beginner's blackjack project-phase 4

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FOREWORD

My name is Ev, and I am a novice blackjack player. I live on Canada¶s East Coast, and have

played in several casinos in 4 provinces. I¶ve also had the fortune to be able to spend a couple

weeks playing in Las Vegas. I am indeed no expert on play. I have read several texts on the

subject of blackjack, explaining different theories of play, different betting strategies, different

money management techniques. But I wanted to have a no-nonsense guide containing the

basic, important information I wanted in one spot. I have compiled some of that information here,

with my goal being to provide the beginning blackjack player with the information and the

confidence they need to get started.

Here you will find rules of play, and basic strategy explained in a simplified manner. Take the

time to study this strategy. It is worth every minute. This does not mean you will win every single

blackjack game from now on. No system or rule will win 100% of the time. But with the help of

blackjack strategy, patience and persistence, you will gain an overall edge in the game,

improving your chances of µbeating the casino¶.

What you will not find here is information on card counting, shuffle tracking, and other tactics of

the µadvanced¶ player. There is enough documentation written by ³the experts´ explaining that in

detail. And, I don¶t want to intimidate new players. All I¶m doing here is giving new blackjack

players a solid foundation. From there, you can build on it as you wish.

It is my hope that you will, in some way, find some of this information helpful.



Introduction to Blackjack Strategy

Blackjack is a game of skill as well as luck. Blackjack strategy is based on the mathematical

probabilities of the game and it provides you guidance on the best decisions to make at every possible

situation during the game. Of course, no blackjack strategy can guarantee that you will win every hand.

But following a good blackjack strategy can definitely improve the odds that you can come out ahead in

the long run.

So why should you follow a strategy when gambling? Several good reasons would be:

Low risk / high reward. Risk can be tightly controlled with big reward potential.

Eliminate emotion. Psychology works against you when you are gambling, not for you. By following a

strategy you remove emotion from your decision process and avoid the biggest pitfall of losing

gamblers.

Start small. With a $200 stake you can make $10 wagers and manage them intelligently. As you win,

increase your bet size.

Fun. Playing with a strategy is much more fun than flying by the seat of your pants. When it works in

your favour, you will have a blast.

Bankroll Management. The single biggest factor for gamblers going broke is not paying attention to

strict bankroll management rules. You can eliminate the possibility of going broke by following good

rules, and that alone raises your expectation considerably.

Hopefully this guide will reveal to you strategies to become a smarter, more confident player by arming

you with a battle plan. Let's get started...

Beginnerds Blackjack:

A Personal Reference

Disclaimer: The information in this guide is for entertainment purposes only and is not to be taken as financial advice.Gambling is extremely risky and you might lose a lot of money. In some jurisdictions gambling, whether online or offline, might be deemed illegal - so check with your local laws before doing any gambling. The gambling systemsmentioned in this guide may not work. Problem gamblers should never gamble and never try to work a gambling system and should stay away from all gambling games and not even read any of these pages. Review the contents of this guide at your own risk. Please act responsibly.



Blackjack Explanation

If you are new to the game of Blackjack and have never sat at a Blackjack table in a casino, I havesummarized some of the major points below.

Blackjack is one of the most popular and simple of casino games. The object of Blackjack is to beat thedealer by having your cards (known as your hand) total twenty-one, or as near to twenty-one as possible

without going over. The winner is whoever has the hand closest to a total of 21. You reach 21 by addingup the values of the cards in your hand. Tens and face cards are worth ten points, the other cards countas their numerical values, and Aces are worth one or 11, at the discretion of the player.

For example, a six of spades and an eight of hearts is 14. A Queen of spades and a Jack of diamondscounts as 20. An Ace of spades and a six of hearts can count as 17 or seven.

You determine the valuation of the Ace, and can decide to change it in mid-hand. In the last example,for instance, say you draw an Eight to the Ace and six. That would "bust" your hand if the Ace wascounted as 11, so in that situation, you drop the Ace count to one, and you've got a 15.

Basic Rules of the Game

If the first two cards you are dealt total twenty-one, you have a blackjack. Blackjack pays one and ahalf times your bet*. You cannot lose but you could tie if the dealer also has a blackjack.

If you are dealt any combination other than blackjack, you can either ´standµ (take no more cards) orsignal the dealer for a ´hitµ (draw additional cards). Remember, the objective is to reach twenty-oneor as close to twenty-one as possible without going over. You also want your hand to be closer totwenty-one than the dealer·s hand. If you should go over twenty-one (´bustµ), you immediately lose.

After each player takes his or her turn, the dealer turns up the house face down card. If the dealer hassixteen or less, the house must ´hitµ (draw additional cards), until reaching seventeen or more. Dealermust stand on ´softµ 17. A ´soft 17µ is a hand containing at least one Ace and can be counted as eitherseven or seventeen. If your card count is closer to twenty-one than the dealer·s hand, you win. If it isless, the house wins. If you tie with the dealer, you ´pushµ (nobody wins and nobody loses). If thedealer ´busts,µ the house must pay all the players still in the game.

Blackjack games can be played with anywhere between 1 to 8 decks of cards, depending on the casino.Occasionally, the Blackjack dealer shuffles the cards, and if they·re dealing more than two decks,they'll place the shuffled cards in a box known as a "shoe"**. After they shuffle, they'll ask one of theplayers to "cut" the deck, by using a coloured card, known as the cut card. The player simply slides thecoloured card into the deck at any point. The dealer divides the deck at the cut point, and takes thecut card and places it about two-thirds the way into the deck. This deck "penetration" varies fromcasino to casino, and sometimes even from table to table. The dealer then places the cards into theshoe, or arranges them in his hand (for single or double deck games). The dealer will then discard thefirst card (known as a ´burn"). Play is then ready to resume.

*This is known as a 3:2 payout game. For example, if you are dealt a Blackjack on a $10 bet, you are awarded $15. There

are now games that are a 6:5 payout, meaning that a $10 Natural returns only $12. Try to avoid these games if possible, asyou are just helping the casino short-change you out of potential profits.

** In many casinos today, dealers are now using something called a Continuous Shuffling Machine, or CSM. Instead

of stoppages in play to wait while the dealer shuffles the cards, every few hands the spent cards are placed into the

CSM and are automatically (and randomly) mixed with the remaining undealt cards in the shoe. They are used

because it means less time shuffling and more time dealing, which means more money for the casino. They also

take most of the advantage away from potential card counters, which means more money for the casino.



Other Options

Splitting Pairs

If you are dealt two cards with equal value, you have the option of ´splittingµ them into two separate

hands. You must match your original bet if you ´split.µ You may ´splitµ a pair up to three times making

four separate hands, depending on the casino. You can take as many ´hitsµ as you like on each hand.

If you ´splitµ a pair of Aces, you will receive only one card on each of the hands, but if one of the ´hitµ

cards is another Ace, you may split again.

Doubling Down

Players also have the option of increasing their wager by ´doubling down.µ After receiving your first

two cards, you may ´double downµ on any first two cards. You may also ´double downµ after ´splittingµ

a pair.

Insurance

If the dealer·s ´upµ card is an Ace, you have the option of making an ´insuranceµ wager. You may

wager any amount up to half your original wager that the dealer·s down card has a value of ten. If the

card has a value other than ten, you lose the insurance bet and the dealer takes that wager.

Surrender

Surrender offers you as a player the choice to fold your hand, at the cost of half of the original bet. You

must make that decision prior to taking any other action on the hand. For example, once you draw a

third card, or split, or double down, surrender is no longer an option. Not every game offers surrender,

and those that do fall into two categories: Early and Late. This will be explained further later.



The Gaming Floor

Now you must choose a table to begin your play. The Blackjack table in the casino is generally set upwith seven betting spots, although some games have only five betting spots. A dealer acts on thebenefit of the house and stands behind the table to deal the cards. Of the seats available, there aretwo that are significant. The first seat to the dealers left, or the first active player to the dealers left,is referred to as ¶first base·. The other seat worth mentioning is the last seat to the dealer·s right, orthe last active player to the dealer·s right. This is referred to as ¶third base·, or the ¶anchor·. As abeginning player, I would recommend trying to avoid these seats when possible, as play at these is

scrutinized by many ¶regulars·. In their eyes, a bad play at first base sets the tone for the other handsbeing played, and if players draw bad cards, first base gets blamed. Similarly, if a bad play is made atthird base, and you wind up drawing a card that would have caused the dealer to bust, causing severalplayers to lose that hand, this could also be looked on quite unfavourably. Try to sit down as close tothe center of the table as you can, giving more experienced players the opportunity to relocate to oneof these end positions. It causes a lot less friction, keeping your playing experience enjoyable.

