heart problems, reduced abilities in your immune system, headaches, irritable bowel syndrome, and even cancer.

If you’re feeling stressed, go play a few rounds of low stakes blackjack and get that stress out!

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21 Things to Avoid When Playing Blackjack—Part III

Monday, December 7th, 2009

This will be the last in this little series. And while it seems most of these can be applied to land based casino blackjack, a fair amount of them can be applied to online blackjack as well.

While you aren’t dealing with other players online, there are player forums on non-casinos sites, and you will want to treat those posting as you would other players in a casino. Be snazzy and knowledgeable, but be respectful above all else.

That being said, here are the last seven:

  1. Do not use a progressive betting system. Remember past postings? The ones in which I said there is no way to predict what cards will be dealt? The odds of each round are independent of each other. There is no law or rule that says that if you lose X number of hands, you will win the next. A progressive betting system relies on the idea that you will win again…eventually. But there is no telling when, and how much money you’ll have bet, that win will come.
  2. Are you a regular blackjack player? These people are there to help you. Casino hosts are the links between you and the casino. They want you to be happy and help you with whatever you need—in fact, they seem reluctant to say no if it means that you’ll keep playing. Now this doesn’t mean that you have to follow every single suggestion they give you. If you’re a blackjack player and don’t want to play keno, then don’t play keno if they suggest it. But it pays to make friends with them—they give out comps.
  3. And speaking of comps, never be rude when asking for a comp. Rudeness never pays off. Comps are not rights, they are rewards for playing. So ask what the casino’s rules for comps are first, play to them, and then ask nicely once you’ve met some requirements.
  4. Get comps you need to get rated, don’t avoid it. Easiest way to get rated is to see your casino host and ask. You do want your comps, right?
  5. A sign of a good player is tipping the dealer. No, it’s not required of you, but think of it this way: they are providing you with a service just like how a waiter would. And you tip a waiter, right? So you should be tipping your dealers too. Also think of it this way: floor supervisors also approve comps, and when they see their dealers being treated nicely they’re more inclined to be give you comps.
  6. Never play a 6-5 game. The payout is smaller over time. On top of what is actually a worse payout, the odds increase with this payout version by as much as seven times. Without basic strategy, the odds are 2-5%. With a 6-5 game the odds become 14-35%. Always avoid 6-5 payout games.
  7. Lastly, never play at a table with a Continuous Shuffling Machine (CSM). A regular shuffling machine is fine. But a CSM is bad news. This is because the used cards are shuffled back in to the deck between each round. Online players, this is the land-based version of the RNG. And it makes card counting impossible since the cards that have just been played are added back into the deck.

And there you have it, 21 things to avoid. Work these into playing, even those that can be applied online, and see how much better your overall blackjack experience is.

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21 Things to Avoid When Playing Blackjack—Part II

Thursday, December 3rd, 2009

While the first seven tips from my last blog are a good place to start if you’re looking to improve your overall blackjack experience, there is more. Yes, I said more.

Think about the images you have of dressed-up players and how snazzy they look. If you look at movies and those images hard enough, you can see that there are subtle things that they do. These are the unspoken rules. If you are looking to have that snazzy casino feel about you, then start incorporating these things into how you play blackjack.

