Blackjack Players Step Inside!

[RANTHEMAN]

But did you ever notice that sometimes those beginners who do dumb things really do win.

 

You got that right jbean. I was at the Seminole Hard Rock Casino last weekend and the fellow next to me was splitting 6s and 7s vs a 10.

He was doubling down on hard 12s and 13s and I could go on and on.

But,bottom line is he started with $100 and when I left he was up $1000+.

 

As I have said before yo eleven would have gone into convulsions but while this dude was at the table,I went from ($300) to ($25). So his wild play actually helped me.

 

Happy Thanksgiing to all you turkeys!!!!:p

Cheers!

[Ukulele JJ]

Why destroy the third best hand you can get in blackjack end mostly end up with two crappy hands?

 

I actually answered that question in my post.

 

You know, in the part you didn't quote? (And apparently didn't read? :D)

 

JJ

[Yo Eleven]

I actually answered that question in my post.

 

You know, in the part you didn't quote? (And apparently didn't read? :D)

 

JJ

Oh I read it and pretty much dismissed it as the goons that split the tens are HARDLY counting cards. They do other dumb moves IN ADDITION to the counting cards. You did leave out the other reason why someone would split tens though, Mr. Knowitall. :D

 

If you are in a BJ tournament you would probably split tens if you need more winning hands to try to win. Other than that, splitting tens is for fools. Good luck counting cards in a continuous shuffle. HA!

[Yo Eleven]

Just wondering if anyone had a recent scouting report. Are all tables continuous shuffle machines? Sounds like dealer hits soft 17.

 

This thread had quieted down, and I just wondered if anyone had any news.

 

Also, didn't know if there were any tables to clearly avoid. From the sounds of it the double exposure/dealer face up tables will kill you by taking your money on what should be a push, so I know that I will avoid those. Anything else I should be aware of to maximize my fun and my financial return?

Learn craps and play the dark side. That should maximize your fun and help increase financial return. These casinos are making it very difficult to profit from blackjack with their bait and switch rules of the game.

[wanderlust402]

Learn craps and play the dark side. That should maximize your fun and help increase financial return. These casinos are making it very difficult to profit from blackjack with their bait and switch rules of the game.

 

 

Wow, that is not encouraging. You sound like the computer in the movie Wargames, "The only winning move is not to play."

 

So obviously with the continuous shuffler, counting is out. Are there any other modifications to basic strategy that help on a ship? (To take advantaqe of any of their funny rules.)

[Yo Eleven]

So obviously with the continuous shuffler, counting is out. Are there any other modifications to basic strategy that help on a ship? (To take advantaqe of any of their funny rules.)

Sorry for the negativity but it is the fact.

Unfortunately, with their rules you must expect to lose these days. You are better off dropping 10K in an emerging market bond fund if you wanna gamble and improve your financial position as you requested. Last quarter my fund that I am in is up 46 percent. Returns for this quarter looking very nice. Take that to the casino cage. :)

[LSTEFFA]

learn craps and play the dark side. That should maximize your fun and help increase financial return. These casinos are making it very difficult to profit from blackjack with their bait and switch rules of the game.

front side winner.....dark side skinner:)

[wanderlust402]

Sorry for the negativity but it is the fact.

Unfortunately, with their rules you must expect to lose these days.

 

Have you ever considered a variation on team play? Have a friend playing 1-2 hands for table minimums at first base, while you are playing 2-3 hand at third base? Then you would at least have some information about how many ten cards are on the felt.

 

How many decks do they put in the continuous shuffle?

[Yo Eleven]

Have you ever considered a variation on team play? Have a friend playing 1-2 hands for table minimums at first base, while you are playing 2-3 hand at third base? Then you would at least have some information about how many ten cards are on the felt.

 

How many decks do they put in the continuous shuffle?

No, I have never considered it.

 

The most common continuous shuffle machine houses four decks.

[AndyTheK]

Have you ever considered a variation on team play? Have a friend playing 1-2 hands for table minimums at first base, while you are playing 2-3 hand at third base? Then you would at least have some information about how many ten cards are on the felt.

 

How many decks do they put in the continuous shuffle?

...

The most common continuous shuffle machine houses four decks.

 

Interesting thought. Assuming that you can do it well enough to not arouse the suspicion of the pit, which could get the two of you banned, I wonder how much it would help. IINM, most of the advantage of counting (which this is a kind of variation of) comes from the variation in bet size. With continuous shuffle, the count before each hand is always zero! Changing your decisions in play because of the count really doesn't affect much until the count gets pretty high in either direction. With four decks, even with six hands prior, how high can the deck be when it's the last hand's turn? My feeling is that it wouldn't get too high very often. Just my opinion.

