HOW VIDEO BLACKJACK IS PLAYED

Blackjack appears to be a simple game and, indeed, its structure is quite easy to follow. All the cards have their face value. An eight equals and eight, a two equals a two, and so forth. All picture cards equal 10 as does, naturally, a 10. An ace equals either an 11 or a one. It is up to the player to decide how he is using the ace. Hands with an ace as one of the first two cards are called soft hands . Hands without an ace as one of the first two cards are called hard hands.

The objective of a blackjack game is to beat the dealer, or in video-blackjack terms, the dealer-in-the-machine. This can be done in one of two ways. You can beat the dealer because you have a better hand or you can beat the dealer because he has gone over 21 and busted. If either the player or the dealer has an ace and a 10 value card as his first two cards, this is called a blackjack or a natural and is usually paid off at three to tow (or 1.5 to one) for the player in the table version. However, many of the video-poker games you'll find will pay two for one. This is not as good as it sounds because two for one merely means an even money bet. You are getting back your one unit bet and your one unit win; thus two for one. In a three for two payoff, you are actually receiving 2.5 units in return for a one unit bet. Paying this way gives the casino a hefty edge over the player, as you shall see in the page "Rule changes and their effect on the player's edge".

If the player and the dealer both have blackjack, the hand is a standoff or a push and nobody wins. In fact, any time the dealer and the player have the same value hand it is a push. Never play in a blackjack game where the dealer wins the pushes, unless it is a face up or double exposure game, the strategy for which is quite different than for regular blackjack. In video poker you will find some machines where the house takes the pushes. Avoid these like the plague.

Blackjack tables generally seat six to seven players but video blackjack is usually a head to head affair, player versus dealer in the machine. However new versions of video blackjack Will have the capacity to deal to many as four players per round. This is an ideal game for card counters-especially as you are given more than one round before the dealer in the machine shuffles up.

When you put your coins in, the dealer-in-the-machine will deal you two cards face up. The dealer-in-the-machine deals himself two cards; one face up and one face down. All your playing decisions will be based on the face up card of the dealer-in-the-machine.

Once the player is dealt his first two cards, he must decide whether to ask the dealer-in-the-machine to hit him, that is, give him another card; or, he must indicate that he is content with his first two cards and will stand.

The player can also decide to do any of the following :

1. Split : if the player has a pair of the same number, the player can split them and make each card the first card of a new hand. The dealer will then deal him a second card on his first hand and the player will play out that hand. When he is finished, the dealer will deal him a second card on the second hand and the player will play out that one.
2. Double down :The player can double down on his first two cards (when allowed). This means that the player is placing a bet equal to or less than his initial bet and will now receive only one card.
3. Surrender : In some video blackjack games, the player can surrender his hand. That means that he can give up playing his hand in exchange for losing only half his bet.
4. Insure : The player can insure his hand against a dealer's face-up ace. He would put in a bet that can be as much as half his original bet. The insurance bet pays two to one. This bet is a side bet where the player who is insuring is wagering that the dealer-in-the-machine indeed has a blackjack-thus the dealer-in-the-machine has a 10 in the hole with the ace on top. This is a very poor bet and should never be made, unless the player is counting cards and has a reasonable assurance that the 10 is underneath.

If the player should bust his hand (go over 21), the dealer-in-the-machine will immediately indicate that this round is over. In a game with more than one player, if the dealer-in-the-machine should subsequently bust, the player who has busted first still loses. This is the casino's biggest edge-the player must play his hand first and if he busts, regardless of what the dealer-in-the-machine does, the player loses.

Once the player(s) has played his hand(s), the dealer-in-the-machine plays his. However, the dealer-in-the-machine does not have any individual discretion in the playing of the hands but must play according to a prearranged set of rules. These rules are usually posted on the machine or can be found by pushing the INFORMATION button on the console. There is very little variation from machine to machine. The dealer-in-the-machine must hit all hands that total 16 or less, and stand on all hands that total 17 or more. The only area where machines differ in the application of these rules concerns the soft hand of 17 (ace + six). Some machines have their dealer-in-the-machine stand on a soft 17. some machines have their dealer-in-the-machine hit a soft 17. It is to the player's advantage if the dealer-in-the-machine stands on a soft 17.

When the dealer-in-the-machine has finished playing his hand, he pays off and/or takes the bets from the losers who didn't bust before hand.

Simple? Quite. Yet there are many rule variations within the structure of blackjack that can make the game more or less favourable for the players.

BLACKJACK RULES AND THEIR EFFECT ON THE PLAYERS EDGE

There are good video blackjack games and bad video blackjack games and you should be able to distinguish between them. Basic strategy players and card counters alike will benefit by liberal rules and are hurt by tight games with few options for the players. Even if the option is only marginally helpful to a player, it is better to play at a machine with this option, all other things being equal. The world of video blackjack is an ever changing landscape and new rules come and go. However, for good or ill, most of the following rules can be found often enough in machines that it is worth knowing their impact on your expectations. Some of these variations are not yet found in video blackjack, but more than likely will be in the near future-so forewarned is forearmed.

