Blackjack Blogger - Page 9 of 10

Spice Things Up – Throw a Live Blackjack Dealer Into the Mix

If you’re thinking about getting more into casino action but you’re not sure what’s really going to increase your excitement, we have good news: a live blackjack dealer is the perfect way to spice things up.

Of course, we can’t mention live action without talking about blackjack. Blackjack is a game that’s easy to learn but it’s harder than meets the eye. Just when you think that you really understand blackjack, the entire game flips on you. The dealer can get you without you even noticing. Of course, a lot of people also overestimate their skills within the world of blackjack. The major reason behind this is that they are so used to playing against the computer. After a while, you understand what’s needed by the computerized dealer. You know what they’re going to do and how they’re going to do it. Generally speaking, a computer based dealer is going to stand on hard 17. However, what if you have a human dealer?

This is actually going to change the game because you aren’t going to be able to predict behavior anymore. Every dealer is going to be different. The way that the casinos pull this off is that they go and get lively players that can interact via webcam. So you will always be able to see them, and yes, they can see you if you have your webcam turned on. Sometimes this is a bit flirty, but you should never get too pushy with a dealer. They are there to help you have a great time, but there are lines that have to be drawn.

The best live casino will give you a mix of different casino games. As much as we do enjoy playing blackjack from the comfort and security of our own homes, we do admit that blackjack may be limiting. You probably want to play other games, and there’s nothing wrong with that at all. It’s just time to decide what you want to do and go after it.

Can you qualify for a new welcome bonus stepping into the live casino world? Absolutely! In fact, we’re pretty convinced that the live casino game action is going to be here to stay for a while. Some people dismissed the trend earlier, saying that it’s simply going to be a passing fad that fizzles. However, it looks like the casinos really have invested quite a bit into the technology behind the live casino. Check it out today!

Blackjack – Counting Cards

The first thing many people think of when counting cards is mentioned is the Rainman (movie). However, counting cards is not about knowing what exact card is coming out and is not that difficult. When a player counts cards, that player is trying to utilize math to determine the value range of the remaining cards. By knowing this, your probability of knowing, or guessing, the next card increases dramatically. Counting cards in single-deck blackjack is very easy and it becomes more of a challenge as the number of decks increase.

When you are counting cards, your counting does not become particularly effective until you have tested a good sample size – half of the deck is a good meter. For this reason, it´s important to monitor when a dealer shuffles the cards. If you are at a table where the dealer shuffles mid-deck, your counting will not help much and can hurt you. Ideally, you want to be at a table where the dealer doesn´t shuffle until 80-90% of the deck or shoe has been used.

The actual count patter is very simple – just pluses and minuses. Here´s how to do it:

*Start count at zero

2,3,4,5, or 6 = + 1
Aces, faces and tens = -1
7,8 or 9 = 0

There are some variations, such as making 2:s and 3:s plus two, but this is a general way to do it. When you see a card, you simply modify the running count by the required number. For example, if your count was 4 and you see a two and a three, your count is now +6. The higher the count, to the positive, the better your odds of drawing high cards is, thus your probability is higher – it´s time to place a larger bet. If your math ability permits, you would try to get the true count by taking your running count and dividing it by the percent of the deck that remains. For example, your running count is 9 and there´s 25% of the deck left. For the next hand, the true count is 36, which is 9 divided by .25.

Counting cards is not illegal, but a casino might throw you out if they see you doing it and you are winning. It´s not too difficult to count cards and win, provided that you practice and don´t run out making $100 bets instead of your usual $2 bet. Counting cards in blackjack does not mean you will win, it simply allows you to formulate a better guess. If you are a solid blackjack player, counting cards can help tilt the advantage in your favor. Look for more articles on blackjack and counting cards in the future!

Double Your Gaming Fun with Promo Codes

Are you looking at trying to get back into the swing of things with online casinos? Promo codes help you extend your gambling pleasure in a sweet way: you get extra playing money. Now, make no mistake about it – this isn’t Facebook casino, where it’s all fake money and virtual cash. This is real money that can be pulled out of the casino and back into your bank account. What could be sweeter than that? What could be more fun than knowing that you’re going to actually be able to break out of your boredom and actually make a little money on the side.

Obviously, this is far form being guaranteed. You just have to make sure that you’re focused on all of the right things, at the right times. Need a little visual? No problem.

When it comes to visuals, we have a video for you:

In our opinion, you want to get a promo from a casino that’s established — and we mean well established. One casino that immediately comes to mind would be William Hill.

We like William Hill casinos because they are not only established, but they do attract some top tier players. Depending on what game you really like playing, you’re going to want to face off against some real sharks. For example, we’re huge poker players. While it’s cool to snipe fish every now and again, we ache for a real challenge. The biggest casinos attract the hungriest players. Going head to head against people that also live and breathe poker is very good.

