Rules of Extreme 21

Extreme 21 is a variant of Blackjack played widely in the Canadian state of Alberta and the tribal casinos of America. In Extreme 21, the player plays one at a time and the dealer keeps hitting until he/she wins or goes busting. Though some of the rules are similar to the traditional blackjack, most of its rules are pro-player. In the following sentences, we’ll see the major rules of Extreme 21 that makes it stand apart from other casino blackjacks.

- Extreme 21 is played individually between the player and the dealer and each player must take turns successively. The game is usually played with 6 decks.

- A player begins by making a bet. After each player makes a bet, the dealer deals a card to each player.

- In turn, the dealer deals each player a second card and a 1up card for himself.

- As in usual blackjack, cards are valued the same way. That is, 2-9 are counted in their original values, face cards and tens are counted 10, and Aces 1 or 11 according the situation.

- Doubling is permitted on any number of cards, even after splitting. Further, the players are allowed to hit and double again after doubling.

- On splitting, it is permitted on the first two cards if they are the same point value. Re-splitting is possible an unlimited number of times, except on aces, which can only be split a single time.

- The player is declared winner even if gets an exact 21. On this happening, he/she is immediately paid 1 to 1.

- If the player does not reach 21 exactly, the dealer will play out his hand by hitting until he beats the player or go busting.

- On the other hand, if the player splits, the dealer will then play against each hand individually, starting with each face-up card in each hand.

In some casinos, there are these rule variants,

Doubling permitted on first two cards only, including post-splitting.
Doubling permitted on any number of cards, including after splitting, but no redoubling a strict no-no.

MatchPlay 21 Blackjack

MatchPlay 21 Blackjack is a variation of ordinary blackjack which benefits the players with several payouts for various card combinations. The majority of the MatchPlay 21 rules are the same as traditional blackjack, except some changes which can be the main difference between the two.

The aim of MatchPlay 21 is to obtain a total card value of 21 or close to that total without exceeding it. The player wins the game, if he/she is able to bust the Dealer's hand or collect a higher total card value than the dealer hand. Before starting the MatchPlay 21 game, the player should place a bet. Once the bet is placed, the player is dealt with two cards face up. The dealer also dealt two cards. If the sum of the player’s card is closer to 21 than the dealer’s card, the player wins the game and gets as much as he/she wagered. The player also wins the game if the dealer busts (total card value exceeds 21).

In MatchPlay 21 Blackjack, all ten value cards are removed from the decks. This increases the players’ chances to hit sevens, which is the main objective of this blackjack variation. MatchPlay 21 Blackjack is also somewhat similar to Triple 7s variation. In MatchPlay 21 even if the dealer stands on Hard 17 and soft 18, the player can surrender at any time while the game is progressing. The player can also split and double, but make sure that you double only once. The player can split not more than three hands, but no blackjack is paid after splitting. The player split aces if he/she wants or can hit after a split.

MatchPlay 21 provides much more payouts than the Triple 7s variation. However, the odds to win them are lower than the odds to win special payouts in Triple 7’s.

MatchPlay 21 blackjack is an ideal game for a player who is looking for thrill of playing blackjack and is less concerned of the payouts.

Bonus Blackjack

Bonus Blackjack, originally based on the most popular card game, Blackjack, allows a player to play blackjack with a few twists. Bonus Blackjack provides more chances to win the game by including some special cards and easy ways to win. The game became much popular owing to its special payouts – “bonus payouts”.

Bonus Blackjack, as the name implies, adds a bonus feature which benefits the players for their seat selection and unique symbols on their cards. The game, which comes with its fast pace of traditional blackjack, is also backed with the “near-miss” psychology usually seen in slot play to the game of blackjack.

Bonus Blackjack is played with two regular decks of 52 playing cards which are shuffled before each game begins. Same as traditional blackjack game, the objective of bonus blackjack is to obtain a total card value of 21 points or close to that total, without bust (exceeding 21 points). The player can also win bonus blackjack, if he/she is able to bust the Dealer's hand. One can qualify for “bonus payouts” if he/she has placed a bonus side bet.

