888 Casino Blackjack Strategy
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- . In some casinos, a switched blackjack will automatically be paid even money. In other casinos, a switched blackjack will not be paid until after the dealer completes her hand, and if she has a 21 or 22, the switched blackjack is a push. (The former rule is much more player favorable.) PLAYING STRATEGY.
- You’ll learn how the casinos have a built-in advantage against players, and how the basic blackjack playing strategy can reduce this disadvantage to less than 1%. 1.5 Blackjack Variations You will learn about the colorful blackjack history from its origins back in the 1700s and how it evolved into the world’s most popular casino card game.
Action. Refers to the total amount of money wagered on all your hands.
Advantage Player. A player who has the mathematical advantage over the casino.
Anchor Player.This is a term used to designate the player seated to the far left of the table (to the immediate right of the dealer). This is the last player to act before the dealer acts on his hand.
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Backed Off. When a casino supervisor tells a player to stop playing.
Balanced CardCounting System. When the card counting tags for all the cards sum to zero.
Bankroll. The amount of money the player uses to gamble.
Barber Pole. A wager made by a player consisting of a pile of different-colored (i.e., denomination) chips.
Barring.When a casino supervisor tells a player that he is permanently prohibited from playing blackjack in the casino.
Basic Strategy.Set of playing decisions that are the mathematically optimal way to play each hand based solely on the player’s cards and the dealer’s upcard.
Bet Sizing. Sizing your bet in proportion to your mathematical advantage over the casino.
Bet Spread. The ratio of the maximum bet to minimum bet.
Betting Efficiency.The percent of the time a counting system will recognize when the player has an advantage for betting purposes.
Betting Ramp. The amount of money a card counter should wager at each value of the true count.
Betting Spot.Designated area on the layout in front of each player (either a square or circle) where each player places his wager (i.e., chips).
Big Player. A player who waits for a secret signal from a confederate card counter, and then enters the game and makes large bets.
Black Chips. Black-colored casino chips that usually have a value of $100.
Blackjack. A player’s first two cards consisting of an ace and a 10-value card.
Break.When a hand exceeds a count of 21.
Burn Card. After the decks of cards are shuffled and cut, it’s the first card that is removed by the dealer face and placed face down in the discard tray.
Bust. When a hand exceeds a count of 21.
Bust Card. A specific card that results in a player’s or dealer’s hand’s exceeding a count of 21.
Buy-In. The exchange of money for chips.
Card Counter. A player who tracks specific cards as they are played to ascertain when the advantage shifts in his favor.
Cashier’s Cage. Area in a casino where a player converts casino chips into cash.
Casino Manager. Casino executive responsible for the operation of a casino.
Checks. Another name for casino chips.
Chip. The clay tokens used by casinos for players to make a wager.
Chip Counting. Determining the value of a stack of chips by eyeballing the stack, primarily in tournaments.
Chip Tray. The tray that sits in front of the dealer where the casino chips are kept and distributed by the dealer to players after they win a hand.
Color for Color. When a dealer pays off a winning bet with the same denomination chips as those wagered.
Color Up. To exchange smaller denomination chips for larger denomination chips at the table.
Comp. Complimentary (i.e., free) product or service offered by the casino to its loyal customers.
Continuous Shuffling Machine (CSM). An automatic shuffling machine that randomly mixes the discards in with the remaining cards after each round.
Correlate. Betting the same amount as an opponent in a blackjack tournament.
Count. The value of the count in card counting systems. As a verb, to count cards.
Countdown. When the casino counts all the chips of tournament players after a specified number of hands.
Currency Transaction Report (CTR). A report that casinos must fill out for any cash transactions exceeding $10,000 in a 24-hour period. This is mandated by the federal government.
Cut Card. A colored plastic card that a player inserts into the just-shuffled cards to determine where the dealer will cut the decks. When the cut card appears during a round, the round is completed, and then the cards are shuffled.
Cutoff. The unplayed cards that are behind the cut card in a dealing shoe.
Dealer. Casino employee that is responsible for dealing the cards at a blackjack table. (Ditto for other casino table games.)
