Play BlackJack - THE Definitive Guide

Bonus Blackjack

2011-07-28T22:20:00.001-07:00

Blackjack, which can be traced back to the 17^th century, can be easily termed as one of the most loved card games played by professional gamblers in casinos as well as by novices who simply consider it a form of entertainment. With its roots in France, this game created a rage with its arrival in the United States, giving good competition to other casino games which solely revolved around the luck factor.

With ascending trends in the online casino industry, it is fair to bring to everyone’s notice that blackjack is a favorite here too. One essential reason apart from the fact that it is very skill based is that Blackjack offers players with more chances of winning the game as they can beat the house here. No wonder then, that most gambling centers all around the world have more Blackjack tables than any other table games.

If Blackjack is the most popular of card games, Bonus Blackjack is the most popular variant of blackjack games played across casinos. Inheriting its basic rules, Bonus Blackjack, as the name suggests includes a bonus on the basic blackjack games, giving players an optional chance to place bonus bets on the table’s jackpot.

Unlike traditional Blackjack games that can be played within the range of one to eight decks, Bonus Blackjack is played with only two decks of cards; giving players the advantage of easily getting favorable card combinations. This being an advantageous differentiating factor, Bonus Blackjack starts off with players placing bets that generally start at a minimum of $5 and can extend to a maximum of $25. Once bets are placed, all players are dealt two cards. While the dealer is dealt with the first card face-down and the second face-up, all other players are dealt two face-up cards in the clockwise direction starting from the dealer’s left.

Players then plan their next move of choosing among the options of Hit, Stand, Double and Split while analyzing the dealer’s face up card. In case of a Bust situation where the player’s face up cards total to 21, the player’s bets are instantly taken by the dealer. The Surrender option is not available in this variant. As the basic rules go, the player whose cards are closer than the dealer’s to a total of 21, wins. While a Blackjack which is combination of an Ace and a face card is the strongest hand, it automatically Stands and can be matched but not beaten.

In Bonus Blackjack, the dealer can look at his face-down card in cases where his up card is a ten, a picture card, or an Ace. While generally dealers take a stand on a soft 17, in Bonus Blackjack dealers must hit on a soft 17.

Though Aces can be split only once, a pair of ten rated cards can be split up to three times. While these basic rules remain unchanged, the highlight of bonus blackjack is the huge bonus payouts in comparison to its other variations. Completely dependent on the first two cards dealt, a combination of Jack and an Ace of spades pays out with a 50:1 bonus. Any other suited Jack and Ace pays 25:1, a combination of 2 suited cards totaling to 21 pays out 5:2 while other 21 hands are paid 3:2.

Strategic yet easy, Bonus blackjack is an intelligent and fun variation of this popular game. However, players should keep in mind that while other players are probably playing against them, the player would benefit if focused on playing against the dealer since it’s the dealer’s hand that has to be beaten in order to win the jackpot.

Live Dealer Blackjack

2011-01-19T19:40:00.000-08:00

Live Dealer Blackjack

Live Dealer Blackjack, also known as 21, is one of the most popular online casino games today. The game is also called 21 as the main aim of each player here is to obtain a card count of 21 without being overhauled. The uniqueness of Live Dealer Blackjack is that even if there are four players on the table, you are always required to play against the house. One of the primary reasons why gamers prefer to play Live Dealer Blackjack is that you can see the cards being dealt, something that was missing in the initial days of online gambling. Moreover, while playing Live Dealer Blackjack, a gamer is able to interact with the dealer as well as with other players at the table through a live chat window.

The Game

Live Dealer Blackjack uses the normal Blackjack game set of laws and is based on the Vegas Strip variation of the game. The game consists of six decks comprising of 52 cards each where every deck takes the appearance of a shoe and the complete shoe is jumbled up before a hand commences. In Live Dealer Blackjack, a gamer always plays against the house irrespective of the other players at the table. Each player is dealt two face-up cards that are merit their face value. While the King, Queen and Jack are valued at 10, the Ace can be used both as one or 11.

What you need to do in the game is to add up all the cards in your hand and your aim is to reach a total of 21. If you go over 21, you automatically go kaput. On the other hand, if you see that you cannot accumulate a value of 21, you need to beat the cards with the house. Here is one instance of playing Live Dealer Blackjack. Suppose a player has a face-up card of nine and a face down card of nine, you have a total worth of 18. Now, you are left with two options: either ask for another card making the total worth 21 or skip the option waiting for the dealer to cross 21 and go bust!

In both cases, a player is in a dilemma. If he seeks another card after attaining the value of 18, he may get one that may exceed the total over 21 and he is likely to go bust. On the other hand, if he doesn’t chances are, 50:50 that the dealer will cross 21 and go bust or end up below 18. In case, the dealer to accumulate cards worth 18, then he wins.

Betting

For a new player in the online casino circuit, it is advisable that he begins with low bets unless he is comfortable with the rules and regulations of Live Dealer Blackjack and goes in for higher wagers once he is adept with the game. The best way to learn and get accustomed to the Live Dealer Blackjack rules is by playing the game at home with friends. This will not only enable a player to gain enough practice, but also know the rules both backwards and forwards.

While playing Live Dealer Blackjack one can avail the opportunity of opting for an insurance bet whenever the dealer has an Ace. Normally, the insurance bet is equal to half the player’s initial bet and pays out the player in the rate of 2:1 However, there is a risk too. In case the dealer does not have a Blackjack, the player surrenders the insurance bet amount. However, here you have the prospect to split the cards into different hand in case you are dealt a pair of like cards. For instance, if one is dealt two 9's in the initial cards, he may split those and play two separate hands, each starting with a 9.

Strategies

Many people often ask if there is any winning strategy for Live Dealer Blackjack. While the basics of a casino game is to chose a strategy and stick to it unless it repeatedly results to disasters. Changing strategies too frequently is likely to perplex you as well as land you no where. Nevertheless, here I wish to point out that unlike many other casino games, Live Dealer Blackjack is as much as game of skill as it is of luck. However, there is no single strategy that will help everyone in Live Dealer Blackjack and hence you need to find the right one for you.

Card counting and memorizing are the two important things necessary to succeed in a game of Live Dealer Blackjack. Card counting is a very effective strategy in this game simply because not all can do it. Beginners as well as pros pretend to be that they are card counters, but to succeed in this strategy one needs to have a lot of practice so that none can find that you are actually counting cards. Memorization is another important Live Dealer Blackjack strategy and this means that a player is able to remember a wide range of card catalogs. In addition, a successful player needs to be comfortable playing with a number of decks of cards.

Blackjack psychology

2009-08-31T01:53:00.000-07:00

Winning at blackjack is not just about getting the right cards and luck. You have to play your cards right and make the right calls. It is easier said than done but to make the right call players have to be disciplined. Knowing strategies are no good or going to be useful if the player has not been disciplined enough to try them out and master them.

Blackjack is one of those games which will give back in the long run as much to the players as has been lost. For this to happen players will need to know when to employ the strategies they picked up. Use of the right strategy could see a game tilt in the player’s favour from where it had a house advantage. Sometimes because of the luck after that is also involved players end up winning fairly early into the game and this makes them think that they are doing everything right and nothing can do wrong. This is one of the biggest mistakes a player can make. A good player must always analyze the hand received and the cards that have been played. Counting cards is a good approach but with multi-deck cards this is not going to be easy either. Players will have to be focussed and alert to get it right.

One of the other significant things to remember about blackjack is that you could be getting the right cards and making the right judgements but winning might elude you. Sometimes the losing streak can be long. Players should have a good handle on their bankroll and keep track of their bets in the interest of playing a long game. Losing should not dishearten a player as this would cause the player to be less focussed on the forthcoming games which will impact the decisions. Without enough bankroll and a strong mind to handle the losses players will find blackjack to be very tough.

It is the tendency of most players to increase their bet after they have lost a hand. This is usually because they think they can win back what has been lost and more. Once the players start to win they reduce the bet since they do not want to lose the money earned. Both these approaches are wrong and one of the biggest fallacies that are there with most players. When you are on a losing streak take a break if you can, reduce your bet and take stock of the bankroll. When you are on a roll and winning at one hand after another take a calculated risk and raise bets accordingly.

There are a lot of players who fear getting busted and fail to make the correct or logical decision. They sometimes will not hit when doing so will win them the game. A good blackjack player should not have a laid back approach to the game, and not go easy on it. Playing aggressively but sensibly usually does the trick in blackjack.

A good way to develop your skills in Blackjack is to practice at some of the free online blackjack games.

Free blackjack games are one of the most popular options in online casinos and they rope in amateur blackjack players in large numbers. These games are highly publicized and allow the players to learn as they go at no cost to themselves. It is a combination of chance and the ability to make quick sound decisions. This game unlike the others gives the players the opportunity to reduce the odds to their favor. This can be done by keenly monitoring the number of cards that have been put to use. It is an element of the game that if you master you might increase you leverage at the game when playing for real.

PokerListings.com launches search engine that provides instant real time poker action

2009-02-21T01:25:00.000-08:00

PokerListings.com is one of the popular poker sites in existence today up and it aims at making the lives of poker players all over the globe far easier with its latest innovation called the Real-Time TableFinder. This newest arrival in poker technology was launched by PokerListings.com and can provide information about the most suitable instant real time action available to you.

The Real-Time TableFinder is an extremely useful innovation which helps online poker players to know what sort of game they happen to be joining and also what the minimum limits and bets at the games really are before they begin the game.

One of PokerListings.com’ longtime gamers, Matt Sorenson who had tried out the software was very enthusiastic and excited about it. Sorenson had this to say about the new Real-Time TableFinder, “I couldn't possibly get this kind of information -- as fast and with as much detail - on my own. There's just no way.”

He went on to describe his new plan of action for getting some real time games which included the Real-Time TableFinder.

"I hit the Real-Time TableFinder first” he said, ” find the table at any room with the most favorable set-up for me and start playing -- and making money -- right away. And it's always a game I want to play, rather than a table I just settled for because I didn't want to wait or search around, he added.

According to Sorenson, the Real-Time TableFinder is “ one of the best tools I've ever used for online poker.” He was very happy with its performance and said, “ I know exactly what kind of game I'm stepping into and how to take advantage of it. And my bankroll will back that up."

So how does the search engine work? It is managed on a simple and easy to use type of format that provides quick and insightful information that will help a player to decide where to play within a matter of seconds.

The Real-Time TableFinder search engine has 5 different categories of drop down menus for various necessary details. The categories include Poker rooms, game types, limits, minimum stakes and maximum stakes options. Players merely make a quick selection of their preferences from the drop down boxes and then the rest is easy. With a simple click of the button the engine will provide you with all the necessary information tat you need directly from the tables of online poker's best rooms and largest networks all in a matter of seconds.

Camilla Sundell who is the Press Secretary of PokerListings.com commented on the launch of the new search engine. She believes that it to be the answer to poker players’ problems all over the world.

"Our Real-Time TableFinder is exactly what online poker players have been asking for - an easy way to find their ideal game without hours of searching” , she said.
“It simply has the most advanced and precise search functions available to online poker players today. And it gives our users a cutting-edge advantage in finding the most profitable tables," she remarked.

The Real-Time TableFinder is a very efficient search engine that makes finding good real time gaming action. Poker players just have to merely make their desired selections from the options provided by the search engine, selecting their type of ideal game preferences and so on in the easy-to-use and fast working Real-Time TableFinder. The best feature of the search engine is that it is customizable according to player’s specifications. The Real-Time TableFinder also has an advanced search option in order to give a more precise and accurate search for real time poker games.

