Blackjack Strategy – Part One

The object of blackjack strategy 21 is for you to play your cards so that you get closer to a total of 21 than the dealer without going over 21. If your cards total 22 or more, you lose immediately. Most players, even experienced ones, think they are playing a personal game or contest against the casino or croupier. They think that the croupier plays his hand differently each time so that he can beat the players. Blackjack Strategy hogwash. The croupier is really the same as a mechanical doH who’s wound up each night before work. He might just as well be a robot, because he has no choice on how to play his hand. He must keep hitting his hand (drawing new cards) until he makes 17 or better or goes over 21 and “busts” (loses). Blackjack Strategy ...

A blackjack strategy game starts with each player and the dealer receiving cards. !he player always gets two cards. In Europe, the croupier immediately takes one card face up and takes the second card after all hands are completed. But in most other casinos, the croupier Immediately takes one face-up card, and one face-down card called a “hole card.” Look at your two cards right away so that you’ll be prepared when it’s your turn. Blackjack Strategy ...Picture cards Jack, queen, and king) and J Os count as 10 points; aces can count as I or I J, whichever is the best for your hand. That’s up to you. The rest of the cards (2,3,4,5,6, 7. 8. And 9) count their face value. Blackjack Strategy ...

Blackjack Strategy...For example, if you have two jacks, your hand is 20; so is a queen and 10 worth 20; 9 and 9 are 18; and a 2 and 3 are 5, and so on.

Blackjack Strategy ...If your hand totals 17, 18, 19, or 20 in your first two cards, then you should not try to improve it because the odds say that you will probably get a card that will make you “bust” (go over 21 and thus lose). With such a stopping hand, you must just hope that you will end up closer to 21 than the dealer. If it’s a tie, nobody wins. If the club should take your money on a tie, then leave the casino immediately because you are getting robbed. Blackjack Strategy ...

But if your first two cards total 16 or under, you must decide to try to improve your hand or stick with what you have. Blackjack Strategy ...The dealer’s face card will be the key to your next move. If the dealer has a 7,8,9,10, ace, or picture card showing, you must ask for another card (called a “hit”) until you get 17 or better. Blackjack Strategy ...

Blackjack Strategy - Part Two

Blackjack Strategy ...All casinos, except a few Nevada clubs, deal your cards face up so there’s no reason to touch them. If you want a hit, hold your fingers together about an inch over your cards and brush your fingers toward you several times, or say “hit.” If you don’t need a hit and want to stop, place your palm an inch or so over your cards and move it back and forth, or say “I’m good.” If the club deals the cards facedown and you have to pick them up, you can signal for a hit by brushing the cards toward you. Blackjack Strategy ...To stop, just slide your cards under your bet (chips or money). Let’s say your first two cards are 2 and 3. You ask for a hit and get a 6. Now you have II. On the next hit, you receive a 7. Now you have 18, and this is a stopping hand. But let’s say your first two cards are 4 and 9, and you are hit with a 10. Your hand now totals 23. That’s too many; you’ve busted. If your first two cards are face down, as some Nevada casinos deal the shoe, then you must turn them over if you bust. This shows the dealer that you’re over 21. Blackjack Strategy ...You won’t have to worry about that in clubs that deal all cards face up, because the dealer will be mentally adding your cards and will quickly rake in the money if you bust. Blackjack Strategy ...

Blackjack Strategy ...If a dealer has a 2, 3,4,5, or 6, face up, then you must hit your hand until you make 15 or better. For example, if you have a 9 and 3 (12), you must hit. If you then got a 4 (16), you would stop. Blackjack Strategy...

Blackjack Strategy ...If you were playing against a single deck in this situation, I would advise not to hit any hand over 12 if the dealer has a low card showing because there is a good chance that the dealer would bust. But with the shoe, the chances are the dealer will make his hand good, especially if you don’t hit your stiffs (low hands) more aggressively than against a single deck. You must hit against a dealer’s low face card until YOU make 15 or better. The odds are in your favor that if you have 14 or less you won’t bust on the first card. You have the same chance as the dealer to get the small cards in the shoe, so don’t be afraid to take that advantage away from him. This often will make the difference between a winner and a loser against the shoe. Blackjack Strategy ...

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