Deck. Standard 52-card deck of cards.
Deck Penetration. The percentage of cards that is dealt before the shuffle.
Deviation. Changing from the basic strategy, based on the count.
Discards. The cards that were played in a round and placed in the discard tray. The cumulative collection of all such cards.
Discard Tray. A clear plastic device that holds all the cards that have been played.
DOA. Abbreviation for doubling on anything, meaning any initial two cards.
Doubling Down. After receiving the first two cards, a player has the option to make a secondary wager ager up to the original bet amount and receive only one additional draw card.
Down Card. Dealer’s hole card or any card that is dealt face down.
Drawing. The act of receiving another card to a hand.
Edge. The percentage of each bet that a player stands to win or lose.
Eighty-Six. Barring an individual from a casino.
Elimination Tournament. Blackjack tournament in which players with the most chips on each table after the tournament round advance to play at another table, while the remaining players are eliminated from the tournament.
Entry-Level Card Counting System. A simplified card counting system that is easier to learn and use but with less power than a traditional card counting system.
Even Money. When a player has a blackjack and the dealer has an ace upcard, the dealer will offer the player an even-money payoff, before she peeks at her down card, which is equivalent to the player’s taking insurance.
Expectation. What a player can expect to win or lose in the long run.
Eye in the Sky (EITS). The cameras, usually in glass bubbles, located on the ceiling in casinos, that record all the action for surveillance personnel to monitor.
Face-Up Game. A blackjack game where the initial two cards dealt to players are face up (and players are not allowed to handle the cards).
First Base. The first seat at a blackjack table located on the dealer’s far left side; this player is the first to act on his hand.
Flasher. A dealer who inadvertently exposes her down card to players.
Flat Bet. Betting the same amount of money on successive hands.
Floorperson. Casino supervisor, located in the pit, who is responsible for supervising a group of tables.
Front Money. Money that a player deposits at the cashier cage and then uses to draw markers.
Going for the High. Betting a sufficient number of chips in a tournament so that if all players win the hand, the player will end up with the most chips.
Going for the Low. Holding back one more chip that the competitors’ unbet stack of chips in a tournament (and hoping the dealer beats the table).
Hand-Held Game. A blackjack game (usually single- and double-deck deck) where the dealer holds the cards in her hand rather than placing them in a dealing shoe.
Hard Hand. A hand that either has no ace, or if an ace is present, it counts as one (rather than eleven).
Hand-Spreading. Increasing the number of simultaneous hands per round that a card counter plays when the edge shifts in his favor.
Heads Up. Playing alone against a dealer.
Heat. When casino personnel carefully scrutinize a player while he is playing.
High Roller. Player who makes large wagers.
Hi-Lo. Popular balanced card counting system.
Hit. When a player requests another card or, when by the rules, the dealer must draw another card.
Hit 17 (H17).A rule requiring the dealer to hit all her totals of 17, including soft 17.
Hole Card. The card in the dealer’s hand that is dealt face down.
Host. Casino employee that caters to players who wager a significant amount of money in a casino.
House. Another term for casino.
House Edge. The percentage of the money wagered by a player that the casino theoretically expects to win (or
lose).
Index Number. The value of the true count at which a card counter would deviate from basic strategy for a particular hand.
Insurance. A side bet that the dealer has a blackjack. Players may make the insurance bet (equal to a maximum of half of the original amount wagered on the hand) when the dealer’s upcard is an ace. If the dealer has a blackjack, the insurance bet is paid at 2-1.
Lifetime Risk of Ruin. An amount of money a player should set aside to play a lifetime of blackjack with minimum risk of ruin (often set at 5 percent or less).
Live-Money Tournament. A tournament in which the players must purchase chips used in betting during the tournament round.
Long Term. The more you play, the more likely your actual results will be closer, percentagewise, to your expected results.
Martingale. A progressive betting system in which a player often doubles his wager after a loss, and then returns to his initial bet following a win.
