With How Many Decks Should One Practice Blackjack?

Question of the Day - 15 October 2020

I live down by the Everglades and am being held hostage by the Seminole Casinos. The closest one has all 8 deck, CSM, BJ games. Unless I want to play $100 a hand 2 deck pitch game, which for this cracker is too high. In general, how many decks should one practice with, same as what you play, or a different amount just for the action with different hands? Thanks, I'll sit down for my answer!

[Editor's Note: As is our wont, we asked Arnold Snyder to answer this question, which he did (and always does).]

For practicing, if you’re dealing hands to yourself, the number of decks you play with won’t make much difference. Just use one deck. If you’re trying to learn basic strategy, slight differences depend on the number of decks in play, so practice with a single deck, but use the correct strategy for the number of decks you’ll be playing against in a casino.

If you have computer software to practice with, then definitely use the number of decks that you’ll be playing against in a casino. Most blackjack practice software allows you to set up any number of decks and all common rule variations. The best software will also alert you if you make an error and this is a great feature for learning; you'll find that you keep making the same types of errors and you'll correct your trouble areas quickly.

The best software on the market for practicing blackjack is Casino Verité. It sells for $95 and has many practice features, including a realistic table setup, where you can play heads up with the dealer or have other players entering and leaving the table as you play. Technically, it’s primarily designed to teach a player who knows nothing at all about the game how to start with basic strategy, then step by step become a proficient card counter.

I’m sure you can find less expensive blackjack practice software online, probably even free software. If you have serious intentions of eventually learning to count cards, I’d highly recommend you invest in the Casino Verité software. You can order it from Las Vegas Advisor through the ShopLVA online store.

No part of this answer may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without the written permission of the publisher.

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Comments

[email protected] Oct-15-2020

Cracker?

Cracker is an offensive term even if the questioner is calling himself one.

Pat Higgins Oct-15-2020

Big tex

When my bride & I first started our career of going to the casinos blackjack was our game of choice.  There were single and double deck games all over the place with all the good rules and penetration.  We did card counting and well.  Now most places have multiple deck(6 & 8) games with continuous shuffle machines are at best have poor penetration.  The only games we find are 2 deck games and the vast majority only deal less than half the cards—so pretty much unplayable unless you enjoy losing.  We have another game where we can establish a slight advantage.

steve crouse Oct-15-2020

Trainer

Thanks for the input, Karen.
Anyway, a good free strategy trainer can be found here:

https://www.blackjackinfo.com/

David Oct-15-2020

Casino Verite

I'd love to get my hands on this software, but it has been out of stock on LVA for as long as I can remember.  Any suggestions?

Brent Peterson Oct-15-2020

Crackers

The term Cracker as used by the questioner refers to a native Floridian, generally speaking. It's really more of a southern Florida term, but Phoebe doesn't seem too interested in facts.

I would suggest not being offended by something you know nothing about. While many people are looking to be offended and be a victim these days, it doesn't mean everyone has to cede linguistic territory to the snowflake Karens(NOW you can be offended!).

As I like to say, people are prisoners of their own perceptions.

Roger Sulkowski Oct-15-2020

Pittsburgh Roger

 Phoebe....Cracker can call himself whatever he wants. Don't get your shorts in a bunch!

VegasPosse Oct-15-2020

Phoebe

obviously she has never been around black people, they call themselves nigga all the time

rokgpsman Oct-16-2020

Language isn't simple

I grew up in the southern USA, the term "cracker" has been in use for many years there and has taken on different meanings over the decades. It can be a comical description of yourself as a white southerner, or it can be a derisive slur, depends on the person using the word and what their intention is.