Article

Dec 31, 2022

How to Play Blackjack

BlackJack  has the best odds in the casino if you play the game right.  Below is a chart
that shows how to play the game right.  DO NOT DEVIATE FROM THE CHART!  When you have
16 and the dealer has 17, TAKE THE HIT!  It is scary, but that has the best odds.

Hopefully, you know the basic game (person closest to 21 without going over wins).  You 
get two cards delt face up and the dealer gets one card up and one down.  When it is 
your turn, you have the choice of taking hits, doubling down, or splitting your hand 
up into two separate hands.  If you go over 21, you lose your bet.  When it's the 
dealer's turn, he flips over his down card and proceeds to take hits until his cards 
add up to 17 or more.  If the dealer goes over 21, he loses.  If your cards are closer 
to 21 than his, you win.  If you tie, it is a push and you keep your bet.  

If you want to make sense of the chart, assume that the dealers down card is a 10. 
You also assume that the next card in the deck is a 10.  Keep in mind that there are more
tens in the deck than other cards.  If he has less than 17, he will have to take a hit 
and most likely go over 21.  So the chart is largely based of the dealer busting.

To take a hit, you tap the table once with your fingers next to your bet.  This is a 
visual so that the cameras above know that you want a hit.  You can take as many 
hits as you want as long as you do not go over 21.  If you do not want a hit, wave your 
hand above your bet (watch the other players to see how it's done).  The "Hitting" chart
below tells when to take a hit and when not to.  The number across the top is what the
dealer has face up.  The number down the side is what your cards add up to.  A "H" 
means take a hit.  S17 and S18 mean "soft 17" and "soft 18".  Soft means that you have
an ace that can be treated as an eleven or one.  By the way, you are allowed to have 
this chart with you at the table.  So you don't have to memorize it.

Before you take any hits, you can double down or split up your hand.  This is where you
have the best oppertunity to make money.  The chart below shows when to double or split.  
To do either, place additional chips next to your bet of the same amount as your bet 
and say either "Double" or "Split".  If you double, the dealer will only give you one 
more card.  You can only split when you have two of the same cards (ie two aces).  When 
you split, the dealer separates your cards and gives you two additional cards.  The 
result is that you now have two hands and you play each out as if you just started.  
You are allowed to double or even split each again.  This is where your heart will skip
a beat.  You can make a lot of money or lose a lot of money at this point.  Just remember
to follow the chart.  Praying sometimes helps.

As far as betting goes, do not vary your bet.  Always bet the same amount.  Some people
get "feelings" and raise their bet.  Save your "feelings" for the Lotto.  This is a 
game of odds and your "feelings" will most often throw off your odds.  The only time
that a person should vary their bet is when they are counting cards.  Card counters 
keep track of how many face cards and 10's are played in compared to low cards (3-7).  
When more low cards are played than face cards, the odds are better, so they raise
their bet.  

If you can not resist the urge to adjust your bet, at least do it smart.  Only do it at
a table that is pretty full.  When the hand is all delt out, look across the table at 
all of the cards.  Raise your bet if you see a lot of cards between 3 and 6.  Lower your
bet if you see a lot of face cards, 10's, and Aces.

Remember FOLLOW THE CHART!!!!!  Also keep in mind that there is a big degree of luck 
to the game.  All games of luck go through a hot streak and then a cold streak.  Don't
fall for the "I've lost four in a row. The next one must be a winner."  If you lose four 
in a row, your probably in a cold streek.  Sit out for the rest of the shoe.  Good shoes
tend to stay good and bad shoes tend to stay bad.  If the next shoe is bad, go to another 
table.  The changing of the dealers will often change the luck of the shoe.  If you are
winning a lot, and they change the dealer, be prepared to lose.  

 

HITTING

	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	A
S18								H	H	H
S17	H	H	H	H	H	H	H	H	H	H
17
16						H	H	H	H	H
15						H	H	H	H	H
14						H	H	H	H	H
13						H	H	H	H	H
12	H	H				H	H	H	H	H

 

DOUBLE                                                                                               

	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	A
11	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D
10	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D
9		D	D	D	D
8
7
A,9
A,8
A,7		D	D	D	D
A,6		D	D	D	D
A,5			D	D	D
A,4			D	D	D
A,3				D	D
A,2				D	D

 

SPLITS                                                                                  

	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	A
A,A	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S
10,10
9,9	S	S	S	S	S		S	S
8,8	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S
7,7	S	S	S	S	S	S
6,6	S	S	S	S	S
5,5
4,4			S	S	S
3,3	S	S	S	S	S	S
2,2	S	S	S	S	S	S