King, Queens, and Jacks - the face cards – are all worth 10 points. The player can set the value of Ace as either an 11 or a 1 point card. All other cards from 2 to 10 take their normal values. According to the bonus blackjack rules, the box holder can play only one hand at a time.

Bonus Blackjack strategy is virtually the same as the original blackjack game. The rules of the game are also the same and there are no real variations. The main difference between the two is that a player can receive bonus payouts if he/she wins the game.

Super Fun 21 Blackjack Rules

Super Fun 21 is a copyrighted variant of Blackjack found in Las Vegas casinos. Even though the basic rules of the game are similar to the traditional blackjack, it also incorporates some liberal rules and bonuses, making the game more exciting and result oriented in favor of the player. In other words, it is a game that is easy to pick up, and given the additional rules, the chances of the player winning the game is quite high than a traditional blackjack game. But the basic aim of the game is same - that is to beat the dealer hand by getting closer to 21 without getting bust.

Here are some of the rules of Super Fun 21 that are exceptions to the original version of the game.

- Super Fun 21 is usually played with a single deck of cards, and sometimes two.
- The dealer must hit on soft 17.
- The player may double after a split, and he/she can split the hand up to four times.
- The player can double down on any number of cards, even after splitting pairs.
- The player may late surrender on any number of cards.
- The player can opt to surrender half the bet, even after splitting, hitting or doubling down.
- The player instantly wins if he/she has a hand with 6 or more cards with a total value of 20, even if the dealer wins a blackjack.
- The player always wins double money if his/her hand has 5 or more cards totaling 21.
- Blackjacks in diamonds pay 2-1, and blackjack in other suits pay even money.
- And, player blackjack always wins even if the dealer also hits a blackjack.

These rules combined with a suitable strategy ensure that the players stand a good chance of winning the game. No wonder, this game is fun for many (hence its name), and this answers the reason for the burgeoning number of patrons this game has in the casinos. For further details, the reader is advised to refer concerned websites or books.

Double Exposure Blackjack

Double Exposure Blackjack is one of the popular variants of traditional blackjack in which both the cards of the dealer are revealed to the player at the start of the hand itself. From a player point of view, this is a significant piece of information, and it will advantageous to any player irrespective of his/her skill levels if not for any change in rules. So naturally there will be some rule changes that favors the dealer so as to level out the differences, and it is done mainly by two rule changes - paying even-money on blackjack (opposed to 3:2 at normal tables) and ties losing (compared to pushing in standard blackjack).

Other rules detrimental to the players were also introduced over the years, and that includes restricting doubling down and splitting, and not allowing any doubles after splits. But, the game still holds a good level of advantage to the player, provided he/she is better equipped and prepared to meet the challenge. Double exposure blackjack offers a house advantage of 0.69% and is usually played with 8 decks.

Here is a recap of the changed rules,

· Both dealer cards are exposed.
· Dealer wins on all ties, except on a natural blackjack.
· Player blackjack pays even money.
· Player may split only once.

Other rules that can vary, but not restricted to, include

· Dealer stands or hits on soft 17.
· Tied blackjacks either push or go to the player.
· Player may or may not double after a split and he/she may or may not double on any first two cards.
· Player may split the card more than once.

Double Exposure Blackjack is thought to be invented by Bob Stupak, former owner of Vegas World and Stratosphere casinos. Double exposure blackjack is also known as Dealer Disclosure’ or ‘Face Up 21’.

Rules of Spanish 21

Spanish 21 is a variety of Blackjack getting popular in Europe. It is owned by Masque Publications Inc. Unlicensed, though equivalent versions of Spanish 21is popularly called Spanish Blackjack.

Regarding the rules of Spanish 21, many of them may appear liberal as opposed to that in the conventional blackjack. For example, Spanish 21 permits payout bonuses for five or more card 21's, 6-7-8 21's, 7-7-7 21's, late surrender, doubling down any number of cards with the option to ‘rescue’ or surrender only one wager to the house, and player blackjacks and player 21's always winning, at the cost of having no 10 cards in the deck (though there are kings, queens and jacks). To sum them up, if the player can have a fool proof basic strategy in place, Spanish 21 guarantees a definite lower house edge than any other blackjack game.