  1. One of the biggest things you can do to lower your standing with fellow players is to not use basic strategy. No joke here. Basic strategy is considered the correct way to play. It’s seen as foolish to now play by this strategy. It’s legal to use in casinos, both online and land based, and it’s the best statistical chances for every hand.
  2. This next one is merely a matter of form—remember that snazzy casino player image? Stack your chips from highest denomination to lowest chip. The dealer can then add up the total amount of your bet easily.
  3. You’ve heard about players who get upset when a new player sits down mid-shoe and starts playing? There are two things about sitting down at a table mid-shoe. 1. In some casinos it’s forbidden and a sign is posted saying so. 2. If it is allowed, respect the other players already playing and wait to start playing at that table.
  4. Advice on playing two or more spots at one table: in most casinos you will have to bet double the minimum on each hand that you play. Be aware of that before you spread to more hands. If you aren’t sure whether you have to bet double on each hand, then ask the dealer. And also, when playing more than one spot at a table, finish one hand before you even look at the next.
  5. If you’re the lucky player who gets to insert the cut card, be aware that the majority of casinos require the cut card to go at least a half-deck from either end. Just know this and remember it. If you don’t place it more than half-deck in you will get a rebuke from the dealer and have to cut again. It holds up the game and can make you appear to be a novice in front of other players.
  6. This one is a pretty big one in terms of respect for your fellow players: do not ever tell another player how to play his hand. If he asks then go ahead and give your advice. But if they don’t ask, don’t say anything—let them think and learn for themselves. Would you like it if you had a table full of people telling you how to play?
  7. Now, the last one for this post is a very big deal. If you don’t follow this unwritten rule, you will find the consequences could be more than you want. Never, ever, at all under any circumstances take your bad luck out on fellow players or the dealer. This is considered extremely bad form and very bad blackjack manners. And it will make other players think very little of you.

There. You now have seven more etiquette tips to work into your blackjack playing style. So start working them in and see how much more your gaming experience improves.

Keep an eye open for “21 Things to Avoid When Playing Blackjack—Part III”

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21 Things to Avoid When Playing Blackjack—Part I

Wednesday, November 25th, 2009

Recently I came across some blackjack tips that can help to not only improve your game, but to also make the gaming experience more enjoyable. Some of these tips can be applied to both land based casinos and online casinos; others might only apply to land based.

Take the wisdom from this, blackjack players.

  1. Don’t play with your chips once the cards are dealt. If you do, the dealer and casino staff might think that you’re padding your bet. Besides, it makes you look like you’re nervous, like you’re not sure how to play or that you’re trying to be sneaky. Or the dealer could think you were dealt an awesome hand, and are trying to increase your bet on the sly. Best bet—fingers off the chips.
  2. Cash is not to connect your hand with the dealer’s. In other words, don’t hand money to the dealer directly. You can lay it out on the table outside of your betting space, then tell the dealer what denomination you want your chips in. This is to protect both you and the dealer so that the transaction is caught by a camera. If there are questions later as to how a cash-to-chips exchange happened, the casino can review the video.
  3. Do NOT tell the dealer that you want a ‘hit.’ For one thing, the casino cameras need to see what play you are making—they can’t pick up what you say. Hand gestures are readable on the video. And second, your meaning might be misconstrued to mean something else.
  4. Face up cards are not for touching. In games with four or more decks in play, the cards are dealt face up. Since face up cards can’t be touched, sneaky players can’t add or remove cards. This protects you from cheaters. A “hands free” game will also speed up the game, allowing for you to play more.
  5. No setting things on the table. Ladies, this includes you and your purses. Purses belong on your lap. Leave your wallets and such in your pockets. If you have bags that are not purses, place them next to you or by your feet. You can have a drink on the table in the drink holders, but nothing else. This protects your property from being out in the open where someone could take it. It also keeps cheaters from using non-necessary objects on the table to help them cheat. And, it helps to keep the table from being damaged by drinks not being where they’re supposed to be.
  6. No holding the cards with both hands. They aren’t that big or that heavy. You don’t need to use both hands. This is just etiquette—one hand please.
  7. Cards do not belong in your lap. Keep them on the table or in one hand where the dealer can see them. Cards must remain in full view of the dealer. This prevents you from being accused of cheating.

Start working with these while out and about in the casinos this holiday season.

And keep an eye open for “21 Things to Avoid When Playing Blackjack—Part II”

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Card Counting and Insurance

Monday, November 23rd, 2009

Okay, in my last post I pretty much spelled put why taking in Insurance is not a good thing to do. In fact, I showed you how you will lose money if you take insurance.

Now I’m going to tell you when it’s okay to take insurance.

No, this is not a contradictory post. I will not take back what I said in my last post either.