As a beginning player, something else to consider are the players at each table. If there are openings ata table where the players appear serious, and seem to have a sizeable amount of chips in front of them,perhaps it might be best to pass this one by. Sometimes more serious players don·t regard beginnershighly, and many times don·t mind voicing their opinions. However, if there·s an opening at a tablewhere the mood is a little lighter, try to sit down there, as often players who are enjoying themselvesare more forgiving, and often provide a little advice to help you along with your game play as well. The

best option would be to play at a table with as few players as possible, even one by yourself, becauseyou could easily start up a dialogue with the dealer, who would likely help you along with your play,and answer any questions you might have. This opportunity would not present itself at a busier table.

Another consideration when choosing a table to play is the payout for Blackjack. If possible, find a tablethat pays out at 3:2, and not 6:5, as it increases your profit for a natural, not the casinos.

And finally, as a beginner, you should try to find a table with the lowest minimum wager possible, asthe lower the minimum wager, the more bets you·ll be able to place, extending your play time at thetable. If you want to risk a small bankroll, say $100, it is recommended you play at a table with a $5minimum wager if possible.* You can play a $10 table with $100, but it doesn·t leave you a lot ofcushion during extended streaks of losing hands, potentially ending your night sooner than you wouldlike. I have seen Las Vegas casinos with tables with minimums as low as $2 per hand, and casinos

elsewhere where you won·t see a table lower than $15. In cases like these, sometimes it·s a matter ofthe time of day or day of the week, as I have sat down at these $15 tables, then noticed a $10 tableopen up an hour or so later. Just keep your head up once in a while to see if those opportunitiespresent themselves.

Tables usually post a sign or placard that announces the minimum and maximum wagers. In many casesyou don't even have to read the sign. All you have to do is look at the color. Many casinos color-codetheir table game signs to match the denomination of chip for the minimum bet for that table. So all youhave to do is look at the color of the sign. The colors of the chips used in the majority of casinos arethe same. The denominations of the colors usually are:

White or Blue chips are $1Pink chips are $2.50

Red chips are $5 and are called nickels.Green chips are $25 and are called quarters.Black chips are $100 and are simply called blacksPurple Chips are $500 and are called Barneys.Orange chips are $1000 and are called pumpkins.

* Based on the ¶recommended· ratio of 1:20, meaning you should play a game where the table minimum is equal to 1/20 th

of the bankroll you are prepared to play, or better.



You may occasionally encounter a different color for the $1 & $2.50 chips but red and green are thestandards in most casinos. The reason that the casino uses different color chips is to make it easy forthe dealers, pit personnel and surveillance cameras to determine how much a player is betting.By matching the color of the chips with the table signs it makes it easy to tell the minimum bet for atable with just a quick glance. A red sign would denote a $5 table and a green sign would tell you thatthe minimum bet is $25 dollars. This makes it convenient for the players. There are some tables thathave minimums that don't correspond to chip colors such as $10 and $15 games. Some casinos useyellow for $10 tables and orange for $15 tables. Some casinos may have the same color sign for all tableminimums. All you have to do is note which colour signs the casino you are visiting use. Then remember

it for the next time.

After you've decided the table you want to play at, you must then buy the chips. Wait until the round is

played out, and the dealer has finished paying out players winnings. As the dealer begins to gather up

dealt cards, place your money on the table. Do not give it to the dealer directly as they are not allowed

to accept money from your hands. Do not place your money inside the betting circle; instead, set it to

one side of the betting circle and wait for the dealer to convert it into chips.

After you·ve received your chips, place your bet in a stack in the circle in front of your seat. It·s

important to note that when placing a bet consisting of chips of different values, the higher

denominations go on the bottom, and lower denominations go to the top. The dealer will then check to

make sure that all players have their bets in the right place and in the right amount. They begin

distributing the cards to the players from the front of the shoe or the top of the deck. They'll begin

with the player farthest to his left, known as "first base", and then proceed to give one card to each

player, including themselves (known as the dealer's "up card"). They'll repeat this action until every

player has two cards. The deal is then completed with the dealer by sliding their second card face down

underneath their up card (known as the "hole card").

In some casinos, the players are allowed to handle the cards. In this situation, the players receive their

cards face down, and pick them up with their hands. If you're playing this type of game, do not use two

hands to pick the cards up. Pick them up with one hand and hold them over the table. Never removethem from the table or shield them in any manner from the dealer's view. The dealer is responsible for

the security of the cards, and must prevent them from being replaced by other cards or otherwise

tampered with.

In other casinos, the players' cards are dealt face up, and the players are prohibited from touching

them. The dealer handles all the cards and chips.

After the dealer gives each player two cards, he'll return to first-base and start acting on each hand

individually. He will point to your cards when it is your turn.

It is at this point where you must decide how (and if) you will advance your play. The options availableto you are going to be explained next.



Options

If you want another card-a "hit"-you indicate it by scratching the table with your hand, or a

pointing/tapping motion with your finger. The dealer will not accept a verbal command because the

hand signal must be given so that the security cameras can see exactly what you want to do with that

hand. If you want to "stand"-take no cards-you indicate by waving your hand, palm down, over the

table.

In the hand-held game, you scrape the table with the edge of your cards to indicate you want to hit.

When you're satisfied with your hand, you slide your cards under your chips in the betting circle.

It is crucial to learn blackjack hand signals, as your motions are under surveillance, and if there is anyquestion as to what happened in a particular game, there would be a video record of your movements,but not of your speech. You should also tell the dealer what you want them to do, but you should beaware, that, for example, if you tap your finger against the table and say 'stand', the dealer will stillgive you another card.

If you take a hit and that card puts your total over 21, you lose automatically, or ´bustµ. The dealer

removes your cards and your chips. In the hand-held game, turn your cards over immediately if you've

exceeded 21, so the dealer can finish your hand.

At the end of the hand, if the totals of your cards are the closest to 21, you win! If the dealer's hand is

closer to 21, you lose. And if you tie the dealer-called a "push"-no one wins or loses. If the dealer hasn't

busted, he will pay the winners and take the loser's chips. If you have pushed, the dealer will rap the

table in front of you with his knuckles and leave the chips where they stand. You are then permitted to

adjust or remove the bet.

The rules the dealer must play by are very simple. If the dealer's hand is 16 or less, he/she must take a

card. If the dealer's hand is 17 or more, he/she must stand. Note that some casinos allow the dealer to

hit on soft 17 which gives the house a very small additional advantage. The dealer's strategy is fixed and

what you and the other players have is irrelevant to him/her as far as hitting and standing is concerned.

There is one way to win automatically, and that is to receive a total of 21 in the first two cards. That

requires a ten-value card and an Ace. That is what's called a "natural" or a "Blackjack ".

When a player receives a Blackjack, he wins a bonus. Normally, all bets are paid off at even money

when playing Blackjack, but when you get a Blackjack, you receive a three-to-two payoff. If you've bet

$10, you'll get paid $15, for example.

If you're playing the hand-held game, you should turn your cards over immediately to get paid.

The only time a player can receive a Blackjack and not get paid immediately is if the dealer also has

Blackjack. In this case, it's a push, and no one gets paid.

If the dealer·s ´upµ card is an Ace, you will then be presented with the option of making an ´insuranceµ

wager. This will be explained further next.



Insurance

If the dealer has an Ace showing he will ask all players if they would like insurance before proceeding

with play. The insurance bet is a side bet (betting now on whether the dealer has blackjack or not) in

which you can wager half of your original bet. To place an insurance bet, place chips in the amount of

half of your original wager on the table in front of your original bet. If the dealer does have Blackjack,

your insurance bet will be paid at 2:1 and you will lose your original bet. What this means is you have

lost nothing; For instance, your initial bet was $10. Your insurance wager would be $5, which means you

are now ¶in· for $15. With the dealer·s blackjack, you lose your $10 wager, but win the insurance bet.Your $5 insurance bet at 2:1 paying $10 equals $15. So, you get your $5 insurance bet back, and the $10

insurance payout covers the loss of your original $10 wager.

