February 22 2009

The Basics Of Online Blackjack II

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Because it offers better chances of winning than most other casino games, Blackjack is one of the most well-liked and popular casino games that also made it big in online casinos. It is also known in gambling circles as the Lucky 21 game, in reference to the winning card value in the game. Regular blackjack games play with only a single deck of cards, but some blackjack games already involve more than one deck. This is the house’s response to the famous blackjack counting strategies that have come up among players. No matter how the game is modified, it seems that it only gets better and more enticing for players.

The main objective of the blackjack game is to get a hand which contains cards that add up to a total card value of 21, which is called a blackjack and signals an automatic win. Blackjacks are paid out at 3:2. If no one gets a blackjack, the player with the total card value that is higher than the dealer’s card value wins. Once the total card value of a hand exceeds 21, this results to what is called as a bust, which equates to an automatic loss.

The focus of the blackjack game, or what makes it exciting, are the values given to the cards. The cards from two up to ten are taken at face values. The face cards are valued at 10, while the ace cards can either be a 1 or an 11. This means that the bets possible hand in blackjack contains an ace card and a face card or a ten card, which sums up to a 21 total value.

A blackjack game online and otherwise both begins with the placing of bets. After all the bets are in, the dealer will deal two cards for each player. These cards will be dealt face up. After that, the dealer will also deal two cards for himself. The first card will be dealt face up, but the second will be kept concealed. The dealer’s second card will be the determining factor of the game.

If the dealer’s face up card is neither an ace nor a ten, then the players get a chance to play their hands. They have several options at this point. They can either stand or hit. A stand means to stay with the present cards, while a hit is to ask for one or more cards to improve the player’s hand. Players can keep on hitting until he stands or until he exceeds 21 and busts. Other than these two basic moves, players can also double, split, or surrender. Doubling means to double the player’s bet and ask for just one more card. This happens when a player is confident about his present cards and is hopeful about the next card he will get. A split means to split a hand into two hands, which is done usually when a player has two matching cards. A surrender means to concede, lose the bets, and not play anymore.

In playing blackjack, whether online or not, it is good to choose the game you will join. There are plenty of blackjack strategies around, but the best option is to choose one that suits you best and stick to it. Finally, don’t be afraid to surrender when you need to.

February 17 2009

Play Live BlackJack and the Right Mind Set

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When you play live blackjack, or any other online casino game for that matter, it is important that you are in the right mindset to play and enjoy your game. There are so many people out there who think that because money is involved in every game of blackjack, and sometimes the money involved is a lot, it becomes too serious for them to have any fun.

The thing is that blackjack, even if it involves gambling money, it is still a game. And because it is a game, it is important that you have some fun with it even if you are losing money. The ability to win, after all, is a mindset. What you think you can achieve, you certainly can achieve. Therefore, you have to have the proper mindset when you play live blackjack.

There are a number of reasons that could hinder you from doing your best and having fun at the same time when playing blackjack. It could be because you are afraid to lose money. Sometimes, what you fear the most will come true for you because your mind is expecting it to happen, enough to make it actually happen. And when you are beset with fear, your eyes become clouded and your mind paralyzed. You will not be able to see or think clearly.

So if you are playing blackjack with your last money because you believe that you will win and your winnings will help you pay your rent or your credit card debt, you had best leave the game and log off, and then think of other means to earn more money instead. The fear of losing every single cent that you have and ending up with nothing will get you paralyzed and will hinder you from making the right decision in blackjack.

Another mindset that you should avoid when playing blackjack is arrogance. A person who is too arrogant often ends up making a fool of himself and regretting it later. Most of the time, an arrogant person gets too cocky and too reckless. Such recklessness prevents him from thinking out his moves. In blackjack, arrogance that gives rise to recklessness is dangerous. An arrogant person is bound to get his bankroll wiped out.

Lack of self-confidence is something that you should also not bring when playing blackjack. When you do not have any belief in yourself and you doubt the soundness of every decision that you yourself made, you will only end up making the wrong decision and losing money.

