This is part 2 of a 2 part series. 

The first post, is how to play Blackjack – and it’s a playing strategy, which I came up with after 2 years of dealing the game.  It’s unconventional, but an excellent way to win.  You can click here, to see the post.  I originally decided to put the guide up, because a lot of MMO games, have casino games inside their own games, and understanding the game can help you to easily win.

When you play any game, it’s easy to just drone on, and play the same amount of money each time.  However in any game, the house has an advantage.  Over time, this advantage will mean you lose, when it’s applied.  For example, Blackjack has a 4% house advantage.  That means for every $1000 you bet, you will LOSE $40.  The only way around this, is to use a betting strategy, along with a playing strategy in order to win more.

There are 2 betting strategies I am going to suggest, either is acceptable to use.  I will also explain some of the more stupid betting strategies.  In these strategies, I am going to refer to the amount as units.  If you normally play $5 a hand, then your $5 will equal 1 unit.  If you normally bet $25, then your $25 will equal 1 unit.  2 units, will be 2x your normal bet.  4 units will be 4x your normal bet.

The first, thing we are going to do, is bet your normal unit.  If you lose, bet 1 unit.  When you win your first time, don’t change your bet, bet the same unit.  If you win the next hand,  increase your bet by 1 unit, so that it is now 2 units.  If you the next hand, increase your bet by 1 unit, making it 3 units.  If you lose, go back to 1 unit.  If you win the next hand, increase your bet by 1 unit, so that it is now 4 units.  Keep this up till you lose, then when you lose, decrease your bet to 1 unit, and start over.

A variation of this, is to bet 1 unit, wait till 2 wins in a row, then bet 1.5 units.  If you again win, increase your bet by 1/2 the amount currently bet.  If you lose, bet 1 unit again, and start over.  If you win, increase your bet by 1/2 the amount currently bet. etc. 

Both of the above methods are are acceptable ways to bet.  You will keep control of your money, and it will be hard to lose, but if you get on a winning streak, you will win a lot more.  They are called winning strategies.

There are a couple variations of the above strategies, which are not good, and will ultimately make you lose.  Remember them, don’t do them…

When you lose a hand, double your bet.  Each time you lose, double your bet.  The problem with this, is that when you finally win, you will only win your original bet.  Using numbers to follow this method, think of it as $10 being doubled till it hits $320.  You will have bet a total of $310.  So when you do finally win, you will only gain the extra $10.  And whats worse, is when you hit the table limit, and can’t double the bet anymore.  This is called losing progressive.

Another losing strategy is to double your bet, each time you win, every time.  So if you bet 1 unit, and win, then the next hand, you bet 2 units, then 4 units, then 8 units… but the problem here, is that when you do lose, if you don’t pull anything back, you will lose the original unit you bet, and eventually go down.

Ever wonder why casinos in most places give you free drinks? It’s to make you not able to keep track of your betting strategies and playing strategies.

 I once had a guy playing roulette (pick a number and hope it hits).  He bet red, and put down $100.  Then when he lost, he bet $200.  When he lost again, he bet $400… he kept betting, till he hit the table limit.  Now in Roulette, there is 45% chance that the dealer will roll your red and 45% chance to roll black, with a 10% chance to roll green, the zero and double zero.  However the law of averages doesn’t alway apply… eventually, the dealer will hit your color, but there is no way to say when it will be.  That day, I rolled 17 in a row… no red.  He lost over $3000 in less then 15 minutes, because he did a losing progressive, and then hit the table limit.  Had there been no limit and had he enough money, he would have won $100 eventually. 

I hope this info helped you, being a dealer I learned some other things as well.  One of the best tips I can tell you, after dealing in both Nevada and California, is to tip the dealer.  I know, you think it’s just a gift, why should you do it, right?  Here’s some hidden info… the dealer can control if you win or lose.  How? I will leave that up to your speculation, but let me just leave you with this… it’s not necessarily them cheating, there are other methods to make you win or lose.

