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Like bluffing, everyone in the gambling industry talks about card counting and how it can be the key to success in your gambling endeavors. Unfortunately,, for most players card counting is never an easy task to follow through with, especially if you’re not a mathematical super-genius and able to quickly process all possible combinations coming your way. Thankfully, a technique exists that allows players to easily keep track of basic card combinations: the Hi-Low technique.

Designed to be both quick and effective, the Hi-Low technique focuses on attributing each card dealt on the table a value of +1, 0 or -1 and then tracking the total value of all cards shown before a re-shuffle. If the value of the total number is then positive the player should increase their overall betting amount, whereas if it is negative, the overall bet should be lowered. In this way, the player can stay in the game at all times while reducing the risk to their bankroll and keeping a positive cash flow.

The division of the card values is fairly straight forward: all cads valued 10 or greater (Jack, Queen, King or Ace) are given a value of -1, all cards valued 7 through 9 are given a value of 0, while cards valued 2 through 6 are valued at +1. This means that while the total number counted is positive there is a higher chance of a high-value card being dealt (good for the player), while a negative number means lower cards are likely to be shown and therefore are good for the dealer.

While the technique is simple, practice is the key to success, so be sure to try it out at home before applying it in a casino. Additionally, try to be discreet while playing in live areas – after all, even though this technique isn’t officially illegal, it is still highly frowned upon by casinos and could land you in bad favor if caught, so be sure to not be too open about your approaches.

Blackjack is one of the most popular games in the world to date, with thousands if not millions of players worldwide engaging in the game in the hopes of hitting it big. If you’ve been having a hard time at the tables lately or are simply looking to improve your own game while playing either online or offline here are a few basic tips to get you ahead and put the advantage in your hands instead of the casino’s:

1. Don’t take it personal. Many times players like to take a loss on a particular hand personally and try to up the stakes in future hands to regain some losses. This can lead to an emotional engagement in the game rather than a purely logical one and cause constant progressively larger losses – don’t let yourself fall for this and run out of your bankroll sooner rather than later.

2. Don’t follow the dealer. Many players feel that since the dealer’s rules work for them they must work for the players as well. This, unfortunately, means that the player will be ignoring most of the most powerful tools at their disposal (doubling-down, splitting and even standing on cards less than 17 when the dealer is likely to bust). Develop your own strategy instead and stick to it rather than following through with the House’s plans.

3. Think progressive. As you win more, wager more money. Conversely, as you lose more reduce your overall wagers at each stage. This will help you effectively manage your bankroll as you work your way through the game and help ensure the greatest possibility of long-term success by giving you a greater opportunity to win more as you are able to play more hands. Never forget this, and as always be sure to cut your losses and leave when you have won enough in order to avoid unnecessary risks.

Last time I touched on the fact that actual casino experience is vital. Theory is all well and good but in some instances then theory is difficult to replicate in a live environment. Poker is one such example and despite reading hundreds of poker books, they never quite replicate what you face both live and online.

Even though you may think that blackjack is straight forward and that winning should be straight forward if you can follow basic and implement a counting strategy……life isn’t that simple. Using poker once again as an analogy then it is a bit like knowing good solid poker principles like position, hand values, bankroll management and such. These are all good things to know but yet will not make you an automatic winner in a poker game.

You will need other “skills” that can only be derived from playing. Casino blackjack is the same and it will seem strange to you to be card counting in a real game with casino staff watching you. When the time comes to increase your bet and the croupier is watching you and maybe an Inspector as well then it isn’t easy to do something that you know that if it was to be detected that you would be prevented from playing.

And also, if wagering money is something new to you then nothing can really prepare you for the times when you have substantial bets at risk. It is all too easy to watch what happens on these hands instead of doing what you should be doing and that is to keep the count at all times. You will need to be able to interact with casino staff so that you do not look like a counter and this isn’t easy at first. I was fortunate in that I never had to overcome this obstacle because I had practiced counting for years as a croupier on the inside.

I had another casino trip last night and after I had watched the Spain vs Paraguay game in the bar, decided to play a little blackjack. I had been counting for a while but my maximum bets were only very small and about £30 or so. Everything had been going very well on the table even though I was down about £100. I had been having friendly banter with the staff and everyone had been talking about football and England being so bad.

