Tip Na Denot

When the player does not know exactly the rules offered in the casino he is playing in, he should try to exercise the options which are most favorable for him. For instance, if he holds (9, 7) against a dealer’s 10 he should try to surrender, if his playing strategy recommends it. If the casino does not allow surrender the dealer will inform him. This way, the player will learn whether the option is offered. The main problem when proceeding in this manner is related to splitting pairs. For example, assume that a basic strategy player is dealt a (2, 2); the dealer has a 2 up. The basic strategy recommends the splitting of (2, 2) only when the option of doubling after splitting is offered. Assume that the player does not know if this option can be exercised. What should he so in such situations we proceed conservatively. We do not split until we learn whether we can double down after splitting.

It should be mentioned that the four-deck games is preferred, although it is true that, theoretically, single-deck games are more favorable for the player than multiple-deck games (when they are dealt under the same rules and conditions). Nevertheless, you should not participate in games in which the dealer holds the cards in his hand. There are many reasons for this. Games dealt from more than four decks should be avoided, unless the rules and the corresponding playing conditions are exceptionally favorable.

For the skillful player, it is preferable that the cards be dealt face up. In this case he can see more cards before he makes his playing decisions. Also, for various reasons, the probability of making counting mistakes increases when the cards are dealt face down.

In general, the player should not enter a game unless the conditions seem favorable. Some reasons why the conditions might not be favorable:

1. The rules are bad, or very bad.
2. The dealer “inserts the joker very high;” hence, a substantial part of the pack of cards used in the game is not dealt. In general the player should avoid four-deck games in which “the joker is inserted higher than 90 cards from the end.”
3. The dealer is unpleasant.
4. The game is conducted in disorderly manner.
5. The desired seats are occupied.

As far as unpleasant dealers are concerned, observe that a player should not continue to play in such a situation so that he shows the dealer, the pit boss, etc., who is “the smarter.” If he, the player, is “the smarter,” then he should change tables or even casinos.

As far as seats are concerned, do not play at a full table unless you can sit either on the last chair to the dealer’s right or on the adjacent one. In fact, prefer the second position since from there you can see better the cards on the table. Also, from these positions you do not have to move your eyes too much when looking at the cards on the table. In any case, do not sit at a table if more than one hand is played on your left. And, do not move from the chair you selected if some “smart” player who wants to play two hands, for example, asks us to. Simply say that the chair you are sitting on is your “lucky chair.” Suggest, politely, that the “smart” player goes…somewhere else.

It is also advisable to avoid tables where bad players are gambling. This is, however, almost impossible. Even the basic strategy is known by very few persons. On the other hand, bad blackjack players do not affect, in the long run, other player’s expectations. The following true story helps you to understand why: “A little one, honey.” asks the player who sat on the left and who holds (10, 4). This is of course a very bad play. The dealer has a 6 up and many tens remain unseen. And “honey” busts the player with a big jack. The dealer’s hole card is a 9. Hence, the jack would have busted her. Instead, she draws a 4, which gives her a total of 19. Everybody at the table loses on this round, due to the bad draw of our player. But imagine that the next two cards would have been a 4 and a jack, instead of a jack and a 4. In this case, by drawing to (10, 4) against a 6, our player would have caused the dealer to bust. Observe now that the orderings of the next two cards, mentioned above, are equally likely to occur. It follows that the manner in which the player on my left proceeds do not make any difference, in the long run, to anyone, except himself.

Bad players are, of course, irritating. Nevertheless, we must learn to put up with them. They are more of a threat to the sanity of skillful players than to their bankroll.

When explaining the object of the game, the explanation is the object from the player’s standpoint. The dealer has no object to his play; he simply must follow the rules set forth by the casino, which is to stand on hands of 17 or more, and draw to all hands of 16 or less.

The object of the game, in its most simple terms, is to beat the dealer. To do this, the player can win in two ways. First of all, he or she must have a total higher than the dealer’s total, or he or she must have a valid hand, of whatever total, while the dealer “busts” by going over 21.

The player loses if his or her total is less than the dealer’s total, or if the player busts. Once the player busts, his hand is out of play and his bet is removed. It doesn’t matter to this player if the dealer subsequently busts his own hand; once the player busts, he loses.

If both the player and the dealer have the same totals in their respective hands, it’s a tie, a standoff. The casino term for this is a “push.” And that’s just what it is, a push. Neither the player nor the dealer win. The player keeps his bet, and neither wins or loses anything.

How does a player improve his total? First, to understand this concept, look at the original hand dealt to the player.

The Original Hand

The dealer, to put a round of play in motion, deals out two cards to each of the players and two cards to himself. The cards are dealt one at a time, face down, the player to the dealer’s left getting the first card, and then each player after that getting a card in clockwise fashion. After each player has received one card, then the dealer gives himself a card, also face down. Then a second card is dealt to each of the players, also face down, in the same order, and the dealer gets his second card, and turns it face up.

This face up card is known as the up card. Thus, all the players see one of the dealer’s cards, but the dealer sees none of the players’ cards. It wouldn’t matter if he saw the players’ cards or not, for the dealer is bound by strict rules. In some casinos, in multiple deck games, the players’ cards are dealt face up.

Most players prefer to have their cards dealt face down, for it gives them a feeling they’re actually involved in a secret game of some sort, hiding their cards from the dealer, who couldn’t care less. But most experts prefer to see all the cards dealt face up, because they get a better grasp of what cards are in play and out of the deck, and this gives them a slight advantage.

The two cards the player gets at the outset of play is an original hand. The highest total he can get is 21 on the original hand; an ace and a 10-value card. When a player (or dealer) gets this hand, it’s known as a blackjack, or a natural. A blackjack pays 3-2 if it wins. All other winning hands pay even-money. If a dealer gets a blackjack and none of the players have a blackjack, the dealer simply wins the player’s bet at even-money; he doesn’t get that extra bonus.

If a player and the dealer have a blackjack, then it’s a push; neither win.

The next highest total is a 20. This is a very strong hand, and usually a winning one, either on the part of the dealer or the player. Thereafter, the hands go down in value.

The important thing to remember is that neither a player nor a dealer can bust on the original hand.