Program/rules to learn basic strategy for Blackjack?

[SaltyNuts]

Can anyone suggest a program (PC) that helps you learn it? Also, can anyone break basic strategy down into the most important rules to remember, where if you remember those rules you know (just a wild arse guess) 93% of basic strategy? That way, I could memorize the rules, then play the program to catch the remainder.

For example, you generally assume you and the dealer's down card is a 10 value card, and I think they hit 16, stand 17, so if they show a 15 while you have a 9, you would hit (thinking you would get 19, and they would bust with a 25). Stuff like that.

Off to Lake Charles in a couple weeks.

Thanks!

 

[GagHalfrunt]

There are a million charts available on what to do in every situation, just google it.

Or, if you really want to approach things from a scientific standpoint to maximize your chances of success, it's ever easier: Don't play! Period. Perfect blackjack strategy is merely the slowest way to go broke.

 

[EvilYoda]

Wizard of Odds has great programs for just about any table game. I would just study a basic strategy card (they're available online to print along with in casinos and you're allowed to have those at the table) and quiz yourself using WoO's site.

Dealers will also tell you what "the book" says if you ask - nothing wrong with that.

 

[Elganja]

this makes it easy... after a while you'll know what to do generally speaking

 

[spacejamz]

be prepared for the assholes who give you shit for taking 'their' card (when you should have taken a 'stand' inside of getting another card from the dealer) at the dollar black jack tables...

 

[Pantoot]

this makes it easy... after a while you'll know what to do generally speaking

Seriously, don't bother studying, just buy one of these and take it with you.
https://www.amazon.com/Blackjack-Basic-Strategy-Chart-Dealer/dp/0982119151

Actually buy a bunch, because you are going to want to hand them out at the table.

Makes it a lot easier, you see your cards, you look at the chart, and if anyone tries to give you shit, you throw a card at them. Plus, you can drink until the chart starts getting blurry.

 

[SaltyNuts]

Thanks guys!

Ha, funny you should mention that spacejamz. I remember I made a dumb move and hit when the rules (which I didn't understand at all at the time) said I should have stayed. They guy after me gave me the dirtiest upset look of all time. But he ended up winning (and had I not hit would have lost). Still, he didn't thank me!

GagHalfrunt: I think you overlook the possibility of counting cards to get an edge...

 

[SaltyNuts]

Oh snap, those take-with-you charts are awesome! For $15 you can even get a set of 6 that have most of the different conceivable sets of rules! Thanks so much!

 

[GagHalfrunt]

Thanks guys!

Ha, funny you should mention that spacejamz. I remember I made a dumb move and hit when the rules (which I didn't understand at all at the time) said I should have stayed. They guy after me gave me the dirtiest upset look of all time. But he ended up winning (and had I not hit would have lost). Still, he didn't thank me!

GagHalfrunt: I think you overlook the possibility of counting cards to get an edge...

No, I discount your intelligence.

Counting cards can give you a slight edge if, and only if, you're playing someplace without a constant reshuffling machine and only if they allow huge betting size variations so that you can make giant bets when in a plus count and tiny minimum bets when in a minus count. That casino no longer exists. The MIT blackjack team exposed the flaws in the system that allowed teams of expert card counters to exploit the system and the casinos closed those holes. Most use CRMs now, all have tightened betting spreads on tables to eliminate giant bets when the count is favorable and all have learned to spot teams of counters. Unless you're going to crack the game in your brother-in-laws basement you're not going to make money counting cards now. Casinos know how its done and prevent it from being effective.

 

[SaltyNuts]

Oh. Thanks GagHalfrunt. I think.

 

[WaTaGuMp]

Press betting is your friend.

 

[SaltyNuts]

What's press betting Watagump?

 

[WaTaGuMp]

What's press betting Watagump?

Its increasing your betting when you win hands. I use to play $25 starting, if I won I pressed to $50, win again, press to $75, win again, press to $100 stay there until you lose, then back down to $25 and repeat. You can do the same thing with $10, etc. Using it along with proper basic strategy you can win, but of course you need to find a cold dealer. You also need proper money management when playing, knowing when to walk away.

 

[SaltyNuts]

But why does the fact that you won one hand have any indication on when you are going to win the next hand? I mean, absent card counting. Seems to me by pressing like that you are just setting yourself to lose everything back you earned previously!

 

[GagHalfrunt]

But why does the fact that you won one hand have any indication on when you are going to win the next hand? I mean, absent card counting. Seems to me by pressing like that you are just setting yourself to lose everything back you earned previously!

