How To Win At Blackjack

[KillJoy]

When it comes to blackjack, you don’t really need to have excellent bluffing skills to win as you would in poker. Or even have an inordinate amount of luck as you would when spinning the wheel in roulette or simply trying your chances at a slot machine.

In the game of blackjack, you must not be afraid to take risks because this is the game that offers the best chances of winning. So take advantage of that and remember to always play to win in blackjack!

Blackjack Tip #1 – Play to Win and Take Insurance Only When it's a Good Bet

Remember, in the game of blackjack, you’re only gambling against the dealer and no one else. Yes, it helps to know the cards of other players because you’ll be able to determine the probability of your cards winning but the most significant thing to concentrate on is how to beat the dealer’s cards.

Hence, don’t take insurance unless you have to since it’s truly just betting against yourself.

(03-03-2009 08:45 AM)PanamaRick Wrote:  Many players will take insurance if they have good hand such as 20. However, this is probably the worst time to take insurance, because you have two of the 10's you are betting the dealer has. Remember, insurance (or even money) is simply betting whether or not the dealer has 10 in the hole. In general, this is a bad bet, because only 4 of 13 cards are 10s. So 4/13 times you win twice the bet, but lose 9/13 of the time. For single deck, the house advantage is 5.88%.

However, if you are playing single deck and can peek at your neighbors cards you can make a profitable insurance bet. If you can see five cards which do not have a ten (your and your neighbor's cards plus the dealer's ace) or eight cards with only one 10, the insurance bet is advantageous.

For double deck, you would need to see nine non-10 cards before taking insurance is to your advantage.

For six deck, you would need to see 25 non-10 cards, so obviously this will never happen.

This is a quote from a web page that explains when insurance is a good bet:

Quote:Card counters occasionally find shoes with high enough proportions of 10-values to make insurance a good bet. Experts say this is one of the big benefits of counting, and typically recommend insurance when "true counts" exceed +3.

Blackjack Tip #2 – The Rules of Splitting

When the first two cards you’re dealt with are a pair of the same value (like 7/7), then you have the option to split your cards into two and play them separately, just as long as you place the same amount of bet on each card.

Now, while most players would either always or never split their cards, there is actually a strategy that can be applied to this particular situation and improve your chances at winning in blackjack. If you have two 10’s or two 5’s, it’s inadvisable to split cards so simply stick with them. If you have two 8’s or 7’s for example and the dealer shows you a card that’s equal or with a lower value like 6 or 5, that’s the time you should split your cards. When it comes to having face cards, you’re advised to never split them as well. But when it comes to aces, split them immediately.

Blackjack Tip #3 – Maximizing the Use of Double Down

If you feel that the first two cards the dealer gave you are so good, you always have the option of doubling down and doubling your bet. This is actually the best option available to blackjack players so never let the opportunity to double down slip you by. Be aggressive, especially if the situation warrants it!

EDIT: Edited to reflect the corrections regarding Tip #1 suggested in second post by PanamaRick

RECOMMENDED READ:
Methods For Beating Blackjack
Blackjack Card Counting
Blackjack Basic Strategy

[PanamaRick]

(02-09-2009 03:37 AM)KillJoy Wrote:  When it comes to blackjack, you don’t really need to have excellent bluffing skills to win as you would in poker. Or even have an inordinate amount of luck as you would when spinning the wheel in roulette or simply trying your chances at a slot machine.

In the game of blackjack, you must not be afraid to take risks because this is the game that offers the best chances of winning. So take advantage of that and remember to always play to win in blackjack!

Blackjack Tip #1 – Play to Win and Take Insurance Only When You Have To

Remember, in the game of blackjack, you’re only gambling against the dealer and no one else. Yes, it helps to know the cards of other players because you’ll be able to determine the probability of your cards winnin,g but the most significant thing to concentrate on is how to beat the dealer’s cards.

Hence, don’t take insurance unless you have to since it’s truly just betting against yourself.

Blackjack Tip #2 – The Rules of Splitting

When the first two cards you’re dealt with are a pair of the same value (like 7/7), then you have the option to split your cards into two and play them separately, just as long as you place the same amount of bet on each card.

Now, while most players would either always or never split their cards, there is actually a strategy that can be applied to this particular situation and improve your chances at winning in blackjack. If you have two 10’s or two 5’s, it’s inadvisable to split cards so simply stick with them. If you have two 8’s or 7’s for example and the dealer shows you a card that’s equal or with a lower value like 6 or 5, that’s the time you should split your cards. When it comes to having face cards, you’re advised to never split them as well. But when it comes to aces, split them immediately.

