Category: Blackjack

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Ready for Action: Avoiding the Blackjack Fatigue Factor

This post is syndicated by the Las Vegas Advisor for the 888 casino group. Anthony Curtis comments on the 888 article introduced and linked to on this page.

AC says:

When someone asks what determines how long I play or when I decide to stop, they’re usually expecting a hard-stop time limit or, more likely, a stop-loss or take-profits point. My answer is, I play as long as I have an edge in the game or until I get tired and am no longer playing optimally. This article addresses the latter. Author John Grochowski addresses my point, but also brings up another important consideration: the heightened chance that you’ll make bad decisions with regard to chasing losses, described as “going on tilt.” The advice is valid: Don’t play when tired. Follow it. And be sure to take note of the lesson within the lesson in the article. That is, a bad player at the table doesn’t affect your expected result over time. Bad plays by other players will help you as often as they hurt.

This article was written by John Grochowski in association with 888Casino.

Ready for Action: Avoiding the Blackjack Fatigue Factor

Players know the feeling, regardless of whether they’re playing online blackjack or in live casinos. From the first hand, they’re engaged, interested, thinking strategy on every card. It’s a fun game, especially, when winning streaks are coming often enough to keep bankrolls full.

But when players start to make mistakes, it’s time to watch out. The “Fatigue Factor” can undermine even the best players.

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BLACKJACK PLAYERS FACE MANY CHOICES BEYOND STRATEGY

This post is syndicated by the Las Vegas Advisor for the 888 casino group. Anthony Curtis comments on the 888 article introduced and linked to on this page.

A.C. says:

Most discussions about blackjack involve playing strategies, usually focusing on basic strategy. This article talks about other fundamental considerations that lead to better results, especially for beginners. Author John Grochowski correctly points out that the proper choices in the situations addressed will be different for experts who are playing with an advantage, but beginners who heed the advice to play at full tables, at games with fewer decks, etc. will benefit. Not all of the rules are absolute, so read carefully. Good stuff here.

This article was written by John Grochowski in association with 888Casino.

BLACKJACK PLAYERS FACE MANY CHOICES BEYOND STRATEGY

Player choices make a difference in blackjack, regardless of whether you’re playing online blackjack or in a live casino. That’s one of the keys to the game’s long-standing popularity.

The most obvious choices that make a difference come in blackjack strategy. Do you hit or stand. Should you double down? Should you split a pair?

Basic strategy can be your guide to those options, but there are choices beyond playing strategy that make a difference in your chances to win or lose.

Is it better to play at a crowded table or an empty one? Are fewer decks always better for players? Those are among the choices players face in addition to blackjack strategy once the game is underway.

Let’s explore some of the decisions blackjack players must make.

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BLACKJACK PLAYS THAT FEEL WRONG CAN BE SO RIGHT

This post is syndicated by the Las Vegas Advisor for the 888 casino group. Anthony Curtis comments on the 888 article introduced and linked to on this page.

AC says:

Blackjack is the subject, but the advice in this article applies to all gambling games. When there’s one correct play and you’ve been told what it is, you’re costing yourself money every time you do something else. This comes up in video poker all the time, when players reason their way out of making the correct play. I can’t count all the times I’ve been asked for the correct play and given the answer, only for the player to wave it off and do something else. Amazing! You may desire an explanation that you can get your head around, but you don’t need one. One of my favorite stories is blackjack expert Ken Uston being asked for a reason that a certain play should be made. Uston answered simply, “Because the computer says so.” You’ll recognize some of the blackjack plays in the article that you’ve probably wondered about. You don’t need the explanations, but author John Grochowski obliges anyway.

This article was written by John Grochowski in association with 888Casino.

BLACKJACK PLAYS THAT FEEL WRONG CAN BE SO RIGHT

Learning basic strategy at blackjack is one thing. Internalizing it so it becomes second nature can be quite another.

The problem is that some blackjack strategy plays seem to defy common sense regardless of whether you’re playing online blackjack or in a live casino. As one player asked at a seminar I gave, “How can a play be so right when it feels so wrong?”

How can hitting hard 16 be the right play when there’s such a large chance of busting? How can splitting 8s against a dealer’s 10 be the right play when you could wind up with two 18s losing to a 20? How can doubling down on 11 when the dealer has a 10 face up be the right play when you can’t hit if you draw a low card and the dealer could be sitting with 20?