Super Fun 21 Blackjack

2008-11-11T19:32:00.000-08:00

Looking for an interesting blackjack variation? Today, with blackjack itself being such a widely played game, and with the ease of play online, there are hundreds of fascinating variations of blackjack for the aficionado. One of these variations that you could consider is called Super Fun 21 Blackjack. Super Fun 21 Blackjack is becoming increasingly popular and you’ll find that many casinos in Las Vegas are offering this game. You will find it online at several sites, too.

In a similar fashion to games like Triple 7s and Matchplay 21, the online Super 21 Blackjack game gives players bonuses on certain winning combinations - Super Fun 21 Blackjack super-sizes the fun! While Super 21 Blackjack is played with a single pack of cards, Super Fun 21 Blackjack is played with an amazing two, six or eight packs. So a player’s chances of making the necessary winning combinations, and winning large sums at the game, are considerably increased.

Based on the traditional blackjack game, Super 21 Fun Blackjack has similar rules. The differences in rules, however, are marked enough for Nevada not to consider it as a blackjack.

What are the differences between regular blackjack and Super 21 Fun Blackjack? First of course, is the difference in the number of cards used in the game. Secondly, the dealer in Super 21 Fun Blackjack usually plays a soft 17. A player is allowed to split his or her pairs (even Ace pairs) up to four times.

There is an option to surrender even after splitting, doubling down or hitting. A natural blackjack with a player will always win, even if the dealer has a blackjack. Unless the player has doubled, a player’s hand that adds up to twenty or less with six or hands is a winning combination. A player whose cards (five or more) add up to twenty one before doubling returns two to one. The other points particular to blackjack are that players may hit and double down to split aces.

The most significant difference in Super 21 Fun Blackjack is that although natural blackjacks give back three to two in other games, here natural blackjacks give players even money, except for a diamond blackjack, which pays two to one. So, while the house edge for regular single pack blackjack is 1.16%, in Super 21 Fun Blackjack, the house edge could be 1.3 or more. This adds up to almost as much as the hardcore blackjack games where players are paid $5 to $6 for natural blackjacks.

If you’re keen on playing this game, and think you might get quite serious about it, it’s worth studying some strategies that will help you win at Super 21 Fun Blackjack. For instance, you could use a double down surrender strategy. This means that you should surrender after doubling down, when you have 10 to 16 and the dealer has 8 to Ace, or when you have 17 and the dealer has an Ace.

Super 21 Fun Blackjack bonuses are also interesting. There are bonus payouts for bonus hand combinations – you have to beat the dealer either by getting a higher value hand less than twenty one, or when the dealer goes bust.

Now, many serious blackjack players will not enjoy Super 21 Fun Blackjack, but it is interesting, and certainly fun! One nice thing about the game is that the payouts here are larger than most other blackjack variations. And it can be profitable, too. It is easily possible to win large amounts of cash here at Super 21 Fun Blackjack, but it also true that your chances of getting a really good hand are quite low.

21: A Blackjack Movie

2008-09-14T02:00:00.000-07:00

Loosely based on Ben Mezrich’s book, “Bringing Down the House: The Inside Story of Six M.I.T. Students Who Took Vegas for Millions”, the movie 21 takes viewers on a rather improbable (although the story is a true one, in its basic particulars) journey to Las Vegas. With a combination of skill with numbers, an understanding of the odds and outright cheating, half a dozen students and their math professor seek to ‘bring down the house’ and make themselves a few millions in the process.

Not surprisingly, blackjack is the central theme of this movie. Every gambler dreams of a system that will break the bank and make his fortune for him, but these M.I.T. whizzes have cracked just such a system. The reason offered for these students cheating casinos out of millions of dollars is that the protagonist, Ben Campbell (played by Jim Sturgess), just has to go to Harvard Medical School and can’t afford the tuition. He is approached with an offer to join a group of students led by math professor Micky Rosa (Kevin Spacey). Rosa is a brilliant statistician and has devised a system for breaking the bank at a casino. Based on counting the cards involved in the game, the system also relies heavily on cheating – the team of student gamblers has a complicated set of signals which help them win enormous amounts of money on their weekend jaunts to Las Vegas. At first, Campbell is reluctant to get in on the action, but his scruples are brushed aside by his desire to go to Harvard and the seductive wiles of Jill Taylor, played by Kate Bosworth. Only Cole Williams stands between these students and millions of dollars.

Unless you’re very interested in blackjack, there isn’t much that this movie offers. Aficionados of the game, though might find 21 interesting. Some of the ways in which the gang wins include using people like the Back-Spotter, who keeps track of the cards even though he is not in the game, and signals the members of his gang to move in and start betting when the house is at a disadvantage, statistically speaking. The Spotter is part of the game and counts the cards, betting low to avoid attracting attention, and calling his teammates in only when the deck is very favorable. The Gorilla bets big, and is led by his spotters to tables where he is likely to win. And then there’s the Big Player, who ‘spots’ successfully but also has as much of a bankroll as a Gorilla, so he wins slowly and steadily.

There is some action and a fair amount of humor, but the film leaves some issues unresolved and fails to follow through on some interesting angles. As far as acting goes, this movie is nothing to write home about. Fishburne is adequate as casino security man Cole Williams, blustery and aggressive, and Bosworth shows flashes of skill, but no one else rises above the mediocre in this frankly, rather avoidable film.

The script of 21 has been written by Peter Steinfeld and Allan Loeb and the movie is directed by Robert Luketic. The cast of the film consists of Laurence Fishburne as Cole Williams, Aaron Yoo as Choi, Kevin Spacey as Micky Rosa, Jim Sturgess who plays Ben Campbell, Kate Bosworth as Jill Taylor, Liza Lapira as Kianna and Jacob Pitts as Fisher. And the rest of the team includes the producers Dana Brunetti, Kevin Spacey and Michael De Luca; Russell Carpenter, the director of photography, production designer Missy Stewart, editor Elliot Graham, and David Sardy, who has composed the music. A Columbia Pictures release, this movie runs for just over 2 hours.

Best Blackjack Sites of Today

2008-08-30T21:45:00.000-07:00

Blackjack is a game that has been around for a very long time and therefore has had much time to garner for itself a long standing reputation as a game and secure generation after generation of gaming fans. Like the game of poker it has gone online and undergone a revolution where blackjack halls and portals are now available on the internet. These sites are accessible throughout the day, every day of the year to everyone on the globe with internet. There are several of these sites on the web today and we have listed out some of the best for you.

Before we go ahead with listing out the best blackjack sites let us talk about the important criteria for any site to be called the best blackjack site.

The foremost concern for any online player would be about the pay-outs, hence sites known to make prompt pay-outs cross the first hurdle. Casinos and players alike will be concerned about the financial viability of one another, sites which have this aspect covered move closer to be called the best. Sites necessarily must have 24/7, 365 days customer support which answers and takes care of every query satisfactorily and quickly. Players like sites which give out the necessary information on the number of decks, house edge and so on. Sites which have of these covered will definitely be called the best blackjack sites. Let us now list out a few.

888 is one of the founding members of eCORGA which itself says a lot about this site. This site has a version of blackjack which they have titled “Crazy Blackjack”. This site offers players a deposit bonus of up to $200.

Club Dice Casino is owned and managed by one of the oldest and respected management companies involved in the online gaming industry today. This site offers single and multi-hand blackjack. There are also private groups available. Players will find Blackjack Switch, Blackjack Surrender and Progressive Blackjack on this site. Players are offered up to $500 as deposit bonus.

Prime Casino offers players a welcome bonus of 100 pounds. This site also has one of the best software and payouts. Players will find exciting variants of blackjack with higher winning odds on this site.

Casino King has been in business since 1997. This site offers the biggest bonuses that are available to any player online. A welcome bonus of up to $300 is on offer. It also has a VIP club for the very serious players who like to play big and win big. The payment options on this site are many and players can choose one that suits them.

Casino Las Vegas offers a welcome bonus of up to $400. This site is owned by iGlobalMedia Entertainment Limited and managed by one of the oldest, respected management companies there is today in the online industry, Global Gaming Net.

Casino Tropez offers blackjack with some of the best graphics and sound. The download size is only 3 MB making it one of the fastest and easiest to download.
This site offers up to $3050 as maximum bonus.

Platinum Play online casino offers players a variety of blackjack games with different payout and bonuses. This online casino was founded in 2004 and has gone on to become one of the most trusted and sophisticated ones.

Rushmore casino offer up to $888 as free welcome bonus and blackjack players are offered a 200% double down bonus as well. This site also has one of the best multimedia blackjack actions.

So go ahead and play blackjack on any of these sites. You will not be able to decide which one of them is best but there are not many which will beat these.

Inside Tips on how to win at Blackjack

2008-08-05T02:01:00.000-07:00

We all know that the game of Blackjack is in favour of the dealer. But there are a few tips that may help you outwit the probability involved in this game. Unlike other games in the casino people do win money more often at Blackjack. One just has to learn a few strategies to keep you ahead in the game and prevent you from continually going bust.

You should never split your 10s. As a Blackjack player this has never been a wise thing to do. The cards to split are your Aces and your 8s. This move usually pays out to you regardless of what your dealer is showing.

Do not take insurance. Personally I don’t believe in taking insurance. As a Blackjack player this is my own personal golden rule. I happen to know it is the golden rule of many other players the world over and beginners should always keep it in mind. Taking insurance is something you should only do if you are counting cards.

With a hard hand between 13 and 16 one should stand if the dealer’s upturned card is 6 or less than 6. If the dealer’s card is 7 or more my advice is to go for the hit.

If it so happens that the dealer is showing 4, 5 or 6, you can stand with a hard 12. On the other hand if the dealer is showing 2, 3 or any card 7 or higher, you should hit with a hard 12.

It is advisable to continue to hit till you have at least 17 if the dealer’s turned up card is a 10. If you have a soft 17 then you should definitely hit if the dealer’s card is a 10.

Some Blackjack tables have rules that may work in your favor and you are advised to seek them out. For example the dealer having to stand on a soft 17 works in your favor. As does the option of being able to double down on any two cards.

You must remember that it is very difficult to win with less than 17 unless the dealer goes bust. If the dealer shows any picture card, 10, 9 or 8, it is unlikely that he/she will go bust. In this case my advice is to take a hit if your hand is below 17. If the dealer shows a 4, 5 or a 6 the chances are higher than 40% for the dealer to go bust. In this case one should stand with any hand above 11. I have made much of my money by doubling down in Blackjack. This means doubling your bet and only being able to draw one additional card from the dealer.

Doubling down is an advantage to you as a player. Different tables have different rules for doubling down. But remembering a few things may help you use it to your advantage. For example it is advisable to double down with 10 against a 9 or lower if you have a hand of 11. If the rules at your Blackjack table allow it you should double with 9 or on soft hands from 13 to 17 when your dealer shows 4, 5 or 6.

Splitting your cards is another way of doubling your chances of winning. When you split two cards of the same value that have been dealt to you, then you are playing two hands instead of one. But one should never split 10s or 5s. I recommend splitting 8s or 7s against a dealer with cards of equal or lower value. Splitting 2s and 3s against 4, 5 and 6 will work in your favour. Aces should always be split - though you should never split picture cards, 10s or 5s.