Here are some of the rules of Spanish 21 elaborated.

Spanish 21 is played with 6-8 decks dealt from a shoe. The name of the game itself comes from the fact that each deck used in Spanish 21 is a standard poker deck with all its tens removed (not the face cards). That is, a traditional Spanish deck consists of four sets of 1 through 9, a Jack, a Knight and a King, sans any tens. All cards have the same values as in the traditional blackjack game.

The game pays 3:2, and standing, hitting and splitting all follow the same rules as in the traditional blackjack. The difference exists in drawing split aces and re-splitting, which are both permitted in Spanish 21 as opposed to the original blackjack.

The player has the freedom to surrender on the first two cards or after doubling down. The dealer always checks for a blackjack with one face card showing before the game continues, quite similar to its American counterparts.

The player can double down on any total, even after taking hit cards. In come casinos, the players are permitted to redouble after doubling down.

A total of 21 always win the game for the player. It never pushes against the dealer’s 21. In the game, a six-card 21 pays 2:1, a five-card 21 pays 3:2, and a 21 with seven cards or more than that pays 3:1. But these bonuses are not applicable if the 21 is obtained as a result of doubling.

6-7-8 of mixed suits pays 3:2, of spades pays 3:1, and of the same suit pays 2:1,.

Three suited 7s against a dealer 7 pays a higher bonus (such as, $5000 for bets $25 and above and $1000 for bets $5to24). Every other player at the table will get a "envy bonus" of $50. But this rule is not applicable after splitting.

In most casinos, or more generally, in most Spanish blackjack games, the dealer usually hits soft 17.

As a general analysis, it can be concluded that the removal of the tens in each deck always favor the dealer, while the other additional rules all are advantageous to the player (the dealer hitting soft 17 being an exception). And as mentioned earlier, Spanish 21 usually result in a low house edge, than any other blackjack game.

Finally, there is no popular card counting method in Spanish 21, though it would likely generate less scrutiny. Of course, any of the counting systems applied to the game should account for the fewer ten-point cards in the shoe.

Multi Hand Blackjack Rules

Multi Hand Blackjack is played using 5 decks of 52 cards each that are shuffled before the start of every game. Read further for a quick glance at the rules that govern the game.

In multi hand blackjack, every player can draw up to five additional cards on each hand (that is, 7 cards in all), provided the value of hand does not cross 21. If, by chance, the player’s hand exceeds the 21 limit, he/she will lose the hand. Such a condition of the player’s hand exceeding 21is called a BUST. On the other hand, if the value of the hand does not exceed 21 even after drawing all the 7 cards, the player automatically qualifies to stay and goes to the next hand or the dealer will play his hand. The dealer must stand on 17 and draw on 16.

Regarding the value of cards, King, Queen and Jack have a value of 10. Ace can take either 1 or 11 depending upon the situation at hand in the game. In other words, Ace will assume a value that is most beneficial for the player. One more point particular to ace - any combination of Ace and other cards whose total value does not exceed 21 is called a SOFT HAND.

If the player has dealt an Ace and a card with a value of 10 (face card or a natural ten) as his/her first two cards, it is called Blackjack. The player receiving a blackjack will automatically stay in the game and move on to his/her next hand. If the player beats the dealer with a blackjack, he/she will be paid out at 3 to 2.

Another interesting rule in multi hand blackjack is the SPLIT of the hands. That is, if any one receives two Aces, two fives or two tens, he/she can opt to split the hand. The player automatically wager a second amount equal to that of his/her original wager on the second hand and will be able to play both hands as normal. But cards with the same value and varying denominations cannot be split in this respect.

Again, if the player has already split his/her hand and then draws a card with a value of 10, then it is not considered as a blackjack. Such a hand will automatically have a value of 21 and it can beat any dealer’s hand with a value less than 21 or draw against all other dealer hands except blackjack. The same rule is applicable against splitting pairs of cards having a value of 10.

If the value of the player’s initial two cards, or any of the hand is 9, 10 or 11, then he/she can ‘Double’. This is a gambling assuming that the player’s next hand will be sufficient to beat the dealer’s as-of-yet uncompleted hand. The gamble costs as much as the player’s original bet for that hand, but should he/she win, the person is entitled to double the total wager at hand.

