Blackjack at the casino - pros and cons of being 1st or anchor man?

[PeeluckyDuckee]

Those who play blackjack at the casino, is there a position that you prefer?

Being the anchor man you somewhat control what the dealer gets and don't get killed by others staying on soft hands and 15s and 16s.

Being in the 1st spot before you bet you can see what the last hand of the dealer is and bet accordingly. Usually when everybody gets small cards and the dealer's end card is a ten or a face, there's a good chance the first card dealt to you will be a face or ten. Just a feeling.

I did ok being the anchor man. Sometimes I take a hit for the team and everybody likes me. Would be better if I could win as well though.

Don't know what others think but...

My 12 against dealer's 2 I always hit
My 11 against the dealer's 10 or Ace I don't double.
My pair of eights against the dealer's 9 or 10 I don't split. Just a hit.
My 12 against dealer 3 I hit.
My 13 against dealer 2 I hit.
Soft 17 or 18 I hit if I'm the anchor man and the dealer shows a face.

Damn did I pay a hefty price to learn the game of blackjack though Don't ask how much!!

Whenever the rest of the people play it like it should then chances are ok. I watch how people play before I join in.

Makes me nervous when the fella beside me stays on 16 and makes me take his/her busting card.

 

[pulse8]

I think I read once that it doesn't matter what position you are or what the person next to you as it doesn't affect your odds much if you play they way you're suppopsed to.

 

[Raincity]

I always hit 12,13 against a 2,3 upcard. I always double down on eleven, and always hit soft 17 and always split aces and eights.

 

[Evadman]

Learn to count.

 

[PeeluckyDuckee]

Dealeralways says double eights is a split, even against an Ace. I tend to disagree. Unless you're the anchorman and have the feeling there's two or more face cards coming down the pipe when other's before you only got small cards.

 

[ManSnake]

It doesn't matter which position you play. If you follow basic strategy, your odds of winning for each hand will be the same regardless of other players. Simple statistics. Unless you are a really good card counter, dealer always win in the end.

 

[Chu]

Here is the bible for strategy for blackjack. Position doesn't matter unless your counting cards - it is superstition.

 

[DrPizza]

Originally posted by: Chu
Here is the bible for strategy for blackjack. Position doesn't matter unless your counting cards - it is superstition.

If you're good enought to count cards, then you want to be last, not first. That way, you get to see more cards. Based on your post so far, I'm guessing you're a "hunch" type of player. If you count cards and play perfectly, you'll come out ahead in the long run, but not by a lot.
(anyone who thinks they should hit because they're guessing the next card is a low card and the card after that is a high card... I don't even know what to say about that, except idiots and their money are generally quickly parted at casinos.)

 

[Veramocor]

No difference whatsoever!!!!Statistically the same chance no matter where you are. Plus you can't mess up anyone elses game, no matter how much they might claim you can.



Check out wizardofodds.com for great info.

 

[Raincity]

Card counting is a thing of the past in the major joints since the tables use Shufflemaster or the shoe. If everybody at the table is playing basic strategy and knowing basic count moves the odds less than 1% in your favor on a double deck game.

 

[Chu]

Originally posted by: Raincity
Card counting is a thing of the past in the major joints since the tables use Shufflemaster or the shoe. If everybody at the table is playing basic strategy and knowing basic count moves the odds less than 1% in your favor on a double deck game.

Actuially, it is still possible to count cards (see the article on the same site) if they are using the shoe, but the edge it gives you is so small your not going to make a living doing it unless you play super high stakes -- and if they see you counting your gone. There is a really interesting article on thewizardofodds about how the shufflemaster actuially decreases the house odds, but the tradeoff is more hands per hour and no counting. I'd personally love a shufflemaster for my poker game (1 deck of course) but they're so expensive