Blackjack instructional Software

[Clear History]

I'll soon be going to the casino with an sp. I know the basics of blackjack would like to learn more starting at square one. Any recommendations for instructional software. Needs to run on Mac.

Thanks and wish me luck!

 

[Incall]

they have many booklets there at the casino. Also go find at one of the casino machine casino. All you need is a quarter to play and practice using the black jack machines. These machines give you all the time for you to respond.
Also do a search on the internet. But to be careful don't do any heavy betting even if you start to win.

 

[Malibook]

http://www.blackjackinfo.com/bjbse.php

Some of the splits in this basic strategy chart are very aggressive and I wouldn`t do them even if up a lot.
Like splitting 8`s against a 10 or A or splitting 2`s or 3`s against a 2, 3, or 4.

Hitting a 12 against a 2 can go either way.
I like to hit it but if someone else stays with 12 and the table is basically playing for a bust, I am not going to try to be a hero and risk killing everybody.
Hitting 12 against a 3 is aggessive and I sometimes do it but usually don`t.
I will sometimes hit a 13 against a 2.

Most of basic strategy is basic common sense but there are several moves that are borderline and could easily go either way and I play them according to how the flow of the game is going and how I feel at the time.

 

[FTWWTF]

For me i always double down on a soft 17-19, against anything under a 6.

 

[Malibook]

For me i always double down on a soft 17-19, against anything under a 6.

So you double a soft 19 against a 2?

 

[superstar_88]

Sounds like bad strategy to me considering a dealer will only bust on a 2 35% of the time meaning 65% of the time dealer will make a hand 17 to 21. one card is more likely to give you a hand that is worse than 19. Only TJQKA2 will make it better or same. The other 7 cards will make your hand worse.

Blackjack Dealer Bust Percentages
Dealer Card 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Ace
Bust % 35% 37% 40% 42% 42% 26% 24% 23% 23% 17%

You can't beat the casino unless you can count cards and know what card counts mean and how to play based on card counts.

If you don't know math and probabilities then you're a sucker for the casino.

 

[vulcan99]

http://www.blackjackinfo.com/bjbse.php

Some of the splits in this basic strategy chart are very aggressive and I wouldn`t do them even if up a lot.
Like splitting 8`s against a 10 or A or splitting 2`s or 3`s against a 2, 3, or 4.

Hitting a 12 against a 2 can go either way.
I like to hit it but if someone else stays with 12 and the table is basically playing for a bust, I am not going to try to be a hero and risk killing everybody.
Hitting 12 against a 3 is aggessive and I sometimes do it but usually don`t.
I will sometimes hit a 13 against a 2.

Most of basic strategy is basic common sense but there are several moves that are borderline and could easily go either way and I play them according to how the flow of the game is going and how I feel at the time.

Bumping an oldie here.

your making a play "sometimes" or "usually" or "how I feel at the time" goes against the grain of strategy based play. It's called WAGging (wild ass guessing). Either hit it, or don't. Split it, or don't. By doing the same thing every time in the same situation, you allow variance to dictate the outcome rather than your own guesses.

We all know that counting is basically impossible in a six deck shoe (or the never-ending shoe, found at many Ontario casinos now). Make no mistake; even implementing consistent solid basic strategy leaves you with a significant disadvantage against the house.

For the OP - My tips? As follows.

1. Don't flat bet. Raise your bet when running good, drop it when running bad. DO NOT chase losses by betting more when the house is killing you (you would be surprised how many people do this)
2. If you lose three bets in a row, get up and walk.
3. NEVER double 9 or 8 (because of 2 or 3)
4. ALWAYS hit or double soft seventeen.
5. Twelve against dealer deuce? I hit it every time. Dealer makes a hand 65% of the time with a deuce.
6. I always split aces, deuces and eights against everything but dealer ace.

interesting fact - if you were dealt 18 every hand, and flat bet every hand, you will go home a loser.

My '02.

 

[Malibook]

your making a play "sometimes" or "usually" or "how I feel at the time" goes against the grain of strategy based play. It's called WAGging (wild ass guessing). Either hit it, or don't. Split it, or don't. By doing the same thing every time in the same situation, you allow variance to dictate the outcome rather than your own guesses.

No it is called going with the flow in a very small sampling of play.
The numbers may work out over many millions of hands but for any given stretch in a particular shoe, anything can happen and simply playing by the book usually means losing.

You talk about variance dictating the outcome yet you would walk away after losing 3 hands?
That is funny.

 

[bluecolt]

Vulcan99,

Good basic easy to remember strategy for the blackjack neophyte. Counting cards can even be simplified so that even us old farts can keep the count going.

 

[vulcan99]

No it is called going with the flow in a very small sampling of play.
The numbers may work out over many millions of hands but for any given stretch in a particular shoe, anything can happen and simply playing by the book usually means losing.

You talk about variance dictating the outcome yet you would walk away after losing 3 hands?
That is funny.

Three hands in a row...not three hands. Ever have a bad shoe? You won't, if you leave after 3 straight losses. The only shoes that hurt me are the lose two, win one, lose two, win one.....or when you get pounded on your splits and doubles

I didn't say it was gospel....this is how I play, and I am a winning player in a game where most people are losers.

 

[vulcan99]

Vulcan99,

Good basic easy to remember strategy for the blackjack neophyte. Counting cards can even be simplified so that even us old farts can keep the count going.

"hi opt 2" is the counting system that I try to implement. It's not that it is difficult, but it becomes impractical when 6 decks are used and 1.5 decks are cut out at the end of the shoe. Even worse is the neverending shoe, where the cards go back in the automated shuffle machine and the shoe never ends. You can still get single deck, higher limit games in some casinos elsewhere, but not in Ontario that I am aware of.

 

[Coors]

Try http://www.hitorstand.net

 

[Ballers83]

Use www.wizardofodds.com for all casino gaming info. They have special cards for blackjack that you can print out and take with you, which tells u the optimal strategy (Hit, Stand, Double, etc) for every scenario.