Good luck is something I can’t give you a tip on. You either have it or you don’t. So take a deep breath hope it is riding on your side and hit the Blackjack tables.

Blackjack Etiquette

2008-07-09T07:15:00.000-07:00

There are a set of un-written rules that constitute the Blackjack etiquette. These have to do with the way in which one carries oneself at the Blackjack tables. Listed below are some appropriate behaviors at the Blackjack tables.

- In case you want to observe the game as a spectator, you should remember to watch the game from a distance and not disturb the other players.
- If you are unsure about the rules, play at a table that is for the beginners and learn the rules and then gravitate towards a table that is for established players.
- Make sure that you tip the dealer once in a while. And when you are tipping the dealer, leave the tip at the edge of the table close to the dealer so that the dealer can pick up the tip when you leave. Do not make it obvious to everyone that you are tipping the dealer. Also, make and additional bet and leave it near the dealer so as to be discreet.
- In case you want to join a table where a game is already on, do not disturb the game in between but, instead let the other players know that you would like to join the game with their permission.
- Make it a point to avoid drinking at the table. If you cannot resist having a peg or two, ensure that you do not spill the drinks at the table. Also, avoid getting drunk and keep the drink in your throat instead of in your head.
- Remember that it is ok to bet before the deal is done. Do not bet after the deal is done. This is frowned upon in all casinos.
- Do not touch your cards in a Blackjack face-up game. It is not allowed to touch the cards in this version of the game. In the Blackjack face-down game, it is allowed to touch the cards with one hand and not with both hands.
- Do not try to disturb other people’s concentration and instead focus on your game. If you would like to play the psychological game, keep it less obvious and low-key. It is forbidden to explicitly make noises and otherwise disturb the players’ concentration.
- Many of the casinos have tables spread out for the players to take a walk or a break from time to time. Thus, ensure that your breaks are spaced out in every sense of the word.
- If you spot an error from the dealer’s side, make sure that you do not make it obvious to the other players or to the dealer but let the dealer know in an un-obtrusive manner. Remember that to err is human and the dealer can be prone to make mistakes.
- Use your hand signals wisely and judiciously. This is the means to communicate with the dealer and thus you should be prepared to make the signals with clarity.
- Do not hold up the game for any reason. If you want to take a break, do so after the game is over and tell the dealer that you do not want the cards to be dealt and thus take a break.

Remember that good etiquette though may not make you win is nonetheless an important part of the game. It is for your sake and everybody’s sake that you should follow the same and ensure that the game goes on smoothly and without incident. Though you may not find these rules written down anywhere, it requires some kind of style and substance for you to carry off the game.

High-tech Poker Scam Caught Red-Handed

2008-06-09T22:19:00.000-07:00

New Jersey police have taken down a hi-tech scam at the Borgata hotel. The hustlers were apprehended on June 7 in Atlantic City, New Jersey, in a private room playing in a high stakes game, cheating with high tech equipment that included miniature video cameras, undetectable radio receivers and laptops.

One of the four conspirators would whisper what the players were holding to his accomplice at the table wearing a tiny earpiece, while another ran the odds on each deal of the cards on a laptop behind the scenes. Additionally, some of the cards were marked to identify them from the rest of the pack.

"It was a high-tech cheating scheme. They were basically using spy equipment," said Peter Aseltine, spokesman for the New Jersey attorney general's office.

Steve Forte, 51, of Las Vegas, one of those charged, is a consultant offering products and services through his company, International Gaming Specialists, including a four-part video series which is "designed to help protect all those that play in private games from card and dice cheaters." He was charged with using a computer and cheating devices to commit theft, attempted theft by deception and conspiracy. His clients include a number of the major Las Vegas Strip casinos, gaming halls from Aruba to Macau, several law enforcement agencies and TV shows. He is also the author of "Casino Games Protection” and "Poker Protection - Cheating and the World of Poker," which was published this year. He also acted as a gaming adviser for “Dateline NBC,” the Discovery Channel and several movies, including “Rounders,” a movie for poker aficionados.

George Joseph of Worldwide Casino Consulting, author of "Why Shouldn't A Woman Wear Red in a Casino?" believes the public should not rush judgment on this issue. He said, "I've been doing this 33 years and over the years, you could have caught me at places I shouldn't have been if I heard about a new cheating method. If the cops broke down the door, it would have looked bad, but I wasn't there to steal anything."

The other three charged with conspiracy and use of cheating devices in a theft were Stephen Phillips, 52, of Las Vegas; James Calvin Harrison, 41, of Duluth, Minn., and high-stakes poker player Joseph Ingargiola, 50, of Playa del Rey, Calif. They were all released on bail.

"They utilized the spying equipment to target high-stakes private poker games," said Aseltine. "They also used computer programs so they could enter information on the hands and determine what course of action to take so as to increase their odds of winning."

The high stakes victims, who were in town for the $1.7 million tournament being held at the Borgata, were lured to the luxurious hotel room under the guise of a private game. Both the hotel and police officials have announced that only private games had been targeted and that the Borgata’s tournament had not been compromised in any way.

Dave Coskey, Borgata's vice president of marketing, said, "To the best of my knowledge, they weren't targeting our tournament. It was off the gaming floor. It wasn't affecting our gaming at all."

He also said that there were no hole-card cameras and no television coverage of the event, so the tournament could not have been compromised.

“There was no concern of a hole camera being tapped,” said Coskey. “There couldn’t be, because we didn’t have a camera. There was no television.”

It is an unfortunate turn of events for the Borgata Hotel and Casino, which was in the news two years ago when one of their Mini-Baccarat dealers developed a false shuffle cheating scam with five accomplices, which cost the casino $61,000.

With the concern about cheating looming large, Jeffrey Pollack, WSOP Commissioner, is quick to point out that cheating would be very difficult at the high stakes tournament.

"I can't reveal our specific security measures, otherwise they wouldn't be very secure. But needless to say, Harrah's has the ultimate commitment to both responsible gaming and security, and we have a state of the art surveillance system in place at all times here," he said.

Aseltine declined to comment on how the scam was discovered while it was in action since the investigation is still ongoing. Further details are expected to be released over the coming months. No mention has been made of how many players have been scammed or how much money was stolen. The gaming community will be looking on with great interest to hear Steve Forte’s explanation for his participation in the scam. It is alleged that he has told friends in Las Vegas that he was solely an observer and not an active participant in the scam. The online poker community has reacted with a mixture of shock, confusion and disgust. At the present time, Forte is maintaining his poker face and cannot be reached for comment.

Casino Properties Sold Off in Las Vegas

2007-09-19T16:36:00.000-07:00

Some of the hottest and famous casino properties in Las Vegas have now been sold by Carl Icahn. Billionaire investor Carl Icahn had finally decided to sell three southern Nevada casinos along with the Stratosphere. These casino properties are being bought by an affiliate of the Goldman Sachs investment firm. The total estimate for all properties comes to a whopping $1.3 billion.

The American Real Estate Properties Corp., which is a unit of Icahn's American Real Estate Partners LP, struck up this deal with Whitehall Street Real Estate Funds. The deal also includes 17 acres of undeveloped land at the Stratosphere.

The sale was announced on Monday confirming that the tallest structure on the Las Vegas Strip was indeed being sold. Along with it, are two off-Strip Arizona Charlie's casinos and the Aquarius Casino Resort in the Colorado River resort town of Laughlin.

Resembling the Space Needle in Seattle, the Stratosphere includes a 2,444-room hotel and a separate 1,149-foot tower. The Aquarius, formerly known as the Flamingo Laughlin, has about 1,900 rooms and is one of the largest hotels in Laughlin. The Aquarius is about 100 miles south of Las Vegas. Together, the sold properties were known as American Casino & Entertainment Properties LLC .

Icahn, chairman and general partner of American Real Estate Partners, said in a statement that "We believe that this sale represents an opportunity for American Real Estate Partners to take advantage of the current favorable market environment for gaming assets and to realize significant gains on our multiyear investment in the industry”

The deal is still subject to approval by Nevada gambling regulators and is expected to be completed in about eight months!

Sticking To Basic Strategy In Blackjack Guarantees Success

2007-08-14T16:13:00.000-07:00

There is no hard and fast rule to success. Some strategies work and some fail. And, the failed strategy forms the basis for a better strategy that has a greater potential for success. However, in Blackjack, some strategies seldom fail. You can rely on these strategies to keep winning consistently, day in and day out.

While playing Blackjack, depending on luck can prove disastrous. Blackjack demands sound strategy and you need to stick to your basics. Hunches and instincts can help you at times and can be quite rewarding, however they don’t promise long term success. If you are serious about the game, you need to follow a basic strategy that has been developed through computer simulations and constantly refined to suit evolving game plays.

Unlike other mentally formulated strategies, basic blackjack strategy is based solely upon unquestionable figures of mathematics, and hence, it is constant. The formula is derived from probabilities. It will help players to minimize the house edge, sometimes even to less than half a percent, if followed meticulously. However, it cannot be denied that there has to be subtle variations in the strategy due to variations of rules at different casinos. For example, in some casinos you can double-down after splitting, while at others it is not possible.

The basic blackjack strategy involves remembering all the unique situations arising once you have been dealt two cards and have seen the dealer's up-card. Standard charts that are available in many casino websites display correct decision-making approaches for different scenarios.

Basic blackjack strategy is like a thumb rule. When you follow the rules defined in the strategy, you can invariably maximize your winning chances. Since it follows a logical and mathematical approach, the possibility of the strategy failing is almost zero. This is one of the reasons why blackjack is one of the most popular casino games. Unlike roulette and slots, where you depend on chance, blackjack relies on sound logic and mathematical reasoning to ensure a victory.

The first and foremost lesson you learn in a basic blackjack strategy is differentiating between hard hands, soft hands, and pairs. When you have an Ace, you hold a soft hand. The Ace counts as either 1 or 11 and hence, you can have two different totals. A hard hand doesn’t have an Ace. A pair, as the name suggest, is two of the same number.

When you have a soft hand, and if it is A-2 or A-3, double down in case the dealer has 5 or 6, otherwise hit. A few other situations are A-4 or A-5, where you have to follow the same strategy if the dealer has 4 to 6; A-6, where you should double down if the dealer has 3 through 6; A-7, where you double down if the dealer has 3 through 6, and stand on 2, 7 or 8; and finally, A-8 or A-9, where you have to always stand.

In case of hard hands, hit always when you have 8 or less. When you have a 9, you must double down if the dealer has 3 through 6, otherwise hit. When your hand is 10, double down if the dealer has 2 through 9 otherwise hit. When you have 11 and if the dealer has 2 through10 – double down and hit otherwise. When you have 13 to 16, stand in case the dealer has 2 through 6, otherwise hit. And always stand when you have 17 to 21.

In case of splitting pairs, when you have 8s or Aces, always split. If it is 2-2 or 3-3, split if the dealer has 2 through 7, otherwise hit. If your hand is 4-4, split if the dealer has 4 or 5. Hit otherwise. If it is 5-5, double down if the dealer has 2 through 9, otherwise hit. For 6s or 7s split if the dealer has 2 through 6 or 2 through 7 respectively. Otherwise, you must hit. If it is 9-9, split if the dealer has 2 to 6, 8 or 9. For others, stand. Always stand when you have 10-10.

