Where are my BlackJack players??

[Silverscreencruiser]

What the player in front of you does can affect your chances of winning a hand. However, it all evens out in the long run. For every stupid thing they do that hurts you, they do another stupid thing that helps you.

 

If everyone played perfectly, casinos would not be offering blackjack under the current rules. On cruise ships, the house edge is about .5% if the dealer stands on a soft 17 and .7% if the dealer hits. Casinos don't want to offer games that offer that low an edge so they would tighten the rules... restrict doubling down for example.

 

Fortunately for the good players, you get a lot of novices making rookie mistakes and that increases the house edge on the table as a whole. Depending on what these players do, the house edge against them can go up to 5% or more. And if you have a table with six players, five of whom are giving the house 5% and one of them .5%, that's an overall edge of 4.25%. The casino can live with that.

[Grandpaul]

What the player in front of you does can affect your chances of winning a hand. However, it all evens out in the long run. For every stupid thing they do that hurts you, they do another stupid thing that helps you.

 

If everyone played perfectly, casinos would not be offering blackjack under the current rules. On cruise ships, the house edge is about .5% if the dealer stands on a soft 17 and .7% if the dealer hits. Casinos don't want to offer games that offer that low an edge so they would tighten the rules... restrict doubling down for example.

 

Fortunately for the good players, you get a lot of novices making rookie mistakes and that increases the house edge on the table as a whole. Depending on what these players do, the house edge against them can go up to 5% or more. And if you have a table with six players, five of whom are giving the house 5% and one of them .5%, that's an overall edge of 4.25%. The casino can live with that.

I agree. I used to tell players at whatever game I was playing if they were playing bad. Then I thought why should I help them and hurt my odds. I like seeing people playing the wrong way.

[CruiseAddict1982]

I agree. I used to tell players at whatever game I was playing if they were playing bad. Then I thought why should I help them and hurt my odds. I like seeing people playing the wrong way.

 

Besides splitting aces when is a good time to split? I'm far from an expert, but I don't consider myself a novice. Just looking to get better as a player

[WWbytheSEA]

Hi CruiseAddict1982. I will give you a couple of easy ones to remember. There are widely available blackjack strategy charts out there that advise you when to stand, hit,split depending on what the dealer is showing.

 

Always split 8's and Ace's no matter what dealer is showing.

Never split 5's, 6's or 10's no matter what dealer is showing.

 

Good luck...

[HENDRICKSFAN01]

http://wizardofodds.com/games/blackjack/

 

Best website for all casino information and strategies.

[grod19]

It's funny to see how proper play and the statistics of blackjack are interpreted here. For starters one must remember the basis of the proper play chart. To achieve results close to the published percentages one would have to play millions of hands. Almost every blackjack player that walks in the door of a casino is hoping to sit in the right seat at the right moment and strike it rich. Naturally proper play over time can minimize your loses but for most players they are looking for right place right time.

 

Secondly, statistically speaking, having a bad player at your table making mistakes does not change the house edge for you if you are playing proper strategy. I am not going to get into the math or logic behind it but a poor player is as likely to save the table as he is to kill it. As said in the movie Rounders:

 

In "Confessions of a Winning Poker Player," Jack King said, "Few players recall big pots they have won, strange as it seems, but every player can remember with remarkable accuracy the outstanding tough beats of his career."

 

Same principal applies here, people remember when a player hurts their bankroll not when they help it.

 

My opinion, normally a poor player ruins the atmosphere of the table. A cheery happy table, even if the players are losing and playing proper strategy, can quickly become a sad boring one when a new player hits a hard 15 vs a 6.

 

Besides we all know it is the dealers fault when we lose a hand anyway, they didn't shuffle the cards correctly and the guy that cut the cards did so in the wrong spot.

[Grandpaul]

My favorite blackjack story. Foxwoods casino opened and was supposed too be open 18 hours a day. FIlled up with hundreds of people and couldn't close at night. So they were trying to think of a way to get more people win on the action. They started letting people standing behind watching blackjack players bet on their hand. A guy was playing there one day $10 a hand and someone behind him liked the way he played. He bet $1000 on his next hand. The kid pulled a 20. He turned to the other better and said "For $100 I won't take a hit". I'd hire that kid.