In multi hand blackjack, there is something called an INSURANCE bet, which option is given to the player when the dealer is dealt an Ace. Insurance only covers the original bet and does not provide any protection for Double Down Bet. The insurance bet costs half the original bet and will pay out 2 to 1 if the dealer gets Blackjack, however, the player loose his/her original bet. On the other hand, if the dealer does not get a blackjack, the player will lose the insurance bet and the game proceeds as normal.

After all the hands have been played, the player’s hand is compared with that of the dealer. If the value of both hands happens to be the same, such a condition is called a PUSH. In the event of a push, the player receives the bet amount and no one wins the game.

Easy Card Counting for Basic Strategy in Blackjack

Learning basic strategy in Blackjack can help keep losses within affordable and planned limits, but card counting skills are necessary to take your game to the next level at which you can look forward to net wins if you keep playing. You must know when to increase a bet and when the dealer has better chances than you. This requires that you estimate how many high value cards are left in a shoe, because cards with values of 8 and over favor you. Do not get put off if math is not your strongest point, or if you tend to forget things, for you can make rapid strides with easy practice steps. Here are three top card counting tips that everyone can use:

A - Do not waste your capacity to remember things by stuffing with facts that do not matter. You only need to know the relative balance of high cards remaining in a deck, and not specific cards that have been dealt.

B - Build up your mental math in small steps. Start by memorizing numerical values of each card. Each card counting method has its own variation. It is common to count 10s and aces as -1 each, red 7s and cards of 6 and below as +1 each, and black 7s, 8s and 9s as zeros. Start keeping running totals once you are familiar with the value of each card. The full deck has a net value of +2 on this basis. Remember that accuracy is more important than speed: keep practicing until you can keep running count without errors.

C - Move to counting in pairs once you can consistently arrive at the target of +2 for a full deck. Then observe other players at tables, doing the mental math in your head for practice. Do not start playing until you are confident of keeping running totals in your head. Remember that actual play is tougher than keeping running card counts in your head, but you will surely make steady progress with daily practice.

Do not get put off if card counting and basic strategy continue a string of losses in the short run. The methods of statistics do not relate to small numbers of discrete events. However, you will taste success as you keep playing regularly sticking with the basic strategy and card counting approach. Be wary of casinos that offer single deck Blackjack with pay outs of less than 3:2 because it will affect your winnings significantly. Most casino managements tempt clients with multiple deck and other offers that improve the odds in their own favor. You have to look for tables where you can win at Blackjack, sticking to the basic strategy and card counting, preferably with a single deck. Choose roulette, poker or a fine meal if you are on a quick vacation on the Las Vegas Strip, because the veteran casinos there know that the odds are stacked against them with the approach described here. You can graduate to multiple decks over time, but remember to adjust your pivot. It is common to multiply the number of decks by -2 to arrive at the correct pivot.

Why a Kiss Works in Blackjack

There can be nothing worse than showing off before others when playing Blackjack. Never let admiring glances, inquiring looks or even exuberant praise distract you from leaving the table as soon as you have either reached your target of wins or finished the number of hands for which you have set aside money. Blackjack needs intense concentration because you have to remember all the situations for which you have practiced and to remember all the cards that have been dealt at the same time. A moment’s lapse can set off a chain of errors that could either upset your chances of a net cash win or even cause you to exceed your contingent limit for monetary losses.

Choose poker, roulette or some other game of pure chance if you just want to relax, create a good impression or blow up some hard cash! Blackjack is fun only if you are serious about it! A wise approach is to avoid any confusing or new rule of Blackjack with which the house wants to confuse you. The key elements of your Blackjack strategy should be:

A - Remember that a hand in which the dealer shows a card between 2 and 6 is against you since the dealer can hit all the way up to 17. 16 of the 52 cards have values of 10.

B - Split if you can or double when the dealer shows a weak card.

C - Keep track of how many times cards of a particular value have been played, so that you can estimate the chances of the same number surfacing again. It is relatively easy to keep track of aces, than of all the numbers as a set.