You still have plenty of opportunities to dig into whatever game you choose. At William Hill, you’re not just limited to poker by any stretch of the imagination. You also have slots and blackjack to consider. Plenty of promotions exist all year long, so even if you’re not taking advantage of this one, it’s not like you’re only limited to this promotion. William Hill wants to make all of its players feel right at home,s o they always try to come out with new contests and sweepstakes for you check out.

So, what’s it going to be? Are you going to make some money on the side? Are you going to take a little risk for a whole lot of reward? There’s only one way to go — check it out for yourself today!

Online Blackjack Basics

For the most part, there are very few differences between playing online blackjack and playing live blackjack. The card values are all the same, the cards are dealt in the same fashion, and you have the same actions such as being able to hit, stand, double down and split. In short, if you’ve played the game in casinos and/or know simple blackjack rules, you should have no trouble when it comes to understanding online blackjack basics.

Of course, there are a few discrepancies you should understand before playing online blackjack. The first one is that most online casinos pit you heads-up with the dealer; this differs from land-based casinos where there are often several other players at the table.

Another thing you should be aware of when it comes to internet blackjack is that you don’t have to worry about etiquette such as touching cards you’re not supposed to or making bad plays that anger other players. The blackjack software deals the cards to you, and handles all of the chips when you choose the actions/bet sizes you want.

Most people would consider this a big advantage, along with the next point, which is that online blackjack doesn’t require you to tip the dealers. Now this isn’t to imply that dealers aren’t important and shouldn’t be tipped in live play; it just means that you won’t have to worry about your blackjack profits being cut into by tips for dealers.

Speaking of profits, hopefully you earn BIG profits if you decide to play online blackjack.

Online Casino Bonuses

One of the best things about online gambling is the huge variety of online casino bonuses that are offered. Online casinos generously give out lots of bonuses, which means players have a better chance of making big profits.

There are a variety of ways that online casino bonuses are distributed with signup bonuses, VIP Program bonuses, and leaderboard race prizes being the most common. With an online casino signup bonus, you get a potential bonus based on how much you initially deposit. For instance, with a 100% up to $200 bonus, you would be able to try for a $200 bonus if you deposited a matching amount. Assuming you met the wagering requirements, you’d receive the extra $200!

Online casino VIP programs are similar to the comp programs offered by land-based casinos because players get VIP points based on frequent play. People can then use these points to pick up various online casino bonuses like expensive electronics, free play, vacation trips, and cash.

With online casino leaderboard races, you compete against other gamblers for prizes (usually cash). The races are normally judged by how many VIP points players earn, and those with the most points get the biggest prizes. Leaderboard races bring a fun, competitive aspect to online gambling that you don’t always get when playing by yourself.

Whenever you choose to go for casino bonuses, you should always read the terms and conditions so you know everything going in. This way, there won’t be any surprises when you’re trying to get an online casino bonus.

The History of Blackjack

The game of blackjack developed its name from an early bet, which has since been discontinued, that paid 10 to 1 if the player’s first two cards were a jack of spades and an ace of spades, both black cards.

The history of the game is hard to trace, but it is commonly thought blackjack evolved from other French games, like “chemin de fer” and “French Ferme.” Blackjack started to be played during the 1700s in French casinos, where it was called “vingt-et-un” (twenty-and-one). In the 1800s, the popular gambling game came to the United States.

Mathematical information showing how to play nearly even with the house and possibly even gain a slight edge was published in the late 1950s and during the1960s. One of these books made the New York Times bestseller list. With this information developed an interest of the public, making blackjack the number one table game in the U.S. in the 1960s. Blackjack’s widespread popularity carried through into the new millennium, with casinos making millions.

But, the casinos were not impressed with the success of a book that showed everyone how to beat the house, so they changed the rules of the game to make winning more difficult. But, the old rules were quickly put back in place after people protested by not playing the new version of blackjack.

The casinos then introduced multiple decks, shuffling machines, and frequent and early shuffling to increase their odds. These new concepts and the fact the ideas suggested in the books were difficult to master and hard to understand, restored the casino’s odds to a way they found suitable and profitable.

Understanding Blackjack Terminology

Blackjack can be an intimidating game to beginners, and it only gets more intimidating if you don’t understand basic blackjack terminology. After all, blackjack is just like any other casino game in that you fit in better if you can actual speak the lingo.

Your first step in understanding blackjack terminology is knowing what the name of the game actually implies. If somebody says they got a “blackjack,” it simply means that their first two cards totaled 21. In this instance, the player with a blackjack would receive a payout worth 1.5 times their original wager.

Another major blackjack term you should know is “bust.” If you bust in a hand, it means that you went over the score of 21 and lost your bet. Busting is the worst possible scenario in blackjack because you don’t even get a chance to see if your hand would’ve beat the dealer’s hand.