If the dealer doesn't have Blackjack you will lose your insurance bet but continue play with your original

bet. But here is the kicker....If your wager was $10, and you made an insurance bet of $5, and the

dealer does not have blackjack, you lose the $5 insurance bet. Then, if you win the hand, you win $10,

but $5 of that is used to cover the $5 loss you just suffered, so you really just won $5.

So you might be saying to yourself, ´Well, I·m still ahead $5µ. But here·s what people don·t say to

themselves, ´Wow, I just screwed myself outta $5µ until they think about it. But now, if that wasn·t

enough, here·s something else to think about...You make the insurance bet and lose, then you also end

up losing the hand to the dealer, you are then out $15 instead of $10.

I·ll show you a little math to break it down a little more. Consider that there are 52 cards (forsimplicity we·ll use a single deck for our example), and only 16 are valued at 10. Say you drew a tenand a five, and the dealer is showing an ace. Then only 15 ten-valued cards remain, in a deck of 49unknown cards (we·ll consider the dealer·s hole card as ¶undealt·, as we don·t know it·s value) In thiscase chances for the dealer to ¶draw· a card valued at 10 are about 31% (15 remaining ten-valuedcards/49 remaining unknown cards). This means that there is less than a 1/3 chance for the dealer tohave blackjack and more than 2/3 chances (34 non-10 cards out of 49 remaining, for about 69%) thatthey won·t. So it seems that insurance could help you only 1/3 of the time, and there are 2/3 chancesof losing the insurance bet.

I can·t advise in favour of a tactic that gives you almost a 70% chance of losing your insurance bet. It is

more likely that the dealer won·t have blackjack even though they have an Ace already showing.Therefore, insurance is a poor bet for the player unless they are counting cards, and have determinedthat there is a high probability of the dealer having Blackjack.

Have I lost you yet? I hope not, because one more insurance scenario exists. It·s called ´even moneyµ.In this instance, you·re dealt a blackjack, and the dealer·s up-card is an ace. You·ll then be offeredeven-money, meaning they·ll give 1:1 on your bet if you take the money now. You're probably thinkingthat sounds like a pretty good deal. You're guaranteed a profit even if the dealer does have Blackjack.Just remember that the guaranteed profit comes at a price. You'll win more money in the long run byholding out for the $15, even though you'll sometimes end up empty-handed based on the percentagesexplained above. Nonetheless, many players are adamant that they prefer to take even money when itis offered. Just be aware that in my opinion, you're costing yourself money when you make that choice.But now whatever choice you make, it is an informed one.

So that·s the good, bad, and ugly about the insurance & even-money aspect of the game. Sure I couldhave simply said it·s a bad idea, and don·t do it, but now you know why.

And it·s a bad idea.

And don·t do it.



Options... with Interest

One of the nice things about Blackjack is the ability to increase your bets in mid-hand if you feel youhave a good opportunity to win. If you have the chance to make these bets, take it.

One of the circumstances in which you may increase your bet is called doubling down. This means thecasino will allow you to make a second bet equal in size to your first bet. In return for this right, youagree to accept only one more card for your hand. You cannot take a hit after doubling down.

Many casinos allow you to double down for less than the amount of your original bet. This should be

avoided because if the situation is worth doubling down, it is worth betting as much as you can, whichis the amount of your original bet.

To tell the dealer you want to double down, you slide a second wager next to your original wager in thebetting circle. Do not place the additional chips on top of the original stack of chips, because thedealer may think you are trying to cheat by increasing your bet illegally. No hand signal is necessary.The dealer will see your double-down bet and give you one card, generally placed horizontally acrossthe first two cards. In the hand-held game, the dealer will place the card under your chips in thebetting circle. You may pick up the card to see what you've been given, but it is more respectable towait until the dealer settles all other bets before exposing your hand.

If you win your bet, you'll be paid even money for both bets, and receive double your original wager. Ifyou lose, of course, both bets are taken away. If you have pushed, the dealer will rap the table with his

knuckles and leave the chips where they stand. You are then permitted to adjust or remove the bet.

Another way of increasing your bet mid-hand is splitting. If the two original cards dealt to you are apair, such as a seven of clubs and a seven of hearts, you can then split your hand if you wish, thusgiving you 2 separate hands to play. To do this a wager equal to your original bet must be placed besideyour initial wager.

If you have a pair that you want to split and your cards are dealt face down, turn them over and placethem a few inches apart. If your cards were dealt face up, point to your cards and say "split" when thedealer prompts you for a card. The original bet will go with one card and you will have to place anequal amount of chips in the betting box near the other card. You are now playing two hands, each asthough they were regular hands with one exception... if you have just split two aces. In that case, youonly get one card which will hopefully be a 10. If it is a ten, that hand's total is now 21 but the hand

isn't considered a Blackjack. That is, you are paid 1:1 and not 3:2 as for a natural Blackjack.

After splitting your cards the dealer will deal cards to your 1st hand until you decide to stand. They willthen deal cards to your next hand. Keep in mind that stand, hit, split, and double-down rules apply toeach new hand being dealt. Casino rules vary on how many times a player can split his cards. Forexample, if you draw a pair of eights, split them, and are dealt another eight, most casinos will allowto you split again and start a third hand. Ask the dealer what the split rules are, if you do not knowthem. Many permit three splits, allowing you to play four hands. But it·s also four times the originalwager, so bear that in mind when making your decision.

There is yet one more option to cover before we are through. I·ve left it for last because it is notoffered in many casinos. That option is the surrender option, which I·ll explain next.



Surrender

Players who aren·t satisfied with the cards they were dealt may be allowed to "surrender", or give up,their hand (and half of their wager) without finishing the hand if they don't find their chances of a winfavourable. Usually this choice must be made before drawing any cards. The player·s cards are thencollected by the dealer, along with half of their bet, and the player is out of the game until the nextround.

In basic play, a good time to surrender typically would be when you have to hit a lousy stiff hand (15 or16) against a dealer's strong standing card (10 or A).

Very few casinos offer players the option to surrender, because of the advantage it gives to players. Atthese casinos, the surrender option is one of two types, either early or late. Early surrender is surrenderthat is available before the dealer checks their hole card for blackjack. Late surrender is surrender thatis available after the dealer checks for blackjack. Of the two, late surrender is not as popular withplayers as early surrender, because you cannot surrender against a natural, limiting your moneymanagement potential. It is for this very same reason that casinos employ the late option over the earlyone more frequently.

So that's how Blackjack is played. But there is more to learn if you want to play Blackjack well. Youmust know when to split your cards, double them, take a hit or stand. These rules are known as Basic Blackjack Strategy.

Finally, the next phase;The Blackjack Strategy:



Blackjack Basic Strategy For Beginners:

Blackjack basic strategy is not a 100% guaranteed winning method. It is a calculated set of rulesdeveloped by researchers and statisticians that offers mathematically correct solutions for all possibleplayer hands against all possible dealer up cards. A successful blackjack strategy is one that decreasesthe house advantage to a minimum and helps players win more often at the blackjack table by allowingthem, in some cases, to gain a small edge over the casino (a real advantage over the casinos can onlybe obtained with the help of card counting). Winning at blackjack depends partly upon your skills andpartly on luck. This strategy cannot eliminate casino advantage, but decreases it down to about 1%.

Most common blackjack strategy decisions are based on the fact that the dealer is very likely to go bust(35% chance) in the cases that his up card is 3, 4, 5 or 6. Therefore, the strategy advises you to standwhen your total is 13 - 16 (you both have the same chance of going bust, but unlike you, the dealercannot stand and must hit). Alternatively, if your total is the same (13-16) but the dealer·s up card is 7,8, 9, 10 or A, you are strongly advised to Hit as it is very likely that the dealer·s hole card is a 10 andthis time his hand will beat yours.

Blackjack Basic Strategy

Let·s take a look at the most common points of Basic strategy. Here you will find the ¶Golden Rules· tofollow, as well as the basic strategy decision guide. The strategy is based upon the fact that the dealerhas to stand on all 17·s and above and does not have the chance to Split or Double Down.

