Blackjack – Poker Master Home

Getting a Handle on Blackjack

Prof. Shyanne Mayert PhD — Fri, 06 Oct 2017 12:35:27 +0000

Blackjack has risen to become one of the most popular casino games, and here we discover what it takes to get a handle on the game.

Blackjack Rules

The first thing to learn is the rules of Blackjack, and as these are quite simple, it is quick and easy to familiarize yourself with the game before you start playing.

The game uses one or more 52-card standard decks. Each card is given a point value with cards from 2 through 10 retaining their face value. Kings, queens and jacks have a value of 10, and an ace will be counted as either 1 or 11. The probabilities of Blackjack hands can be found here.

The object of the game is to get the closest points value to 21 to beat the dealer, with the best hand being a 21 made from just two cards, or Blackjack. There is a choice of online Blackjack games, including ones with live dealers.

Blackjack Terms

When playing Blackjack you will see different words used to describe and initiate the game play. These are Hit, Stand, Double Down and Split.

Hit is when you take another card to get your points total towards 21. Stand is when you choose to keep the cards that you have with no further deals. Double Down allows you to double your bet and get one more card only. A split is used when your first two cards are the same value and you split them using each card as a separate hand, in a bid to beat the dealer.

There are many variations of Blackjack available with online casinos, and each website will usually have a help section to explain the rules and any variations of the games played on their particular site. It is best to read these before playing.

Blackjack for Beginners

Prof. Shyanne Mayert PhD — Thu, 21 Sep 2017 11:52:27 +0000

As one of the more popular table games, Blackjack is played almost everywhere. It is also relatively simple to get to grips with. A card game between just the player and the dealer, it requires an element of luck though there is skill involved in knowing when to fold or push forward. The rules are simple, the dealer will deal each player just two cards. The aim is to reach but not exceed the value of 21. Whilst there may be other players at the table, this is a game between the dealer and each player and it is the dealer’s cards the player needs to beat.

For beginners, there are a few things to look out for to help in progressing in Blackjack. For example, it can be a good idea to start by playing single deck games. Many casinos offer multi-deck games and it has become quite the norm to see Blackjack played with six decks or more in an effort to combat card counters. A single deck game will obviously give the player better odds and it is easier to keep track of cards with just 52 in play. It is also important to choose a table with the lowest minimum bet. This simply means that a new player won’t be spending their entire budget on simply buying into the game.

There are also many strategies that can be employed to increase the chance of winning in Blackjack. There are a number of different starting hands that players will come to know as being beneficial to play on and those that are not. In accordance with this, it is important for players to know the exact rules of each table when sitting down to play.

Blackjack can be a lucrative game if played properly, but like all games, it takes time and patience to master.

Setting up a Gaming Budget

Prof. Shyanne Mayert PhD — Sat, 16 Sep 2017 12:40:27 +0000

As with anything in life, gaming requires a budget. Much as everyone makes a daily household budget, regular players should make a monthly gaming budget. This will aid in control over the games and also in maintaining discipline throughout gameplay. Having a strict budget will also help the player to enjoy the games they play regardless of a win or a loss as either way they can afford it and therefore not plummet into debt. A well planned out game budget will allow players to play without getting into debt and a full management strategy can be found online. The first step to avoiding this is allocating an amount that can be played on gaming. This amount must be enough for the player to be satisfied to play with. However, this amount also needs to be an affordable loss in the case of no wins that month. Losing this money must be something that the player’s everyday finances can handle. It is also important that players play within their means. Of course, there is always a higher stakes game that will require a higher amount of money inputted. But is it worth it? The answer is usually, “No.” Stick within the budget at all times, no matter what. In the long run, this will pay off and the winnings will start to flow in. it is also important to never mix the money set aside for gaming with other pursuits. This is for gaming and gaming only. Players should not be tempted to dip into it for any reason and vice versa. This should not be necessary as the money in the gaming budget should only be that which is superfluous to everyday needs anyway. At the end of the day, keeping a game budget will help a player always stay in the clear and can even help to make the gaming experience much more enjoyable as there is no fear of negative repercussions if there is a loss.

Being Successful at Blackjack

Prof. Shyanne Mayert PhD — Thu, 08 Sep 2016 11:52:53 +0000

Strategies for Blackjack are highly popular as everyone wants to beat the House. As each card turns up in the deck a specific number of time and represents a mathematical value, this generates an ideal way to successfully master the game.

Single Deck Basic Strategy

Players who want to play like a pro do not need to be skilled at maths. The only essentials are to know when to double, hit or stand which changes according to the card the dealer is showing and your cards. The Basic Strategy is to figure out the best decisions to make and the most likely outcomes. This increase skillfulness because it lowers the percentage of times that a player loses to the House. The House edge becomes half a percent.

Player’s Hand on the LeftDealer Upcard on the Right

8: Double on 5-6. Or else hit.
9: Double on 2-6. Or else hit.
10: Double on 2-9. Or else hit.
11: Double every time.
12: Stand on 4-6. Or else hit.
13 to 16: Stand on 2-6. Or else hit.
17 to 21: Stand every time.
A,2 to A,5: Double on 4-6. Or else hit.
A,6: Double on 2-6. Or else hit.
A,7: Double on 3-6. Stand on A or 2,7, or 8. Orhit on either 9 or 10.
A,8: Double on 6. Or else stand.
A,9: Stand every time.
A,A: Split every time.
2,2: Split on 3-7. Or else hit.
3,3: Split on 4-7. Or else hit.
4,4: As for 8 above.
5,5: As for 10 above.
6,6: Split on 2-6. Or else hit.
7,7: Split on 2-7. Stand on 10. Or else hit.
8,8: Split every time.
9,9: Except 7, split on 2-9 except 7. Stand on A, 7 or 10.
10,10: Stand every time