You’re probably wondering why I am posting this, when this site is for MMO’s and RPG’s, right?  Well the otherday, I was trying out Fallen Earth, and popped into one of their “casinos” to check it out.  They had some slot machines (don’t play them) and blackjack.  So I went ahead and played and doubled my money.  Worked out well for me, and I had some more chips (the currency in FE).  So I began to think of all the mmo’s out there, which also have games inside the games, and am now going to share with you, a playing strategy, I came up with after 2 years of dealing blackjack in Las Vegas casinos.  I dealt a total of 10 years, and dealt blackjack, craps, roulette, and poker as a dealer, so have an extensive knowledge of each game.  Of these games, the house advantage is about 4% in Blackjack, 1.5% in Craps (on some bets), astronomical in Roulette, and about 1-5% in Poker… of course in Poker the house gets a take of the pot.

First off, let me explain something about my playing strategy… you can play like this in casinos, it works.  It also pisses off a ton of people, who always refer to “the book”.  The Book, is a playing strategy thats similar to mine, but written with some differences that make it safer to play.  To explain my playing strategy, let me start by telling you most simply what blackjack is.  Blackjack is a game played with up to 7 players who bet against the dealer.  The player tries to get closest to 21, without going over, yet still beating the dealer.

In all, there are 13 different cards in a Blackjack deck.  They are the Ace, which counts as either 1 or 11, and you can play it as either. There are also the 2-10, jack, queen, and king.  The J, Q, K count as 10, and represent 10.  In all there are 4 cards of the 13, which count as 10.  Thats about 1/3 of the cards in the deck.  Sometimes in Blackjack, the 2, is refered to the dealer’s ace.  This is because when the dealer has a 2 up, the chance of having a 10 underneath AND getting another 10 to pust is very difficult, there’s about a 1/10 chance of that happening.  More often, the dealer will make a hand with a 2 up.  I am telling you this now, as this will play into my strategy, which you will see.

When the dealer is showing a 7 or higher, you want to assume that the dealer is going to have a hand they can stand on. This means you want to hit till your cards equal 17 or more. 

If the dealer is showing an Ace up, there is a 1/3 chance the dealer will get Blackjack, which is an Ace and any 10 (10, J, Q, K).  The dealer will always ask for insurance.  Knowing that there is about a 1/3 chance he will have blackjack, you shouldn’t insure your bet, ever! 

If the dealer is showing a 2-6 up, we assume the dealer has a 10 underneath and and try not to bust ourself or get into situations where we can bust – which is to go over 21.

Special circumstances…

• If you have a 12 or 13 and the dealer is showing a 2 up, you should hit once.
• If the dealer is showing a 3 up, and you have 12, you should hit once.
• If you have a pair of Aces… should should hit them.  Never spit them!  The chance that you will make 2 winning hands is about 25% of the time.  More likely then not, you will push, and only a 25% chance to win.  Hitting them, gives you a better chance to make a hand.
• If you have a pair of 8s.  Split them when the dealer is showing a 2-8.  Do not split if the dealer is showing a 9, 10, J, Q, K, Ace.
• If you have a pair of 9’s… Stay.  Do not split them under any circumstances.
• If you have a pair of 10, J, Q, K, or any combination… Stay.  UNLESS, the dealer has a 3, 4, 5, or 6 up.  Then you should split them, and take only one card on each.  Do not resplit them, as you are able to do, if you get another 10, J, Q, K.
• Do not split any other pair.
• Double Down, on 10 or 11 – but only when the dealer is showing a 3-9.  If the dealer is showing 2, any 10, or an Ace, you don’t want to risk the double.
• If the dealer is showing 2 - 6, and you have a pair of Aces, you can double down on them (remember, don’t split them).

You would be surprised how many players have gotten up from the table I have played at.  Unfortunately, this information is against “the book” and it goes against how others play.

About tipping…

If you plan to play in a real casino, with a real dealer… tip the dealer.  The dealer relies on your tips to make money those cheap ass casinos only give them minimum wage.  If you think tipping $1 while you are betting $100 is good, piss off!  Every 3rd winning hand, you should tip the dealer 10% of what you bet on the average.  You can ask the dealer if they want to play it or bet it, or you can make the decision for them… but if you bet for them and then split or double, make sure to bet more for them too.

Here are the most common lies we heard as dealers…

1. I tip when I win
2. I tip when I am done playing

When someone says either of the above, we know you are lying and will never tip us, so don’t bother saying it.  Sadly, as a group, Chinese and Hawaiian’s tip the worst, if at all.

My next post will be betting strategies, be sure to read that, before you start playing using the above method.