Mid-Shoe Entry. Entering a game and making a bet after the first round (following the shuffle) is completed up to when the cut card appears. Money Plays. Term used to alert the dealer and the pit staff that a player is going to wager in cash rather than casino chips.
Multi-Parameter System. A card counting system that keeps tracks of two different counts, usually the main running count and another side count of aces.
Negative Count. When the count is below zero, and the game is in the casino’s favor.
Nickels. Red-colored casino chips usually valued at $5.
Pair Splitting. Option that allows a player to split the initial two-card hand containing a pair into two hands. The player must make a secondary wager equal to the initial wager when pair splitting.
Pat Hand. A hand that totals 17 through 21 that doesn’t require a hit.
Peeker. An optical device embedded in the table that the dealer uses to determine whether her down card is a ten-value card or an ace (meaning the dealer is starting off with a blackjack, and therefore the round is over). If the peeker doesn't register a ten-value card or ace, play continues.
Penetration (Pen). The percentage of cards that the dealer deals before shuffling.
Pit Boss. A supervisor of table games. Pitch. The method used by the dealer to deal the cards to players, usually in single- and double-deck games.
Play Variation. A deviation from basic playing strategy, based on the count, used by card counters.
Ploppy. Slang term for a player who is clueless regarding the basic playing strategy.
Positive Count. When the count is greater than zero and the game is often in the player’s favor.
Progressive Betting. A system of betting based on whether the current hand wins or loses.
Push. A final player’s hand with the same total as the dealer’s final hand. This is a “tie,” so the chips you wagered on the hand stay where they are in the betting spot.
Resplits. Allowing a player to split a pair, after an initial split, usually up to three or four hands.
Risk of Ruin. The chance of a player’s losing his entire bankroll.
Running Count. Cumulative arithmetic sum of the tags of all the cards dealt as of the moment of reckoning.
Rule of Six. In single-deck games, method of determining the number of rounds dealt before the shuffle, which would equal six minus the number of players currently at the table.
Shoe. A device used to hold usually four or more decks of cards from which the dealer deals the cards.
Sit and Go. Fast blackjack tournaments that are usually offered on internet sites.
Soft 17 (S17). A rule requiring the dealer to stand on all her totals of 17, including soft 17.
Sof Hand. Any blackjack hand that contains an ace counted as 11.
Stand. Decision made by a player not to receive any more cards (or the casino rule that requires the dealer not to draw any more cards to her hand).
Standard Deviation. A mathematical term indicating the variability (dispersion) of results around the average result, which is indicative of risk.
Stiff Hand. A hard hand that totals 12 through 16. Suits. Casino executives — usually a floor person, shift supervisor, or pit boss. Surrender. A rule that allows a player to give up his initial hand and forfeit half of his wager.
Toke. A tip for the dealer.
Trespassed. When a casino executive “trespasses” a player, he is not allowed on the premises anymore and risks being arrested if he returns.
True Count. The running count divided by the number of remaining decks of cards.
Upcard. The card in the dealer’s initial two-card hand that is dealt face up.
Over the past quarter century, I’ve received many questions from blackjack players. Several of them I’ve already answered in the first eight chapters of this Blackjack guide. What follows are questions on topics that I haven’t addressed in detail thus far.
Note: I haven’t included card counting questions in this FAQ. I’ll answer those in Chapter 10.
When players have a losing session at blackjack, they are quick to put the blame on someone or something. They would never consider that their losses may be due to the fact that they haven't a clue about basic playing strategies or their loss is simply due to the variability that is part of how to play blackjack, the latter means that even the most skillful players will have losing sessions. It just makes more sense to blame that nerd at third base who, allegedly, killed the table with his stupid plays.
If you are serious about wanting to win at blackjack, then the very first thing you absolutely must do is to separate the truth from fiction; otherwise, you will be like most blackjack players, who always have an excuse for their losses.
I could write many pages of blackjack myths that have come to my attention over the past 50 years. Instead, I've selected the most talked about and misunderstood myths about the game, the reason for the myth, and the truth. Are you ready for some debunking?
Note: I’ve covered some of these Blackjack myths in earlier chapters but it doesn't hurt to discuss them again.
