Basic tips on how to play blackjack

The game of blackjack consists of one or more players playing against a dealer who represents the house. Each player is dealt two cards either face up or face down depending on the way the cards are dealt. A dealer may, depending on house rules, either deal from one or two decks held in his hand (a pitch game) or deal from a “shoe,” which is a special box that usually holds four decks. If he deals from a shoe, the player’s cards are typically dealt face up; they are dealt face down from the hand. The dealer is usually dealt two cards as well, but that varies depending on how he is dealing. In a pitch game he deals one of his cards face down, and the other up. In a shoe game, his cards are face up as well. In some casinos, however, the dealer does not deal his second card until all players have already played. The goal of the game is to get as close to twenty-one as possible (by adding the total of the cards in front of you) without going over. If either a player or the dealer busts, he loses that hand.

Cards are valued as follows- two through ten are counted at face value, face cards are always worth ten, and aces can either be worth one or eleven, depending on the player’s wishes. A player adds their two cards together, and then attempts to determine whether or not they want another card.

Some variations are more drastic, such as in “switch blackjack.” In this game a player is dealt two separate hands. They can then switch their cards from hand to hand, and must bet equally on both hands. If a player is dealt a jack and a seven in one hand and a ten and a four in the other, they could swap between hands to make a jack-ten hand and a seven-four hand. The player would then bet each hand equally and play against the dealer as in normal blackjack. Casinos typically only pay one to one on blackjacks in this variation as well.

If the player thinks that they have a good chance of taking a card without busting, then they hit. A person who was dealt a seven and a four would hit, because there is no possible card that could put them over twenty-one. A player holding a nine and a jack would most likely not hit, as nearly any card in the deck (except an ace or a two) will bust them.

If a player chooses not to hit, then they “stand.” The player mentioned above holding nineteen should stand unless he has an extremely compelling reason not to. A person holding a total of sixteen might be tempted to stay, but remember- they also need to beat the dealer’s total to win the bet. Situations like this are why blackjack is exciting, and also why some people (by using skill and practice) can play so much better than others.

Depending on the rules of the house or the site at which someone is playing, a player usually has a few more options to consider while playing. If a person is dealt an ace and a ten, for example, they might want to “double down.” This means that the player doubles the bet that they have on the table because they think their chance of winning is better than normal. They then get one more card, and that’s it. For instance, if the player holding eleven has reason to believe that there are a lot of face cards left in the deck (thereby making his chance of getting twenty-one much better), he may increase his original bet of $25 to $50. The ability to double down is why skilled players can make money at the game, which is why some casinos/sites do not allow it, or at the very least reserve the right to limit the practice.

Another option that a player may have is to “split.” If a player is dealt a pair, they can double their bet, and split their hand. The two paired cards then become the first cards in two new hands. A player might split to either try to win twice, or to hedge their bets. In some cases it may not be advisable to split a pair. If a player were dealt two kings, for example, they would likely want to keep one hand of twenty instead of splitting. The exception to this would be if a player thought that the chances of an ace coming up were very good. They may try for twenty-one in an attempt to increase the payout.

All of these options also have hand signals that represent them. Many casinos require that a player not only speak his command, but also that he signal his intention. This is to protect the casino- in case there is a dispute, the casino can check the video surveillance and determine what a player actually wanted. Obviously, hand signals are not a factor in online blackjack, and usually are not insisted upon in friendly games, either. Even though this is true, the hand signals for the commands already described are very simple, and all players should learn them, even if they only play online. One never knows when a tournament may come to town and all of one’s sharply honed skills will need to go on display and be put to lucrative use.

When a player wants to hit, they should say hit and either rub their cards on the table (face down deal) or tap the table with the fingers (face up deal). If a player wants to stand, they should either say “stay” or “stick,” and then signal. If the cards are in the player’s hand they should slide them under their bet. If the cards are face up on the table, the player should wave their hand over the cards. If a player wants to double down, they should put an identical bet directly next to their additional bet and make a “one” signal with their index finger. Similarly, if a player wants to split, they should place a bet next to their original bet and make a “two” sign.

While the above rules are the most basic, there are hundreds of variations of blackjack rules. Depending on where you are playing, there can be a myriad of variations from the last house you played in. It is important to recognize this, as it is always the player’s responsibility to know the rules. A dealer will usually tell you if you ask, but it is very important to understand not only what the rules are called, but also what they entail and how they might affect your odds.