Then the dealer went to pull a card to her own hand when she already had seventeen. She quickly placed the card under the shoe to be the next card out and I had seen that the next card was an ace. So I quickly asked for £200 to be placed on first box and the dealer went to place the chips when the Inspector stopped her.

When I asked why, he said that it was because I had seen the ace. I then said to him that this was academic because it was their mistake and not mine and that there was no law saying that I couldn’t bet the maximum on any box I chose. Suddenly the mood on the table shifted but the Inspector was adamant that if I placed this bet that the box would receive no cards.

So my next line was to say that I hadn’t seen the ace to which he then replied that I wouldn’t have jumped from £30 to £200 if I didn’t know that the next card was ace…….fair point and difficult to argue and the only thing that I could think of at the time was to say that it was going to be my last hand anyway and that I was having one big blow out. This was semi-believable seeing as I had over £200 in £5 chips on the table. The Inspector thought for a second or two and then allowed the bet to stand…… I did get my ace but only a total of 19…….the dealer had a nine which made…….you guessed it…….19!

I had a casino trip last night and played several hours of blackjack while my partner and her friend enjoyed a meal and a few drinks at the bar. In between that we all grouped in the lounge area to watch the England vs Algeria game…….after that I needed some good luck.

Fortunately my card counting session in the six deck shoe game proved profitable. The dealers were cutting about a deck to a deck and a half from the back so penetration was good. The first two shoes were dull and nothing happened and I was planning on placing £50 maximum bets when the proper situations arose.

Into the third shoe and I had a massive true count and six consecutive maximum bets won for me making £300 in profit. I lost about £50 back as I was trying not to make my spread too wide. I then had a break for the England game and the entire pit area went quiet as more people were watching the game than playing in the pit.

After the game, I found that my counting was off which was probably due to the poor performance of our national football team and my mind was definitely more on the football than the blackjack. But my luck really turned on the final shoe that I played. My profit was already at £325 for the evening when another large true count arrived. On three consecutive hands, my £50 bet was the only blackjack on the table which made me feel a little awkward but that made £225 in the space of about three minutes.

The total win for the evening was £705 and my best casino trip for a long time and probably dating back to my team days. I think that just about made up for the football.

Despite the classic nature of the game blackjack actually offers a wide variety of different play options, with many land-based casinos offering different variants depending on their particular interests and client needs. Online gambling institutions, on the other hand, are not necessarily as restricted by the need for many expensive investments as land-based casinos are and generally offer a wide selection for players to both easily and readily choose from.

In terms of classic blackjack as most people know it the two primary different variants found online are simple: either shown cards (where everyone can see all the cards in the hands of the players around the table) or hidden cards (mimicking any situation where players must hold or otherwise hide their cards from other players at the table). These two simple differences offer players a choice of their particular favored playing style, with most advanced players typically preferring the first style due to their highly likelihood of being able to assess the table and predict which cards may be coming in a draw. Unfortunately, given the fact that online casinos can be programmed to use any number of card decks and generate results at random online card counting to provide an edge can be difficult at best, yet it is still a worthwhile endeavor for many players looking to get ahead in the game.

Other variants of blackjack adjust the base rules of the game and allow for additional wagers to take place or the decks themselves to be altered, such as in Spanish 21. Here e a number of decks are used (typically 6) with all 10s removed from play before the game begins. The game play is still the same as basic blackjack in that players may do any number of standard actions on their turn, yet there is an additional element that is available pre-game – the option of a “match the dealer” bet.

What a “match the dealer” wager means is if a player is dealt a card (or cards) that match the dealer’s face-up card in either number, suit or both the player is paid out a significantly higher ratio for their wager than any standard play may offer, generally at 9:1 for a suited match. Additionally there are typically other small rules, such as if the player successfully reaches 21 with three 7s showing and the dealer is also showing a 7 then a jackpot is awarded, many times in the case of $5,000 for as small as a $50 bet.