Basic Strategy Decision Chart

Player's Hand Decisions

5 thru 8 Always Hit

9 Double 3 thru 6, o/w hit



12 Stand 4 thru 6, o/w Hit

13 thru 16 Stand 2 thru 6, o/w Hit

17 or higher Always Stand

A,2 Double vs 5&6, o/w Hit

A,3 Double vs 5&6, o/w Hit

A,4 Double vs 4 thru 6, o/w Hit



A,7Double 3 thru 6, Stand vs 2,7,8

Hit vs 9,10, A

A,8-A,9 Always Stand

2,2 Split 2 thru 7, o/w Hit


4,4 Split vs 5 & 6, o/w Hit

5,5 Never Split, treat as "10"



8,8 Always split

9,9 Split 2 thru 9 except 7; o/w Stand

10,10 Never Split

A,A Always Split

Blackjack Basic Batch: 7 Rules of Basic Strategy

p Never split pairs of 5's, 10's or face cards

p Always split pairs of aces and 8·s

p Always hit to a hard 17, or greater, against thedealer's standing card

p

Always hit, split, or double-down on hands totallingless than 12

p Never hit a 13-16 against a dealer's stiff (2 thru 6)

p Double down on 10/11 if your card total is higher thanthe dealer·s up card

p Never take Insurance or Even money

THE SOFT DOUBLE DOWN RHYME

Twos and threes have fine sex.

Fours and fives have more fine sex.

Sixes and sevens have 3, 4, 5, 6.

Which translates to:

When player has A2 or A3 double on 5 and 6.

When player has A4 or A5 double on 4, 5, 6.

When player has A6 or A7 double on 3, 4, 5, 6.



The Decision Chart and the Basic Batch guide are a simplified means of studying the elements of basicstrategy. In time, you·ll be able to recite these elements in the same way you can recite your ownphone number. However, there may be occasions where you might be eager to play before you have thedecision chart memorized. Or perhaps you are worried about making an error in the ¶heat of thebattle·. We can condense these rules into a matrix card. Casinos often permit these at the table duringplay (most offer them in one form or another at customer service or gift shop). I·ve provided one hereto match the decisions we covered earlier. You can print it, clip it, and take it with you on your nextvisit.

Blackjack Basic Strategy Matrix

6 decks, S17, DAS, No Surrender, Peek

Estimated casino edge for these rules: 0.44 %

Dealer Up Card

YourHand

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 A

5 H H H H H H H H H H




9 H D D D D H H H H H

10 D D D D D D D D H H

11 D D D D D D D D D H

12 H H S S S H H H H H

13 S S S S S H H H H H




17 S S S S S S S S S S

A,2 H H H D D H H H H H

A,3 H H H D D H H H H H

A,4 H H D D D H H H H H

A,5 H H D D D H H H H H

A,6 H D D D D H H H H H

A,7 S DS DS DS DS S S H H H

A,8 S S S S S S S S S S

A,9 S S S S S S S S S S

2,2 P P P P P P H H H H


4,4 H H H P P H H H H H

5,5 D D D D D D D D H H

6,6 P P P P P H H H H H


8,8 P P P P P P P P P P

9,9 P P P P P S P P S S

T,T S S S S S S S S S SA,A P P P P P P P P P P

Dlr 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 A

Key:

H = Hit S = Stand P = Split

D = Double (Hit if not allowed)

DS = Double (Stand if not allowed)

Now, a final word of caution. The blackjack basic strategy does not promise that you will win everyhand. It claims only that, in every situation, the prescribed play will win more often (or lose less often)than any other possible play. So be prepared to still lose plenty of hands.



Now on to phase 3:

Bankroll Management

Now that we have covered strategies of play, we can discuss another strategy, and that is managing

your money. One of the most important things gamblers can do to put themselves in a winning position

is bankroll management. Players need to be able to use bankroll management techniques in order to

avoid going broke (often referred to as ruin) when sitting down at the blackjack table. If you don·t

know how to manage your bankroll then you·ll generally lose your money a lot faster than someone who

does.

You should make sure that you·re always betting with money that you can afford lose and that you

don·t need for rent, food or bills. Often people will bet with money they can·t really afford to lose and

this is the last thing you want to start involving yourself with. You cannot expect to win at Blackjack if

you're betting your rent. You must have a sum of money set aside which is "extra" -- money which,

should you lose it, will not affect your lifestyle in any way. By doing it that way, you'll bet what needs

to be bet and play the hands the way they need to be played. Often you·ll spot someone who is

gambling with what they cannot afford to lose because their style of play changes. They go into what is

known as ¶desperation play· mode. This is where the player will suddenly start doubling when they

shouldn·t, or increase their unit bet though their bankroll is low, or start chasing losses. SCARED MONEY

RARELY WINS. Blackjack is a game for entertainment and if you win money then it·s just a bonus so

make sure you treat it that way and not like a way to make money, because in gambling there are no

guarantees.

One of the first things you need to learn is that you need a big enough bankroll for the table you·re

playing on. If you have a $100 bankroll then you definitely shouldn·t be playing on a table where the

minimum bet is $15. The reason you shouldn·t do this is simply because if you do then you·ll find that

once you hit a bad streak you·ll go broke. It·s recommended that you always have at least 20 times the

size of your bet in your bankroll. So if you have $200 in your bankroll then you should be playing on a

blackjack table where you·re allowed to bet $10 or lower.

The next factor in money management is known as ¶session management·. A session is basically a trip to

the table. Let·s say you are going to the casino, and plan to play a bit before going to dinner, and then

play a bit after. Each of these visits is known as a session of play. So when going to the casino, you takeyour bankroll and divide it in two, one half for each session. This way, if you don·t do well during the

first session, you can still walk away with some money left over for the next session. Nothing ruins an

evening at the casino more than playing out your bankroll early. And if you do ok, then that beefs up

your bankroll for the next session.



Another aspect of session management is known as setting your session limits. When playing, this is the

limit you set for yourself for losses and wins. Wins?? Yes, wins. Let·s say you are lucky enough to double

your bankroll from $200 to $400. You think to yourself,µWow! I·m on a hot streak!µ. Then what happens

in some situations is players can start playing a little loose with their chips. They think ´I have double

what I started with, what the heckµ. Soon some bad decisions and a cold run of cards turns that profit

into a deficit, and if frustration is allowed to set in and alter your play even further, you may wind up

with nothing. It happens, and the casinos count on it. What should have been done in this situation is

you should have set a session win limit. Here, what could have been done was that $200 bankroll should

have been put in your pocket. Then take half of your profit, in this case $100, and put that in your

pocket as well. You still have $100 in play, and if you lose that, just walk away. You still have $100 of

the casino·s money as your profit. When you factor in your evening·s expenses, you should still be

ahead a bit. Just buy yourself a drink and do some crowd watching for a while knowing you are in fact

walking away a winner.

Alternatively, you should set yourself a loss limit before sitting down, in the event that your luck and

the cards run cold. As a for instance, your $200 is now below $100. A loss limit here might be $40,

meaning once your bankroll hits $40 you walk away. Many people play out their entire bankroll, and if

you chose to do that, that·s ok. But this way you still have a little something to show for your efforts.

Just buy yourself a drink and do some crowd watching for a while knowing you are in fact walking away

a winner, because the casino didn·t get it all.

And last, but not least, is your bet management. The first and simplest level of bet management we·ve

already discussed, and that is seeking a table with the lowest possible minimum bet, or at least one

within your bankroll means. This combined with session management alone will help stop the moneyhemorrhage, and help keep you in the game a little longer while waiting for a good streak. The next

level is betting the minimum during losses, and increasing these bets during wins. A marginal increase

in bets during wins does mean a larger wager, but if it is lost, will mean you are still ahead if done

correctly. To do this involves using some form of betting strategy. Some work a little better than

others. Some work better in some situations than others. I will explain some of the more widely known

strategies next.



Betting Strategies

There are two goals to playing blackjack: to win and to have fun. For most blackjack players, winning ismore important (after all, there's nothing fun about losing), so many sit down at the table armed with abattle plan. A smart player will have a strategy. The basic blackjack strategy described earlier is agreat way to play. Hunches and guesses don't work in blackjack; the idea is to understand the game andknow what you're doing.