So, what is the proper mindset that you should have when you play live blackjack? In a nutshell, you should free your mind of everything that worries you or makes you feel fear. Worries and fears hinder you from making the right decisions in the game. But neither should you be fearless, arrogant and reckless; not only is it stupid, it will also make you prone to making the wrong decisions in your game.

February 11 2009

Online Blackjack and Its Origins

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The World Of Online Blackjack With the advent of the Internet we have faced numerous changes in the way of doing things. Everything you can think of was probably affected by the world wide web, and its constant development offers numerous new perspectives on things that were common in the past. The same goes for gambling. Just do a fast search online and you will get hundreds of online casinos where you can play virtually any casino game! With so many games to choose from, there are still some favorites that receive the most hits and are enjoyed by thousands of players online. And if taking names, there is nothing like online blackjack.

Online blackjack has seen a very fast development and is now one of the most popular online gambling games, with its popularity constantly increasing. When playing online blackjack you get exactly the same playing experience and winning possibilities as in a real world casino, only that you can enjoy playing it 24/7 right at your home, regardless of where you live.

Compared to the necessity of getting to a legal gambling site, finding a place to stay, and converting money to playing chips, online blackjack gives much more comfort to the player than land-based casinos. All you have to do is enter an online casino website, register and start gambling. Another advantage of online casinos is that you can find free online blackjack games on the web. This is a great way to learn playing blackjack or practice your skills without spending any money. In some cases online casinos will offer you bonuses in forms of virtual money that you can use when playing online blackjack and actually win! Imagine that in a land-based casino. Some History The original game of blackjack was created in the 17th, in France and was initially called “vingt-et-un” (twenty-one in French).

Other names of blackjack were 21, pontoon, and California aces. The original French version of blackjack required the player to draw a jack of spades followed by an ace of spades in order to win. This is where the term blackjack originates from, describing the essence of the game. The French revolution has imported blackjack to the United States where it quickly became highly popular in casinos and gambling houses. Because blackjack involved both luck and skills to win the game was very popular among professional gamblers and serious players. But with the 1910 ban on gambling, the game was outlawed and forced to go underground. During this period blackjack was associated with mobsters and criminals.

The seemingly simple rules of blackjack have made it very popular and lead to numerous winning strategies and techniques to be developed. There were numerous books written about it over the years and many movies used blackjack as the basis for their plot. Today, blackjack is found in casinos all over the world and with the commercialization of the Internet numerous online blackjack sites offer playing the game right at your computer.

February 09 2009

Blackjack Strategy

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Blackjack is a game requiring various decisions and to go with the different decisions you have to make, there are various strategies you can employ to increase your odds of winning. If you play your hand properly, it is estimated that you can reduce the house’s edge to less than a percent. To do this, you must first understand basic blackjack strategy and then employ more complicated strategies as you play the game.

Starter Strategy

A simple starter strategy for a player who is new to blackjack is a good way to start playing the game. Perhaps it is your first time to play in a casino or online, this will help you out to get going and learn the game.

If you receive a hand that equals 12 through 16, you have what is called a “stiff” hand. This means that one hit can cause you to bust because your hand is so high. The dealer has a stiff hand if they have 2 through 6 showing. If you have a 17 or higher, you have a “pat” hand and you will want to stand. If the dealer shows a 7 through an Ace, your hand is considered a pat hand.

Now, if you have a stiff and the dealer also has a stiff hand, then you will want to stay.

If you have a stiff and the dealer has a pat hand, then you will want to hit.

This is a good strategy to get you into the game and begin learning how to play.

Basic Strategy

Basic blackjack strategy is based on math. If you follow this strategy correctly, you are able to reduce the house’s edge significantly, by about a half percent. Minor adjustments can be made to this basic strategy depending on the casino you’re playing in. For instance, some casinos will allow you to double down, even after you have split your hand. However, not all casinos will allow this. Some changes may also need to be made depending n if you are playing single deck blackjack or multiple deck blackjack.