It’s enough to give you a queasy feeling even while you make the best play.

But they are the right plays. All casino games are grounded in math. Basic strategy takes into account all possible outcomes and calculates the play that, on average, yields the best chance to win.

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PLAYING YOUR HANDS AGAINST A DEALER’S 7 UPCARD

This post is syndicated by the Las Vegas Advisor for the 888 casino group. Anthony Curtis comments on the 888 article introduced and linked to on this page.

AC Says:
Here’s another of Henry Tamburin’s basic strategy primers, this one covering play against a dealer 7. The most important rule is to hit stiffs until you have at least 17. Many players are less inclined to hit vs. a 7 than against a ten, which is backward. And as pointed out, standing will result in losing the hand 74% of the time. I believe that memorizing a standard basic strategy table is an easier way to learn than with this presentation. However, it’s a good added learning tool to hammer in basic, which you must be able to play perfectly before advancing to card-counting strategies.

This article was written by Henry Tamburin in association with 888Casino.

PLAYING YOUR HANDS AGAINST A DEALER’S 7 UPCARD

When a dealer shows a 7 upcard, she has about a 26% chance of busting and about a 74% chance of getting to a final hand that totals 17 through 21 (rule dependent). Because of the latter, we have to be more aggressive when we are dealt a stiff hand (hit rather than stand) and less aggressive when we are dealt a two-card soft hand (hit rather than double down).

What follows is the accurate blackjack playing strategy for any hand when the dealer shows a 7 upcard.

Fortunately for blackjack players, the playing strategy against a casino dealer’s 7 upcard is nearly the same for any number of decks of cards or mix of playing rules. There is one exception and you’ll find it below.

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DECK PENETRATION IN BLACKJACK: THE UNTOLD FACTOR IN GAINING AN EDGE

This post is syndicated by the Las Vegas Advisor for the 888 casino group. Anthony Curtis comments on the 888 article introduced and linked to on this page.

AC Says:

This article puts forth the accurate premise that deck penetration in a blackjack game (how far into the pack the cards are dealt before a shuffle) is an important consideration for skilled players, specifically card counters, but then loses its direction somewhat. The article suggests that better penetration in and of itself will improve results, even stating that it affects basic strategy, which isn’t true. The reality is, deck penetration is a very important consideration, but only if you’re employing a count system. Additionally, I’m not familiar with the games dealt on the online 888casino platform and it looks like they may include live games where penetration does come into play. However, penetration is a non-issue in online games that shuffle after every hand. The article references our book, Blackjack Attack by Don Schlesinger, which is an excellent recommendation for thorough coverage of the effects of good and bad penetration. While all good blackjack books discuss it, Schlesinger’s is among the most complete. Another valuable treatment can be found in Burning the Tables in Las Vegas by Ian Andersen.

This article was written by 888 in association with 888Casino.

Welcome to 888casino UK, where the thrill of blackjack takes center stage, and understanding its nuances becomes your key to success. Today, we delve into an often-overlooked aspect of this classic game: Deck Penetration in Blackjack.

Whether you’re a seasoned card shark or new to the world of 21, this online casino guide will enhance your strategic approach and deepen your appreciation for the game.

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2023 BLACKJACK BALL: THE INSIDE SCOOP – PART 2 BY HENRY TAMBURIN

This post is syndicated by the Las Vegas Advisor for the 888 casino group. Anthony Curtis comments on the 888 article introduced and linked to on this page.

AC Says: As promised, at the end of this article you’ll find the questions with answers to the challenging 21-question test given to the elite. In Part 2 of Henry Tamburin’s summary of the 26th Blackjack Ball, he provides a play-by-play of the skills contest, which was won by Frank B. Frank is best known as one of the world’s foremost sports betting experts and works with me to engineer the multi-million-dollar furniture-sales hedges made by Jim “Mattress Mack” McIngvale. However, he’s skilled in all areas of gambling, including blackjack. The remainder of the article focuses on the quiz that qualifies players to compete on the final table. It’s difficult. Give it a try.