But for many people, even a good strategy is not enough. The pace of winning at blackjack with basicstrategy is fairly modest and for some gamblers it's too slow and doesn't pack enough of a punch. Somegamblers are always on the lookout for that extra edge, and that's where betting systems come in.Where playing strategy dictates when you hit, stand, double, split, etc., a betting system is aframework for wagering, usually based on prior wins and losses

In blackjack, a progressive betting system is a strategy in which you decide how much to bet dependingon whether you've just won or just lost the previous blackjack hand. These blackjack betting systemscan usually be categorized as "positive" or "negative." The positive systems are the ones in which theplayer raises his bet after winning, and the negative systems are the ones in which he raises his betafter losing.

For all the betting strategies explained next, we will assume that you are playing at a table with a

minimum bet of $10, and a maximum bet of $200. Also, a unit bet will refer to the table minimum,which is what is recommended as a beginning player.

You need to plan ahead when you use a progressive betting system. For instance, at some point youmust decide when the bet has gotten high enough, and begin again at your original unit bet. Allprogressive betting systems should be used in conjunction with the blackjack basic strategy to optimizeyour playing potential. But be careful: betting strategies can·t guarantee a win.

Martingale

This is probably the first strategy or ¶system· ever devised, going back to the 1700·s.It is also known asan up-as-you-lose system, or the Double-up system, or the Negative progression system. The way it is

supposed to work is you start with a small bet and if you lose you keep doubling the bet until you win,so that the first win would recover all previous losses plus win a profit equal to the original bet.Because extended streaks are not supposed to be common, it gives an illusion of an almost sure-fireformula for grinding out steady small wins.

I don·t want to knock this system, but it doesn't often work well. The extended losing streak that wipesyou out can be right around the corner. Casinos know this. Even if you didn't have to worry about ahouse betting limit, you will probably go broke playing this - and soon. Here is how much you wouldhave to bet if you keep losing while you are trying to win $10:

When you make that 5th bet of $160 you have just as muchchance of losing it as you did on the first $10 bet. And if thatlosing streak continues to 8 in a row, and you have the moneyand the nerves to keep at it, you would be betting $1280 tochase a loss of $1270. A loss here would mean you are now out$2550 while still trying to win that $10.

Another thing to consider is the table limit. It is because of thisvery system that casinos began imposing maximum table limits.In many casinos, if you are playing at a $10 table, the maximumbet allowed will be $200. When you look at this, you will seethat this Martingale option might not be so attractive. On the5th bet, you will have lost $310, and not be able to double the$160. This is an extremely difficult situation to recover from.

# BET

IN UNITSRESULT

BALANCEIN UNITS

1 1 LOSS -1

2 2 LOSS -33 4 LOSS -7

4 8 LOSS -15

5 16 LOSS -31

6 32 LOSS -63

7 64 LOSS -127

8 128 LOSS -255

9 256 LOSS -511

10 512 LOSS -1023



I do not consider this to be a good betting strategy because you could lose more than 5 hands in a row,and most of us don·t have the bankroll abilities to pull off this strategy over the long run. It has a highprobability of ruin, and therefore I wouldn·t recommend this as a beginner·s strategy.

The Parlay

This is the exact opposite of the Martingale system described above. An up-as-you-win system (knownas a Positive Progression), it is also known as Streak Betting, or the Anti-/Inverse-/Reverse-Martingale.The logic behind this strategy runs contrary to the Martingale system mentioned earlier. While in usingthe Martingale system, a player doubles their bet after each loss, here you double after each win. Youstart with betting your minimum bet. If you win the first hand you increase your next bet, instead ofdecreasing your next bet. If you lose, you go back to your original bet. Essentially, when you use theParlay system, you are "pyramiding" your profits, building on the base of your successes and on thelikelihood of a hot streak.

The Parlay is a relatively consistent and stable system compared to others, particularly the "negative"ones. It is often referred to as a ´Let it Ride" system since, when you win, you leave your winnings onthe table and let them ride to the next hand. It is based on the same idea that banks use when theycompound interest, giving interest on the balance for one quarter and then giving interest on that sumplus the interest the following quarter, and so on.

The Parlay system is a relatively conservative system; it doesnot require a large investment. But to be successful, you mustset a maximum amount you're willing to bet. Here is how theParlay system works: Let's say you're playing at a blackjack tableat which there is a $10 minimum. Being a conservative gambler,your initial unit bet is $10. Let's say you win; you are paid $10on your $10 bet plus you get your original bet returned. Sinceyou are using the Parlay system, which instructs you to use your

profit ($10) plus your original bet ($10) as a bet on the next hand, you wager that $20 as your bet forthe next hand. If you win again, your next bet is $40, and so on.

It is a good idea if you are going to follow this betting strategy ³ or any progressive betting system, forthat matter ³ to set a maximum bet in your mind before starting to play. In this example, you set $80

as your maximum. If that hand wins, you drag your profits off the table, and start the sequence againwith your initial bet. When you lose a hand, you go back to your initial bet also.

This system has a much lower chance of ruin than the previous system. However, the down side is thateven a hot winning streak can end and a huge bet can be lost unless the player decides beforehand toquit while he's ahead at some predetermined point.

The Paroli

The Paroli system is virtually identical to the Parlay system. The only exception is that with this system,it requires you to restart the sequence after three wins, or after each loss (whichever is first). TheParoli Betting System is designed to take advantage of winning streaks. By raising your bets during a hot

streak, you can take home more cash than if you were flat betting. If you are on a losing streak,however, you will only lose one betting unit each time.

The Paroli Betting System is a progressive betting system which can help you increase your odds ofwinning. If you wish to use the Paroli Betting System, you must first plan your initial bet, and how muchyou will increase your bet. This strategy is advantageous for players who have a small initial bankroll. Ifyou are lucky enough to hit a hot streak, you could end up winning more money than you would have ifyou were flat betting.

# BETIN UNITS

RESULT BALANCEIN UNITS

1 1 WIN -1

2 2 WIN -1

3 4 WIN -1

4 8 WIN +8



The D'Alembert

The D'Alembert betting system, known as a pyramid system, is a simple progressive betting systemwhich is based on the Martingale with a few minor changes. When used in blackjack gambling, theD'Alembert betting system requires players to raise (by one unit) their bets after each loss, whilelowering (by one unit) their bets after each win.

As an example of how the D'Alembert system works, let'ssay you're at the blackjack table and there's a $10minimum (which is considered one "unit"). You start offby betting $10. If you lose, your second bet would be $20(2 units). If you win, your next bet would be $10 (back tothe original 1-unit bet) but if you lose your next betwould be $30. If you win after that, you then bet $20(you only go down one "unit," not to the original bet, inthis case). All wins or losses are rewarded or punished bya one-unit decrease or increase, respectively.

As with any progressive betting system, one must proceed with caution when using this system. Onthe other hand it's considered a lot less dangerous than the Martingale system (whereby youdouble your bets instead of always raising them by one unit).

Oscar¶s Grind

# BET

IN UNITSRESULT

BALANCEIN UNITS

1 1 WIN +1

2 1 WIN +2

3 1 LOSS +1

4 2 LOSS -1

5 3 WIN +2

6 2 WIN +4

7 1 LOSS +3

Oscar's Grind is a leading progressive blackjack betting system with a cool name and a modest goal. Ofall the progressive betting systems, Oscar's Grind may be the safest to follow.

Oscar's Grind is based on wins and losses, which "rewards" wins; in other words, it is considered apositive betting system. But it's a little more complicated than your average system where you woulddouble your bet after a win and go back to your original bet after a loss, etc.

Oscar's Grind is based on sequences or entire series of wins and losses, with the goal of coming out ofeach series with a net win of at least one betting unit. Here's how it works: The player begins with asingle unit³if that hand is won, the player has turned a one-unit profit, and the series ends. If the

player loses a hand, the wager remains the same until another hand is won, at which point it's increasedby one unit. This continues until the player wins enough hands to recoup all previous losses, and comeout one unit ahead, at which point the sequence is over, and the next hand is considered the beginningof a new series.