 

Shalom. Andy.

[ajagent]

Hey Guys,

 

 

I have just discovered this thread and have found it very interesting. I started playing BJ on my last cruise and had a BLAST!!!! I just got done printing the wizards quick strategy(Thanks for the website). I still have a couple of questions.

 

1. I have seen several references here to money management and I was wondering what strategies you guys use and when to increase or decrease my bet.

 

2. What rules do the cruise ships Carnival in particular use that you guys don't like?

 

Thanks for all the great insight and I will try not to be the idiot at the table!!!

[AndyTheK]

Hey Guys,

 

 

I have just discovered this thread and have found it very interesting. I started playing BJ on my last cruise and had a BLAST!!!! I just got done printing the wizards quick strategy(Thanks for the website). I still have a couple of questions.

 

1. I have seen several references here to money management and I was wondering what strategies you guys use and when to increase or decrease my bet.

 

2. What rules do the cruise ships Carnival in particular use that you guys don't like?

 

Thanks for all the great insight and I will try not to be the idiot at the table!!!

 

Welcome to the thread. Nice to see a new face.

 

1. My method is "bet into a run, low when losing" When I lose a hand, the next hand is one unit. When I win a hand, i take the winnings back, and again bet one unit. If I win the second time, then I leave the bet for two units. Another win, and I increase to three, etc. Always increasing by one unit until it reaches (usually) five units. Stay at five after that.

 

Two things to note: First after any loss START OVER WITH ONE. Second, taking the winnings back after the first win is important. If you never move money back toward yourself, you'll never come out a winner!

 

2. The on-board rule variation that I personally hate the most is the dealer hitting soft 17. Annoying. The fact that surrender isn't permitted is not so important... I can live with that one (wonder why they don't allow it - MOST players surrender too often when itt IS allowed).

[ajagent]

Welcome to the thread. Nice to see a new face.

 

1. My method is "bet into a run, low when losing" When I lose a hand, the next hand is one unit. When I win a hand, i take the winnings back, and again bet one unit. If I win the second time, then I leave the bet for two units. Another win, and I increase to three, etc. Always increasing by one unit until it reaches (usually) five units. Stay at five after that.

 

Two things to note: First after any loss START OVER WITH ONE. Second, taking the winnings back after the first win is important. If you never move money back toward yourself, you'll never come out a winner!

 

2. The on-board rule variation that I personally hate the most is the dealer hitting soft 17. Annoying. The fact that surrender isn't permitted is not so important... I can live with that one (wonder why they don't allow it - MOST players surrender too often when itt IS allowed).

 

Thanks. I was worried that there was something major that was going to screw the odds up. I know that when I played last year there was a very nice guy at the table that knew all the strategy and helped me out. So for you guys that play a lot, Those of us that are just starting appreciate the help.

[grod19]

As much as I like Andy's bet into a run philosophy it can be a very stressful method for a newbie. Having that 5 unit bet out there can be nerve racking for some.

 

Best advice I can give, the minute you have handed the dealer your money consider yourself down that amount. Example, I buy in for $100, the minute the dealer hands me chips I am down $100. This mentality allows me to play without worrying about how much I am up or down etc because I am only betting clay chips :)

 

that being said, you should still know when its time to head to the cage and cash out.

[ajagent]

I tried to do that style betting on line earlier...it never seemed to get to that point. The luck was not running my way...HAHAHAHAHA...I was used to playing craps and I always make sure when I get up I pull my original stack out and shove it in my pocket. Then i am just playing with my winnings.

[SmogMonster]

I just started playing blackjack and been practicing online. I want to thank you all for the comments made in this thread. I have learned a bunch by just reading the posts and comments.

 

Couple of questions, Someone said a few posts back that there were different strategy cards for different rules. IE dealer hitting of soft 17 etc.

 

Anyone know of a good site where these can be downloaded? Maybe where you can select the rules and an appropriate strategy chart pops up.

 

Also, do the cruiselines allow you to have a chart in hand when playing? I am trying to remember all the basic strategy rules but it is overwhelming.

 

Last, I read a post where someone mentioned a "shiner" I have not heard this term before. What is a shiner?

[AndyTheK]

I just started playing blackjack and been practicing online. I want to thank you all for the comments made in this thread. I have learned a bunch by just reading the posts and comments.

 

Couple of questions, Someone said a few posts back that there were different strategy cards for different rules. IE dealer hitting of soft 17 etc.

 

Anyone know of a good site where these can be downloaded? Maybe where you can select the rules and an appropriate strategy chart pops up.

 

Sorry I can't help on this one.

 

Also, do the cruiselines allow you to have a chart in hand when playing? I am trying to remember all the basic strategy rules but it is overwhelming.