All of the following percentages are based on a comparison of their impact on a single-deck game with Las Vegas strip rules. This will be our model. The rules for the Las Vegas single-deck game are as follows : a player can double on any first two cards; player can split and pairs and double after splits. Blackjack pays three to two and insurance is allowed. This game is effectively even. In video-poker terms it is a 100% payback game. A double-deck game with the same rules favours the house by 0.35%. In video blackjack parlance that machine is a 99.65% payback game. Percentages are based on playing perfect basic strategy.

A good rule for the basic strategy player when used properly. For basic strategy players, follow the doubling strategies for the single/and or multiple decks as detailed later. For the card counter, this is an even better rule, since the card counter will find many more opportunities upon which to double. If the dealer-in-the-machine should have a Blackjack, you only lose your initial bet on any double down (No percentage value since this is part of the above 100 per cent machine model).

This is not a good rule for single deck basic strategy players since there are times when you will want to double on eight. This rule is primarily aimed, however against card counters to diminish their opportunities for doubling in advantages situations. Value -0.13%.

Awful rule and any game that stipulates this shouls be avoided if better games are available. Value -0.28%.

Yuck. Value -0.79%

Good rule. Especially when the machine allows you to resplit aces. When you split aces you can only receive one card on each ace, thus you cannot double down after splitting aces. If the dealer-in-the-machine has a blackjack, you only lose your initial bet (No value as this is part of the 100% model.)

Good for the players. After you split your initial pair of aces, if you should receive another ace on one of your split aces, you can resplit that pair. Value +0.03%.

Bad for the player. Value -0.16%

Splitting pairs

Good rule for the player (No value as it is part of the 100% model).

Favourable rule for the player. Value +0.24%

If the dealer-in-the-machine has an ace as his up card you can insure your hand for up to half its value. Bad rule for basic strategy players. Never insure anything, even your own blackjack. However, insurance is a wonderful rule for card counters who will know when exactly to take it. Quite often the difference between a winning or losing session for a card counter is proper use of the insurance option. Even in video-blackjack games of one round before a shuffle, there will be times a card counter benefits from taking insurance. Value -5.88%.

The players the option of surrendering his hand when he sees his first two cards. In exchange, he gets back half of his bet even if the dealer in the machine has a blackjack. Very good option for basic strategy player. Great option for card counters. Value : +0.62%.

Same as above except and this is a BIG except …if the dealer has a blackjack, you lose your entire bet. Good option for player. Value +0.03%

Favourable to the player. It is any slightly more favourable to card counters. You win if you get 21 or less with six cards. Value +0.10%.

If you receive 21 with five cards, you will win a bonus from the casino-usually two to One. This favours the player. Valued +0.2%.

Dealer in the machine will pay three to two if you can get three sevens. Value +0.01%.

Favourable to the players if you don't change your basic strategy in an attempt to suit up, except in the case of a six-seven suited against the dealer in the machine. Value +0.01%.

You make a side bet that the next hand dealt you will be either over thirteen or under thirteen on the first two cards. Aces count as one for this and the dealer takes all hands of thirteen. Very unfavourable rule for basic strategy players. Marginally helpful rule for certain card counters. Value -6.56%for the over and -10.06 percent for the under.

Bad for all players. Helps the dealer in the machine improve otherwise bad hand for the house. Value -0.19%.

This is a bet with a player guesses what he colour of the dealer-in-the-machine's face up card will be. At first this would seem like an even game off the top but the house stipulates that if two of the colour you choose shows up, your bet is a push. This gives the house an advantage over the basic strategy player. Value -3.85%.

How many cards a dealer in the machine deals is called penetration. But if a game deals all the cards out, that's 100 percent penetration. For the basic strategy player, and the depth of penetration it is of little significance. However, for the card counter the depth of penetration is another key variable in determining whether to play a given game. Video blackjack games with Las Vegas strip rules and 60 percent or more penetration are highly beatable games for the card counter.

All ties go to the dealer . The most devastating rule against the players. Value nine points in a sense was years it's like a weak U.S. and its many cars comes G. repeat with a degree of high . Byhere's my own as rated we have to admire lived the next year and a background of them steered obvious been well, some senators Rivers using

Bad rule for the players . Value -2.43%.

Great rule for the players but you be hard pressed to find it on any of today's machines. Value +2.32%.