Blackjack Tip #3 – Maximizing the Use of Double Down

If you feel that the first two cards the dealer gave you are so good, you always have the option of doubling down and doubling your bet. This is actually the best option available to blackjack players so never let the opportunity to double down slip you by. Be aggressive, especially if the situation warrants it!

Enjoyed reading the tips so far? Feeling confident right now? If so, go play blackjack and see how much your newfound knowledge can help you!

Regarding Tip1: When would you ever *have* to take insurance? This bet is optional.

Many players will take insurance if they have good hand such as 20. However, this is probably the worst time to take insurance, because you have two of the 10's you are betting the dealer has. Remember, insurance (or even money) is simply betting whether or not the dealer has 10 in the hole. In general, this is a bad bet, because only 4 of 13 cards are 10s. So 4/13 times you win twice the bet, but lose 9/13 of the time. For single deck, the house advantage is 5.88%.

However, if you are playing single deck and can peek at your neighbors cards you can make a profitable insurance bet. If you can see five cards which do not have a ten (your and your neighbor's cards plus the dealer's ace) or eight cards with only one 10, the insurance bet is advantageous.

For double deck, you would need to see nine non-10 cards before taking insurance is to your advantage.

For six deck, you would need to see 25 non-10 cards, so obviously this will never happen.

[KillJoy]

(03-03-2009 08:45 AM)PanamaRick Wrote:  

(02-09-2009 03:37 AM)KillJoy Wrote:  When it comes to blackjack, you don’t really need to have excellent bluffing skills to win as you would in poker. Or even have an inordinate amount of luck as you would when spinning the wheel in roulette or simply trying your chances at a slot machine.

In the game of blackjack, you must not be afraid to take risks because this is the game that offers the best chances of winning. So take advantage of that and remember to always play to win in blackjack!

Blackjack Tip #1 – Play to Win and Take Insurance Only When You Have To

Remember, in the game of blackjack, you’re only gambling against the dealer and no one else. Yes, it helps to know the cards of other players because you’ll be able to determine the probability of your cards winnin,g but the most significant thing to concentrate on is how to beat the dealer’s cards.

Hence, don’t take insurance unless you have to since it’s truly just betting against yourself.

Blackjack Tip #2 – The Rules of Splitting

When the first two cards you’re dealt with are a pair of the same value (like 7/7), then you have the option to split your cards into two and play them separately, just as long as you place the same amount of bet on each card.

Now, while most players would either always or never split their cards, there is actually a strategy that can be applied to this particular situation and improve your chances at winning in blackjack. If you have two 10’s or two 5’s, it’s inadvisable to split cards so simply stick with them. If you have two 8’s or 7’s for example and the dealer shows you a card that’s equal or with a lower value like 6 or 5, that’s the time you should split your cards. When it comes to having face cards, you’re advised to never split them as well. But when it comes to aces, split them immediately.

Blackjack Tip #3 – Maximizing the Use of Double Down

If you feel that the first two cards the dealer gave you are so good, you always have the option of doubling down and doubling your bet. This is actually the best option available to blackjack players so never let the opportunity to double down slip you by. Be aggressive, especially if the situation warrants it!

Enjoyed reading the tips so far? Feeling confident right now? If so, go play blackjack and see how much your newfound knowledge can help you!

Regarding Tip1: When would you ever *have* to take insurance? This bet is optional.

Many players will take insurance if they have good hand such as 20. However, this is probably the worst time to take insurance, because you have two of the 10's you are betting the dealer has. Remember, insurance (or even money) is simply betting whether or not the dealer has 10 in the hole. In general, this is a bad bet, because only 4 of 13 cards are 10s. So 4/13 times you win twice the bet, but lose 9/13 of the time. For single deck, the house advantage is 5.88%.

However, if you are playing single deck and can peek at your neighbors cards you can make a profitable insurance bet. If you can see five cards which do not have a ten (your and your neighbor's cards plus the dealer's ace) or eight cards with only one 10, the insurance bet is advantageous.

For double deck, you would need to see nine non-10 cards before taking insurance is to your advantage.

For six deck, you would need to see 25 non-10 cards, so obviously this will never happen.

Thanks for the correction. I picked up this advices from Internet. I should have read them more carefully.

Blackjack Tip #1 – Play to Win and Take Insurance Only When You Have To

->I think it's probably formulated wrong. "When you have to" probably means when it makes a good bet

This is a quote from a web page that explains when insurance is a good bet:
"Card counters occasionally find shoes with high enough proportions of 10-values to make insurance a good bet. Experts say this is one of the big benefits of counting, and typically recommend insurance when "true counts" exceed +3."

EDIT: I've edited the first post to make corrections to Tip #1 suggested by PanamaRick