From what you have learnt above, you must be able to take huge strides in the game, provided you follow the basic strategy to a T. Another great game I like to play is UK Online Bingo it's fun as well as profitable.

Winning traits for Blackjack

2007-07-01T05:18:00.000-07:00

What separates winners from the rest in Blackjack? Winners develop traits that help them stay ahead of the pack. These are not strategies that are impossible to develop. Winners stick to the basics and improvise on the learning that they acquire from every game. Blackjack winners always seem to know what to do when. This might appear uncanny to us. The fact is – they know how the game has to be played. It is not just the elementary knowledge that you have gained about Blackjack that will help you to go the distance. It is all about knowing the game inside out. That is what great players do. They start with the fundamentals of playing hands, whether hard or soft. They know when to split pairs and when to double down against the dealer. Learning doesn’t stop here. In fact, this is the platform where you can develop advanced strategies like simple card counts, dealer tells, and shuffle tracking.

Great players know that the key to winning is not dreams but the ability to get to terms with reality. Of course, hunches do play their role. However, relying on a hunch entirely will never help you win a Blackjack game. Winners do not believe in luck. They believe in situational analysis and adapting their game plan to suit the situation. This is where you start developing winning traits.

Expertise at any game, Blackjack included, is hard. To be consistent, you need to be able to repeat all the correct strategic moves and plays. This starts with dedication and discipline. When you do not exhibit professionalism in recording your moves and results, there is no way you can achieve consistency. It is always true that ‘you cannot manage what you haven’t measured.’

Stubbornness is a characteristic trait of winners of Blackjack. At times, you may find that your correct moves may draw disapproving looks from others. Battling peer pressure is critical to success. You must have the tenacity to stand up to any kind of heat from players or casino management.

There is no substitute for experience. The more you play, the better you get. When you keep playing, you develop winning strategies and mature as a player. The chances of winning increase as you get more experienced. It is undeniable that experienced players make fewer mistakes. With experience comes the ability to analyze new situations and strategies and thereby, build a game plan to win.

Expertise in Blackjack is not easy. You need to constantly improve your game and develop the traits that great players have, to be able to win consistently and earn handsomely.

Blackjack 21

2007-05-03T10:14:00.000-07:00

The Internet is swarming with casinos offering a variety of games from old to new, thus we sometimes must ask, why should we play blackjack? Why is blackjack any different from any other poker games?

The obvious answer is that blackjack is a constant poker game. In other words, casinos offer games that supposedly bring in revenue for the casinos online. As a guarantee casinos often present games that pose chance. Most often, the mathematicians dub this form of strategy “Independent Trial Process.” The process is, defined to bet odds that “remain” steady. This is true regardless of how the dice are rolled, or how the wheels spin.

Roulette odds regardless of the wins remain constant at 37/1. If you win at the poker machines, thus landing on a particular number, the following spin still keeps the odds at 37/1. Because the ball in the game Roulette does not have memory, and even if you win on the same number, more than three times the odds following would still be, 37/1. Thus, Roulette spins equal “Independent event” since it has no recognition of the numbers the wheel hits. As you can see, the odds are not truly in anyone’s favor but the casinos. The strategy gave the game inventors the edge over bettors. Overall gamblers pay the winning wagers at odds somewhat fewer than the ordinary constant. Thus, this occurs regardless of the figures bettors’ wager. Winnings of a 37/1 odd will receive 35/1 payout. The mathematical gain for casinos is that they win at least two chips per “$38 chips” bet. This gives them the advantage, estimate percentage of around 5.26.

The casinos overall do not have an edge on invented games. Gamblers often go in the casinos expecting to win big, but the truth is, most times the players will lose more than they win.

This brings us to see why blackjack is one of the choice games played online. At first, blackjack’s invention caused casino owners to struggle since they could not figure out how to get an edge that would work in the favor of the casino. The overall result of blackjack is that through many efforts, blackjack rules were setup through a, cause and effect strategy were the gamblers ability to play the game was included. The errors and trials in the strategy lead to revenue for casinos. However, computer programs came available that reduced the casinos odds and increased the odds of players.

Blackjack is a constant game from one take to the next hand. The odds alter based on the hand prior to the first hand. We can see from an example that 21, is next to impossible if you took four Aces on a single card deck game. Now, if you did not see while looking at the table during the game, an Ace showing on the table, accordingly the odds increase in your favor. Cards have memory also, contrary to Roulette, which increases the odds in the players favor. The odds in blackjack then are constant. Once more, gamblers make a decision once the bets are placed, thus gambler skills could augment the gamblers odds in his favor.

As you can see, blackjack, like no other game online works in the favor of the gambler. Therefore, if you are considering why you should play blackjack online, think win and you will see that blackjack is the choice poker game online. We encourage you to play blackjack at our casino online. Our software is safe and secure, as well as our online banking accounts. Open an account and play blackjack at one of the most respected casinos online!

The Objective and Description of Blackjack

2007-03-03T06:29:00.000-08:00

Blackjack online is one of the well-known games, enjoyed by many players. At the blackjack tables, gamblers are taking advantage of Bonuses reaching up to $150.00. You heard right. FREE CASH is flowing at the Lucky Casino online.

Blackjacks objective is to come as close to 21 without busting, whilst maintaining a higher-ranked hand than the dealer. Before the cards are dealt, each player must wager. Once you place your bets, two cards are dealt facing up on the table. The dealer gets two cards as well. If the dealer busts, thus going over 21 the player wins the match. Likewise, if the player reaches 21 or closest in hand-rank than the dealer, the Jackpot is yours for the taking, however you receive only the amount you wagered. If the dealer has a 21 hand and the player has 21, thus the game ties and continues to the next round. This is called the push round, since the objective continues to the first step.

The Lucky Casino makes it convenient for players to win at blackjack, since signing up at the casino incurs a Bonus, giving players extra cash to gamble online.

Microgaming Software

2006-09-14T11:06:00.000-07:00

Microgaming Software is the first online casino software developed by Microgaming - the world renowned leader in the development of interactive gaming systems. Microgaming was the first company to develop a fully functional online casino system. The company strived to provide more and more functionality and features to make the software more innovative in the gaming industry. Over the years, Microgaming Software became much popular due to its wide range of features, seamless performance, and realistic graphics. Today, Microgaming Software is widely used in online gaming by several oldest and biggest names in the industry.

Microgaming Software is renowned for its robustness and reliability. The software is designed so that it provides the players a feeling of playing a live poker game. The user friendliness and exceptional playability feature of the Microgaming Software makes it a well-liked one in the online gaming industry. The game action is obvious and is easy to follow, even for a novice player, with pleasing sound effects and movements. The gaming interface is also intuitive and easy to use.

Microgaming Software takes outstanding measures to ensure that the cards are dealt completely randomly. To ensure this, the software uses a random number generator along with a good shuffling algorithm. This helps to create an unpredictable shuffle. Besides this, the player’s down cards will only be known by him/her as the game is being played. For this the game server deals the cards to your computer alone, thus making it impossible for other players to correctly predict which cards you have in your hand.

Microgaming has played a major role in the development of online gaming standards. The company also helped in building the credibility of the industry based on a thorough commitment to transparency, accountability, and fairness. Microgaming is also one of the founding members of the Interactive Gaming Council - an organization committed to establishing an industry code of conduct.

Microgaming Software still continues to establish the standard in fair play, simple initiatives and the promotion of responsible online gaming.

Playing Hard Hands in Blackjack

2006-08-06T20:50:00.000-07:00

Unlike other popular card games, Blackjack is not a game of mere luck. Blackjack is a game dictated by strategy, card skills, speed of thought, and sound reasoning ability. If you are well aware of the basic blackjack strategy and how to play hard hands, soft hands, and pairs, you can easily reduce the house edge and win the game. In this article, let us discuss how to play hard hands in blackjack.

In Blackjack, hard hands are those hands which lack an Ace value card. You can increase your chances of winning by playing hard hands correctly. Here is how to play hard hands in blackjack.

Check the dealer’s up card.
Check your initial two cards.
Always stand, if your card value is 17 to 21.
Always hit, if you are having 8 or less.
Double, if your card value is 9 and the dealer’s up card is 3 to 6. Else hit.
Double, if your card value is 10 and the dealer’s face card is 2 to 9. Otherwise hit.
If your card value is 11 – double if the dealer’s up card is 2 to 10. Always hit if the dealer’s face card is an Ace.
Hit, if your card value is 12 and the dealer’s face card is 2 or 3. If the dealer’s face card is 4, 5 or 6, Stand. Else hit.
Stand if your card total is 13 to 16, and the dealer’s card is 2 to 6. Otherwise hit.

Almost all the decisions of the players are communicated to the dealer with the help of blackjack hand signals. Hence it is important that the player must be knowledgeable of all the blackjack hand signals used in the game. Remember, dealers only monitor players hand signals, not the conversation of the players.

Playing Pairs in Blackjack

2006-08-04T07:04:00.000-07:00

If a player has two same cards in his initial hand, then it is called ‘pairs’. If you know how to play pairs using the basic blackjack strategy, you can considerably reduce the house edge. In this article, we will discuss how to play pairs in blackjack.

To start playing pairs, first check what is the value of the dealer’s up card. Look at the pair you have in you hand.

Always stand, if you are having a pair of 10s.
Always split, if you are having a pair of 8s or Aces.
If you are having a pair of 2s or 3s, then split if the dealer’s face up card is 2 to 7, else hit.
Split if the dealer’s face up card 2 to 7, and you are having a pair of 7s. Otherwise hit.
If you are having a pair of 4s, then split if the dealer’s face up card is 4 or 5, else hit.
If you are having a pair of 5s, then double if the dealer’s face up card is 2 to 9, else hit.
If you are having a pair of 6s, then split if the dealer’s face up card is 2 to 6, else hit.
If you are having a pair of 9s, then split if the dealer’s face up card is 2 to 6, or 8 or 9. If the dealer’s face up card is Ace, 7 or 10, then stand.

These tips for playing pairs in blackjack are focused on 4 to 8 deck blackjack games, and where the casinos allow splitting and doubling. Before you play blackjack, make sure that the casino you selected allows splitting and doubling. To decrease the house advantage and increase your chances for winning blackjack, learn the various strategies for single deck and double deck blackjack games. Enjoy Blackjack!

Hard Hands and Soft Hands in Blackjack

2006-08-01T13:50:00.000-07:00

In Blackjack, a hard hand is a hand which has an Ace card which is valued as “1”. On the other hand, a soft hand is a hand which has an Ace card whose value is 11. Blackjack allows players to assign the value for Ace cards as 1 or 11. Therefore the value of Ace's card depend on the player, but this causes certain hands to have a dual value which is lesser the hand bust. That is, if a hand of A/2 can be valued as Soft 13 or Hard 3, it depends on how the Ace value card is calculated.

Let us look on some examples of hard hands and soft hands of blackjack:

If you are dealt with:

An Ace card and a 7 card can be valued as Hard 8 or Soft 18.
An Ace Card and a 9 card can be valued as Hard 10 or Soft 20.
An Ace Card and a 6 card can be valued as Hard 7 or Soft 17.

Learning to tell apart a hard hand from soft hand is a part of the basic blackjack strategy. Some basic blackjack strategy relies on blackjack players to determine which is a hard hand and which is a soft hard. However, when a player utilizes the basic doubling down strategy, he/she must be aware of the difference between hard hands and soft hands. Though, this is only a small part of the blackjack basic strategy, this is quite essential for a player to learn and play blackjack well.

