The Gravy Train
Remember that implementing good money management skills and learning how to play optimally only gets you halfway to where you want to go. The other part of your ticket consists of successfully hiding your acquired knowledge and skills, because the casinos will not hesitate to bar you from playing once they realize you can beat [...]
The Macho Mentality
The lure of playing beyond one’s limits is sometimes difficult to ignore. Some blackjack players feel a sense of superiority when they are placing the highest wagers at a table. Others feel that they have a leg up on weaker players whenever they deign to explain some aspect of the game to them. Some are [...]
The Luck/Chance Quandary
Not understanding the difference between “luck” and “chance” has cost gamblers plenty over the years. Part of the problem lies in semantics, while part comes from just plain ignorance. When the French say, “Bonne chance!” they really mean “Good luck!” Luck and chance refer to fortune and probability respectively. Luck is not a commodity that [...]
The Psychology of Blackjack
There are several interesting blogs about the psychology of gambling. At least one professor of psychology has theorized that there is a stronger human motive toward “play” than there is toward “work.” If this is true, then the game of blackjack oilers the promise of complete fulfillment in this sense, since it is certainly a [...]
Counting on Cruises
It has been my experience that cruise ships are generally oblivious to counters. I have been on several of these floating resorts that have made no attempt whatsoever to discourage blatant card-casers. I have often stood around the tables, jumping in and out of games with bets of any size, or simply asking to be [...]
Do’s and Don’ts
The following DO and DON’T lists will help you avoid arousing the suspicion of eagle-eyed pit bosses and conscientious dealers, thereby allowing you to stay in the game and ply your skills:
DO stash chips away in a pocket or purse surreptitiously, especially when winning.
DON’T ever use a betting range of more than ten units, no [...]
Casino Credit
Most casinos are happy to provide you with a “line of credit” for any amount you wish, as long as you have enough money in your bank back home to cover it. There is no fee for this service, and it can usually be in place within twenty-four hours after filling out the application. There [...]
Single-Deck MBS
Proper single-deck basic strategy, for instance, is slightly different from proper shoe strategy, even when the rules are identical. You will probably never actually use this information, since single-deck games are offered so rarely; and when they are, their rules are so restrictive that you would be foolish to play them anyway. It is worth [...]
Introduction to MBS (Modified Basic Strategy)
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, [...]
MBS (Modified Basic Strategy)
If all blackjack players consistently played out their hands according to correct BS as presented in chapter 3, there is no doubt that the casinos would be forced to discontinue the game. Playing perfect BS under favorable blackjack rules cuts the casino percentage advantage to zero (or less, when liberal rules variations apply). Expenses would [...]
Choosing a System That Is Right for You
Selecting which counting system you will learn and use is a very personal decision. Each player must be comfortable with his choice, not merely accepting recommendations made by various pitchmen trying to peddle their wares. The reader is encouraged to explore systems other than the Hi-Low and to reach independent conclusions. After all, the study [...]
Thorp’s Ultimate
Thorp eventually came up with a system that provided almost perfect wagering information. He called his last program the “Thorp Ultimate,” and it represented a 99.6% correct betting strategy. The point-values were assigned as follows: 2s = 5, 3s = 6, 4s = 8, 5s = 11, 6s = 6, 7s = 4,8s = 0,9s [...]