Computer programs written in Logo can help you simulate the situation at a real table with a dealer-minus the fancy dress and bright lights-unless you wish to rehearse for that as well. Regular practice against a computer program will build up your confidence, and you will soon find playing Blackjack in real life to be a profitable experience that you can face with confidence.

Ignore advice that tricks you in parting with good money for absurd tricks that do not work in a logical game such as Blackjack. Specialize in one form of the game and never risk sizeable money because a new form of the game intrigues you. Do not mix Blackjack with other forms of gambling, because this game follows its own rules and probability models. The original rules of Blackjack were designed to bring customers in through word spread about successful wagering. That may have been years ago, but you can still find tables which limit your disadvantage if not offer you outright favorable odds.

Complications are the bane of gambling success for all but the most professional players. Minor rule changes can make major changes in outcomes. Steady progress through planned sessions of Blackjack offer excellent chances of success for regular players, and hence the advice that a kiss, or Keep It Simple Stupid works at this game!

Winning Advantages over a Blackjack Dealer

Would you like a game of Blackjack in which you have the best chances of staying ahead of the dealer? Of course you would! Most people think that it is the other way around with odds stacked in favor of the casino. That is true for most other forms of card games and for gambling as well. However, Blackjack is different because if you follow an appropriate strategy, then you have excellent chances of staying ahead of the dealer. Even sessions that so not go your way will lead to marginal losses only. Each casino follows its own variations of basic Blackjack rules. Choose a table which gives you there three crucial options:

A - Splitting: standard Blackjack rules allow you to split, but the dealer cannot do this. You will get 2 cards of the same value on occasion, and you effectively have two hands to play whenever you can split. You have better chances than the dealer of reaching 21. Make sure that the house allows you to split before you start playing.

B - Doubling: most Casinos allow you to double a bet if you feel that your hand is better than that of a dealer. You should have this opportunity when you know that a single hit can take you decisively over the dealer. The doubling down facility enables the statistically minded to maximize their winnings from hands with good chances of success.

C - Insurance: the Casino should offer you a chance to halve your bet when the dealer shows an Ace. This is a kind of opposite to doubling and allows you cut back on probable losses when you estimate that the dealer will reach 21 before you. Though you lose the potential of your original bet, insurance helps to control losses from poor hands during a session.

Be careful of other variations that casinos may offer, and do not opt for them unless you have worked out the odds from your point of view. Remember that a steady, consistent and disciplined approach to betting will you your best chance of both winning consistently and of keeping losing days to affordable limits. Blackjack in its standard version, places a number of restrictions on dealers. These must have been originally designed to attract a following for the game when it was first introduced. A dealer has to stand on reaching 17, which can work to your single advantage. This is an important example of how Blackjack works in your favor!

Try and play Blackjack on a regular basis, and specialize in the standard format or in any one variation of the game. This will put your memory and powers of observation to best use. Memorize as many combinations of hands as you can and stay focused throughout a session. There is no harm in taking a break and trying afresh at another table if you feel disturbed by busts or lost hands. Never forget that a steady and determined approach works best for Blackjack!

Can Blackjack Experts Succeed at Poker?

Both games use cards and are popular in casinos and as forms of online gambling. Yet Blackjack and Poker are so different from each other that it is difficult to imagine that a person can be good at both games. Those who speak of gambling in general terms tend to club Blackjack and Poker together, but professionals and enthusiasts know of the many differences between the two games and their basic natures. The skills that matter most in either of these two games are not very useful in the other. It is unusual enough to meet someone, other than an expert or a professional, who can claim to win consistently at Poker, though clear thinkers and the mathematically inclined often enjoy admirable Blackjack sessions. However, it is entirely rare to find a single person who is adept at both of these two very different games.

Blackjack pits you against one dealer, whereas Poker has other players as well. The order of betting rotates in Poker even if there is a dealer for the cards, as in a casino. Hence the odds cannot be calculated in isolation by any one person. You can be sucked in to a situation that is not of your choosing, and have to lose money if you wish to withdraw from the contest. Blackjack keeps you in better control in this respect, and you can take relatively independent decisions throughout the course of the game. Poker leaves you vulnerable to the foibles of others at the table, and your plans can be upset because one or more of your does not care as much as you do about the outcome of a round. Your cash budget for a Poker session can also be upset by the betting habits of others, leaving you stranded early in your outing or forcing you to risk higher losses than you would like or can afford.