[tv24]

I love to play Blackjack, could spend hours at a table and not get bored. Love to take Blackjack trips to Nevada. I can be content to sit by myself and play one-on-one with the dealer, but on cruise ships I prefer to be at a convivial table with other players who like to chat. Have had some very fun nights on Cunard with experienced and fun players. On Azamara it has been very hard to find anyone to play with. I follow the typical strategies that one finds in the tip manuals, so consistently that dealers can predict exactly what I will do. I like to bet progressively so that if I am winning, I keep a little, but add to my bet. And I believe in tipping the dealer by leaving a bet out for him/her. Surprising to see how few cruise passengers tip the dealers. Oh, and I avoid the gimmicky games like "Fun 21" or "Face Up 21" As best as I can tell, the more gimmicks, the worse the odds are for the players. Also love tables where the doubling down options are liberal.

[Grandpaul]

I do the same thing. Progress my bet. I also set a dollar limit. Either plus or minus. When I get to that amount I play until I lose 3 straight hands. So if the cards get hot I take advantage of it. Fun game to play.

[CasinoCruzGirl]

Do the cruise ship black jack tables have a side bet like lucky ladies? I had $5 on a side bet in Las Vegas and got the 2 queen if hearts paid me $1000 unfortunately the dealer didn't have 21 although she was showing an Ace if she had blackjack would have paid me $5000 live having the side bets

 

 

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[HENDRICKSFAN01]

Do the cruise ship black jack tables have a side bet like lucky ladies? I had $5 on a side bet in Las Vegas and got the 2 queen if hearts paid me $1000 unfortunately the dealer didn't have 21 although she was showing an Ace if she had blackjack would have paid me $5000 live having the side bets

 

 

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I haven't seen lucky ladies. But I have seen dealer match. In case you don't know, that's where if your top card matches dealer top card you win. And I've seen a lot of pairs plus.

[tv24]

Anyone play blackjack on Seabourn? We will soon board the Seabourn Sojourn for a 68-day cruise and I am planning on some play. I know they will have one table. Anyone know how popular it is, minimum bet, shoe or single-deck, etc.?

[CruiseAddict1982]

Anyone play blackjack on Seabourn? We will soon board the Seabourn Sojourn for a 68-day cruise and I am planning on some play. I know they will have one table. Anyone know how popular it is, minimum bet, shoe or single-deck, etc.?

 

68 day cruise? Wow

[tv24]

Yeah, 68 days. Lots to time to play Blackjack, or not. Anyway, better bring a lot of cash!

[CruiseAddict1982]

Yeah, 68 days. Lots to time to play Blackjack, or not. Anyway, better bring a lot of cash!

 

Lol yea! 68 days? Wow. If you don't mind me asking who are you going with and what ports aren't you going to? Lol

[Bodogbodog]

who are you going with and what ports aren't you going to? Lol

 

Shouldn't be too hard to work it out from his comment

 

We will soon board the Seabourn Sojourn for a 68-day cruise

 

Voila -

http://www.seabourn.com/find-luxury-cruise-vacation/CruiseDetails.action?destCode=&portCode=&shipCodeSearch=SJ&durationCode=4&dateCode=&flexibleMonths=false&noOfFlexibleMonths=1&pageNumber=1&voyageCode=5411B&tabName=ItineraryDetails&allInclusiveFare=N

Edited December 30, 2013 by Bodogbodog

[Grandpaul]

Looks like a great cruise. I would love to see N. Z. and Aust. but only if I can cruise over and back. I couldn't handle the flight.

[tv24]

It's part of the world cruise, departs Los Angeles for Hong Kong, with ports in Hawaii, Tahiti, New Zealand, Australia, Indonesia, and Malaysia. Then in Hong Kong we board a Celebrity cruise for 14 days to Singapore through Viet Nam and Thailand. 2014 will be a year of assisted living on ships.