IS IT REQUIRED TO TIP A DEALER?
It’s no secret that dealers depend on tips for their livelihood. Roughly two-thirds of their monthly wage is tips. However, although you are under no obligation to tip when you play, most players do, especially if the dealer has been friendly and helpful, and made their playing experience an enjoyable one. Tipping does have some benefits. By tipping and getting the dealer on your side, she will often give you the benefit of the doubt if her supervisor asks her how much you were betting, resulting in the supervisor’s bumping up the amount of your average bet, giving you a higher rating and more comps. I expect a dealer to smile, be friendly, wish me luck when she gives me chips, and not be indifferent if I ask her a question. If she does, I tip; if not, I don’t.
HOW SHOULD YOU TIP THE DEALER?
There are two common ways that players tip a friendly dealer. First is to simply place a chip on the layout at any time and tell the dealer “this is for you.” The second way is to make a bet for the dealer on your hand by placing the chip(s) you want to bet for her just outside of the betting area. If your hand wins, the dealer will pay off your winning chip(s) and her winning chip(s). After the dealer clears the table, she will pick up the winning chips from the bet you made for her, hopefully thank you for the bet, and place the chips in the toke box, tips are often shared amongst dealers on same shift. If your hand loses, of course the bet you made for her on the hand will be lost, and she receives no tip. The chip you bet for her goes into the casino’s chip tray. However, even if your hand loses, most dealers will appreciate the player’s gesture.
There is a less common but what is considered to be a better way to tip the dealer. Instead of placing the chip(s) you are betting for the dealer outside of your betting spot, place them instead on top of your chip(s) inside the betting spot.
Notice the difference between the two ways of making a tip bet for the dealer. Bets made outside the betting spot are controlled by the dealer while the bets made inside the betting spot are controlled by the player. Therefore, when the chip(s) you wagered for the dealer are outside of your betting spot, the dealer pays herself if the hand wins and keeps the original bet you made for her plus the winning chip(s). If you make the tip bet inside the betting spot and the hand wins, the dealer will pay you on both bets. You then turn around and give the dealer the winning chip(s) for the bet you made for her, but you get to keep the original bet you placed on top of your initial bet.
Betting on top of your chips inside the betting spot saves you 50% compared to betting outside the betting spot. It also gives you the option to let the chip(s) ride for her on the next hand. In fact, I usually let the bet ride until I lose a hand; this often gives you a lot of mileage and the appearance you are frequent tipper from an initial one-chip bet.
HOW MUCH SHOULD I TIP?
It’s perfectly acceptable to base your tip on how much you are betting. As a rule of thumb, if you are a $5 player, I’d suggest a $1 or $2 tip bet for the dealer. If you are a $25 bettor, making a $5 tip bet would be appropriate. However, I wouldn't recommend over tipping because winning at blackjack is tough enough.
IF A DEALER MAKES A MISTAKE WHILE DEALING THE CARDS, WHAT IS SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN?
Blackjack dealers are human and sometimes they make an honest mistake when dealing. If the dealer errs, she should never correct her mistake; instead, she should immediately notify her supervisor, floor person in the pit that is responsible for that table. It is the floor supervisor’s responsibility to correct dealer mistakes to the satisfaction of all the players. In the event you are not satisfied, tell the supervisor nicely that you would like to speak to the shift boss to discuss what happened and the decision made on the hand.
I PLAY A LOT OF BLACKJACK AND NEVER SEEM TO GET ANY COMPS. WHAT SHOULD I DO?
You should check with a casino host, even before you start playing in any casino, to find out what the play requirements are for specific level of comps. For example, a casino on the Las Vegas Strip that caters to high-end players isn’t going to give many comps (if any) to a $10 bettor. However, a locals casino that caters to average recreational players will more likely reward a $10 bettor.
HOW CAN THE HOUSE EDGE BE LOWER IN A SINGLE-DECK GAME VS. A SIX-DECK GAME WHEN THE PROPORTION OF RANKS OF CARDS IS THE SAME?