Arguably, the most important rule to be aware of is where the dealer has to hit or stand. There are two possibilities that you may encounter. The first is that the dealer must stand on 17 no matter what. If he is dealt a ten and a seven, there is nothing he can do. Even if every player at the table has eighteen, he must stand and pay out to everyone. This variation is known as “S17.” In the other blackjack variation, a dealer may hit on a “soft” seventeen. This means that if he has an ace and a six, he can count it as a total of seven and hit. If he has a “hard” seventeen (a jack and a seven, for example), he must stand. This variation is known as “H17.” In an H17 game, the house’s odds are increased rather considerably. A player should always be aware of what type of game he is sitting at- it could be the difference between a big payday and a big loss.

Another very important rule (even though it is fairly rare) is whether or not the dealer wins ties. In a typical blackjack game, if the total of the cards of a player is equal to that of the dealer, it is called a push and no one wins or loses. In some games, however, the dealer always wins ties. This rule is obviously very detrimental to the chances of the players in achieving success.

It is also extremely important to understand how many decks are in play, and how often they are shuffled. It seems that a player would have better luck in a game with just one deck- it is much easier to keep track of, and this favors the players. However, multiple deck games usually have much more advantageous rules in play, and therefore end up paying out more winnings than single deck games. Either way, know how many decks are being used so you can play wisely.

There are literally hundreds of rules and variations on how you can play and bet, so if a player is thinking about becoming serious they should consult a comprehensive rulebook or encyclopedia of blackjack. The basic principles are typically the same in each game, but the strategy of play might differ greatly. Whatever the game, understanding the odds, (at least in an abstract sense) is the difference between a good player and a bad player. Understanding and being aware of the odds throughout the entire game is what separates good players from great players.

The ability to play a specific blackjack hand as well as you possibly can is dependent upon having an advanced knowledge of basic strategy. Essentially, strategizing consists of understanding the best possible way to play a hand independent of what is left in the deck. A player who understands basic strategy will improve their odds even if the cards are shuffled in between every hand (as they are in many online casinos). Basic strategy can be learned by memorizing charts that tell a player specifically what to do in every possible situation. A master of basic strategy will play consistently better than someone who is unfamiliar with the principles involved, but the advantage still lies with the house. In order to better those odds, a player ought to know not only what to do with a specific hand, but also what his chances of getting an advantageous card are.

The ability to predict what your odds are from hand to hand depends upon knowing what cards have been played, and therefore what cards are left that you could possibly be dealt. This principle is known as counting cards, and it is the foundation on which a player can build their fortune. Even though it is sometimes portrayed in a negative light, card counting is completely legal. Casinos, however, reserve the right to eject and/or ban card counters. This is because casinos are private property, and skilled card counters can obviously be extremely detrimental to a casino’s profits. There are many techniques for counting cards, and they are of varying complexity and have been developed over many years. No matter what the technique is, the basic principle remains the same- if you can significantly improve your odds, and understand how to bet accordingly, you can get rich playing blackjack.

 

Contrary to what the movie Rain Man might have led you to believe, basic card counting is fairly simple. Although there are extremely complicated blackjack variations that some individuals swear by, the general idea is to keep track of how many ten-point cards remain in the deck. If there are very few high cards, the dealer is less likely to bust, and a player is less likely to get 21 with one card (such as on a doubled bet.) A deck with many high cards is a good player’s dream, and the house’s bane.

In order to fully understand and appreciate card counting, a player should know how it developed, and what strategies have been developed in the past. Only then can a prospective “blackjack great” fully develop their game. Considered to be the Father of card counting by most in the industry, Edward Thorp revolutionized blackjack and inspired countless players with his innovations. Thorp was a mathematics professor at MIT, and he became intrigued about blackjack as viewed through the lens of advanced probability formulas. Using an advanced (at the time) computer, Thorp claimed to have developed a system to change the house’s advantage from about 5% to approximately a 1% advantage for the player. Thorp had developed essentially the first effective card counting system that could be relatively easily explained.