Here is an example of a series that might occur over a dozen hands:

In this sample, the player wins 5 out of 12 hands³slightly lessthan the expected average³but ends this sequence with aone-unit gain. The consistent-wager player would have endedup with a net loss of two units, and the Martingale playerwould have emerged with a net gain of five, but would havebeen required to bet eight units on the 4th hand. (This would

mean at our $10 table, you would already be chasing a $70loss with an $80 bet. That·s a $150 gamble for a $10 profit)

Oscar's Grind is most advantageous if you're on a streak - hotor cold. The system keeps your bets low if you're on a losingstreak and lets you increase your bets if you're on a winningstreak. Oscar's Grind can actually work under thesecircumstances, though you have to remember that it'simpossible to predict a streak and therefore unwise to rely onOscar's Grind in the long run.

# BET

IN UNITSRESULT

BALANCEIN UNITS

1 1 LOSS -1

2 1 LOSS -2

3 1 LOSS -3

4 1 WIN -25 2 WIN 0

6 3 LOSS -3

7 3 LOSS -6

8 3 WIN -3

9 4 LOSS -4

10 4 LOSS -8

11 4 WIN -4

12 5 WIN +1



There are, however, two disadvantages to Oscar's Grind. First, it is possible for a player to become"locked" into a very long grind. Whereas Martingale provides an instant recovery at the first win, thissystem may require a player to win a number of hands before recovering all previous losses³and not tostop playing until the recovery has been made. Second, keeping track of the net balance over a longseries of hands requires considerable concentration. The wagering system may become a distractionfrom playing basic strategy, and will almost certainly conflict with the ongoing math the player mustconcentrate on if using advanced strategies.

Oscar's Grind may be a bit hard to grasp but, as betting systems go, it's not too bad. It's a conservativesystem with a goal of small wins over a short period of time. There is little chance of big losses (or big

wins, for that matter). Like many progressive betting systems, it won't leave you in the money in thelong run. And like all blackjack betting systems, you should have a budget and a limit when you useOscar's Grind. Conservative or not, it's still better to be safe than sorry.

Three Piles

So for this blackjack system, we are going to take it easy and work a conservative progression thatwill keep us at the table for a while. Here is how to play the three piles system:

1. Make three equal stacks of chips in front of you, the sum of which should consist of no more thanhalf of your bankroll, because you need the reserves for doubling situations. Take one of the threeequal stacks you made and bet it.

2. When you win the first bet, take that profit and add it to the previous bet to make your nextbet. If you doubled down and won, or were paid odds on a natural blackjack, bank the extra chips.So, for any win in the series, double the original wager for the second bet in the progression.

3. When you win the second bet in the progression, take half of the amount you won and add it tothe wager for the third and final bet in this 3-bet progression. Bank the other half of the amountjust won. Again, bank any extra chips from winning a double or a natural.

4. If you win the third bet in the progression, make three new stacks of chips that are double theoriginal stack's size and repeat the betting progression. (If you prefer, quit and cash in yourwinnings.)

5. If you lose a bet at anytime in the series, start over again. That means replace the bet with oneof the remaining two equal stacks that you made to start with.

Let·s do the math on this one. Let·s say you have a $100bankroll. I recommend starting with three piles of $10 (thisway you have enough chips to try this system a second time,and still have a few chips left over for some double-downsituations). You·d start by betting the first $10. When youwin (we·re going to assume wins during this explanation),you receive $20...$10 was your wager, and $10 is your win.

Take the $10 win and let it ride with the original $10 wager, making your second bet $20. When youwin, keep $10 as your profit, and let the other $10 ride with your previous $20, making your thirdand last bet in this series $30. After this win, you receive $60...$30 was your last bet, and $30 wasyour win. Of your $30 bet, $10 was your original wager, leaving $20 as your profit from this bet. Butyou still have the $30 you just received for your win, and the $10 you kept from the second bet,making your profit for these three hands $60. Seems simple enough.

What is then recommended is you start a second series, this time making three piles of $20. Hereyou bet and win $20, then let that ride as a $40 bet. When you win that bet, pocket $20, and letthe other $20 ride as a $60 bet. Win that, and after deducting wagers, you have $120 for thisseries. Add that to the $60 you are up from the previous series, and you are now up $180 in 6hands.

# BET

IN UNITSRESULT

BALANCEIN UNITS

1 1 WIN +1

2 2 WIN +3

3 3 WIN +6



Now, if you are brave, ¶they· recommend starting a third series. This time you set up three piles of$40. Here you bet and win $40, then let that ride as an $80 bet. When you win that bet, pocket$40, and let the other $40 ride as a $120 bet. Win that, and after deducting wagers, you have $240for this series. Add that to the $60 you are up from the first series, and the $120 from the secondseries, and suddenly you are now (potentially) up $420 in just 9 hands. And that·s not including anydoubles or blackjacks you may have encountered.

If at any time you lose, you just start that series again by using one the remaining stacks of chips.

There you have it, a simple three-bet progression that keeps doubling in size every time you

complete it. What you are trying to do is win three in a row before the dealer wins three in a row(or wipes you out with the dreaded win-lose-win-lose series). When things are going well, you willquadruple your original bet size after winning two subsequent progressions. At that point you needto be careful that you have enough chips left to handle the doubling situations comfortably if youare going to keep at it.

For that reason you might want to slowly increase the betting stack sizes instead of keep doublingthem. You need to keep enough chips in reserve for the doubles. You should also think aboutrunning with the win if you successfully complete three series, as you begin to tempt fate at thatpoint.

To recap: Make three equal stacks from half your total chips or less. Bet one stack and if you windouble the bet and if you win again put half on top. When you lose replace the bet with another ofyour remaining stacks. When you win three in a row make three new bigger stacks and repeat.Consider running with a nice win after completing three successful progressions.

I would recommend this system, as it is easy to track, easy to alter, will not ruin you as fast as somesystems, and has a potentially high yield for low effort.

Five in a Row

In the previous blackjack system we tried to win three hands in a row. Some, however, mayconsider it conservative. In this system we are going to ¶let-it-ride·, trying for five wins in a row.Yes it·s pushing things a bit, but it's a simple progression and we·ll give ourselves five chances at it.

1. Make 5 equal stacks of chips in front of you. These will be our starting bet amounts.

2. Every time you win, double the bet amount (let the stack of chips ride) until you win five hands

in a row.

3. Every time you lose, start over again with another stack.

If you start with a $100 stake, your beginning bet should be$10. Multiplied by 5 piles, this works out to $50 on thetable. If you hit five in a row that will be $160 you arewagering on the final progression. If that loses you mightwant to kick yourself. But don't worry too much; you mayhave lost all that profit, but you are only out your original$10 bet. If that fifth bet wins, you will be paid a return of

$320.Order a drink, relax and play the house minimum for awhile.

Doubling hands really screw this betting system up. So what I suggest is the following: If you hit adoubling hand on your first two betting progressions, go ahead and double the bet. Regardless ofthe outcome, on the next hand bet the table minimum and wait for a loss. When you lose, divideyour stack into five parts again and start over.

So essentially what we are trying to do is win five hands in a row without incurring a doubling hand.As an alternative, you could keep some extra money handy for handling the doubling hands. Thatwill incur more risk of course, and/or less reward. Or you can just kind of wing it with the doublinghands; maybe skip the doubling only on the largest two betting progressions.

# BET

IN UNITSRESULT

BALANCEIN UNITS

1 1 WIN +1

2 2 WIN +3

3 4 WIN +7

4 8 WIN +155 16 WIN +31



Dahl's Progression

This is another ¶up-as-you-win· system demanding that playersraise bets for every win. This system has the player breakingeven with the dealer during periods when the dealer andplayer alternate wins, and ensures a profit after winning twohands in a row. It also allows the player to jump to higherprofits rapidly (using money won from the casino) during hotstreaks.

To beat the casino we must minimize our losses and maximizeour winnings. The only sure way to do this is to raise the betas we win. In this example we will start with a $10 minimumbet. After winning the first bet of $10, repeat it. This is toensure that you lose no money if you were to lose every otherhand. The third bet of $15 ensures a profit after winning twohands in a row ($20-$15=$5). Assuming no splits or doubles,the profits after winning the indicated number hand areshown to the left.

Start with your minimum betting unit and follow this 13 step progression-1 unit,1 unit, 1.5 times unit,1.5 times unit, 2 units, 2 units, 3 units, 3 units, 5 units, 5 units, 7 units, 7 units, and 10 units. Let's say aplayer starts wagering from a $10 bet. The progression would proceed as 10-10-15-15-20-20-30-30-50-

50-70-70-100. If a player hits blackjack, they can then skip the next bet, and bet the following amountin the progression, assuming the amount about to be bet is not more than what was just won. Doublingdown allows a player to jump two steps forward. After reaching the highest bet, a player is advised tostay there until he loses. Losing any one bet sends the player back to their minimum bet to begin thesequence again.

