Tag: Google

Tipping the Dealer

You probably have heard me talk about my love for blackjack time and time again. I love anything having to do with blackjack. The dealer, whether real or virtual, the smell of the deck, the sound of chips being tossed together.

Being in an actual casino has its many benefits, as does playing online. When playing online you do not have to worry about tipping the dealer, but when playing in a brick and mortar casino you want to make sure to treat the dealer in a proper manner.

Nothing frustrates me more than playing blackjack with a bunch of uneducated rookies. I don’t mind a rookie, someone willing to be taught. But someone who thinks they have it all figured out, it just really chaps my you know what. Here are just simple tips that I use for tipping the dealer, but you can find many different ways of tipping with a simple google search.

Now be weary that although tipping is encouraged, no dealer is going to fault you for not tipping if you lose. But, if you have a nice run from the dealer it’s nice to show him your appreciation. I like to tip around one to two dollars per hand if I’m playing at a lower end table. If I’m playing at a $50 minimum table then I tip five dollars a game.

Use these dealers though, they want you to win. They’ll tell you what to do if you ask. After all they are making the same wage whether the casino takes you money or not, but if you happen to win they know they will benefit from a nice tip from you.

When to Double Down

I have always been a fan of the Double Down ever since I started playing blackjack. Did you know it is actually incorporated into the blackjack odds, and by not utilizing it, it actually increases the house edge. It’s true. You are supposed to double down, whenever you can, of course.

I received most of my information from Google when I first started playing, and wanted to know all of the nitty gritty details.

Doubling down is actually defined as doubling your bet after yo9u have received your first two cards.

This move affects the house edge in a variety of different ways. When doubling down during a normal shoe game (8 decks) the house edge will be .55%. Doubling down after a split reduces the house edge by .13%.

Now comes the fun part: determining when to double down. Double down always works best when the dealer is at his weakest. He is in this vulnerable state when he has the cards: 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6; these cards greatly increase his likelihood of busting.

One of my favorite moves, although one of the riskiest, is doubling down with a ten when the dealer has a nine, or with an eleven, when the dealer has a ten.

The best advice I can give is not to hesitate. Like I said before doubling down is computed into the house edge. Always make your move when the time is right. I’ve scratched the surface of this stellar move, now it’s up to you to go try it out.