It is necessary to understand the basic strategy in blackjack if you want to be successful. If you’re preparing for a trip to a casino, you can begin playing blackjack at home online with a basic strategy chart. This chart shows you how to play your first two cards depending on what the dealer has showing. This chart will help the new player learning the basic strategy. There are a number of variations in blackjack, so there are various charts available that adjust the basic strategy accordingly. Basic strategy cards may also take into account if your game is multiple deck or single deck. As you play, you will become less reliant on these charts and cards.

Basic strategy can also vary depending on hard hands, soft hands and when you’re playing pairs. As you practice and play, the following will become second nature to you and you won’t need to rely on cards to assist you in learning.

Playing Hard Hands

The following is available on basic strategy cards, but this is written as you would interpret the strategy on the card:

• If you have a hand of 8 or less, always take a hit.

• If you have a hand of 9, double down if the dealer has 3 through 6, otherwise take a hit.

• If you have a hand of 10, double down if the dealer shows 2 through 9, otherwise hit.

• If you have a hand of 11, double down if the dealer shows 2 through 10, otherwise hit. This is because if the dealer has an ace, they have to check for blackjack and if they have blackjack then you have already lost the hand if you don’t have blackjack.

• If you have a hand of 12, hit if the dealer is showing 2 or 3. Stand if the dealer shows 4 through 6, otherwise hit.

• If you have 13 through 16, stand if the dealer is showing 2 through 6, otherwise take a hit.

• If you have 17 through 21, always stand.

Playing Soft Hands

A soft hand is when you have an ace in your hand and your hand can change value depending on the decision you make. The following is the basic strategy for playing these hands:

• If you have Ace 2 or Ace 3, then double down if the dealer has 5 or 6, otherwise take a hit.

• If you have Ace 4 or Ace 5, then double down if the dealer has 4 through 6, otherwise hit.

• If you have Ace 6, then double down if the dealer shows 3 through 6, otherwise hit.

• If you have Ace 7, stay if the dealer shows 2, 7 or 8. Double down if the dealer shows 3 through 6, otherwise hit.

• If you have Ace 8 or Ace 9, always stand.

Playing Pairs

• Always split if you have a pair of Aces or 8s.

• Split if the dealer shows 2 through 7 if you have a pair of 2s or 3s, otherwise hit.

• Split if the dealer shows 5 through 6 if you have a pair of 4s, otherwise hit.

• Double down if the dealer shows 2 through 9 and you have a pair of 5s, otherwise hit.

• Split if the dealer shows 2 through 6 if you have a pair of 6s, otherwise hit.

• If you have a pair of sevens, split if the dealer shows 2 through 7, otherwise hit.

• Split if the dealer shows 2 through 6, and 8 or 9, and you have a pair of 9s. Stand if the dealer shows 7, 10 or an Ace.

• Always stand on a pair of 10s.

This is just the basic strategy for blackjack. There are several variances that occur when you’re playing and depending on where you’re playing. Your plays may also be affected by other people at the table as well. If someone is playing recklessly, it is best to not stay at that table as it can have a bad effect on your strategy.

February 07 2009

Blackjack Betting Strategy – Maximize Your Profits Now!

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blackjack

Using the proper blackjack betting strategy will instantly put you down the road to maximizing your profits! Along with the proper blackjack strategy you need to have the traits of a winning blackjack poker player. Below are the traits YOU MUST have to dominate the house:

Trait 1 – Blackjack Rules Knowledge

Winning blackjack players know how to play the game and know all the blackjack rules inside and out. You will know how to place bets, play soft and hard hands, split pairs, and when to double down against the dealer. Once you master all the blackjack rules and blackjack strategies, you can move onto learning more advanced strategies such as a card counting system. All these strategies will give you the edge against the house and turn you into a dominate blackjack player in no time at all.

Trait 2- Believe In Yourself

Blackjack involves strategies, knowledge of the game, and self-awareness. To become a winning blackjack player you must believe in yourself. Using the right blackjack gambling tips and blackjack betting strategies, you should sky rocket your way into success. Please believe in yourself and your decision making. One of the worst things you can do is just give up and quit. Blackjack is a highly profitable game and there is no excuse for quitting.