All other rules being equal (which they rarely are), the casino edge in blackjack decreases as the number of decks decreases for two main reasons: you will get more blackjacks with fewer decks, and doubling down becomes more advantageous. The reason you get more blackjacks in a single-deck game is that the removal of a single card affects the percentages of the remaining cards to a much greater extent compared to a six-deck game. For example, the chance of getting a blackjack with the order of ace-ten from a freshly shuffled single deck of 52 cards, containing four aces and 16 ten-valued cards (10s, Js, Qs, and Ks) is: Chance that the first card is an ace (4/52) times chance that the second card is a 10 (16/51).
If you multiply 4/52 x 16/51 you get 2.41%, which is the probability that your first card is an ace and the second a ten-valued card. But you could have just as easily drawn a 10 as your first card and an ace as your second card. Therefore, the probability of getting a blackjack in a single deck game is twice 2.41% or 4.82% (actually rounds up to 4.83%). This translates into one blackjack out of every 20.72 hands.
If you do the identical math for a six-deck game (consisting of 24 aces and 96 ten-valued cards), you’ll arrive at a frequency of 4.75%, or one blackjack in every 21.06 hands, meaning you’ll get fewer blackjacks compared to a single-deck game. Additionally, blackjack pushes with the dealer are 22% more likely in a six-deck game compared to a single-deck game, which also reduces your earnings potential. When you double down, in most cases you are hoping to draw a 10-valued card (e.g., doubling a 6-5). In a single-deck game, the chance of drawing the desired 10 is 32.0%, whereas it’s only 30.98% in a six-deck game (roughly 3% less). The reason is the same as it is for the frequency of blackjacks; namely, the effect of removing a single rank in a single-deck game is much more pronounced than it is for a six-deck game.
IS THERE ANY ADVANTAGE TO PLAYING MORE THAN ONE SPOT AT BLACKJACK?
You will decrease your variance when you play more than one spot. This assumes that instead of betting, say, $20 on one spot, you bet $10 on each of two spots. Your total risk per round is $20 either way, but your variance, related to the standard deviation, or amount you might win above expectation or lose below expectation over a specific time period, will be lower betting $10 on two spots vs. $20 on one spot. Additionally, for the same bankroll, you will get more play time betting two spots vs. one spot because sometimes you will win or push one hand while the other might lose or push. However, keep in mind that your long-term expected loss will be the same betting $20 on one spot vs. betting $10 on two spots, albeit you lower your variance by betting two spots.
WHEN, IF EVER, SHOULD YOU TIP A CASINO HOST? IF SO, HOW MUCH?
It’s not a requirement to tip your casino host; however, if your host gives you exceptional service and you want to thank him or her for a job well done, then it would be appropriate to reward your host. Most casinos have a policy that forbids hosts from accepting money from customers and gifts are usually restricted to a “nominal” value. The value of the latter differs from one casino to another. Suggestions: If you know your host’s hobby, a gift along those lines would be appropriate. For example, if it’s golf, a set of golf balls would be appropriate. Male hosts wear suits all day so a nice tie would be appreciated. Female hosts enjoy receiving flowers or a gift certificate to an off-site restaurant. Certainly, a prepaid credit card would also be an appropriate gift. For example, recently I’ve given a host a $100 gift card to Home Depot; another, a $100 prepaid Visa card.
WHY DO DEALERS BURN THE FIRST CARD?
It’s a way for the casinos to show players that there was no hanky-panky involved when the dealer shuffled the cards. Also, the first card after a shuffle is vulnerable to cheating schemes, by a dealer in cahoots with a player, so burning the card lessens the possibility of this happening. If you are not a card counter (you can test your card counting skills here), it makes no difference in the odds of winning if the dealer burns one or more cards from play at the start of a round.
ARE THE RULES THE SAME FOR VIDEO BLACKJACK AS THEY ARE FOR A LIVE TABLE GAME?
The rules on video blackjack games are usually not as good as they are in a live table game. Video blackjack games often pay only even money for a blackjack and don’t allow a player to double down on soft hands. But I have seen a few video blackjack games with comparable rules to a live game; therefore, it’s best to check the rules, especially the pay-off for a blackjack hand, before you play any video blackjack game.