Other forms of blackjack are being developed all the time with new variants coming into the gambling world to bring new variety to the most popular gambling game in the world, and the online gambling scene offers a chance for people to get involved with these no matter where they may be. Just be sure to read up on the rules before you jump into a game you may not be familiar with and always look for a free table if possible to try out new strategies before committing real cash to a game.

Blackjack is a game in which you receive two initial cards.  You must stand or hit.  If you hit, you will receive another card.  The goal is to get a total of 21.  If you have a nine and a six, then you hit and get a seven for a total of 22, you bust.  Blackjack is an easy game to understand and master, but there are some tips that you can keep in mind when playing to better your overall chances of winning.

First off, Blackjack has some of the best odds in all casino games.  Of course, the odds will depend on the situation and the casino, but the majority of casinos offer a house edge of up to 1%.

One of the most important things you should know when it comes to blackjack is that you should learn basic strategy.  Basic strategy can help you out more than you could ever imagine if you are knowledgeable about it.  It all has to do with mathematics.

Although you do not have to know how to count cards in order to succeed and win at Blackjack, it does help.  However, you must keep in mind that counting cards is illegal and if you are caught in a casino, there will be consequences.

Many will say don’t play Blackjack at the casinos that require an ante per hand.  This is completely up to you, but it gives the house a higher edge.  The actually ante appears to not be much, such as $0.50, but it adds to the house edge, which isn’t something that you want.

Although it’s okay to use your instincts, don’t count on them.  More often than that, Blackjack players will go on a hunch, win, and think they can do it every single time.  Little do they know, a hunch doesn’t always work in the way that you want it to.  It could end up hurting your bankroll in the long run as well as your self-esteem.

You should split your Aces and eights but hold fours and fives.  It’s part of the basic strategy concept and mathematics. 

Keep checking back for more blackjack tips and strategies and maybe I’ll shed some light on card counting if you are really interested.

Although blackjack is a relatively simple game to learn with only a few basic rules, developing a winning strategy is key to your success as a gambler at the game in the long run. If you are looking to boost your income at the table consider these five basic tips to help give you an edge over the House next time you find yourself in a game:

Split your As and 8s

Being dealt two aces or two eights can be the worst possible hand you could have in most circumstances – with two aces totaling a mere 12 or 2 and two eights equaling an even more undesirable 16 trying to stick in the game with either hand is foolish at best. Instead, splitting them into two separate hands to play can be one of the best moves to make and can offer you the chance at two excellent hands against the dealer – especially if you expect the dealer to end up with a low hand out of the round that will allow you to easily double-up your money in no time.

Double-down on 10s and 11s

The ability to double-down is one of the greatest assets in any blackjack player’s arsenal. When holding a 10 or 11 this is particularly effective as you not only have a chance at landing a 20 or 21 but also the high possibility of coming out of the round with double the winnings you would have realized otherwise with a single hit – a big bonus for any player no matter what version of blackjack you may be enjoying.

Stay on a dealer’s 3 through 6

If a deal is ever showing a 3 through 6 this is one of the best chances for you to minimize your own personal risk and simply stand your ground, even if you are only holding a 12 yourself. The reason for this is that with a 3 through 6 showing on the face-up card a dealer is likely to go bust roughly 40% of the time, meaning that the chances of you successfully winning by doing nothing are high enough it’s not worth risking yourself busting out on a bad move.

Never split your 10s

With two 10s or face cards in your hand, you will be holding the second most powerful combination in the game (right behind a full 21, of course). Even if you feel that by splitting your cards you will have a good chance at beating the dealer the odds in your favor are not worth it and it would be better to simply keep them together no matter what you may feel at the time.

Watch the table closely

Finally, pay close attention to all of the cards being dealt around you. If you see a large number of face cards coming out earlier on this is generally a good indication that a low card will come your way if you are at the end of the line, while conversely the same is also true. Use this to your advantage in determining your plays in order to help make the right move at the right time and maximize your potential earnings.