Trait 3 – Commitment

To become a successful blackjack player you need to show commitment to learning blackjack and all the blackjack rules and strategies that come with it. Before you jump into real money situations you should download blackjack tutorials or play blackjack games online for FREE. Once you spend hours and hours dominating the house, at that point in time you can jump into real money situations.

Trait 4 – Persistence

Be persistent. Do not let casinos or other players scare you away just because you are winning. Successful players that count cards will get looked upon as cheating by casino management. Don’t let friends or relatives prevent you from becoming a successful pro blackjack player. Earning a stable income playing blackjack online is definitely an amazing feeling, I wouldn’t be where I am today if I listened to my parents or friends who said it was NOT possible.

Trait 5- Familiarity of the Game

The only way of gaining familiarity of the game of blackjack is to practice. Experienced players make fewer mistakes and quickly learn how to make the correct decisions that give them the best chance of beating the house each and every time. I highly recommend playing at any free casino that offers blackjack for free. Gain as much experience as you can by playing constantly, no matter if its for free or real money. The best thing you can do is play each blackjack hand like there is $1000 or more riding on it. Don’t get yourself into the habit of it’s fake money so I don’t care I am going to hit on 19! Play every hand you SEE your BEST. I wish you the best of luck!

February 05 2009

How to Play Basic Strategy Blackjack

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A common belief among tepid gamblers is that in a game of blackjack, be it the one played in land-based casinos, in traditional online casinos or with live dealers, it is very hard to beat the dealer because the house edge is in his/her favor. Naturally they would think this way, but if anyone would do the math involved, they would know that it is not impossible to beat the dealer. All that is needed is a solid knowledge of how blackjack is played.

The goal of blackjack is to get a hand of cards whose total value is 21 or less, but never going over. If your hand is a natural blackjack or at least having a total value of 21, you will at the very least get back the money you have wagered. If you bust (that is, have a hand value that is over 21) or if the dealer’s hand is closer to 21 than yours, you lose.

There are a number of playing options in blackjack which, if you follow them astutely, can make you last long in the game. These playing options are the following:

1. Doubling down. Doubling down is an option available to a player to double the original bet he/she has made prior to the first deal of the cards. The payoff for a successful doubling down bet is 2:1. The player, however, is required to draw one card from the dealer if he makes a double down bet.

2. Splitting. You can split the two cards you receive and play them as two separate hands. Splitting is usually done if the original hand has a value of ten or eleven. When you make a split, you need to place a wager that is equal to your original bet. Take note, however, that if you do get a 21 from one of your split hands, it is just a 21 hand; it can no longer be considered as a natural blackjack.

3. Double after splitting. This move allows you to double down on your bet after you have split your original two cards to create two separate hands. However, before you do this, you need to check with the casino if they allow this move.

4. Surrender. Some live dealer casinos and traditional online casinos allow players to surrender their cards if it turns out that it is not a natural blackjack. If this is the case and you opt to surrender your hand, you can get back half of the bet you have made for that particular round.

5. Insurance. Remember that in blackjack, the dealer has one card open. If this card is an ace, the probability that it is a natural blackjack is high. In this situation, you can make an insurance bet and wager that the dealer has a natural blackjack. If this turns out to be true, then you lose your original bet but get twice what you paid for your insurance bet. If the dealer’s hand is not a blackjack, you lose the insurance bet.

6. Five-Card Charlie. There are times when a player was already hit for five times and yet has not managed to get busted out. This is called a five-card Charlie. Most casinos reward a five-card Charlie.

February 05 2009

Blackjack Tips – How to Become a Successful Blackjack Player

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Blackjack is a game where you play against the dealer with other people around you sitting at the same table playing against the dealer also. You are NOT playing against the other people sitting around you. The object of blackjack is to try and get as close as you can to 21 or 21 without going over. Blackjack rules will be critical to your success so you will need to learn as many as you can. There are different variations to blackjack such as strip blackjack, samsung blackjack ii, samsung blackjack, etc… The only profitable blackjack game you can play is the standard blackjack games that are in every single casino and online.