However, there are times when taking insurance can be a smart thing to do. And this applies to players who count cards.

First, let’s look at two of the winning situations.

Let’s say you are playing at a $10 table. You’ve made your bet, and have received your cards. And you have been dealt a natural blackjack. But the dealer’s up card is an Ace. You are, of course, offered insurance. In this instance, you take it. And here’s why:

You have been counting the deck as the rounds have progressed. You know that the deck is rich in ten value cards. The chances of the dealer having blackjack are also pretty good considering the deck is ten card rich. So you take insurance.

Now one of two things can happen. You already have your blackjack, so don’t worry about your hand.

The dealer’s hole card could be a ten value card. You both have blackjack. You win the insurance bet because the dealer does have a natural—remember, taking insurance is just another name for a side bet on whether or not the dealer has blackjack. Since he does, you win the 2-1 payout: $10. But since you both have hands of equivalent value, the actual round is a push, so your original bet is returned to you. You’ve made a net gain of $10.

The other outcome could be that the dealer doesn’t have blackjack. You lose the insurance bet, but you collect $15 on the 3-2 payout of having a natural blackjack. Again, your net gain is $10.

The lesson here is that it can be advantageous to take insurance. But the only time to do so when you have met two criteria:

You’ve been counting cards and know that the deck is rich in ten value cards, and you have been dealt a natural blackjack. It is recommended that you only take insurance when you’ve met those two criteria.

Still, on the whole, insurance is not a good bet, unless you have that natural blackjack and are facing a ten value rich deck.

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The Mystery that is Insurance in Blackjack

Friday, November 20th, 2009

When playing blackjack online or in a casino, at some point in time you have most likely been offered insurance. There are a lot of notions out there as to whether insurance is a good bet or a waste. So which is it? Or is it both?

First, let’s take a look at what insurance is.

The way that it is explained to you, is that an insurance bet is to protect you from losing all your money in case the dealer has a natural blackjack. Insurance is only offered when the dealer’s up card is an Ace—one of the cards that is required to have a natural. The reason insurance is offered on Aces and not on ten value cards is because Aces are smaller in number than the ten value cards and less likely to appear.

Now, insurance is really a side bet on whether or not the dealer’s hole card is a ten value card. You are making a 2-1 bet on what that card is. If it is a ten value then you get the 2-1 payout. And if the hole card isn’t worth 10 then you lose your insurance bet.

When looking at all the outcomes of making an insurance bet, you will find that there are three winning situations, two losing and one push. You will win money if you and the dealer both have naturals, if you have blackjack and the dealer doesn’t, and if neither of you have blackjack and you win the hand. You lose if neither of you have blackjack and you lose the hand, and if neither of you have naturals and you tie the hand. The only push outcome happens when you don’t have blackjack and the dealer does.

So three winning chances and one push versus two loses sounds pretty good right?

Wrong.

Let’s look at this from a statistical point of view, because, let’s face it, we are dealing with numbers and probability. Let’s say we’re talking about an infinite shoe, and since most tables use six to eight decks and online casinos have RNGs, we might as well think of them as infinite. With that number of decks or an RNG, there is a nine-to-four odds against the hole card being worth 10; this is because for every four ten value cards there are nine others.

Now we’ll combine math with statistics. Let’s say that in one year you make a $5 insurance bet 1300 times (considering how often a dealer has an Ace up card that’s a lot of blackjack). Going off of the nine-to-four statistic, you’d win 400 times and lose 900 times.

Translate that into money now. Winning a $5 insurance would give you $10. So if you won 400 times you would have made $4,000. For every time you lost a $5 insurance bet you would lose that $5. So losing 900 insurance bets means that you have lost $4,500. Add $4,000 and a negative $4,500 and you are left with a loss of $500.

And that is why, for the most part, you do not take insurance in both online blackjack and land based blackjack.

However, if you’re a card counter, there is an instance when taking insurance can be profitable.

Keep an eye open for Card Counting and Insurance.

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