BASIC STRATEGY FOR VIDEO BLACKJACK

Gnawing of the game of video blackjack is played and is not the same as knowing how to play the game. For every set of rules, though distinct basic strategies designed to optimise ones chances of winning six terms used since the overwhelming majority of decisions that you will have to make up the same in all stressed use. To as he has two major categories single neck and multiple deck. and if you intend to playing you must decide which strategy to memorize. Those of you decide to play single and multiple deck games should seriously consider first mastery wand and then mastering the other.

The best way to decide which one to memorize [all which to memorize first]is to check other machines that you intend to play. Most video blackjack machines deal from a single deck and thus it is probably preferable to memorize of the single deck the strategies. However, some of the newer models used doubled their it's a [its some bee venom for decks] what it has a player to use a single deck strategy against the multiples that game or vice versa? Domain marginally, since the strategies it usually differ most on hands that didn't occur with great regularity. but if you want to be the best play you can be you should know both strategy. In the war against the casinos, it's best to be fully armed. And remember: you can feel free to bring this book into the casino with you. If the video blackjack games you've decided to play don't have the time limit on decision-making then you don't have to memorize any strategies. just refer to this book and take your time.

At first it might seem a daunting task memorizing the several pages of material that the coming up but don't let that stop you. In fact, if you spread to learning out of the several weeks during early to look at a time you will readily assimilate the basic strat the high fence about bob but but but Edward ategy you selected .

A friendly caution is hereby given: I'd check without learning a basic strategy because players to trust their instincts and ideas are giving the casino, a monumental edge. You're better off skipping the game of video blackjack altogether and playing one of the other the new games than playing improperly and video blackjack . The casinos make a fortune from Paul blackjack players of the table variety and video blackjack variety. Do not join the regiment.

Since there are more single data video blackjack games of the multiple deck ones , I've decided to give the single deck basic strategy firs. A contain the players hand column the right hand column will contain the decision you should make based on the dealer in the machines up card. How many cuts compares a given and is essentially a relevant except for spitting more doubling down purposes. For example if you have a 90 compares to two cards a fault three and a six you would double down against any dealer and the machines up card of three through six. If you had a nine compares to three cuts say a full two and three U. it hits until you had twelve or more and then follow the basic strategy for that hand. Thus if the dealer in the machine issuing a sixth and you have a three cut nine you would hit it. If you received the three, you would now have twelve. The basic strategy calls for standing with the twelve against the delayed in the machines up card of six. Benny hand which is eleven all candor, no matter how many cuts compares it hit until you reach twelve or more and then follow the basic strategy for that time. you know they hit hard hands of 70 or more against anything.

If you have played blackjack the full but you haven't employed the basic strategy some of these moves will seem strange . For example many players blanche at hitting a hand of twelve against the dealers to all three. Now that date date big as the delay is ten and they all proper Strategie. Remember that millions of hands have been generated by computer to status these basic strategy rules. And many of these rules are designed loose you less in bad situations. Having date, bait begins the dealers ten is a losing hand. By splitting them, amount of your sins in this situation than a few people stood trustees perfectly and don't allow any falls on the table to intimidate you into not hitting that twelve begins the dealers to all spitting there's eight, eightagainst a dealer's ten. Also, bear in mind that all soft hands become hard hands when the ace can no longer be used as an eleven.

BETTING AT VIDEO BLACKJACK

The key to winning money in traditional black play is to be more when the count favours you, bet less when it doesn't. You can do this on machines that deal more than one round. Bet the minimum number of coins on the first round and in all negative counts and the maximum number of coins in any positive count.

On single-round machines, you should bet whatever you are comfortable with use your card counting skills and basics strategy variations to get a small edge.

MONEY MANAGEMENT AT VIDEO BLACKJACK

By now it has become the ultimate cliché but like most clichés its worth repeating-gambling is streaky. Therefore to avoid being wiped out during a cold streak these astute gambler must have enough of bankroll to weather the storms of negativity that ultimately come his way. In a video blackjack a total bankroll of 200 times your maximum bet should be enough to sustain you through even the worst negative fluctuations. Of course, if you're playing a negative-expectancy machine that even with card counting and proper strategy yields less than you put in-for example one where the machine keeps all the pushes and pays two for one a blackjack-no money management can help you overcome the odds. The negative storms will ultimately swallow you.

However there is no reason to play such machines since there are many decent video blackjack games around. Even on some of the otherwise negative machines, card counting can give the skilful player a slight edge-or at least and an even game. Just as in video poker, the rules and paybacks determine which machines are worthwhile bets. However unlike video poker when more advanced analysis is necessary to determine the percentage page on a machine, the video blackjack machines reveal the secret even to a non-mathematician. Just use the information it this website concerning rule variations to determine just what games are worth playing. At the proper points when the rule or option favors the player, subtract the proper points when it favors the casino. In this way you can determine the house edge on all but the most obscure video blackjack machines. With proper play and casino comps, many machines are a worthwhile gamble-indeed some are better than the table game cousins.