Blackjack is a fairly simple game on the surface where each round suffices of a relatively restricted few main choices: players can either hit, stay, double-down, split or surrender depending on what cards they are dealt and what type of table they’re sitting at. Yet still, despite these relatively simple rules of play the strategy behind both when and how to go about each round is the true key to success at the blackjack tables and the cause of many a downfall for players that are unprepared for what may come their way. In order to avoid some of the common mistakes yourself that have cost countless people thousands of dollars over the years consider carefully a few of these frequent problems players put themselves in so you can avoid them yourself while at the tables:

Playing Like the Dealer

While it may be tempting to take the same approach to each round that the House does (hitting anything 16 or below and staying on anything 17 or above) this tends to work against rather than for the player as it effectively eliminates many of the options available to players that can help give them a much needed advantage when the time is right. The tools of the double-down on a 10 or 11 and being able to split two bad hands (such as two aces or two eights) to potentially make two good hands are both value assets that are overlooked by playing like the house. Further, sometimes it’s a good idea to stand on a hand valued 12 to 16 if a dealer is showing a 3, 4, 5 or 6 due to the fact that chances are the dealer will go bust 40% of the time with these cards showing while you may simply knock yourself out otherwise by hitting. A good strategy is much more worth your while than simply following the House rules.

Splitting 10s

Even though it may seem like a good idea to split a 10 or face card if you think you have a good chance at beating the dealer strongly reconsider this action. You’ll be effectively giving up the second-best hand possible on an off-chance of still beating the dealer – something that just isn’t worth it unless you’re absolutely sure you’ll come out ahead.

Buying Insurance

Although it may be tempting to buy insurance when the dealer is showing an ace unless you’re an expert card counter this strategy tends to work against rather than for you simply due to the fact that you’ll more than likely lose the insurance bet on the off-chance that you’ll break even. In pure gambling terms this is a poor investment as it offer little return on your money and has a high risk associated with it, effectively draining your funds mid-game when you would be better off simply playing a second round to regain any lost funds on the off chance the dealer actually does somehow pull off a blackjack at the beginning.

Blackjack is one of the most popular games in the world to play due to the fact that not only is it easy and fun to play but also because it is one of the few games offered at casinos that hold the potential to give an experienced player the ability to win over 50% of the time with a good strategy. If you’ve been having some trouble at the tables lately and want to increase your odds of winning or simply are looking for a new strategy to try consider a few of these simple tips to help improve your game:

Buying Insurance with a Blackjack

While it’s not common, the time may come about every now and then when you may be dealt a blackjack while the dealer has an ace showing. If you’re sitting at a table that offers a 3 to 2 payout on a blackjack then in this case it’s actually a good idea to purchase insurance on the hand rather than risking it. The reason for this is at a 3 to 2 payout ratio for the blackjack you have by risking 50% of your initial wager on an insurance bet you’ll still be coming out of the round with a 1 to 1 payout win, something you risk losing otherwise if you try playing the round and having it end in a push. In this case insurance grants you a guaranteed win while no insurance means a simple tie – not good odds in terms of your money and the risk associated with it.

Always Double Down

Whenever you have a 10 or 11 (especially an 11) always double-down your bet, especially if you think that you have a high chance of receiving a face card being dealt to you after seeing a large number of low-ranking cards coming out on the table earlier in the rotation. The ability to double-down is one of the greatest tools at a blackjack player’s disposal and should be used as often as possible to double each round’s earning and keep yourself ahead of the House, especially due to the fact that by doing it on an 11 the odds are much more likely in your favor of walking away a winner in the long-run than simply slowly draining your chip stack on minor plays over the course of however long you play.

Split Strategically

While being dealt two aces may be good in some games (like Texas Hold ‘Em) it is in fact one of the worst hands to hold by itself in blackjack as you’ll be sitting with either a 2 or 12 – something that’s hard to work your way out of unless you get just the right cards at just the right time. Instead, by splitting them, you give yourself a chance at getting two blackjacks in a single round, a much more enticing alternative, and even if you don’t you have two hands with a large amount of flexibility to get you close to the ideal 21 mark. The same holds true for being dealt two 8s as you can easily give yourself a shot at two decent hands by splitting rather than a single poor hand totaling 16 by keeping them together. Alternatively never split 10s or face cards due to the fact that you’ll be breaking up an exceptional hand for a chance at a decent hand at best – potentially losing all your bets on a risky gamble at best.