Statistics, numerical facility, logical thought, memory and concentration determine your success at Blackjack. These are qualities that anyone can develop. Your Blackjack record depends on hard work and an ability to remain focused on the basic strategy. Poker is not like this at all. Bluffing, deciding with imperfect information and various forms of irrational behavior are behind success at poker. People who are able to exert psychological pressure on other, adopt exaggerated postures and who have relatively unlimited cash resources to put at stake, can enjoy Poker even though they are less well versed with the game than others at the table. Relationships between competitors affect decision-making and those who win on a particular day may be entirely at a disadvantage in a new setting. Outcomes do not obey the laws of probability, and the cards with an eventual winner may not even be known! Others may withdraw from situations of relative strength simply because their nerves give way. Poker is a game of wits in which facial expressions and all other forms of non-verbal communication play decisive roles.

Since Poker enjoys more media support than Blackjack, and because the atmospherics of Poker are more dramatic, some accomplished Blackjack players may be tempted to try their hands at Poker. However, betting behavior is so different in the two games that successful Blackjack players would do better on rehearsing future situations they can encounter, rather than get distracted by the contradictions of Poker.

Stick to Basics for a Better Blackjack Experience

Play Blackjack with you head and not from your heart, if you want to avoid cash losses that you cannot afford. It is amazing but true that so many people abandon the logic and statistics that can make you come out of top of this game, and opt instead to make careless errors in the heat of the moment during a game. Perhaps the bright lights and glamour of casinos stop many of us from thinking when we are face to face with a Blackjack dealer!

It need not be so. You can have a fair proportion of sessions in which you have net winnings, and limit your losses to affordable ones during other outings. It is only a simple matter of sticking to a basic strategy of playing exactly as per the limits of your practice, and trying to memorize as many combinations of hands as you can. Here are two cardinal rules that are easy for you to follow provided that you make up your mind clearly before you enter a casino.

Do not worry about busts. They are not any worse than losing by standing. Statistics tell us that there are some hands you will lose during a session. Take that in your stride as a fact of Blackjack. The dealer can go bust just as you can, so do not take a stand when your training tells you to take a hit for a total that you have in hand, and the card the dealer shows. Trying to prolong a round by waiting for a dealer to bust will upset the series of occurrences which are likely to occur in any case.

Do not change the size of your bet per round based on whether you win or lose a particular round. Do not raise a bet on the amateurish notion of winning streaks. Similarly, do not lose your nerve and reduce your bet when you lose a round. Just keep betting a standard round that will allow you to play about 50 rounds, or to walk away if you have reached a target win before that.

There is no substitute to consistent winning in Blackjack other than to rehearse the total you have in hand versus the card a dealer shows. Practice will improve your memory and will save you from terrible losses. There may be sessions at the end of which you have marginal losses. Take a break and start over at a fresh table. Avoid the temptations of the casino atmosphere, and do not get distracted from your basic strategies.

The results will give you pleasure even if the hard work and discipline of Blackjack preparation and strategy appear more like work than play! This game is for serious enthusiasts who play with specific targets in mind. Prefer the bar to a gaming room if relaxation is your only aim, and do not give Blackjack a bad name if you lose due to your emotions or if you are poor at math!

Serious Recreation with Blackjack

It always pays to be clear about what you want out of Blackjack. Some people play the game as a profession. They must put in many hours a day over years, to understand all the variations of Blackjack and to memorize strategies for all kinds of situations they may encounter at the tables. Folks on vacation, at the other end of the spectrum, or those who seek some diversion in the midst of long periods of inactivity, would like to take their chances with a few sessions of Blackjack, and wish that they will make unexpected windfalls. Everyone is aware at some level that casinos have the odds stacked in their favor, which means that Blackjack outings can lead to losses rather easily. This prompts questions on how anyone can enjoy the pleasures of Blackjack with controlled risks. Here are three top tips that can help amateur players enjoy Blackjack without dramatically unpleasant experiences:

• Stick with your money targets: since Blackjack is a game which combines skills with chance, you could win or you could lose. Everyone approaches a table with a mental figure of how much he or she can afford to lose. Debit cards and ATM upset such plans! Draw the sum of money you wish to put at stake, and enter a casino with absolutely no other form of money! Simply leave if you lose a sum equal to your pre-set limit. Your stake should allow you around 50 hands. So if the minimum bet is $5, you should carry $250 with you. Stay away from tables at which the minimum amount per hand is too high to give you a reasonable chance of winning through a minimum number of tries. No one can walk away from a loss that accumulates from just a few hands, especially if they include a win or two! Account for ties with the dealer as well!

• Learn to limit winning runs: statistics are integral to Blackjack. Make an effort to learn the basics of probability and strengthen your memory and ability to estimate the number of cards left in a deck. These steps will stand you in good stead when you play Blackjack. Leave the game if you are fortunate to win cash equal to the target you have set before starting. Never forget that your chances of continuing to win decrease every time you beat the dealer. Not knowing when to stop is a common pitfall for the amateur and occasional Blackjack enthusiast.

• Practice and prepare: you are more likely to lose during a casual session if you do not prepare well. Blackjack strategies change with the number of decks allowed as per the house rules. Mental practice helps you work out odds in your mind each time you compete with a dealer. You should study as many hands and blackjack game situations as you can, and rest adequately before you enter a casino. Remember that having fun at Blackjack can be hard work!

It follows that Blackjack is a pastime that requires a serious approach if you would like to have a good chance of winning. There is no harm in trying your luck with a pure leisure aim in mind, provided that you limit times at the tables to the amount that you are cheerfully willing to lose.

Playing Blackjack for a Living

There are so many websites and books on 21 or Blackjack, that it is easy for any card enthusiast to learn the basic rules and to start playing. Most people take to Blackjack in a casual manner, and do not mind losing modest sums of money for the sake of some light diversion. That is fine, but we should not overlook the professional aspects of Blackjack, whether at a Casino or in the form of Internet Blackjack.

Keep in mind, when you play blackjack that this is a serious system, with sound mathematics behind it. Dealers do not empty your wallets by chance alone! Blackjack follows sound principles, and you can devise careful strategies so that you win more often than you lose. It is actually possible to make a living from Blackjack just as Casino operators and Internet Blackjack website owners do. However, you cannot attain the status of a habitual winner, unless you practice and take Blackjack seriously, rather than treat it as a mere card game.

Many people who chance upon a game of Blackjack are amazed to see a veteran make a pile of cash in minutes. It really is as easy as it looks, provided you have burnt the midnight oil doing your homework. You may think that it is glamorous to walk in to a ritzy Las Vegas Casino and display your wealth. You may scorn at people who spend a few minutes everyday sharpening their Blackjack skills on an Internet screen. However, behind all the dollar earnings and time spent at the tables, lie a concerted effort, unvarying determination and an indomitable will to learn the game so as to win.

Losing is part of the game. Do not hope to win everyday at Blackjack. This does not mean that you should lose your shirt, but do not get discouraged and surrender because you let your concentration slip for awhile. Ask successful blackjack players for insider tips and you will discover that they have spent hours observing other players and dealers as well.

Blackjack rules are not the same everywhere. The game originated hundreds of years ago in France, and large numbers of variations have been developed over the ages. Most Casinos and Internet Blackjack websites use forms which improve their chances of winning. Remember, that you can only play with one dealer at a time, whereas a dealer is not limited to playing against you alone.

People who play Blackjack for a living choose Casinos and Internet Blackjack websites which use beneficial variations of the standard rules. By the same token, they also avoid playing at tables where they know that the rules are stacked against them. The best players have excellent vision, and can count of make an immediate estimate of the number of cards left to be dealt. Since numbers lie at the heart of winning in Blackjack, strategies must change when more than one deck is brought in to play.

Though one can write an entire series of books on how to win at Blackjack, the first step of determining to play to win rather than just for casual entertainment, is a first step towards crafting winning strategies that can keep you ahead, and win you many admiring glances as well!