Some Blackjack Pointers

2006-07-26T11:08:00.000-07:00

Are you interested in playing the world’s most popular card game – Blackjack? But still confused a bit as you are not fully aware of the rules and strategies followed in the game? No problem. Then this article is for you! Here are some blackjack pointers that will help you to learn blackjack easily and play the game without any hassle.

Before you start playing blackjack, make a decision on how much is your budget. Don’t risk more money then you can handle, even if you lose the game.

The house rules vary from one casino to the other. Make sure that you learn the house rules before start playing the game.

Learn the basic blackjack strategy on when to hit, stand, and double/split. If you find it hard to by heart the strategy table, try to learn the logic behind it. This helps you to apply the same logical thinking while you play blackjack.

Learning card counting techniques help to change the blackjack odds in favor of the player. Try to calculate the true count. This allows you to increase or decrease your bet size according to the progress of the game.

Try to take advantage of the insurance and surrendering options so as to reduce your net losses.

Take some risks while playing blackjack. This doesn’t mean to bet all your money even if you feel you are losing the game. Bet wisely and play blackjack like a professional. Doubling and splitting, if done wisely, can spin some pretty payoffs.

Unlike other gambling games, blackjack is not just a game of luck, but is a professional game which counts the players skill and professionalism. If played well, using blackjack strategies, one can easily beat the dealer and win!

Some Blackjack Pointers Which Could Come Handy

2006-07-22T02:35:00.000-07:00

Are you interested in playing the world’s most popular card game – Blackjack? But still confused a bit as you are not fully aware of the Blackjack rules and strategies followed in the game? No problem. Then this article is for you! Here are some blackjack pointers that will help you to learn blackjack easily and play the game without hassle.

Before you start playing blackjack, make a decision on how much is your budget. Don’t risk more money for playing blackjack. This helps you not to lose more money, even if you lose the game.

The house rules vary from one casino to the other. Make sure that you learn the house rules before start playing the game.

Learn the basic blackjack strategy on when to hit, stand, and double/split. If you find it hard to by heart the strategy table, try to learn the logic behind it. This helps you to apply the same logical thinking while you play blackjack.

Learning card counting techniques help to change the blackjack odds in favor of the player. Try to calculate the true count. This allows you to increase or decrease your bet size according to the progress of the game.

Try to take advantage of the insurance and surrendering options so as to reduce your net losses.

Take some risks while playing blackjack. This doesn’t mean to bet all your money even if you feel you are losing the game. Bet wisely and play blackjack like a professional. Doubling and splitting, if done wisely, can spin some pretty payoffs.

Unlike other gambling games, blackjack is not just a game of luck, but is a professional game which counts the players skill and professionalism. If played well, using blackjack strategies, one can easily beat the dealer and win Blackjack.

Tips to maximize your blackjack budget

2006-07-13T09:41:00.000-07:00

Do you want to maximize your blackjack budget and keep yourself away from going bankrupt? In this blackjack money guide we’ll give you some useful tips which help you to maximize your blackjack budget.

The first thing you need to consider is the casino, where you are going to play the game. Remember, house rules of one casino vary from the other, so selecting the right casino is a gamble in itself. It is a good idea to play blackjack in a casino where the rules are most favorable to the blackjack player. Some favorable things to consider include single deck or double deck games instead of 6 to 8 deck shoes, lower frequency of reshuffling, being permitted to re-split Aces, and the option to double on any opening hand.

Remember the number of players in a blackjack table differs from the other. It is always a better option to select a blackjack table with minimum number of players.

Before you start playing the game, make a decision on how much money you are going to play. Always stick with your first decision. A reasonable playing stake is 50 times the typical amount you plan to bet per hand.

Make sure that your bet is not more than ten percent of your total playing stake on any one hand.

Try to make use of the insurance and surrendering options if needed. This helps you to minimize the net loss.

Before playing blackjack, try to master any card counting technique as it will help you to maintain a positive advantage over the casinos. Though, it takes time to master the card counting techniques, the end result will pay off.

Try to follow these simple tips and play the game accordingly. This helps you to maximize your blackjack budget and keep yourself away from going bankrupt.

Virtual Blackjack

2006-07-08T08:34:00.000-07:00

Virtual blackjack is the computer simulation of the real time blackjack gaming scenario, generally seen in casinos and selected clubs, done using blackjack software. It is offered by online casinos and some casino websites.

The advantage with virtual blackjack is that one can play the game from the comforts of his or her home, in front of the computer, at his or her own convenience and timings. There is no hassle of going to a suitable casino and waiting for one’s turn to play the game. Another plus with virtual blackjack is the choices of blackjack games available; there are games available suited for both amateurs and professionals. The players can choose between free blackjack games – aimed mainly at beginners, who wish to hone their gaming and strategy forming skills – and fast track ones for professionals that involves money betting. Remember, the former is not available in any of the casinos in the world, for casinos only cater to professionals and serious players and only those games involving money.

Finally a word of caution; There are umpteen websites in the cyberspace offering virtual blackjack games, many of which are substandard or fraudulent. Hence it is the duty of the player to see that the one he or she chooses to play is indeed a genuine casino website. Keep in mind, online frauds are on a high these days.

Play Blackjack Online

2006-07-06T09:13:00.000-07:00

Online blackjack games are a virtual simulation of the real time gaming scenario, generally seen in Las Vegas and Atlantic City casinos and selected clubs. Here, instead of in a casino, the user plays the game by interacting with a website, the gaming atmosphere as well as the dealer and other players being simulated by the gaming software itself.

The plus of playing blackjack online is that one can enjoy the game from the comfort of his/her room or from virtually every corner of the world, the only infrastructure required is a reliable internet connection and a laptop or personal computer. Another advantage with online blackjack gaming websites is that one could find both free and highly competitive blackjack gaming solutions (paid) under the same URL. The former is best suited for beginners for honing their gaming and strategy forming skills. Remember, this is something you cannot expect to happen in the casinos, for casinos only cater to professionals and serious players.

On the web, one could find many websites offering online blackjack games. Hence it is important to discern chalk from cheese before starting the game. In other words, in the first place itself, one must make sure that the chosen website is indeed a genuine one, and the software it has is a proven and tested one, offering both good quality and high levels of competence. Remember, online frauds are on a high these days.

Blackjack Etiquette and Manners

2006-06-30T13:35:00.000-07:00

Blackjack, like any other games, has its own etiquette and rituals. This article talks in length about the etiquette and manners one need to know while playing Blackjack.

Learn blackjack hand signals before you start playing the game.
If you are using the blackjack basic strategy card for playing the game, don’t refer it each and every time for playing every hand. That said, you need to have a basic understanding on how to play most of your hands well before you start playing blackjack.
Don’t ask the dealer what his/her hole card is.
It is recommended not to disturb the dealer for advice on blackjack strategy.
If you lose the game, don’t accuse the dealer for cheating.
Don’t touch the cards if they are dealt face up. The players are only allowed to touch the cards if you’re playing in a face down game.
If you are new to blackjack and is not well aware of the blackjack rules, then it is advisable to play the game at a blackjack table with no other players. It is a good manner not to hold up the blackjack game due to the reason that you are not well aware of the rules.
It is a good blackjack etiquette to tip the dealer from time to time, especially if you are winning the game. One nice way to tip the dealer is by placing a wager of his/her behalf. For placing a bet in dealer’s behalf, just place an additional wager outside your betting circle, in the dealer’s direction.
Avoid drinking at the blackjack table. You are there to play the game not to have drinks. So avoid drinking or ordering drinks while playing.
Keep in mind that most people are there to play blackjack. So don’t talk excessively.
Especially don’t tell others how to play the game or try to correct their mistakes. Most online casinos recommend spectators to watch from a reasonable distance so that they are not disturbing the player’s ability to concentrate on the game.

Knowing the blackjack etiquette and manners will help you to play the game like a gentle man. After all, blackjack is a gentle man’s game.

BlackJack Link Partners

2006-06-27T18:59:00.000-07:00

I am highly interested in trading web links with other sites related to BlackJack. If you are reading this blog and run a blackjack related site, please contact me if you are interested in trading links. I can add your site to this blog as well as another blackjack site I run.

Trading links between sites will increase traffic for both our sites as well as increase our search egine rankings for blackjack related terms. For this to work at it's maximum capacity, both sites must be closely related to BlackJack. Please contact me at: INFO -----*AT*------- 7BJ.com if you are interested in a BlackJack link exchange and we will get it going right away.

Goood search engine rankings will be the biggest lead generation tool you can possible ask for, so investing in a strong link building strategy as well as taking time and building links seriously will pay off many times over in the end. Contact me today and let's get it together!

Please note: when responding to this request for blackjack link partners, please user the subject line: "YOUR BLOGGED LINK OFFER"

I get tons of spam email all day long (most of which just get's instantly deleted) but if I see this in the subject link of your email, I will handle it with priority.

Blackjack Robot - What's that?

2006-06-26T10:49:00.000-07:00

Blackjack Robot is a specially designed software program which automatically plays at online casinos. The player only needs to log in and select the game he or she wishes to play. Blackjack robots have unlimited patience and play optimized strategies for each blackjack game. There is no need for any data entry during the advancement of the game. Blackjack robots support real money and play money modes.

Blackjack robot features several options for blackjack players to set the duration of play, alter the bet amount, and stop conditions according to profit or loss. Blackjack robot displays the progress of each blackjack game session and updates the screen in real time. The software is so user friendly that there is no need for one to know the game in detail to use the program.

In most cases, Blackjack robot software features two editions – basic edition and advanced edition. Basic edition is meant to educate the people on the intricacies of the game. The basic edition allows the player to gets the option to play a move and the robot suggest the most appropriate action to be taken, according to the specific strategies of the played variation. On the other hand, the advanced edition is designed for money making purposes and one can use the software in a fully automatic mode. Blackjack robot performs the calculations using the right strategies.

For using blackjack robot one need to open and fund a real money account at the particular online casino. For those residing in a jurisdiction where the credit card company or bank rejects gambling transaction, they can use any other Virtual Visa accounts such as ePassporte or Entropay.

The price for blackjack robot software programs range from $100 to $500 or even more. Some software vendors might offer a special “welcome bonus” for players for opening a new account.
To start playing online blackjack with blackjack robot, what you need is to download the particular blackjack robot software, install it, and register for an account. You are now ready to play …enjoy blackjack!

6 to 5 Blackjack - Learn why this small rule change makes a big difference.

2006-06-19T01:14:00.000-07:00

It is seen that several casinos in the United States have come up with a small rule change in the original blackjack game. Known as 6 to 5 blackjack, the small rule change in this game dramatically increases the house's advantage. According to 6 to 5 blackjack rules, if the player wins blackjack, the casino pays 6:5, whereas the payout in the normal blackjack game is 3:2. But this does not mean you will get more money when you win blackjack. For example, if you bet $10 and win a blackjack, in the ordinary 3:2 payout, you will get $15, while in the new 6:5 blackjack you will get only $12. That is, by making a small change in the rule - reducing blackjack payouts from 3:2 to 6:5 - casinos are actually increasing their house advantage to 1.39%.

