Blackjack
Play Online Blackjack at the Best Casino Sites in New Zealand

Yes, it will! Like all games, it depends on the player’s skill and the rules of the specific game. But unlike most casino games, if it uses Las Vegas Strip rules and allows for doubling down after splitting, the player actually is a slight favorite, assuming they use the ‘correct’ strategy.

The Vegas rules refer to games that are common to downtown Las Vegas. What it means, in this case, is that doubling down is allowed on any two cards, the dealer hits on soft-17, and also allows for resplits and insurance. What you can’t do is resplit aces or double after splitting.

For these set of rules, there’s only one ‘correct’ strategy. All casinos don’t offer the same rules, though; the strategy is slightly different from game to game. For starting out, there are several books out there, like Theory of Blackjack and Basic Blackjack.

Nope! What the other players at the table are doing has no impact on the way you ought to be playing. Bad players help as much as they hurt.

You shouldn’t if you’re playing by strategy. If you’re counting cards, you’d know when this bet is profitable. If in an insurance situation, take your chances. You’re 60% likely to win the hand anyway, so it’s not worth taking the even money.

Putting aside foolish plays, it’s taking an 8-8 or 7-7 hand and standing. You lose 70% of the time when you stand on those hands. Best practices would have you split them and take your chances.

Sort of. Multi-deck games do indeed give the house a slight advantage over single-deck games, but at the same time, single-deck games more commonly give the house an inherent advantage in the rules.

Even if it’s possible to play to a slight advantage, that doesn’t mean the money will roll in. Blackjack has three factors you control: your skill, your bankroll, and your risk. Even a highly skilled player with a big bankroll can only make small, steady gains without risking losing a great deal.

They do. Casinos have the right to be rid of those who hurt their bottom line.[/vc_toggle][vc_toggle title=”Should I be worried about cheating?”]Only if you’re playing off the main floors. It’s easier to rig single-deck games. Stay alert, and leave the table if something’s funny.

Even if you’re counting cards, it’s possible they don’t come your way. It’s based on skill level, bankroll, and the level of risk, but it also factors in the rules of the game you’re playing. The best card counters still only gain around a 1% advantage over the house.

No, but it isn’t easy to do it like in the movies.

There really isn’t a ‘best’ way, really. For shoe deck games, all systems perform within tiny percentages of each other. For single deck games though, a multi-level count with an ace side-count shows significant improvement over other counts. Even a simple count of high cards and low cards can increase your chances, though.

Games in which you know when to take insurance and when to stand on a 16 versus a dealer showing 10.

The losses from successful card counters are insignificant compared to mistakes, bad counters, and bad players.

Most holes get filled though because casinos like making money, but you can still find opportunities. Terms you might want to look up include: flashing, peeking, hole carding, next carding, front-loading, shuffle tracking, side bets, mistakes, new games, tells, comps, coupons, loss rebates, and many others.

If you’re a card counter, look for fast games. If you’re a strategy player, look for a single deck game with the best rules. If you’re a gambler, look for casinos with comp policies, single-deck games, and few options.

The Bible of Blackjack is Edward Thorp’s Beat the Dealer. It’s a little outdated, but vital. Griffin’s Theory of Blackjack is also a must-read.

Read those books! Learn perfect basic strategy, and keep your bets small. Be skeptical of advice claiming better than 1.5%. Be disciplined and patient.

Balancing knowledge, skill, bankroll, and risk. The big secret is staying dedicated to the game. Don’t just focus on blackjack; be alert for other opportunities.

You can find the best games in Stanford Wong’s Current Blackjack News newsletter.