Two more important blackjack terms are “hit” and “stand.” When you hit, this means you want the dealer to give you another card; when you stand, this means you are happy with your current total and don’t want any more cards.

The final term that we’ll discuss in blackjack terminology is “card counting.” Card counting is the act of tracking how many high and low cards have been dealt so one can increase bets and gain an advantage later on. Seeing as how lots of players have made millions using this blackjack strategy, Hollywood likes to portray card counters in some of their films.

And while understanding these blackjack terms won’t transform you into a card counting genius, it will help you get a better grasp on the game.

Increasing Your Odds at the Blackjack Table

Blackjack is a math-based game. Because the game is based on math, there are strategies that you can employ that will assist you in increasing your odds at the blackjack table. By paying attention to the type of rules you are playing under and by playing optimally, you can increase your odds of winning at the blackjack table.

Blackjack tables all have predetermined rules the games follow. From table stakes to the number of decks used in a shoe, blackjack tables vary in their individual rule sets. Small changes in the rules impact the odds you as a player get at the blackjack table. For example, sitting at a blackjack table that uses a six-deck shoe, as opposed to the standard eight-deck shoe serves to increase your odds at the blackjack table fractionally. In the event you find a single deck blackjack table, taking a seat at that table increases your odds at the single deck blackjack table by nearly one-half percent compared to your normal blackjack table. Almost going without saying, sitting at a blackjack table that pays a proper blackjack serves as a means of increasing your odds at the blackjack table, as opposed to sitting at a table that pays reduced odds for blackjack.

While table selection helps in increasing your odds at a blackjack table, playing optimally also helps to increase your odds of winning at blackjack. Hitting when you are supposed to hit and doubling down when appropriate really helps to turn the odds in your favor when at the blackjack tables. Consequently, you will do quite well increasing the odds away from the house at the blackjack tables when you play proper blackjack through using optimal blackjack strategy. In addition, implementing effective and valid methods of card counting also helps in increasing your odds at the blackjack tables.

Blackjack Movies

Blackjack is a topic or theme that has graced the silver screen quite a few times. The presence of the blackjack game in movies is quite natural, considering people are always intrigued with games of chance, especially when people play for high stakes or are beating the house religiously.

One such blackjack movie is the movie entitled 21. 21 was a blackjack movie released in 2008 and tells the tale of the MIT blackjack team. 21 is one of the blackjack movies that is actually based on a true story, as the MIT team of blackjack players revolutionized the concept of team blackjack play and card counting. This movie depicted how the team was trained in the art of card counting and showed how they took the casinos for millions upon millions in blackjack winnings.

While the game of blackjack was the predominant theme in 21, there are numerous instances where blackjack is not the main theme of the movie, but plays a significant role in the movie’s plot. Rain Man featured a story line where Raymond, played by Dustin Hoffman, won a ton of money after his brother Charlie (Tom Cruise) discovered that Ray is able to count cards at a very high level. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest is a movie where blackjack is discussed quite heavily. Jack Nicholson’s character talks of card counting and has cards with him regularly.

The Cooler is another of the many blackjack movies that involves blackjack and gambling. William Macy plays a character known as a Cooler for his impeccable ability to transfer his bad luck to anyone he meets, is employed at a casino to try to cool off any hot winners at his casino. When he is on his A game, he causes even the luckiest streaks at the blackjack table to come to a screeching halt.

How to find a winning Blackjack strategy

Winning blackjack strategy is imperative in the long-term success of any blackjack player’s career. Playing with a winning blackjack strategy is a must for every single session of blackjack play, as each session is important. Consequently, we want to make the most money we can when playing blackjack smartly. While this may sound like common sense, especially considering that we generally play blackjack to make money, the fact is – not everyone knows how to find a winning blackjack strategy. Some people rely solely on their gut, but the reality is – our gut feeling is not the best place to find a winning blackjack strategy, as our gut often tells us to stand on twelve when in fact we should probably hit.

We can find a winning blackjack strategy a few different ways. First, one can buy books that dive into the intricacies of blackjack math, probability, and optimal play. For many of us, sitting down and focusing on reading books of this nature at a mastery level to gain the understanding necessary in implementing a successful blackjack strategy is just too much. Many who make it through the entire book will not retain and grasp the concepts necessary to put all the winning strategies into play at the blackjack table.

Should one have the time and skills, they could use a sophisticated computer program to help them find and develop a winning blackjack strategy. Doing this, however, requires keen insight into the math of the game, which would most likely mean that the player is already a master blackjack player.

Perhaps the best and easiest way to find a winning blackjack strategy is to look on a trusted and legitimate blackjack site such as this one. Our blackjack site details winning blackjack strategies in easy to understand language and we have a chart that shows you how to play winning blackjack. You can even print the chart out so that the next time you sit down at the table, you know how to play winning blackjack. In fact, feel free to print out the chart a few times so that you can look like a genius when someone else asks how to find a winning blackjack strategy.