Majority of the casinos who introduced this new rule have been successfully marketing the game so far. This is due to the fact that most blackjack players’ think that the new rule will give them more profit if they win the game. Casinos also placed several catchy sign on the tables which read “Blackjack Pays 6:5”. Using these types of advertisements casinos have drawn lots of blackjack buffs to the new 6:5 version. But the real fact is that the new 6 to 5 blackjack game is much worse than the 8 deck blackjack game on the casino floor.

As most players were not aware of the trick behind the game there wasn’t a sudden backlash against 6 to 5 blackjack game. However, when the players realized that they are losing their money faster than a traditional blackjack game, the players stopped playing 6 to 5 blackjack.

What players can do to stop casinos using such rule variations to increase there profit is not to play any blackjack game which pays less than the usual 3:2 payouts. Advise your friends and family members if they are blackjack buffs and visits casinos frequently. If players stop supporting such games, casinos will certainly stop using such tricks to hijack blackjack players.

Blackjack Tournaments

2006-06-13T09:58:00.000-07:00

Whether played in traditional casino rooms or at online casinos, blackjack tournaments offer one of the greatest prizes in the gambling world. One of the main attractions of the blackjack tournaments is that the game is played between players (not against the dealer of the casino) participating in the tournament.

Generally, a blackjack tournament comprises of various rounds of play with tables of six or so competing against each other in each round. The typical format in a blackjack tournament is elimination, in which only one or two blackjack players will advance to the next round of play. Each round in the blackjack tournament comprises of a set number of hands. The tournament starts when all the players are dealt with an equal number of chips. When one round completes, the players with the highest bankroll will advance. Generally, rounds are between 20 and 50 hands each. All players are required to play each hand with a bet in the allowed range.

In blackjack tournaments, a button is placed on the table in front of a player, who serves as first base on this hand. This eliminates the dealer who always deals to the first chair. When the game continues, the button is moved consecutively around the table with each passing hand. This ensures that all the players’ are getting the opportunity to play as first base and third base in turn.

The excitement blackjack tournaments offers – laughing, shouting, and cheering - can be always seen around the blackjack table. Online blackjack tournaments are also thrilling and flashy, with several players participating from the comfort of their own homes. Blackjack tournaments, especially online blackjack tournaments, are quite easy to get involved in and the high stakes and prizes offered by such tournaments are also attractive.

Nowadays there are several websites which are dedicated in providing opportunities for blackjack buffs to join blackjack tournaments. However, before joining any such tournaments one should make sure that he/she is well aware of all the rules of such tournaments. Majority of the blackjack tournaments are played for points, prizes, or credits. Most websites which hosts such tournaments almost always have an entry fee. It is advisable that the player must carefully read and understand all the rules and regulations of the game. Make sure that there are no hidden charges. If you are playing for cash, check the terms and conditions of the website and make sure that the blackjack tournament is being played accordingly.

When compared with slot tournaments, blackjack tournaments are not so popular. However, the tournament is more interesting as it takes some amount of skill to play and even more so to participate in a blackjack tournament. Most of the players who participate in the blackjack tournament will be experienced in the blackjack game, which makes the game more exciting to play.

If you are planning to participate in a blackjack tournament first get some advice from the experts. As mentioned above, learn all about the game, go through the rules and regulations a couple of times. Blackjack tournaments can be both fun and lucrative. Why waiting, participate in a blackjack tournament right now and have fun!

Tips for Selecting The Right Tables

2006-06-03T16:39:00.000-07:00

Yes, there is an element of chance in every blackjack game, but it is not prudent to leave everything to chance if you are capable of picking and choosing something that can eventually change the game beyond recognition. Selecting the right blackjack table is one such thing which can have a telling effect on one's odds in the game. This article tries to share a couple of tips that any player of blackjack entering a casino might find useful, in picking a decent table and hence cornering better chances for emerging victorious in the end.

When you enter the casino for the first time, instead of picking the first vacant table coming your way, it will be a better idea to walk around a bit and choose one that is having the lesser number of chips. On further observation of faces, if you feel that the chips are with the happy blackjack players, the dealer may be having a cold streak, and that is the right table in which you can dominate the dealer as you like. It is true that there is an element of uncertainty here, but if to go by the word of experienced players, this strategy works.

Further, as a sequel to the first method, take note of those tables having more than an average number of happy faces. In such tables, the players will be holding most of the chips, which further implies that the dealer is having a bad day out there. So why not make a meal out of the dealer’s misfortunes? Well, again, in terms of probability, such assumptions can misfire. But in most cases, this assessment gives a good idea of a given table, and it works as well.

Tips for Spanish 21

2006-05-14T09:38:00.000-07:00

The first thing every player must consider is to understand the house rules clearly. It will come in handy while forming strategies. Remember, house rules may vary from one casino to another.
It would be better to learn the game before trying ones luck in the casino. Hence try your mettle playing some free online games before graduating yourself to the real game.
Use the strategy chart to the maximum advantage even if it takes some time to do so. In such a game that includes many decks, it is vital to use it until you reach a comfort zone.
In the game, it is advisable to keep off from trying the Super Bonus bet as it has extremely high house odds.
It is better to play in those casinos where redoubling is permitted. If redoubling is not in the house rules, then you may almost double the house edge, even though it is still a comparably low .76%.
Finally, keep in mind that if you fail to draw to split aces, you increase your house advantage by 0.29%.

It is true that the rules of Spanish 21 are generally liberal than the original blackjack game. But one should make oneself thorough with the basics of the games before actually start playing. And that is the most important of the tips this article would like to give to a prospective player. Good Luck!

Blackjack Odds

2006-05-10T21:22:00.000-07:00

Blackjack, one of the most popular card games enjoyed by millions of casino buffs, is a game where the choices a player makes will affect the house edge. In a blackjack game, the dealer cannot make any choices. All the choices are made by the box holders (blackjack players). The success of a blackjack player depends on the choices they make.

Blackjack is believed to have the best odds for its players. However, this depends on the rules of the game as well as the skills of a blackjack player. A single deck blackjack with Las Vegas Strip rules and double after splitting allows the player a 0.1% advantage. Of course, to obtain the best advantage the player needs to utilize the correct blackjack basic strategy.

House’s Advantage

However, most casinos tend to change the blackjack odds in favor of the house. That is the rules of blackjack game will be structured so as to ensure the house's advantage (also referred as the house edge).

The house edge comes from the fact that the dealer’s hand is played last. That is, the blackjack players have to complete their hands before the dealer does. If the players hand goes bust (exceeds 21 points) then they lose immediately. If both the player and the dealer go bust then the house wins. However, the player can change this benefit away from the house and into their favor, with certain basic strategies and card counting techniques.

Doubling Down

If the player is dealt with a favorable hand he/she has the option to double the wager. For instance, if the player gets a 5 or a 6, then this is a good hand for doubling down. The main idea behind this is that if the player obtains a total of 11 and his/her odds of drawing a 9, 10, or a face card are high, then it is always a good idea for the player to use the doubling down option. This helps you to

Splitting Pairs

If the blackjack player obtains a pair then he can use the option to spit it and create two hands. According to the general blackjack rule, the player will always split aces and eights, but never split 5’s and 10s. This is because a 5 value card is considered as an obvious weak first card. While the reason for not splitting a 10 value card is that a 10 value card is considered as a strong hand and can only be beaten by a blackjack.

By following the basic strategies of blackjack a player can easily reduce the house edge and can change the blackjack odds in favor of him/her.

European Blackjack

2006-05-09T03:18:00.000-07:00

European Blackjack is virtually the same as the traditional blackjack founded by the British. The differences with it can be considered minor with the exemption of one rule; the dealer is dealt only one card. The second card is not dealt until the player hand is complete and dealer’s is the next turn. This aspect calls for a different strategy altogether as opposed to the conventional blackjack game. Shown below are the general rules of the game.

Once more, the dealer is dealt only one card until the player’s hands is finished and the dealer’s turn begins.
Played with 6 decks of 52 cards each.
Blackjack always supercedes any other hand with a value of 21.
If got blackjack, the player is paid out at odds of 3:2.
If the player’s and dealer’s hand tie, then it is a push.
Dealer stands on hard or soft 17.
The player can only double on a 9, 10 or 11 or after splitting.
Also the player can only split once.
Insurance is not recommended in this form of blackjack.

Before experimenting with European Blackjack in any casino, make sure that you are well versed in its rules and strategies. In a general sense, the player needs a good level of expertise in the strategies to be successful in the game. Further, before starting the game, check the casino website for the exact rules and procedures followed by them.

Blackjack Surrender

2006-05-08T05:41:00.000-07:00

Most casinos offer an option for blackjack known as blackjack surrender. As the name suggests, blackjack surrender allows the player to prematurly withdraw from the game.

A blackjack player can surrender his/her hand when the dealer has an Ace or a ten value card face up. If the player thinks that he/she will not be able to beat the dealer after receiving the initial two cards, the player can surrender to the dealer. The player must surrender his/her hand before taking any further action. That is, once the player has drawn a third card, or double down, or split, then he/she cannot surrender the game. One of the interesting factors is that the surrender announcement is the only play in the game which is made verbally.

There are mainly two types of blackjack surrender options available – “Early Surrender” and “Late Surrender”.

In “Early Surrender”, after the player has announced his/her intentions to surrender the game, the dealer will take half of the bet amount without checking whether he (the dealer) has a blackjack or not. Most blackjack experts recommend “Early Surrender” as the best among both surrender options.

In “Late Surrender”, the player needs to announce his/her intentions and the dealer marks you bet, by either placing a plastic chip or by placing the player’s chips on top of the cards. But if the dealer is having a blackjack, the player will lose his/her entire bet. If the dealer is not having a blackjack, the player will get half of the total bet amount by using later surrender option.

Caribbean 21 Blackjack

2006-05-07T01:54:00.000-07:00

Caribbean 21 Blackjack is a popular online blackjack variant found in online casinos. Caribbean 21 is an eight deck blackjack game which offers some major variations from the traditional blackjack game making it more interesting to play. Some of these changes provide an additional chance for a player to win the game, while some changes benefit the dealer.

The main aim of the Caribbean 21 Blackjack is similar to the traditional blackjack game, that is, to obtain a total card value of 21 points or close to that total without exceeding the 21 points, or making the dealer bust (exceed 21 points). Before starting the game the player need to place a bet. When the player placed his/her wager, the dealer will deal two cards (face up) to the player. The dealer also dealt two cards for him. If the player’s total card value is closer to 21 than the dealer’s cards, then the player wins the blackjack and get as much as he/she had wagered. The player also wins the game if the dealer busts.

One of the main variations of Caribbean 21 Blackjack is that the game allows the player the ability to split any two initial cards and to hit a redouble after doubling. Remember, nothing comes free and the player loses all ties. Here are some of the

Rules of Caribbean 21

Ace card is value as one point. All other cards are valued the same way as traditional blackjack. That is, 2-9 are counted in their original values, face cards and tens are counted 10.
The player will receive two cards (face up) while the dealer will get only one card face up. In Caribbean 21 Blackjack, there is no hole card.
Players can stand, hit, surrender, split, or double.
Doubling is allowed as many times the player wants. Players can also redouble and double after a split.
Splitting can be done on any two cards.
Surrender is allowed at any time. But if a player surrenders, half of the total bet is forfeited.
The dealer wins all ties.
If a player receives an ace and two 10 value cards, then the hand is known as Caribbean 21. Caribbean 21 is regarded higher than all other 21 point hands.
21 pays 3:2. While all other winning hands pay 1:1.