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2023 BLACKJACK BALL: THE INSIDE SCOOP – PART 1 BY HENRY TAMBURIN

This post is syndicated by the Las Vegas Advisor for the 888 casino group. Anthony Curtis comments on the 888 article introduced and linked to on this page.

AC Says:

You’ve probably heard of the Blackjack Ball, the annual gathering of many of the world’s top blackjack pros, during which there’s a vote for Blackjack Hall of Fame induction and a skills contest to name the “World’s Greatest Blackjack Player.” There’ve been many articles written about the Ball, but no one covers it like Henry Tamburin. In Part 1 of his summary of the 26th gathering, Henry goes into detail about this year’s HoF nominees, the betting Calcutta that takes place before the skills contest, and the written test that’s part of the competition. It’s a fascinating event that not many get to experience in person, but this account is the next best thing to being there.

This article was written by Henry Tamburin in association with 888Casino.

For the second consecutive year, the 26th Blackjack Ball was held at one of the unique buildings in Las Vegas, the Cleveland Clinic – Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health. (See photo of its unique and distinct architecture.) The building contains a large ballroom that could easily…

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HOW TO PLAY YOUR HANDS AGAINST A DEALER’S 9 UPCARD

This post is syndicated by the Las Vegas Advisor for the 888 casino group. Anthony Curtis comments on the 888 article introduced and linked to on this page.

AC Says:

Another basic strategy primer from Henry Tamburin, this one specific to play against a dealer 9. These plays aren’t difficult to remember, as they’re mostly intuitive, and the strategy is almost the same for any number of decks. The most misplayed is not hitting soft 18. Other typical misplays are not splitting 9s and not surrendering 16 in multiple decks. Once you ace the test, you’ll have this section of basic strategy down cold.

This article was written by Henry Tamburin in association with 888Casino.

When a dealer shows a 9 upcard in blackjack, she has about a 77% chance of getting to a final hand that totals 17 through 21 and only a 23% chance of busting (depending on the number of decks shuffled).

A 9, therefore, is  a strong card for the dealer, which means…

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KNOW WHEN TO DOUBLE DOWN AT THE BLACKJACK TABLE

This post is syndicated by the Las Vegas Advisor for the 888 casino group. Anthony Curtis comments on the 888 article introduced and linked to on this page.

AC Says:

The title of this article doesn’t quite explain its contents. While it is about proper strategy for doubling down, it addresses only soft doubling, which refers to hands that contain an ace. These tend to be misplayed the most. Author John Grochowski properly makes the point that you double hands only when doing so increases your expected return. He provides the numbers to back it up, and it’s interesting to see how the magnitude of the difference in plays fluctuates, but all you really need to know is that doubling according to basic strategy will improve your results over time. If basic strategy says double down, then double down.

This article was written by John Grochowski in association with 888Casino.

Knowing when to double down is a key part of any blackjack player’s game. Permitting doubles is one way the house reduces the edge it gets from players having to risk busting first.

Most players who put a little time into learning basic blackjack strategy pick up on when to double hard hands fairly quickly…

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A GUIDE TO DOUBLE EXPOSURE BLACKJACK

This post is syndicated by the Las Vegas Advisor for the 888 casino group. Anthony Curtis comments on the 888 article introduced and linked to on this page.

AC Says:

Double Exposure is a blackjack variation that can still be found today. The game originated in Germany, where it was called Zweikartenspiel, with the key component being that both dealer cards are dealt face up. The problem with a game like this is that the strategy is drastically different from traditional blackjack, but it’s usually not readily available, requiring that players must do their best with intuitive adjustments. That usually doesn’t work out well. With this article you have an applicable basic strategy (it changes slightly with rules variations) at your fingertips. As noted by the author, it’s more complicated than basic strategy for the traditional game, so it might take longer to commit completely to memory. Don’t be thrown off by the mistake in the article’s photos, which depict a traditional game with only one dealer card showing; in a Double Exposure game, both dealer cards are dealt face up.

This article was written by John Grochowski in association with 888Casino.

When you hit hard 16 against a dealer’s 10 in blackjack, you’re playing probabilities. You don’t know if the dealer has a pat hand or has to hit and chance busting. You don’t know what you’ll draw. You just know the percentages favor hitting.

In a blackjack variant called Double Exposure, the guesswork is …

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