Press betting is not a winning strategy. If it could ever tip the odds into the players favor the casinos would be out of business the next day. Anyone that suggests any variation on increasing bets when winning or doubling them when losing is an idiot. They can never change the odds of the game. Counting cards and VASTLY increasing bet size on a positive deck is the only thing that can possibly give the player the advantage and it's impossible to do that now. Everything else you're just sitting there giving them your money.

 

[WaTaGuMp]

But why does the fact that you won one hand have any indication on when you are going to win the next hand? I mean, absent card counting. Seems to me by pressing like that you are just setting yourself to lose everything back you earned previously!

If you have a cold dealer or a cold deck at the time, you want to win more money don't you? Plus once you win 2 hands pressing your bet still gives you a profit on the hand, since you are not betting all you won.

 

[WaTaGuMp]

Press betting is not a winning strategy. If it could ever tip the odds into the players favor the casinos would be out of business the next day. Anyone that suggests any variation on increasing bets when winning or doubling them when losing is an idiot. They can never change the odds of the game. Counting cards and VASTLY increasing bet size on a positive deck is the only thing that can possibly give the player the advantage and it's impossible to do that now. Everything else you're just sitting there giving them your money.

I bought a Rolex back in the days using press betting. I am not saying you are changing the odds, I am simply showing that betting more when winning over losing can net a profit.

 

[MixMasterTang]

Blackjack is a games of ups and downs, having a proper bank roll and knowing when to stop when you're peaking on the uptrend helps, but nobody is going to consistently win and make money.

 

[WaTaGuMp]

Blackjack is a games of ups and downs, having a proper bank roll and knowing when to stop when you're peaking on the uptrend helps, but nobody is going to consistently win and make money.

Exactly, that's why I used press betting when I played, take advantage of the upswings for the player. Money management, discipline and bankroll all play a role in helping a player win. I would go from table to table looking for a cold deck/dealer, sometimes it didn't happen, but when it did, I pounced. I was very well known at the Luxor back in the mid 90's, heh.

 

[SaltyNuts]

" I would go from table to table looking for a cold deck/dealer, sometimes it didn't happen, but when it did, I pounced. "

Now I'm even more confused Watagump. Why are you looking for a COLD table? Some other guy, just like you, got up as the table was cold. Why are you now going to jump in there? Based on your pressing winning bets, wouldn't you want to hop on a WARM table? Thanks.

 

[WaTaGuMp]

" I would go from table to table looking for a cold deck/dealer, sometimes it didn't happen, but when it did, I pounced. "

Now I'm even more confused Watagump. Why are you looking for a COLD table? Some other guy, just like you, got up as the table was cold. Why are you now going to jump in there? Based on your pressing winning bets, wouldn't you want to hop on a WARM table? Thanks.

Cold dealer or cold deck, I meant for the dealer not the player. A cold dealer is a dealer who is getting the crappy hands, busting etc. The dealer is HOT, that's bad for the player.

 

[SaltyNuts]

Oh I see Watagump, thanks. So you just look for the tables where the players seem to be winning, and sit down there? How many hands do you have to typically lose in a row (or what ration of losses/wins or whatever) before you get up and walk away to either leave or find a new table?

 

[WaTaGuMp]

Oh I see Watagump, thanks. So you just look for the tables where the players seem to be winning, and sit down there? How many hands do you have to typically lose in a row (or what ration of losses/wins or whatever) before you get up and walk away to either leave or find a new table?

Nope, I always tried to play the dealer heads up, easier said than done though. I never counted hands, I played to win short bursts, lay down $200, cash out for $1000 or higher quickly, then move on. I never sat at a table for long periods of time just hoping for things to turn. If a table took my $200, it was off to another. I will never forget making my biggest mess up ever. I had a cold dealer and I knew it, I was playing as much as $300 a hand as many as 3 hands at a time and winning. I had the entire row of $25 chips in front of me out of the dealers tray, plus some from another row. They switched dealers on me and I didnt walk away, I gave it all back, only saving grace was it was money I won the trip before from them, so like was posted before, the game has ups and downs, ALL gambling does.

 

[Raincity]

Just play the way you want to play. Utilizing basic strategy on the short term is essentially the same mathematically as not utilizing it.

 

[Ruptga]

There's no such thing as a cold anything in this context. Previous results have no effect on future outcomes when it comes to standardized games like gambling. You/the dealer are not more likely to lose after a good streak, nor are you/the dealer more likely to win after a bad streak. Cherry picking results can make it look like either of those happen, but when you look at the big picture they just don't. If you want to win at gambling you need to count cards, but like gag has said it's very hard to do that profitably.