Unit Progression

Another progression strategy that is easy to track. I call it a unit progression because I pick my unit betand that is my increment. For instance, I·ll start with the table minimum $10 and increase my bet bythat unit every time. So I would start with $10. After a win, I increase my bet by $10 to $20, and thento $30, etc. So by following this progression, you would have a $10 profit after the second bet, $30

after the third, etc. After any loss, you would start at the minimum again. Let·s have a closer look:

Hand #1: You bet $10 and winHand #2: Let that $10 profit ride, & increase bet to $20 and winHand #3: Keep $10 as profit, then increase bet to $30, and winHand #4: Keep $20 for a $30 total profit, then increase bet to$40, and win, etc...

I used this progression once, and made it to the $110 bet levelbefore losing. That worked out to a profit of $450 in about 15minutes. And all from two $5 chips. I played a couple morehands, then ran to the cashiers cage. I then spent the rest ofthe time ordering a few drinks and hopping from table to table

to play a few hands. The only reason I mention this is todemonstrate that there is definite potential for gain if thecards fall in your favour. This progression is easy to track, cankeep you at the table for a while, and can turn a modest profit.I highly recommend this betting system for the beginner.

# BET

IN UNITSRESULT

BALANCEIN UNITS

1 1 WIN +1

2 1 WIN +2

3 1.5 WIN +3.5

4 1.5 WIN +5

5 2 WIN +7

6 2 WIN +9

7 3 WIN +12

8 3 WIN +15

9 5 WIN +20

10 5 WIN +25

11 7 WIN +32

12 7 WIN +39

13 10 WIN +49

# BET

IN UNITSRESULT

BALANCEIN UNITS

1 1 WIN +1

2 2 WIN +3

3 3 WIN +6

4 4 WIN +10

5 5 WIN +15

6 6 WIN +21

7 7 WIN +28

8 8 WIN +36

9 9 WIN +45

10 10 WIN +55

11 11 LOSS +55

12 1 WIN +56



Half µn¶ Half Progression

A progressive betting strategy that is feasible if we think that winning 4 hands in a row is possible. It isa simple and safe method where losses are minimal. The pattern here is simple: keep half in profits,bet the other half as an incremental wager. This is why I call it the half ¶n· half.

The probability is that it is likely we would experience winning streaks of two or three hands in a row.This happens in actual blackjack sessions and hence this strategy is realistic. This progressive strategytakes full advantage of these occurrences. The logic is that the possibility of winning 4 straight handscan secure us big winnings. The tip here is to bet progressively in those 4 wins.

A progressive betting strategy is key here. We do not bet large amounts on the first or second hands.Some players, winning their first hand, would be tempted to bet big on their second. Progressiveblackjack betting strategy bets in small increments, thus this strategy is good for minimum betting inblackjack.

Say we bet $10 at the start and win. We get back our originalbet plus the profit, totalling $20. We take $5 off the profit andadd that to our original $10 bet. The remaining $5 profit, wekeep.

So our bet for the second hand is $15. We win again. We're paid

a total of $30, our $15 original bet is recovered and we have $15profit. Of the $15 profit we keep $8 and add $7 to our bet,making the bet for the third hand $22. How much do we have inprofits now? $13. Then we win the third hand. We're paid $44.

For our fourth play we bet $33 and pocket $11, with a total of $24 profit. If we lose the fourth hand,we actually lost nothing. Remember, we started out with a $10 bet, and we now have a $24 profit.Even though we must start again at $10, we are still ahead $14.

But, if we win the fourth hand, we're paid $66. Couple that with $24 profit in our pocket, and subtractthe original $10 wager, we are now ahead $80. Not too bad for four rounds of play.

This progression may be performed with bigger incremental wagers. Imagine what would happen with astarting $30 bet. After 3 rounds that would be a $142 profit. A fourth win would mean $242. And wecould very well leave the casino with that.

The Two Level Betting System

The next system is the most effortless and least complicated betting system to use, as well as

effective. One decides on a minimum amount and maximum amount for their bets. The smaller bet will

take place after a loss occurs, while the larger amount will take place after a win. For instance, your

minimum bet is $10 and your maximum is $15. Begin with the smaller amount, and after you win a hand

increase the bet to $15, and continue betting $15 per hand until you lose. Once the loss occurs, you go

back to your minimum bet of $10. Even though this is a fairly simple strategy, it is considered an

advanced betting system and a highly recommended one for the beginner.

And Finally, THE Most Important Blackjack Strategy...

Enjoy the game. If you play with a cool head, good cheer, and an appreciation of this great game,

then, win or lose, you will always come out ahead.

# BET

IN $$RESULT

BALANCEIN $$$

1 10 WIN +5

2 15 WIN +13

3 22 WIN +24

4 33 LOSE +24

5 10 xxx +14



THE TERMINOLOGY

Action This is a general gambling term which refers to the total amount of money a player risks over a period of time. A

player betting $10 per hand over the course of 100 hands generates $1,000 worth of "action." This measurement is used by the

house in determining whether the player qualifies for comps or special offers.

Anchor Last taken seat to the dealer's right.(same as Third Base)

Automatic Shuffling Machine (ASM) A machine that does the shuffling automatically, rather than the dealer

having to stop to shuffle them manually. After several rounds have been completed the cards are placed back into

the shuffler to be mixed with the other cards in the shoe. The continuous/automatic shufflers have no benefits for

the player and have been dubbed "uncomfortable shoes".

Barber Pole A wager that contains cheques of varying denominations. Sometimes used to describe a stack of

differently-coloured cheques that are improperly stacked (interspersed denominations).

Barneys Purple betting chips worth $500

Bankroll The available money a player plans to play with. (same as buy-in or stake)

Basic Strategy A playing strategy that is designed to minimize the house edge as much as possible without using

techniques such as card counting, shuffle tracking, or dealer tells. Basic strategy is used as a foundation for cardcounting, but is also used by many non-counters.

Bet spread The amount of the minimum and maximum bets a player is making during a blackjack playing session. A

1-5 bet spread means that the player is betting a minimum of 1 unit per hand and a maximum of 5 units per hand.

Black Chip A $100 chip.

Blackjack Total of 21 on your initial two-card hand.

Break Exceeding the hand total of 21 (same as Bust ).

Burn Card A single card taken from the top of the deck or the first card in a shoe which the dealer slides across the

table from his/her left to the right, and is placed into the discard tray. The card may or may not be shown face up

(which can affect the count if you are counting cards). A card is burned after each shuffle.

Bust When a hand's value exceeds 21; a losing hand. (same as Break )

Buy-in The amount of money (usually cash, but sometimes cheques) with which a player enters a game.

Sometimes referred to as a stake or a bankroll

Cage Short for cashier's cage. This is where chips are redeemed for cash, checks cashed, credit arranged, etc.

Card Counting Recording (in memory) played cards (usually high cards) so as to establish a conditional probability

advantage on the remaining cards against the dealer.

Change Up To exchange cheques for the next higher denomination. Also referred to as colouring up.

Cheque Casino term for a gambling chip.

Color Coming In Exclaimed by the dealer to alert the pit boss when a player is changing a stack of cheques for

others of higher denomination.

Color for Color The practice of paying off wagers in the same denomination(s) in which they were made.

Color Out To exchange cheques for higher denominations when the player is leaving the table.



Color Up To exchange cheques for higher denominations. Used as a synonym for "color out," except that a player

may "color up" and continue playing. Also referred to as changing up.

Comp Short for complimentary. If you wave lots of money around, the casino may give you things like a free room

or free food, hoping you'll keep losing money at the tables in their casino.

Continuous Shuffling Machine (CSM) A shoe that does the shuffling continuously, rather than the dealer having to

stop to shuffle them manually. After several rounds of play the cards are placed back into the shuffler to be mixed

with the other cards in the shoe. The continuous/automatic shufflers have no benefits for the player and have been

dubbed "uncomfortable shoes".

Consistent-Wager A bet which you do not vary (i.e., if you are flat betting ten dollars, you are betting $10 each and

every hand without changing the betting amount from one hand to the next) Also known as a flat bet.