[BubbaNJ]

I haven't seen lucky ladies. But I have seen dealer match. In case you don't know, that's where if your top card matches dealer top card you win. And I've seen a lot of pairs plus.

 

There were lucky ladies on the shoe and continuous shuffle machine games on the Oasis. Some person hit the ladies with the blackjack on the first night of the cruise. Was able to get back-to-back matching 20s at one point.

[Grandpaul]

It's part of the world cruise, departs Los Angeles for Hong Kong, with ports in Hawaii, Tahiti, New Zealand, Australia, Indonesia, and Malaysia. Then in Hong Kong we board a Celebrity cruise for 14 days to Singapore through Viet Nam and Thailand. 2014 will be a year of assisted living on ships.

 

I know someone that lives on a ship. Not always the same ship. New neighbors every week or so.

[RacingRandie]

Do the cruise ship black jack tables have a side bet like lucky ladies? I had $5 on a side bet in Las Vegas and got the 2 queen if hearts paid me $1000 unfortunately the dealer didn't have 21 although she was showing an Ace if she had blackjack would have paid me $5000 live having the side bets

 

 

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The last cruise I was on (Nov on the Dawn), the last night I got the 2 Queen of hearts with a $1 bet and the dealer did have blackjack. Paid $1000.

[robin13]

I have to say that the most money I have ever won in BJ was on a Carnival cruise many years ago. We had a table of girls and by the time the casino closed I walked out with $1000 profit. I remember going back to my cabin and putting that money into the safe. Since then I have been on numerous cruises and have never won that much money again.

 

I do play basic strategy and I am very vocal when someone has no idea what they are doing. Most of the time these people are grateful for someone telling them how the hand should be played. One time in Vegas someone offered me money to help them play. I didn't take the money but I did tell them what should be done according to basic strategy.

 

Also, I leave the table whenever someone splits 10's. I love the comment from one of the posters about paying someone not to play at his table. I so wish I could do that but I would just get up and go to another table. Now mind you I would say something about them splitting those 10's and then I would leave. The worst thing is when they win after splitting those 10's so now they think that is a good thing. I have seen that happen before both in Vegas and on cruises. The person will look at you and say "see I won" and have a big smile on their face.

 

I will be on Independance of the Seas on 4/26 and hoping that lady luck is with me as well. The last cruise I went on was Carnival Breeze in November of 2012 and the casino was so tight and the BJ players so bad that it left a bad taste in my mouth. Hopefully the Indy will be much better.

[CruiseAddict1982]

I'm not an expert but I've done pretty well playing BJ. Even if someone doesn't play "correctly", it doesn't bother me. There are plenty of tables to play at and gambling in itself is a risk anyway. Are there better odds with people that can play the game "correctly", who knows! At the end of the day we are all there to have fun.

 

 

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[grod19]

I'm not an expert but I've done pretty well playing BJ. Even if someone doesn't play "correctly", it doesn't bother me. There are plenty of tables to play at and gambling in itself is a risk anyway. Are there better odds with people that can play the game "correctly", who knows! At the end of the day we are all there to have fun.

 

 

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Actually statistics have shown that the play of other players OVER TIME has no effect on the probability of you winning. (that statement ought to stir up a hornets nest)

 

I agree with you though, I would rather play with a player that is making tons of basic strategy mistakes but having fun doing so, over a stick in the mud following basic strategy

[CruiseAddict1982]

Actually statistics have shown that the play of other players OVER TIME has no effect on the probability of you winning. (that statement ought to stir up a hornets nest)

 

 

 

I agree with you though, I would rather play with a player that is making tons of basic strategy mistakes but having fun doing so, over a stick in the mud following basic strategy

 

 

I've played with lots of players that huff and puff when the player makes a move that may not be logical or right to the rest of us, but who cares it's all in fun. It's not that serious to me and I'm not betting my home, kids or wife so I'm good. I'm with you, id rather play someone who's having fun than someone who's acting like a jerk. My wife and I played with this one guy who was a great player until the casino closed and he was a classy guy and we all left the casino up that night. Had a great time.

 

 

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