 

Absolutely. Consult as much as you need to, just as long as you don't delay the game unnecessarily.

 

Last, I read a post where someone mentioned a "shiner" I have not heard this term before. What is a shiner?

 

A shiner is a small mirror hidden somewhere (clothes, etc) enabling you to see cards you would not ordinarily be able to see. Stories - possibly apocryphal - are told of dealers and cheaters in collusion using a shiner to tip the player to the dealer's hole card. My guess is that if you are caught using one in any way, not only will the shiner be broken into bits, but your knees might be similarly "taken care of".

 

Good luck.

[DaveFr]

Couple of questions, Someone said a few posts back that there were different strategy cards for different rules. IE dealer hitting of soft 17 etc.

 

Anyone know of a good site where these can be downloaded? Maybe where you can select the rules and an appropriate strategy chart pops up.

Here you go: http://www.blackjackinfo.com/bjbse.php?numdecks=6+decks&soft17=h17&dbl=all&das=yes&surr=ns&peek=yes. Hope this helps.

 

Dave

[SmogMonster]

Here you go: http://www.blackjackinfo.com/bjbse.php?numdecks=6+decks&soft17=h17&dbl=all&das=yes&surr=ns&peek=yes. Hope this helps.

 

Dave

 

Thank you all for your responses to my question. You all have been very helpful. I must admit that some of the posts here tend to scare me away since I am a noob at blackjack. I certainly dont want to get yelled at if I mess up someones hand because I mistakenly didnt follow basic strategy and took a card when I shouldnt have or didnt take one when I should have!

 

I promise I will practice a ton on line before venturing out to the real money!

[RANTHEMAN]

Smog... Sometimes a missplay hurts the table and sometimes it helps. These jerks that get so upset with other people's play,never remember when they have been helped!!

Your goal is to win and the basic strategy increases your odds of doing so! You have no obligation to help win money for anyone else.

 

If someone yells at you for the way you play,tell them to kiss

off.:eek:

[SmogMonster]

Smog... Sometimes a missplay hurts the table and sometimes it helps. These jerks that get so upset with other people's play,never remember when they have been helped!!

Your goal is to win and the basic strategy increases your odds of doing so! You have no obligation to help win money for anyone else.

 

If someone yells at you for the way you play,tell them to kiss

off.:eek:

 

RANTHEMAN,

I was thinking the same thing but I am not sure I have earned the right to say it yet! Seems to me that every one of the "experienced" players were newbies when they started and have forgotten it.

 

Cant wait for my next cruise so I can try out everything I have learned from this site and all your posts.

[grod19]

Smog, as long as you are friendly and fun at the table most people will not get angry over your play and the ones that do aren't the kind of people you want to sit next to anyway. :) An experienced player might offer you some advise if you make a really foolish play (stay on a 16 against a 10 showing) but most experienced gamblers are just looking to have fun.

 

When you sit down introduce yourself and try to strike up a conversation, you will be shocked how much that helps create a fun table.

[ajagent]

I have to admit. The people I sat down with my first time on a ship were great.

 

I would like to know. If I remember correctly, Carnival was using one deck at the table I was playing. That being said, do you make any alterations to the basic strategy if you have several people at the table. Does that change the odds?

[AndyTheK]

I have to admit. The people I sat down with my first time on a ship were great.

 

I would like to know. If I remember correctly, Carnival was using one deck at the table I was playing. That being said, do you make any alterations to the basic strategy if you have several people at the table. Does that change the odds?

Although it does really make a difference in the composition of the deck, the BASIC strategy does not take that into account - that's why it's called BASIC. Card counting strategies rely on the number of cards left in play so in a one deck game the more players in front of you, the fewer cards left and thre more important the count is.

 

That being said, it's a little hard to completely ignore what you see. For example, suppose you are holding 16 against a dealer's showing 5, and the four cards drawn just before you were tens. In a 6 or 8 deck game, that doesn't matter very much, so you stand, as the strategy directs. With the same situation in a single deck game, there is a greater likelihood that the next card is small. A counting strategy might tell you to hit in that case. But the BASIC strategy does not change, so you stand.

 

In sum, if you play BASIC strategy, ignore all the other players and the cards you see. Don't listen to BS and just play your game.

[Yo Eleven]

Smog... Sometimes a missplay hurts the table and sometimes it helps. These jerks that get so upset with other people's play,never remember when they have been helped!!

Your goal is to win and the basic strategy increases your odds of doing so! You have no obligation to help win money for anyone else.

 

If someone yells at you for the way you play,tell them to kiss

off.:eek:

I am one of those jerks. LOL!

I retired from playing blackjack in fear I would go to prison for assalting another player in a casino. :D