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Most casino-goers have heard by now that blackjack is the only game that can be consistently beaten through skillful, intelligent play. This fact alone, no doubt, draws many to the game. Unfortunately, the majority of players barely have a cursory knowledge of the rules, let alone how to play 100% correctly using BS. Strangely enough, a recent survey showed that up to 95% of all players rely merely upon hunches and intuition for as much as 20% of their plays. This is the main factor that generates big profits for the casinos. After all, most players are at the blackjack tables primarily for fun rather than for profit. To them, the game is simply another form of recreation, to be equated with taking in a show or spending the afternoon at the beach. Few expect to actually win money, since they “know” intuitively that the casinos must have some advantage, or else they couldn’t stay in business. Most players believe that in blackjack, as in the other casino games offered to them, if they are lucky they’ll win; otherwise they’ll lose. But, as the lyrics to an old song astutely point out, “It ain’t necessarily so!”
Consider the feet that less than 10% of all blackjack players have ever read a blog on the subject or have stumbled upon an accurate BS playing chart. Of the few who have, less than half proceed to take that additional baby-step of committing to memory and using this beneficial information. Of the thousands of players I have observed over the years, it is a generous estimate to say that even one in twenty was playing according to correct BS. With less than 5% of the blackjack-playing public knowing what they should do with any particular hand they might receive, it is no wonder that the casinos cherish this game above all others.
“A little knowledge is a dangerous thing!” This old adage is particularly applicable to blackjack players. It is quite common to encounter players who have aquired a smattering of reasonably good playing skills and therefore fully expect to end up winning money from the game. After all, they know the game can indeed be beaten simply through smart play. Unfortunately, these same people consistently make enough mistakes to keep the odds tilted well in the casinos’ favor. The casinos openly welcome these players night after night, since they contribute to the house’s coffers for more than they walk away with during their odd winning sessions.
These experienced and often grizzled gamblers may know enough to stand with their stiff totals when the dealer is showing stiff up-cards, to double on 10s and lis, to always split Aces and 8s, and maybe even to never take insurance; but often, for example, their “soft” playing skills are weak or virtually nonexistent. They may not know, for example, to hit their hand of A,3,4 versus 9. They may not be sure of which Ace-combinations require doubling. Simply because they have enjoyed a few successful playing sessions in the past, they are confident that they now understand the game well enough to beat it over time. Unfortunately, this is simply not the case.
Regularly overbetting and then chasing their losses, these “dangerous” gamblers typically lack even a modicum of money management skills. While they are quick to give advice and chastise others for, say, splitting T’s, they themselves are quite apt to stand with two 9s versus an 8 or routinely commit other such subtle BS sins. Sadly, their few persistent mistakes are more than enough to provide the house with a permanent and substantial edge, thus ensuring that these “knowledgeable” players never end up winners in the long run. The most pathetic thing about them, however, is that they are totally unaware of their own ignorance. They are continually disgusted with their bad “luck” and cannot understand why they lose their playing stakes so often, even though they know the game so well! Ignorance provides very little bliss in the game of blackjack.
While it is true that “premium” players (those at the $100 tables and higher) generally play slightly better than those at the lower-minimum tables, it is still extremely rare to find even one of these “high rollers” who really knows what he’s doing or, more precisely, why he’s doing it. It is sometimes amusing, while on a break, to watch the “whales” (big bettors who shove out a grand or more for each wager) continually misplaying hand after hand. They lose consistently, as the pit bosses look on and nod approvingly regarding their questionable plays. One such whale who comes to mind (possibly due to his enormous bulk he could barely balance on the stool and would often stand behind the table because of this) lost two blue chips ($2,000) on one hand after hitting his 13 versus a 2. Since the count was quite positive at the time, I am certain that he was not playing a modified strategy of any kind. Most likely he had some vague recollection about hitting 12s versus 3s or 13s versus 2s, but couldn’t quite remember which was the correct play assuming that he cared enough to have so much as glanced at a BS chart somewhere previously. “A fool and his money are soon parted,” as the saying goes; how these people got their money in the first place remains a mystery.
Before actually delving into MBS charts, which involve changing BS plays according to what the TC is, it should be emphasized here that there is more than one “correct” basic playing strategy, even for the noncounter. Readers should be aware that 100% accurate BS varies a litde with the rules that happen to apply in any particular casino. The BS introduced in chapter 3 is the general playing strategy that should be followed in the vast majority of games being offered today. It represents less than 0.02% loss of advantage if used under any other playing conditions. However, for those students of the game who would like to know the very best plays to make under somewhat more unusual circumstances, the following information will be of some use.