To be a successful blackjack player you need to develop a winning blackjack strategy and stick to that strategy forever. Some people use card counting as a blackjack strategy such as the card counting mit group. I am not a big card counting fan, I think that should be for roulette systems. In blackjack before they implanted using multiple card decks, card counting definitely worked. The only time card counting will work is single deck blackjack games. These are usually played in the comfort of your own home amongst friends. You can’t really find one of these games in a casino. Most casinos only allow 4 decks or more blackjack games with automatic shufflers making card counting pretty much impossible. So if you bought some kind of card counting strategies, I am sorry but you definitely wasted your time and your money. The only proven blackjack strategies are ones using the blackjack strategy chart along mixed in with a winning system. How to play blackjack is a burning question many advent blackjack players want to know. More especially they want to know how to play blackjack and make a CONSISTENT WINNING playing. Again, the best blackjack tips I could ever give you is to stay clear of card counting strategies and pick up a copy of a free blackjack strategy guaranteed to dominate the house. You will be bringing down the house in no time. Eventually you will be winning so much casinos will think you are cheating! Sounds a little farfetched but it happened to me back in 1992. The casino was keeping a close eye on me at the blackjack table and even took me into a small room and questioned me. They told me they have never seen anyone win as much as I was doing. At one point I won 24 hands in a row, setting a record at that time which is still held today by me in that same casino. It is an amazing feeling constantly beating the house. The house is designed to have a 5% better chance than you winning EVERY SINGLE TIME. I don’t know about you, but that’s not fair. Using proven strategies you will eliminate the houses edge and you will actually have a 95% to 5% chance of crushing the HOUSE consistently! I wish you the best in your blackjack career!

February 04 2009

Is Blackjack Card Counting Illegal?

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In a word: no. Card counting is not illegal.

You cannot use any devices to assist you in card counting. Pocket sized computers and other electronic devices that can be used as card counting aides are illegal. If you are caught using such a device you will be arrested in Las Vegas. A card counter can only use his own intellect to card cards.

A casino will be on guard for card counters. They watch for players who play in a business like manner. They look for players who don’t interact with the dealer or other patrons. They look for players using basic strategy. Casinos will count along with a suspect card counter. A player will be labeled as a counter when the casino sees the player raise his bet when the count is in his favor.

Team play was big in the 1990s. A team would consist of one or more players at a table betting only the table minimum and counting cards. Since these players never increased their wager, the casinos could not spot them as counters. These players then signal another, “big money” player. The “big money” player wanders from table only stopping where the count is in his favor and only betting large amounts. Without the typical wager increases of a single card counter, teams of players were difficult for the casino to spot.

A casino may escort you off premises, read you the riot act, and threaten you with trespassing should you return. They may share your picture and profile with other casinos. However, this is not likely unless you are wagering large sums of money.

A card counter who is counting poorly or who is losing is likely to be allowed to play. A casino is happy to have anyone lose at any of their games. A card counter who is winning will often provoke some action by the casino. The easiest thing for the casino to do is instruct the dealer to shuffle more frequently, perhaps every third or fifth hand. This makes the counter constant reset his count and he will never see the positive count he needs.

In order to prevent being identified as a card counter, a player can do several things. First, the player should act in a relaxed manner. Second, it may be prudent to break basic strategy. For example, you could split tens every once in a while. A casino is likely to label you a recreational player if you break basic strategy now and then. Finally, a player can be careful with his wager. A five to ten times increase in the wager is likely to be ignored. Beyond ten times increase will draw scrutiny. Also, some players recommend changing your wager in proportion to the running count. Thus the wager is always changing and it’s hard to notice increases.

February 03 2009

Play Blackjack With a Live Dealer

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blackjack

To play blackjack with a live dealer is no different from when you play blackjack at an online casino. The rules are the same, and the environment is the same as well. You won’t notice the difference with the live video feed of the dealer right on your monitor. To start off, choose an online casino that offers a live version of blackjack. Some online casinos also offer live blackjack early payout games. All you have to do is sign up with the online casino and download the free casino software for free. Most online casinos require you to make a deposit and play for real money so you can access the live games. There is an online casino, namely Dublin Bet, that offers the live games for free. This means that you can enjoy the blackjack game without worries. And you can play it for as long as you want. The free live game version will give you a chance to practice the game as well.

