While it is certainly true that the
game of Blackjack favors the dealer over the player (if both you and the dealer
bust, for instance, you’re the one who loses), there are various things you can
do to increase your odds of winning.
These are relatively simple things and
they are worth noting (and memorizing) since they are pretty much clear-cut “do’s”
and “don’ts” that won’t require a lot of thinking or deliberating over.
With
so many things in life (and poker) tinged with ambiguity, it is sometimes a pleasure
just to have some simple rules to follow!
- Picking your table.
Do not underestimate the value of
picking the table that’s most helpful to you. What does this mean? For one
thing, the minimum bet at the table you choose should be no more than 5% of your
bankroll.
For another thing, the rule variations should be those that are “player-friendly”
– for instance, the doubling-down option, and the dealer being required to stand
on soft 17 (a soft hand is one in which the ace counts as 11).
Learn which rules
favor the player and which favor the dealer so that you can eliminate certain
tables right off the bat.
- Knowing when to hit (or, take a card).
The dealer must hit
on any hand of 16 or lower. With this information in mind, you know that you
cannot win with less than 17 (unless, of course, the dealer busts).
Therefore,
you’re going to want to take a hit on any hand under 17 when you see that the
dealer has any of the following cards: K, Q, J, 10, 9 or 8. If, on the other
hand, he’s showing a 4, 5, or 6 (with these cards, the dealer will bust 40% of
the time), you should stand on any hand above 11.
- The doubling-down option.
This is an area where you can
be proactive, so take advantage of it. Basically, what this option entitles you
to is doubling your bet and getting one additional card.
You will only exercise
this option when you are very sure you’re going to beat the dealer by doing so.
The hands you’ll want to double-down with are as follows: a) with a 10 against
a 9 or lower, b) with any hand of 11, and c) with a 9, or with soft hands of
13-17, against a 4, 5 or 6.
- When to split.Let’s say the dealer deals you two cards
of the same value. You can “split” this hand, double your bet and play the two
hands you now have. But when should you do this? I’ll tell you exactly when,
and under which conditions.
ALWAYS: split 8’s or 7’s against a dealer’s card of equal or
lesser value.
ALWAYS: split 2’s or 3’s against a 4, 5 or 6.
ALWAYS: split aces.
NEVER: split 10’s, 5’s or 4’s.
NEVER: split face cards.
- Surrendering.
This is when a player can decide not to play
the original hand against the dealer, the downside being he’s got to forfeit
half his bet.
This is something that is not always allowed, but when it is,
you should exercise this option when you’ve got a hard 15 against a dealer’s
10, or when you’ve got a 16 (not 8’s) against a dealer’s 9, 10 or Ace.
- Insurance.
Never take it (unless you’re counting cards).
- Hard hands.
A hard hand is one in which the ace counts
as 1, and there are some pretty hard (excuse the pun!) and fast rules on how
to play hard hands.
A) If the dealer’s up card is 7 or lower, stand on hard 17
or higher.
B) If the dealer’s up card is 6 or lower, stand on hard 13-16.
Hit if his up-card is 7-Ace.
C) If the dealer’s up-card is 2, 3, 7 or higher, stand on hard 12.
- Getting the dealer to bust.
If you’re aiming to win in a
situation in which you’re standing on 17 or lower, the only way for that to happen
is for the dealer to bust. It is impossible to bust a soft hand with just one
hit, so here are some guidelines:
- Dealer’s got 7 or higher? Hit soft 13 through 17.
- A hand of 3 cards or more? Ditto: hit soft 13 through 17.
- Dealer’s got 5 or 6? Double down with two-card soft 13-17.
(Doubling down is only an option with the first two cards).
- Dealer’s got 3? Double down soft 17.
- Dealer’s got 4? Double down soft 15-17.
- Dealer’s up-card is 9, 10 or Ace? Hit a soft 18. Dealer’s
up-card is 2, 7 or 8? Stand on soft 18. Dealer’s up-card is 3, 4, 5 or 6? Double
down.
- On a soft 19 or higher, you should always stand.
- Be kind, and generous, to the dealer. You want the dealer
on your good side. And not only that, you want to be a decent human being.
So
tip the dealer (or, in poker-speak, “toke” him), because frankly he’s working
for pretty bad wages, he’s not part of any union, and he depends on “the kindness
of strangers.”
There are no hard and fast rules for how much to tip, but I’d
say a dollar chip per every twenty hands is reasonable.
If you put the tip right
there in front of you with your wager, you basically turn it into a side bet
on your hand, in which case the dealer’s tip will double if you win. Now there’s
an incentive for the guy to root for you!
- Be observant. Do a careful study of the other players at
your table. If you sense, in particular, that the last man at your table is
either a novice or desperate, you should get up and move on.
- If you can join the deck from the beginning, you should;
it’s to your advantage. If you lose in the first half, stay to full deck. If
you’ve done well in the first half (i.e., made a profit), move on.
Back to Blackjack Home |
