BLACKJACK: What it is and isn’t

The Myth

Blackjack is a game of chance.

FACT: The best proof that Blackjack is a game of skill is that the casinos bar professional blackjack players.

You can individually make million dollars playing Blackjack.

FACT: Those days are over; however you can still make a good deal of money as a player, perhaps $500 a day. If you work at Blackjack for five days a week, fifty weeks a year for ten years, and average $500 per day win… you will win $1,000,000… before taxes and expense.

Rules:

*Always insure Blackjack
*Never split tens
* Never hit a stiff

FACT: The Basic Strategy player should NEVER take Insurance or split tens; however, a card counter can use these options to advantage. You’ll lose a great deal of money if you stand on all stiffs.

Casinos are dishonest
FACT: Cheating is very rare.
It doesn’t matter which casino you play in.
FACT: It sure does-the rules are different.
The dealer wants you to lose
FACT: the more you win, the better the chance you will give him a token.
The dealer knows how to play (he alone knows the rules).
FACT: if more dealers knew how to play properly, they would earn far more on the players’ side of the table.
Blackjack is the best casino game you can play (only if you know how).
FACT: The average player gives the house an appropriate 2% advantage. The odds are better at the baccarat table at 1.13%.
It’s okay if the dealer takes a tie. (Blackjack machines are the same as a dealer).
FACT: this rule gives the dealer, a 9% edge which cannot be overcome by the best of players.
The faster the dealer, the more the house wins.
FACT: whoever has the edge will win more because he plays more hands.
A bad player at the table will make you a loser.
FACT: he might upset you, but it has no effect on the cards in the long run.

Luck and Choice

Luck and choice are a marriage of profit and convenience, a partnership for winning; but choice is a major instrument of winning for the gambler. However, to be able to make the correct choices all gamblers require at least some knowledge of the games, how to play and even more important, how to apply that knowledge to the available gaming options. In all games, in all betting situations, in everything associated with gaming, the choices you make directly determine what the House will or will not get from you.

When you enter a casino you are suddenly faced with a multitude of choices: many varieties of video games, slot machines and variations on games, so many different slot machines and variations on slot machines, so many different video poker machines and variations on them, and so many lights, buzzers bells, dings signs, graphics, colours, and more lights is not an accident. You should not get perplexed by the blare and buzz of the casino and neither should you surrender your game to luck alone. A right choice is a must.