Black Jack Newbie

Would like to start trying black jack. Been working on basic strategy. Thought I could get some ideas of training sites, and casinos that would be good for a rookie. Thanks

I'd certainly say to start off at low denominations with decent enough rules and definitely avoid tables or machines paying 6 To 5 (which is 1.2 To 1) for Player Blackjacks -- Player Blackjacks should be paying at least 3 To 2 (that's 1.5 to 1).

Also, Video Blackjack games (which you can find on Multi-Game and or Multi-Game Multi-Denomination machines) are NOT good things to play on because when they say that Blackjacks pay 2 For 1, that actually means 1 To 1 (which is Even-Money). That will give the casino an advantage over the Player of over 2%. I would only play on Video Blackjack if there was not any decent Video Poker in the casino and you had Freeplay money to play through.

To see which casinos offer what games, you have a couple of choices.

For FREE you can go to the "Las Vegas Blackjack Survey" link within the http://wizardofvegas.com .

Your other option would be to get at least an issue of "Current Blackjack News" by Stanford Wong which you can order through http://www.bj21.com

RecVPPlayer

Thanks for the info Player. I will be looking for the low minimum tables for sure. Have to sit at the tables to learn!

The other thing I'd look for is a dealer that is slow. Speeds vary tremendously.
Get a dealer who gives you time to see everything that's going on.

A reminder: cards dealt face up from a shoe: you never the touch the cards.

Cards dealt face down, you touch with only one hand. Never use two hands to hold your cards. When you want to stand, tuck your cards under your bet.

I was in your shoes.
I had read all about BJ but never played.
I survived a surprise BJ session at what I thought was a slot tournament.
It was half slots and half BJ. I actually did OK.
Anyway, next casino visit I wanted to try for real but afraid I'd look like an idiot.
I spotted a real friendly looking dealer (I had watched him earlier, very nice guy).
Table was empty.
I pulled up and said "I'm new at this."
He couldn't have been nicer.
After a few hands and not making mistakes (he complimented my skill for a newby!), the table started to fill.
The rest is history...LOL
This was at Bellagio.

Hey Bum,Ya think going early in the morning would be less people and less pressure? ! I'm not expecting to do very well, just want to get my feet wet. I also love tennis!

Candy,
I've watched many times. Have'nt had the balls to sit down yet! Good thing, I'm sure I would have lost. Just by looking at this site and others I think I could have some fun at the low rollers tables now.

You're very welcome!

I'd also say that smart Players really need to know that the real goal in Blackjack is not to get as close to 21 as possible without going over -- the real goal is to Beat The Dealer.

What that means therefore is that based on what the Dealer's Up-Card is, some hands need to be played by the Player in an Offensive manner (which is to attack by Hitting, Doubling Down, Splitting And Resplitting Pairs and Doubling Down After Splitting Pairs (depending on what rules the casino and/or table is offering) and some hands are better played in a Defensive manner (where the player would be better in Standing [taking no additional cards] or if the casino offers it to Surrender {which involves the Player getting out of their original two-card hand [after the Dealer has determined whether s/he has a Blackjack] and then losing one-half of the bet instead of all of it).

The Dealer's Up-Card can give the Player an indication of to what degree the Dealer is in a Borderline Weak, Very Weak, Borderline Powerful or Very Powerful position.

So the Player should not only be acting (or not acting) based solely on the Player's card total.

Once a Player has been dealt his or her first two cards, the next card that can come out can only be one of 13 things (Ace, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, Jack, Queen or King) and so the question for the Player needs to become how many of these 13 cards are going to help my hand and how many are going to hurt my hand based on the power or weakness position of the Dealer.

I hope that this helps you!

RecVPPlayer

Player,
I'm trying to memorize the Basic Strategy through some training games online. I'm sure when I sit at a table it will go out the window!

Why don't you bring the strategy chart with you to the table?! I do that myself because sometimes for some reason I go blank -- especially at times with some of the Pairs because in some cases it will depend on whether or not the casino allows the Player to Double Down After Splitting Pairs.

As long as you don't take too long looking at the chart, there should not be any trouble with that!

RecVPPlayer