The Blackjack Strategy Guide Helps Players Make Good Decisions

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This blackjack strategy guide can take you from knowing about blackjack and just knowing the rules of the game to understanding details that may help you win. Of course, there is no substitute for experience when it comes to participating in any game where there is some skill involved. Ask any professional who sits at a card table and they will tell you that, among blackjack betting strategies, the object is not winning a bunch of money. The first step is to make good decisions, so that, over time, you will win more than you lose.

One of the keys to success for any beginning player is taking advantage of the free play offered with online casinos. Follow the suggestions of any good blackjack strategy guide and you will find that practicing without the worry of losing money is a fine first step. After awhile, a player can become comfortable enough to venture a step further and open a real-money account at his or her favorite casino.

Start with the Basics

As you approach a blackjack table in a live casino or look at the blackjack options of a Web-based casino, you may see some tables with such instructions as “dealer stands on all 17s” or perhaps you will see no such sign. It pays to know just what the ground rules are for the table at which you will be playing.

For example, if the dealer hits on 16 and under, this means he must take a card. Consequently, if he probably must stand on all 17s, which means he must play his hand that totals 17 against whatever the players have. This is key information for the player when sitting down at a table because the object is not only to get as close as possible to 21 without going over, but also to beat the dealer.

You should also understand the requirement that a dealer hits on a “soft” 17, meaning that a dealer has Ace and 6, for example. He must then take another card. The hand is called “soft” because the Ace is a blackjack strategy card that can generally be used as a one or 11. Tip from the blackjack strategy guide: Odds for the player are better if the dealer must stand on a soft 17.

If you feel you have this information well in hand, and have chosen a table at which the betting limits are comfortable for you, it may be time to step and get your feet wet, so to speak. Tip: Take the most crucial information from your blackjack strategy guide with you (in your mind).

To start a game, players place their bets by putting the chips in the circle or square on the table surface. It’s best to do this as quickly as possible, so the dealer doesn’t skip you in a fast-paced atmosphere.

In most live and online casino blackjack games, the cards are dealt face up from a shoe, the container that has multiple decks in it. From this point, players do not touch their cards.

The Goal Is….

Remember that the objective is to beat the dealer. It is not, as many believe, just to get as close to 21 as possible. This is a major step in understanding the game that should be mentioned in any blackjack strategy guide. Tip: You can lose before the dealer plays, if your hand totals more than 21. Of course you only bust by taking more cards, so if you are in that playing zone of 16, 17, 18, and the dealer must make a decision, well, that’s when the strategy comes in. This is where some experience at blackjack card counting enters the picture.

A hand with an Ace is a “soft” hand, as mentioned when discussing dealer requirements. In our example, the Ace-6 hand could be 7 or 17, while an Ace-5 hand could be 6 or 16. On the first deal of two cards each, the hand is considered soft because taking another card will not put you over 21.

By contrast, if there is only one total to be made with your cards, you have a “hard” hand. Hands with no Aces are “hard” hands. Hands with Aces that have to be counted as 1 are “hard” hands.

Do I Win or Lose?

If the dealer has 17 and you have 18 when the dealer hand is exposed, you win. If you have 16 and the dealer has 17, you lose. If you have the same total, this is known as a “push.” If you wagered $10 and you win, the dealer gives you $10 and you take that along with the chip you bet, unless you want to let the original bet or both $10 chips “ride.” Again, this is part of the strategy you can learn about in a blackjack strategy guide. Experience may be the best teacher in betting strategy.

The term blackjack enters the picture if a player or dealer has an Ace and a card with a value of 10 (10 through King). This is considered a natural 21 that can only occur with the first two cards dealt. You are paid a slightly higher rate than with any other win, such as 3 to 2. This may vary with casinos.

From this point in the blackjack strategy guide, it may be best to look at several of the decision points, with brief explanations of how they fit into the system of strategy.

Let’s assume the dealer has an Ace showing. Most tables will offer options such as even money and insurance. Insurance is really a side bet in which the player is betting that the dealer has a 10-count card in the hole, thus giving the dealer a blackjack. It’s called insurance because you may be able to win that side bet while losing the regular hand. In the best blackjack strategy guide, this is considered a bet with poor odds for the player.

With even money, the dealer may offer you an even money payout if you have a blackjack and the dealer has an Ace showing. Some experienced players like the even-money option. Again, experience is the best teacher when it comes to working for you.

Another key tip in the blackjack strategy guide, when the dealer has an Ace showing, is early surrender. However, not as many casinos offer this as was the case in the past. Basically, the player does not play the hand and gives up only half the bet before more than the initial two cards are dealt. Surrender can occur early, late or at anytime, depending on the agreed guidelines. Most tables offer late surrender (after the dealer checks for blackjack) but early and anytime are not offered very often.

Players may also split pairs. If you are dealt a pair of 9s for example, you have the option of splitting those and playing two separate hands. But you must put another bet down next to the original amount to cover this second hand. This differs from double down, in which you place additional chips on top of the original. More about double down in just a bit. Splitting can be a wise decision, but this move depends on which pair you have. Experienced players sometimes seem to “know” when strategy moves such as splitting are correct.

Blackjack strategy guide tip: Be sure you understand  if a blackjack made after splitting Aces pays the full amount, even money or another amount. This can vary.

When you decide to double down, you have indicated that you are betting more but will take only one more card. As a strategy move, this can be risky but it depends on the individual. It certainly adds a bit of excitement to the game. According to most computations of blackjack odds, double down after splitting still only adds a fraction to your odds. The same can be said of doubling down on cards between 8 and 11.

Any blackjack strategy guide should emphasize that strategy involves making good decisions, so the key places to make these decisions are at “hit” and “stand.” Experience shows that, unless you have a total under 12 the odds are you will bust by taking another card. But you must add in the dealer’s chances of busting and whether a dealer must hit or stand with a certain total.

That covers the basics of playing blackjack and some of the points during the game at which the player must make a decision. Remember, a blackjack strategy guide is just that, a guide. Good decisions and bad decisions can only be made by a player, in the moment at the table. The best strategy tip: Be prepared.

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Quick Blackjack Tips

"Make good decisions – As with poker, the first goal is not to win a lot of money. The object is to make good decisions each time a decision is required. These become steps to winning money."

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