Vegas Downtown Blackjack

2006-05-06T02:42:00.000-07:00

Vegas Downtown Blackjack is one of the popular online versions of the traditional blackjack game. Its rules are virtually similar to the original blackjack game, the major difference being the fact that the game is played using two decks of cards. But this can change the complexion of the game completely as the odds of hitting certain cards are completely altered with the change in the number of cards.

The other rules of Vegas Downtown Blackjack that differs from the traditional blackjack are,

If a player splits an ace, and then he/she receives a 10, the value of his/her hand will be 21 and not a blackjack. Such a hand can be beaten by a blackjack, the numerical value of the hand not withstanding.

The dealer should also hit on soft 17. This would mean that if the dealer has an ace and a value 6, he must hit. This gives the player a better chance of winning the hand as the chances for the dealer going bust is quite high.

Given below is a short listing of the rules that are characteristic of Vegas Downtown Blackjack. Some of it are mentioned earlier, but repeated again for clarity.

Dealer always peeks on aces and 10 value cards.
Usually played with 2 regular card decks.
Dealer must hit on soft 17.
The player can double down one any two cards. It is also permitted to double down after splitting.
One can split three times to make four hands.
Aces can only be split once but only one card to split aces.
10 value cards can be split.

Vegas Downtown Blackjack has two versions. One is the single-hand version and the other, multi-hand version. Each form of the game must be played with different strategies as the odds of receiving cards alternating depend on the amount of hands the player is playing with. Therefore it is advisable that the player gets acquainted with the respective strategies before playing any of these games.

Check at your casino to know about the exact rules followed by them before start playing.

Single Deck Blackjack

2006-05-05T05:58:00.000-07:00

Of all the blackjack variants found in land based casinos, Single Deck Blackjack offers the best odds to a blackjack player. The total odds in any blackjack game are the same whether it is a single deck blackjack, two decks blackjack, or any multiple deck blackjack. But the fact why single deck blackjacks are preferred by most experienced blackjack players is that, in a single deck blackjack game the box holders (blackjack players) can easily keep track of the shifting odds from hand to hand. This helps the players to easily win the game than any other conventional blackjack variations.

However, most casinos tend not to offer true single deck blackjack. One of the main reasons is that casinos are well aware of the fact that experienced blackjack players can easily win the game in single deck blackjack tables, and it will be difficult for them (casinos) to make good profit from a table of serious blackjack players.

Casinos also instruct the dealer to count the playing cards and shuffle them well when the odds look really good in favor of the box holder. Some other casinos tend to reduce the payout rate of a single deck blackjack game. That is, a box holder’s natural blackjack (a two card total of 21 points consisting of a ten value card and an ace) rate will be decreased from the traditional $3 for every $2 bet to a revised rate of $6 for every $5 bet. The main idea behind this change in rate is to shift the odds in favor of the casinos by around one and a quarter percent. This results in the odds for a player even worse than they would get if they are playing any other blackjack variation or the conventional multi-deck blackjack.

Hence, before you participate in any single deck blackjack game, it is advisable to check out all the rules of the particular casino and make sure that there is no trick played by the casinos to change the favor of the game to their side.

Atlantic City Blackjack

2006-05-04T06:30:00.000-07:00

Atlantic City Blackjack is similar to that of standard blackjack games, but with some variations. The most notable variation in the rules is the absence of surrender option. In the casinos in the US, the game is played with eight standard decks of 52 playing cards, which are shuffled at the start of every game. In the following sentences, we’ll see some rules governing Atlantic City Blackjack.

The aim of Atlantic City Blackjack is to beat the dealer by getting a higher value hand than him or by letting his hand go bust. In this game, the player can only bet one hand at a time. Also, in Atlantic City Blackjack, a blackjack is the strongest hand possible, which can only be matched and not beaten.

General Rules

When the dealer is dealt and ace or 10, he/she checks for a blackjack. The dealer having a blackjack means that the game is over.

Blackjack always supersedes any other hand with a value of 21.

Face cards and tens have a value of 10, while ace assumes 1 or 11 as the situation demands.

The player can draw up to nine additional cards to make a hand of 11 cards, provided the value does not exceed 21. Even after receiving 11 cards, if the player’s hand did not exceed 21, then that hand automatically stands and the dealer plays his hand.

The dealer stands on soft 17.

The dealer’s hand is dealt strictly based on the rules of the casino. Hence it is advisable to check the casino website to learn the details before starting the game.

The winning hands in Atlantic City Blackjack pay out as shown below:

If the player wins a Blackjack, he/she will be paid out at odds of 3:2 on your original bet.

If the player has a winning hand but not a Blackjack, then he/she is paid out at odds of 1:1 on the original bet.

If the player loses against a Dealer's Blackjack but has taken Insurance, he/she will be paid out at odds of 2:1 on his/her Insurance bet.

For details on all the rules and conditions, see the respective casino website.

Labouchere Betting System

2006-05-03T03:48:00.000-07:00

The Labouchere Betting System, also known as 'Cancellation' system, is a negative progressive system which can be successfully used in Blackjack. Labouchere system is also known by various names such as “Crossout”, “Split Martingale”, and “Labby”.

The Labouchere Betting System can also be easily used in online blackjack games.

Let us have a look on how the Labouchere betting system works.

Labouchere Betting System is based on a series or a set of numbers, for example, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. The player can choose a series according to his/her likes, the series can be long or short and need not be sequential such as 1, 1, 1, 3, 3, 5, 7. The choice of a specific series depends on the type of blackjack game you are playing and the odds of the bet. When the player wins he/she cross out the numbers, until the series is complete.

Each number symbolizes the amount in units or chips to bet. You bet the first and last of these numbers, which sums up to the profit the player intends to make. In the above example 1 and 6, which adds to 7 units. That is, if the box holder is playing $10 blackjack hands, in this example the player bets $70.

If the player wins, cross out 1 and 6, and move inside to the next two number sequences 2 and 5. In this example, the total again sums to 7 units, so again bet $70. Again, if you win, cross out the 2 and 5, and move inside to the next two number sequences 3 and 4. If you win this too, you would have completed the game and if needed you can play new game.

If you lose the first series, then you have to add that one number to the end of the series. For example, if you lost the first bet of 7 units, then you need to add the number 7 to the end of your number sequence. That is after adding the number in the end, you number series will be 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and your bet would be 1 plus 7, total 8 units. And if you lost the second set (2 and 5) after winning the first one, then the sequence will be 2, 3, 4, 5, 7.

Though the betting system seems a little complicated for some people, if you try to understand the system by taking little time, you will feel it is not that much difficult as you think. And if you can work it out, you can easily make huge profits from the game. The only drawback to be pointed out is that if you keep losing the sets, you will end up betting large sums of money even though your initial bet is small.

Pontoon Blackjack

2006-05-02T05:06:00.000-07:00

Pontoon Blackjack, regarded as an early British version of blackjack, is becoming more popular nowadays in both land casinos as well as online casinos. Even though majority of the rules of Pontoon blackjack are same as ordinary blackjack game, there are a few twists in Pontoon which makes is more challenging and exciting for blackjack buffs.

Pontoon Blackjack can be played by a minimum of two players and to a maximum of eight players. Two card decks are used if eight players are participating in the game. The values of cards are same as the ordinary blackjack game. That is, cards from 2-9 are counted in their original values, face cards and tens are counted 10, and Aces 1 or 11 (can be fixed by the players before the game starts.

The aim of Pontoon Blackjack is also the same as ordinary blackjack – obtaining a total card value of 21 points or close to that total without exceeding the 21 points.

Pontoon Blackjack starts with the dealer dealing one card, faced down, to each player and one to himself. The box holders (blackjack players) bet and a second card is dealt to each player and the dealer. If the dealer has a Pontoon the game is automatically completed and the dealer can collect double from the players’ stakes. Else, it is the players’ turn again.

A player can split two similar cards like 5-5 or 8-8, or can buy new cards, up to three cards only. In the first purchase of the card the player need to raise the stakes by no bigger than double of the initial bet in the first purchase. In the next purchase, the player needs to raise the stakes no more than the last bet and not less than the initial bet. Box holders are allowed to twist after buying cards, but after a twist a player cannot buy new cards. The player can stick at any time if the total card value is above 15 and below 21. If the player busts the dealer wins the game and takes all the stakes.

Extreme 21 Blackjack Variation

2006-05-01T02:51:00.000-07:00

Extreme 21 is a blackjack variant played widely in the Canadian state of Alberta and the tribal casinos of America. Extreme 21 is an exciting game with special attributes which makes it fun for blackjack buffs. If you are more concerned about money than the fun blackjack offers this is not a game for you.

In Extreme 21, the box holder (blackjack player) plays one at a time and the dealer continues hitting until he/she wins the game or goes higher than 21 points (busts). One of the main attribute of Extreme 21 blackjack is that unlike other blackjack variations, in Extreme 21 the dealer does not stand (refuse any further cards).

Extreme 21 Blackjack is not a multiplayer game; hence the each player plays against the dealer at their turn. The dealer continues hitting until the player or the dealer wins the game. According to Extreme 21 Blackjack rules, push (tie) is not allowed in this game. As mentioned earlier, the dealer is compelled to hit until he beats the box holder. The box holders’ can choose the double and re-double feature if they wish to do so. Some casinos don’t allow this, hence it is advisable to enquire whether doubling or re-doubling is allowed or not. Extreme 21 Blackjack allows the players to re-split as much as they like. This provides the players enough room for card counting, but the players are not allowed to re-split Aces.

Before you start playing Extreme 21 Blackjack, it is better to learn the major rules of Extreme 21 so that you can understand the major difference between traditional blackjack and Extreme 21.

Tail Piece: For those who are more concerned about money than fun can choose Blackjack Bonus or Triple 7s Blackjack, where you can probably win special payouts.

Rules of Extreme 21

2006-04-30T08:35:00.000-07:00

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

2006-04-29T00:52:00.000-07:00

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

2006-04-28T00:12:00.000-07:00

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

2006-04-27T06:19:00.000-07:00

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

2006-04-26T20:32:00.000-07:00

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

2006-04-24T12:12:00.000-07:00

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

2006-04-20T10:05:00.000-07:00

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

2006-04-14T07:25:00.000-07:00

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

2006-04-13T05:44:00.000-07:00

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

2006-04-12T06:21:00.000-07:00

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?

2006-04-11T10:55:00.000-07:00

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

2006-04-10T01:03:00.000-07:00

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

2006-04-09T00:43:00.000-07:00

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

2006-04-02T04:49:00.000-07:00

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!

Tips for Blackjack

2006-03-27T06:31:00.000-08:00

Tips for Blackjack

Blackjack, also known as twenty-one, is one of the most exciting and best loved of all the card games. Blackjack is a game of skill and much more than luck and a skillful player can do a lot to tip the odds in his/her favor. Here are some tips one should be aware of to make the best out from the game.

Basic Tips

• Never split your 4s, 5s or 10s
• You can split your 8s and Aces, despite of which card the dealer is showing
• If you are not counting the cards you should not take insurance. You can take it if you are counting cards
• If the dealer’s face up card is a 7 through an Ace, you should hit
• If the dealer’s face up card is a 6 or lower, you should stand on a hard 13 through 16
• You should stand of a hard 12, if the dealer is showing a 4, 5, or 6.
• You should hit a hard 12, if the dealer’s face up card is a 2 or a 3, or 7 and higher.
• If the dealer’s face up card is a 10, you should hit a soft 17.
• If the dealer is showing a 0 point card, you should continue to hit until you have around 17 points.