IS IT BETTER TO PLAY AT A FULL TABLE OR ALONE WITH THE DEALER?
If you are a basic strategy player and are not card counting, you are better off playing at a full table of players. The reason is that you will be dealt fewer hands per hour at a full table and this reduces the exposure of your bankroll to the house edge.
IF YOU ARE SUCH A HOT-SHOT BLACKJACK PLAYER, WHY AREN'T YOU PLAYING BLACKJACK AND WINNING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS INSTEAD OF WRITING THIS GUIDE?
I get asked this question (or similar ones) all the time. Actually, I included it here as a teaser for you to read the next Chapter on Card Counting where you’ll find the answer to this question.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- Tipping a dealer is not a requirement when you play blackjack.
- The best way to tip a friendly and helpful dealer is to place the chip(s) you are betting for her on top of the chip(s) you bet on your hand, inside the betting spot.
- If a dealer makes a mistake while dealing the cards you should immediately bring it to her attention.
- Dealer mistakes should be corrected by the dealer’s supervisor.
- If you are not satisfied with the way a floor supervisor has corrected a dealer’s mistake, tell the supervisor you wish to speak to the shift boss.
- Ask a casino host what the play requirements are for getting a specific level of comps when you play blackjack.
- One of the reasons that the house edge is lower in a single-deck game is that the removal a single card has a greater effect on the percentages of the remaining cards, resulting in an increase in the number of player blackjack hands compared to the multi-deck game.
- You can lower your variance by betting, say, $10 on each of two hands, instead of betting $20 on one hand.
- Casinos burn the first card after a shuffle to minimize any player cheating if he or she caught a glimpse of the card.
- The rules for video blackjack are often not as good as a live game, especially the payoff for a blackjack hand.
- It’s better for a basic strategy player to play on full tables.
IS EACH STATEMENT TRUE (T) OR FALSE (F)?
1. You should always give the dealer the bonus payoff on a blackjack hand to thank her for giving you the blackjack.
2. You are a $10 bettor. When you buy in at a blackjack table and the dealer gives you your chips, it’s best to ask her immediately to give you five white ($1) chips in exchange for a red ($5) chip because you are planning to tip her.
3. You give a hand signal to the dealer that you want a draw card and she gives the card instead to the player on your left. You should tell the dealer that the card was yours and she should give it to you right now.
4. You should ask the dealer how much you need to bet to get a buffet comp.
5. Assuming the same rules, the house edge is lower in a six-deck game than a double-deck game.
6. The house edge is the same when you bet one spot or more than one spot.
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7. It’s OK to give cash to a casino host for a job well done.
8.You should assume all video blackjack games pay 3-2 for a blackjack hand.
9. You walk into a casino and see a crowded $10 table, and nearby, a much less crowded $10 table. You decide to play at the less-crowded table because with fewer players, they’ll be fewer playing mistakes made by clueless players that will cause you to lose. You made the right choice by playing at the less-crowded table.
ANSWERS
1. False. There is no requirement that you have to tip a dealer and certainly giving her the bonus payout on every blackjack hand would be, in my opinion, over tipping.
2. True. By getting some white chips at the start of your session you are putting the dealer on notice that you may be tipping her if she is friendly and helpful.
3. False. It’s OK to bring the mistake to the dealer’s attention but don’t expect her to correct it. That’s the responsibility of her supervisor.
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4. False. That’s not the dealer’s job to know or tell players how much to bet to get a comp. You should ask that question to a casino host.
5. False. The house edge is always lower as the number of decks decreases (assuming the same rules).
6. True. What’s different is the variance, which is lower when you bet two spots of, say, $10 on each spot, as opposed to betting $20 on one spot.
7. False. Most casinos forbid players to give cash to casino hosts.
8. False. Many video blackjack games pay only even money for a blackjack. You should always check the rules to be sure that blackjacks pay 3-2.
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9. False. Your hourly expected loss is less when you play at full tables compared to playing alone or with just a few players.