Thorp’s system (which nearly all subsequent card counting systems emulate in some form) was based upon calculating probability by keeping track of how many ten-point cards were left in the deck. In his technique, a player assigns a value to each card that is dealt into the game. A player assigns a value of plus-4 to each card that goes by that is below ten, including the ace. The player also assigns a value of negative-9 to each ten-point card that is dealt. The basic principle is that the higher the total of the running count, the better the odds are for the player. The player can then bet accordingly, such as by either doubling on ten or eleven, or standing on a higher total.

Thorp wrote the groundbreaking blackjack book “Beat the Dealer,” in which he detailed his card counting strategy. The book was an instant hit, selling 700,000 copies and finding itself on the New York Times bestseller list. Since that time, the book has inspired millions of gamblers, and spawned countless methods for making money at the game.

Not everyone was enraptured by the book, however. John Scarne, a magician and sleight-of-hand artist who previously had been considered one of the utmost authorities on card strategy, took umbrage with many points in the book. He challenged Thorp to a blackjack challenge to prove that Thorp’s theories were bogus. He proposed that Thorp sit and play with one hundred thousand dollars with Scarne dealing. Scarne thought that instead of proving the one percent player advantage that Thorp claimed, the test would rather prove that the house still retained a 3% advantage. Thorp declined the offer, however, since playing against a dealer who is a sleight of hand artist is never a wise idea. Scarne continued to his death to challenge authors of card systems to play, but no one could ever agree with him on terms.

Regardless of whether or not Thorp’s calculations were as flawed as Scarne maintained, he won big using his strategy for counting, and before long there were a host of other counting strategies based on the same basic principles. The most popular one in use today is sometimes called “high-low.” In a high-low count, a player assigns a value of plus-1 to cards 2 through 6, a value of zero to 7 through 9, and a value of negative-1 to ten-point cards and aces. This strategy is the most popular because it is relatively simple, and with practice it is easily mastered. While it might not be as accurate as some of the more advanced counting methods, it is still quite effective.

A slightly more accurate counting technique is known as the Zen count. In this counting method, players assign a value of plus-1 to 2’s and 3’s, plus-2 to 4, 5, and 6, and a value of zero to 8 and 9. Ten-point cards are worth negative-2, and aces are worth negative-1. This strategy provides a more accurate count if it can be mastered, but it obviously takes more skill and practice than to master a high-low count.

Another blackjack innovator was Al Francesco. He developed the concept of team play, which is probably the most lucrative strategy in blackjack. A good team can make millions of dollars, provided they don’t get caught. Francesco invented the “big player” strategy. In this strategy, a team disperses throughout a casino and sits at different tables. Team members remain at one table, counting cards and playing conservatively. They do not vary their bets when the count is good, or otherwise play in any way that would indicate they are counting. Instead, when the deck is extremely favorable to the players, the team member will signal to the “big player.” The big player is a member of the team that roams around the casino keeping an eye on the counters. When one team member signals, the “big player” sits down at that table and places large bets. Since the odds are great, the big player can usually make good money doing this. When the deck again becomes more favorable to the house, the counting player signals to the “big player” and he moves on.

Big player teams have made very good money. Numerous teams have won millions of dollars by employing this strategy over the years, including the now famous team from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Big player strategy has many advantages, not the least of which is a team’s ability to remain undetected by casino security. Since the players that are actually counting the cards do not play like they are counting, it is nearly impossible for a casino to recognize what they are actually doing. Additionally, the “big player” only places maximum bets and jumps from table to table, appearing more like an erratic rich sucker than a seasoned professional.

The “big player” team strategy was made famous in 1977, when Ken Uston published his book “The Big Player.” In the book, Uston described his time playing with Al Francesco as a part of Francesco’s teams. Uston was another blackjack prodigy who caused fundamental changes in the way casinos dealt with skilled blackjack players. After the publication of his book, Al Francesco and his team were effectively banned from playing blackjack in Las Vegas. It soon followed that Uston faced numerous bans as well. He became a master of disguise, and would alter his look to fool casino security. His mastery of disguise and continued ability to beat casino security surely was in large part the impetus for casinos developing facial recognition software that they employ today.