A player can double down on two card combinations totaling:

• 9 – if the dealer’s face up card is any one from three to six.
• 10 – if the dealer is showing a 10 or an Ace
• 11 – if the dealer’s face up card is an Ace

Things are little different in the case of Soft hand. As you cannot “bust” a soft hand with just a single hit, you can follow these tips:

• If the dealer’s card is 7 or higher, the player should hit soft through 17
• One can always hit soft 13 through 17 with hands of 3 or more cards
• One can double down soft 15 through 17 against a dealer’s 4
• If the dealer’s face up card is 3, the player can double down soft 17
• If possible, try to stand on soft 19 or higher

Popular Variants of Blackjack

2006-03-25T12:07:00.000-08:00

Blackjack – also called pontoon and twenty-one in Britain - is a very popular casino card game played in casinos and clubs all over the world. If to analyze the game closely, it is an eclectic mix of the player’s skill and decision making, coupled with the element of indecision involved in the whole procedure, that makes the game unpredictable at times and hence exciting for the common man. The early version of blackjack was founded in France in the 1700s, and it was called vingt-et-un ("twenty-one") then. It was introduced in America in the early 1900s, and at that time, in order to attract more crowds, casinos used to offer various bonus payouts to the players. One of those bonuses was 10-to-1 payout, for which a player becomes eligible if his/her hand consisted of the ace of spades and a black Jack (either the Jack of spades or Jack of clubs). Such a hand came to be called a Blackjack, the name with which the game is popular nowadays.

During the British colonalization, the game of twenty-one got popularized in almost all parts of the globe, and with some variations that happened over the period of time, these are still played in the clubs and casinos of those countries. Some of the popular variants of blackjack are the Spanish 21, Double Exposure Blackjack, Double Attack Blackjack and Chinese Blackjack.

Spanish 21, as compared to conventional blackjack, offers several liberal rules such as 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). If one has a fool proof basic strategy in place, Spanish 21 guarantees a definite lower house edge than a normal blackjack game.

In Double Exposure Blackjack, both the cards of the dealer are revealed to the player at the start of the hand itself. This is in fact significant piece of information, and without change in rules, it is advantageous to any player irrespective of his/her skill levels. Therefore, the casino wins back some house edge by two main 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 are also introduced over the years, such as restricting doubling down and splitting, and not allowing any doubles after splits. This game is thought to be invented by Bob Stupak, former owner of Stratosphere and Vegas World casinos.

Double Attack Blackjack is even liberal and it gives the option to increase one’s wager after discovering the dealer’s face-up cards. It is dealt from a Spanish shoe and blackjacks only pay even money.

Chinese Blackjack is more popular in Southeast Asia, and in regional tongue, the game is called 21-point, ban-nag (Cantonese) or ban-luck (Hokkien). The game uses one or two 52-card decks and any number of players can join the game, only thing is that one of them has to be a dealer. Also, the game does not allow splitting of cards and there are some house rules, which may differ a lot from conventional blackjack and within Chinese blackjack itself.

Betting Options in Blackjack

2006-03-24T00:09:00.000-08:00

Blackjack, also known as twenty-one, is one of the most popular card games enjoyed by millions of casino buffs. There are several betting options in blackjack such as Insurance, Surrender, Splitting, Double Down, and Even Money. Let us look at these betting options in detail.

Insurance

Insurance is the side bet offered to the box holder up to half the original bet, if the dealer’s face up card is an Ace. By taking insurance the box holder is making a second bet for half the initial amount. If the dealer’s face down card is a 10 point card, then the box holder is paid 2 to 1 on the insurance bet, but the player loses if the dealer’s card is any other card than the 10 points card.

Surrender

A box holder may give up the first two cards in his hand and loses half of the initial bet.

Early Surrender – the dealer permits to surrender the box holder before checking for blackjack.

Late Surrender – in late surrender the dealer first checks whether he has blackjack. Surrender option is not allowed if the dealer has blackjack.

Splitting

Splitting option is permitted when a blackjack player is dealt with two cards with equal values. To take splitting option, the original bet has to be matched. Each hand will be played separately. If the box holder splits two Aces, only one more card is dealt to each hand. A hand will be allowed to split only once.

Double Down

Double down option allows you to double the original bet after the two card deal. When a box holder doubles the bet, the original bet has to be matched and you can hit one cared only. One can also go for the “double down” option after “splitting” a pair. Double down is considered as a good bet if the box holder is in a strong position.

Even Money

The box holder is offered “Even Money” if he is dealt with a natural blackjack and the dealer’s showing card is an Ace. Taking “even money” option means the player believes the dealer’s face down card is a 10 card. If the “even money” option is not taken, then the player is paid at 3 to 2 and the dealer has no blackjack.

How to Play Blackjack

2006-03-23T23:55:00.000-08:00

Blackjack, also known as twenty-one, is one of the most popular card games enjoyed by millions of casino buffs. Blackjack is easy to play and the excitement it offers is beyond words. The object of blackjack is to obtain a total card value of 21 or close to that total without exceeding the 21 points.

Traditionally blackjack is played on a semi circular table with one seat for the dealer and the remaining sears for the players. The players of the game are known as box holders. The box holders take decisions when the game is in progress. The cloth on all seats is labeled with one double circle or several single circles – the designated area where the blackjack players put their money and/or the value chips.

Before the blackjack game begins, that is the dealer deals any cards, the players place their bet in the double box. All players play blackjack against the bank – that is a croupier, who is known as the dealer. For those who are playing together with the box holders can place their value chips in the single circles marked in the cloth. Blackjack starts with the dealer giving two cards to each box holders and then to himself. One card of the dealer is dealt face up and the other is dealt face down.

The face cards - Kings, Queens, and Jacks - are all worth 10 points. The Ace can count as either an 11 or a 1 point card (the value of Ace card is your choice). All other cards from 2 to 10 take their normal values.

The box holder’s aim is to draw cards until their hand adds up to 21 or close to 21. If the first two cards dealt to you total to 21 points, then it is a natural Blackjack. You are the winner of the game or simply you have Blackjack! The box holder who wins blackjack will get one and one-half times his/her bet unless the dealer also has blackjack.

If the box holder is dealt with any two cards other than a blackjack, he has two options – “hit” (accept another card) or “stand” (refuse any further cards). A player who selects the “stands” option will not be given any additional cards. Cards are dealt till the player stands or “busts” (exceeds 21 points). When a box holder “busts”, he suddenly loses his bet despite the dealer’s hand result.

After the box holder’s final actions, the dealer reveals the down card. If the dealer’s hand is less than 16 points or 16, the dealer has to continue the “hit” option until he reaches 17 or more. The dealer need to stand on soft 17 and should not take any additional cards. The box holder wins, if he stood without busting and the dealer “busts” (exceed 21). The dealer wins if the dealer stands on 17 or more and has a higher point than the box holder. If both the dealer and the player have the same points, it’s a “push” (tie).

Let's Take a look at Poker

2006-03-22T09:22:00.000-08:00

Poker is one of the most popular card games played in card rooms, casinos, and internet. Like any other card games the main aim of play poker is to win. One can play poker just for fun or for money. If you learn the rules and other details on how to play poker you can easily win the game with your skills and strategic abilities.

There are several varieties of poker games across the world. Of the various variations of play poker game the most popular games played include Texas Hold'em, Omaha Hi/Lo, Omaha, 7 Card Stud Hi/Lo, and 7 Card Stud. However, almost all the poker games follow the basic format:
" All poker players donate to a central 'pot' which have play chips or chips which symbolize original money. " Players are dealt cards - a 'hand' - most of them are concealed. " Wagers are generally made on the strength of the cards in rounds of betting." When the betting round is completed, the last player who is standing after all other players have folded or the player who has the strongest hand will be winner of the play poker game.

To become a successful play poker player one need to understand the deck and know the rank of hands well. Generally all poker games are played with a standard deck of 52 playing cards. An exception is the Ross Perot Poker which is played with less than a full deck. The poker playing cards are separated into four suits - Clubs, Spades, Hearts, and Diamonds - each of which has 13 ranks in the following order (from highest to lowest) - Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, and 2.

All poker players are dealt with five cards. Whichever poker game you are playing, the aim of the game is to complete with the highest valued hand. Poker hands fall into one to several categories, such as Royal Flush, Straight Flush, Four of a Kind, Full House, Flush, Straight, Three of a Kind, Two Pair, One Pair, and High Card. The player who ends up with the highest ranking hand will be the winner of the game.
Nowadays there are several websites which offer facilities for poker buffs to play poker online. Online play poker games are expected to pay more profit when compared with brick and mortar casinos.

Enjoy Free Online Blackjack

2006-03-13T00:08:00.000-08:00

The enticing objective of getting as close as possible to the sum of 21 without going over, has always made blackjack a favorite of casino lovers. Blackjack online lets you play at a time and place of your choice. The great thing about gambling blackjack is that you can play for just a few minutes or for hours on end, just as you please. Bring the royal pleasures of a grand blackjack ballroom casino to the privacy and convenience of your computer screen. Snatch a refreshing break during work or fill idle hours while on vacation and during weekends. Internet blackjack turns your leisure time in to a profitable venture. Who knows, you may end up as a top expert in gambling blackjack in days!

It is easy to play blackjack. Anyone can learn the rules and the terms in a matter of minutes. The game blackjack entertains players thoroughly and always offers a sporting chance to win. Card veterans love to play blackjack and often prefer it over other options for private parties. Online blackjack gives the profitable pastime a new angle, enabling those who seek superior entertainment on the web, to participate in the 21st century pleasures of Internet blackjack. Turn your home, office or even your cell phone in to the best gaming rooms of Las Vegas, Monaco or whichever other place catches your fancy! Spice up the routine of your life, and let online blackjack give you a new stream of revenue.

Pontoon and 21 are other names by which blackjack is known in various parts of the world. It is a test of mental skill apart from being a source of quality entertainment. Estimating the value left in the deck, also known as card counting, makes you alert and forces you to improve your math! You exercise your brain and have fun doing it when you play blackjack. It is equivalent to a mental workout, which makes online blackjack a great way to pass time on your hands. A key is to play internet blackjack for a few minutes everyday to stay on top of the game. This also improves your profit chances. Since blackjack online costs nothing to enter, it beats the entry barriers of an elegant casino, while giving you all the monetary benefits at the same time.

Some people like to play in small groups or with a special companion. Gambling blackjack allows you to do this, and respects your privacy at the same time. So do get a circle of friends to join you in online blackjack, and increase your mutual enjoyment and revenue. The longest and most boring commute becomes something to which you can look forward if you have mobile access to the web. Internet blackjack can also be a healthy alternative to a calorific break from work for lunch, and has the potential for some unusual business entertainment as well. However, the most popular attraction of blackjack remains its ability to banish boredom from your life. Gambling blackjack is one of the fastest growing forms of entertainment. You could be up and running right now!

Play BlackJack

2006-03-11T14:37:00.000-08:00

Welcome to our new blog about playing BlackJack on the Internet. We don't have enough space on our site www.7bj.com to go into all the details of play, so we will do so here.

We will be bringing you tips for play and general information on our weblog. Stay tunned for some good information about the game, where to play (at our casino ofcource), and how to stay one step ahead of the game.