When you play blackjack with a live dealer, once the game begins, an electronic game window will appear on your monitor. On the upper right side, the live video shows the dealer. You can place your bets simply by clicking on the available chips with the corresponding amounts. You can place bets on any of the three hands available. Take your time in placing your bets. The amount of bets you place on each hand matters a lot in determining whether you will lose out big, lose out small, win big, or win small. You have until the last minute before the dealer ends the betting round to place your bets. Take note of the betting limits when you bet. The betting limits are the maximum and minimum amount of bets you can place. It is usually found at one of the electronic marquees on the game window.

At this point, the hands will be dealt one card each. After the second cards are dealt for each of the players, you can choose whether to stand or hit. To stand means that you are satisfied with your hand and thinks it already stands a chance against the dealer’s hand. To hit is to ask for another card to be added to your hand. You can still change your bets at this point. You can also consider making the different kinds of bets that are available for the blackjack game. You can place split bets and double bets.

Then, after all the players have taken their turn choosing their strategy, it is now time to reveal the dealer’s second card. A blackjack hand is an automatic win. A blackjack hand is one that consists of two cards that have a total value of 21. This is why blackjack is also called Lucky 21. With the first card alone, the players can already get an idea if there is a possibility that the dealer has a blackjack. In blackjack, there is what is called an insurance bet, wherein the player insures himself against a dealer’s blackjack. In the live version of the game, insurance bets can be offered or not, depending on the rules of the particular game that is being played. A three-card 21 is still considered a winner, but a blackjack ultimately refers to a two-card 21.

If you already know the basic blackjack rules, you will not encounter any problems adjusting when you play blackjack with a live dealer. You will not notice the difference at all.

February 02 2009

Blackjack Guide – A Blueprint to Success

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Having a blackjack guide will make you a successful blackjack player in no time. The reason why? Most people go to a casino or play online without knowing the true blackjack rules of when to HIT, Double down, stay, etc… they have no strategy in place and often times do it on gut instinct. No mathematical probabilities are factored into any decision making. That is the absolute worst thing you can do. The house already has a 5% or more edge on you EVERY SINGLE HAND. You need to turn this edge around and start having the EDGE on the blackjack dealer. It is crucial to your success to have the best chance going into every single hand with an edge. Most people don’t even know how to deal blackjack. Learning blackjack and everything that goes into making you a winning player is TOP priority.

I started playing blackjack over 20 years ago. Back than, blackjack was no where NEAR how big it is today. There was no online blackjack and the only place you could play was at the casino. In that 20 years I estimate I have won at least 5 million dollars playing blackjack. Not a bad chunk of change. When I played, it went from a hobby and sport to playing for a living. I was able to buy a new car, a new house, pay off all my debts, and live a healthy and prosperous life playing the game I love. I retired recently a millionaire all thanks to blackjack. The most important thing to being a successful player is having a proper winning blueprint in place. Without having any sort of strategy to follow, you will be setting yourself up for failure. It is the absolute worst thing to jump right into a real money situation before you develop a winning strategy. There is FREE blackjack online, one of the only online gambling games that lets you play for FREE in order to gain experience and implement your winning strategies. Before you jump into any blackjack game for real money, you need to master playing for play money. With play money the blackjack dealer acts the same as if you were playing for real money. There is absolutely no difference in game play whatsoever. In texas holdem poker, you HAVE TO deposit real money in order to gain experience. At the free texas holem poker tables, players do not play for real. They will go all in with absolute garbage and even though you can win at the play money tables it doesn’t mean you will be successful at the real money tables. If you think you will be successful without playing for real money, you got another thing coming. With blackjack, there is no difference in game play which is why you can become a successful blackjack player and gain so much experience without even dropping a dime. In whatever you decide to do, I wish you the best of luck. Winning at blackjack or even Russian roulette is one of the greatest feelings in the world!