Uston also devised other methods of reentering casinos he had been banned from. In 1979 Uston sued an Atlantic City resort casino company that had banned him for counting cards. He claimed that it ought to be illegal for casinos to ban skilled players, and that being good at something was not necessarily cheating. He ended up winning the lawsuit, and even today it is illegal for casinos in New Jersey to ban players for counting cards (provided they are not using an external aid, such as a counting computer). Because of this decision, casinos began changing the way they played the game. They added more decks into play and began shuffling much more often in an effort to thwart card counters.

Another very effective strategy is “Back Counting.” Back counting is a strategy that is similar to “big player” strategy in some ways, although it is designed for only one person to employ. The strategy was developed by Sanford Wong, another famous blackjack maven, and it is therefore sometimes referred to as “wonging.”  Back counting is similar in principle to big player strategy in that it is based on only playing hands when the deck is favorable to the player. A player stands behind a game and counts cards, and when the deck is favorable joins the game, or “wongs-in.” When the count shifts to favor the house, the player “wongs-out” and leaves the game. The strategy is most effective in games with four or more decks in play, as that tends to stabilize the odds somewhat. In a game with fewer decks, the chances of hitting a catastrophically series of cards are somewhat better, meaning the player may have to wong-out sooner.

The advantages to this strategy are clear. If a player is only playing when the odds are in his favor, he can place larger bets and win more money in a shorter period of time. Also, players who wildly increase or decrease their bets are easily spotted by casinos as card counters. Because of this, many casinos have made rules against entering in the middle of a game. Even if they do not, a player who jumps in and out of games while winning consistently can also draw the focus and ire of casino security. While “wonging” definitely creates a large player advantage, it is not necessarily a good strategy, as casinos have developed measures to essentially bar the practice.

There are many more card counting methods and player strategies, and because of the success of many of these, casinos have made many rule changes and created numerous counter-measures to combat skilled blackjack players. The major changes have come in the basic card play. More decks per shoe and more frequent shuffling decrease the statistical advantage of a good player, but they do not eliminate it. Casinos have had to develop technologies and strategies that are as clever as their foe’s.

Because of the proliferation of miniscule computers and other easily hidden devices, casinos now utilize scanning technology that can detect the use of electronic devices inside the casino, especially around card tables. While card counting (although disliked by casinos) is not illegal, using an outside device to aid the endeavor is. Players who use such blackjack techniques to cheat can be severely punished, especially in gambling towns like Las Vegas. Since casinos are likely to be ahead of the curve in terms of technology relating to this, it is definitely not advisable to try to get away with cheating at blackjack.

Another counter-measure that casinos have developed to beat card counters is to employ facial recognition software. The casinos use their ubiquitous security cameras to record facial images from players. These can be scanned by the computers that are using the software to accurately identify individuals. This software was developed to combat players who use disguises to circumvent previous bans. Even blackjack players like Ken Uston who became experts at using costume makeup, fake facial hair, etc., to beat security supposedly cannot beat the new facial recognition computers. Some people dispute the effectiveness of these systems, but the casinos maintain that they are nearly flawless. 

Casinos also use computer simulations and card counting programs to predict what moves will be made consistently by a player who is counting. For example, they may notice a particular pattern regarding the way a successful counter will play a specific hand. For example, imagine the player is dealt a hand totaling sixteen when the deck is favorable as opposed to when it is unfavorable. The patterns that emerge are used as models that can be compared with the play of a specific individual at the casino. If the computer can show a strong correlation between the model and a player’s actual moves, the casino can often identify a card counter.

In addition to the high-tech methods of deterring card counting, casinos also use some rather old-fashioned methods. Casino personnel may harass a player they suspect is counting cards. This harassment can range from threatening the player with expulsion or legal action to simply talking to him continuously to distract him from effectively counting.

Another option that casinos have is to control the way a player is betting. Since being able to win money by counting cards depends on increasing the amount that is bet when the deck is favorable, a casino may bar a player that they suspect is counting from doing so. This is called “flat betting” a specific blackjack player, and it more or less makes it impossible for them to continue playing while maintaining an advantage. Their ability to make money is severely curtailed, and it is in essence the same as banning the player.

Despite the technological and strategic advances that casinos have developed, a skilled, discreet card counter can still make money playing casino blackjack. The keys to success are practice, drive, and discretion, and a player that can master not only the techniques for improving his odds, but also the techniques for remaining undetected and avoiding confrontations with casino personnel can be very successful.