Counter Someone who counts cards.

Cut Card A solid coloured card typically a piece of plastic which is given to a player by the dealer for the purpose of

cutting the deck(s) after a shuffle.

Deal Around To exclude a player from a round, whether accidentally or deliberately. A player who wishes to sit out

a hand for whatever reason may ask to be dealt around, or the house may decide to deal around him, thus refusinghim service.

Dragging To reduce the amount of chips in the wagering spot, typically after a win is paid out.

Double Down Double your initial bet following the initial two-card deal, but you can draw one card only.

Double For Less To double down with less than two times the original bet. Generally, when doubling is allowed,

the player does not have to actually double his bet, but may increase it by any amount up to (but not more than)

the original bet.

Double Up To double the wager before any cards are dealt. This is not the same as doubling down, which is done

during the course of the hand.

Draw Call a card or adding a new card to your current hand (same as Hi t ).

Drop Percentage That portion of the player's money that the casino will win because of the house percentage. It is

a measure of the amount of a player's initial wager that he or she will eventually lose. On average this number is

around 20 percent. That is, on average, Joe Gambler will lose $20 of every $100 he begins with.

Early Surrender Surrender allowed before the dealer checks for blackjack.

Even Money Cashing in your bet immediately at a 1:1 payout ratio when you are dealt a natural blackjack and the

dealer's showing card is an Ace.

Eye (in the Sky) An observation post or camera used by the casino to observe and record the game.

Face Cards Jacks, Queens and Kings. Also known as Paint cards.

Face Down Game Your first card is placed face up while the second one is placed face down.

Face Up Game Both your cards are placed face up.

First Base First taken seat to dealer's left - where the first card is dealt.



Flat-Bet A bet which you do not vary (i.e., if you are flat betting ten dollars, you are betting $10 each and every

hand without changing the betting amount from one hand to the next) Also known as consistent-wager.

Flat Payoff A one-to-one payoff.

Foreign Chip A chip that is issued by one casino and is honoured by another as cash. A casino is not necessarily

obligated to accept them.

George A slang term for any player who tips generously, because of all the Georges being left for the dealer.

Green Chip A $25 chip.(same as Quarter)

Hard Hand A hand in which any Ace is counted as a 1 and not as an 11 (same as Hard Total ).

Hard Total A hand without an Ace, or with an Ace valued at 1 is said to be Hard in that it can only be given one

value, unlike a 'Soft' hand (same as Hard Hand ).

Heads On A head to head play with the dealer - no other players are involved (same as Heads Up).

Heads Up A head to head play with the dealer - no other players are involved (same as Heads On).

Heat The pressure a casino puts on a winning player, typically someone who is suspected of being a card counter.

Heel To place cheques unevenly, so that one protrudes at the bottom of the stack. One does this to highlight that

the chip(s) on the bottom are a different denomination

High Roller A big bettor.

Hit To request another card (same as Draw ).

Hole Card Any face down card. The definition most often refers to the dealer's single face down card.

House The Casino, of course.

House Percentage The casino's advantage in a particular game of chance.

In For (amount) Total amount of money the player has invested in the session. A player who bought $100 of

cheques when he sat down and another $100 when those ran out is "in for" $200.

Inside Bets A collective term for the side bets a player makes when the dealer is showing an ace (insurance and

even money).

Insurance Side bet up to half the initial bet against the dealer having a natural 21 - allowed only when the dealer's

showing card is an Ace.

Invincible (Hand) A hand that cannot be broken with the next hit, regardless of the value of the card.(same as

unbreakable)

Junket An organized group of gamblers that travel to a casino together. Junkets are usually subsidized by a casino

to attract players.

Late Surrender Surrender allowed only if the dealer does not have blackjack.



Let it Ride In reference to bets, occurs when the player advances their previous wager and the profit from that

wager to the next bet. Also known as parlay.

Lobbying Said of a player who is temporarily away from the game, but left his cheques and other paraphernalia to

hold his seat.

Lock A hand that is believed to be a winner (even before seeing the dealer's hole card).

Looking out the window Said of a dealer or player who is not paying attention to the game.

Make a Hand To hit a hand until its total is satisfactory, without busting.

Marker An IOU. A line of credit provided by the casino to a player.

Mechanic A manipulator of the cards, typically for illicit purposes.

Nag (v) To give a player unsolicited advice.

(n) A person who does so routinely.

Natural Initial two-card hand totalling 21.

Nickel Chip A $5 chip (same as Red Chip)

Nut The overhead costs of running the casino.

Outside Bet A wager made before the cards are dealt that is based on something other than the player's hand

winning or losing in the current round; for instance, Lucky Ladies or Triple 7s. (Often referred to as side bets)

Paints/Paint Cards Slang referring to face cards

Pair When a player's first two cards are numerically identical (i.e., 7,7).

Parlay To gamble an original amount and its winnings on a subsequent hand before the cards are dealt. Also called

"Let it Ride" since, when you win, you leave your winnings on the table and let them ride to the next hand

Pat Hand A hand with a total of 17 to 21...A hand where you should stand.

Pit The area inside a group of gaming tables. The tables are arranged in an elliptical manner, the space inside the

perimeter is the pit.

Playing your rushes Increasing your wagers during winning streaks

Pit Boss An employee of the casino whose job is to supervise Blackjack players, dealers, and other floor personnel.

Point Count The net value of the card count at the end of a hand.

Preferential Shuffling Shuffling when the remaining cards are deemed favourable to the players.

Press To increase the amount being wagered, usually by the original amount. This is said of players who parlay

their bets, or choose to split or double when it is not indicated by basic strategy.

Prompt An indication given by the dealer that the player should reconsider his decision (usually, to hit or stand).

The prompt may be a verbal "are you sure about that?" or it could be as simple as a pause before granting the hit

or moving to the next player.



Prove (a Hand) To reconstruct a hand that had previously been picked up in order to verify the outcome. Typically

done when someone suggests a mistake has been made.

Push A player-dealer tie (same as T i e or Stand Off ).

Q uarter Chip A $25 chip.(same as Green Chip)

Rabbit Hunting The practice of observing, or in some cases asking to see, cards that the player would have

received. A player who declined to hit, split, or double may do this to see the consequences of his decision.

Rat Holing Removing cheques from the table before cashing out of the game. Typically, this is done to hide a

player's winnings from the pit boss to avoid suspicion. (However, the camera crew notices it immediately, which

has quite the opposite effect.)

Rating The practice of observing a player's gaming habitsthe amount he buys in, wagers, and walks with at the

end of the game. Players who wish to earn comps ask to be rated.

Red Chip A $5 chip.(same as Nickel)

(On a) Roll Said of a player when he is enjoying a winning streak (and expects it to continue).

Round (of play) A complete cycle, during which all players (and the dealer) receive and play their hands.

Run Down To reduce a tall stack of cheques into several smaller ones that can be easily counted at a glance.

Running Count The count from the beginning of the deck or shoe. The running count is updated by the value of the

point count after each hand.

Rush A brief winning streak.

Scare Card The dealer's up-card, when it has a high value.

Scratch To request a hit.

Second Base A player seated between other players (neither first nor last). Also used to refer to a player who is

sitting dead center, directly across from the dealer.

Settlement The resolving of the bet. Either the dealer takes your chips, pays you, or in the case of a push, no

exchange of chips occurs.

Shill A house employee who bets money and pretends to be a player to attract customers. Shills typically follow

the same rules as the dealer which makes them somewhat easy to spot (i.e., they don't Double Down or Split).

Shoe A device, usually a wooden box, used for holding and dispensing the cards to be dealt. It can hold up to eightdecks of cards, and allows the dealer to slide out the cards one at a time.

Shuffle Up Premature shuffling of the cards by the dealer to discourage card counting, or to harass a player who is

usually suspected of being a counter.

Silver Refers to silver dollars or metal gaming tokens (in houses where these are used instead of white $1

cheques).

Snapper Slang for a Blackjack, derived from the snapping sound made when players slam down their cards in a

hand-held game

Soft Hand A hand in which any Ace is counted as an 11 and not as a 1.



Split Hand Split the initial two-card hand into two and play them separately - allowed only when the two first cards

are of equal value.

Spooking The act of standing behind the dealer to peak at the hole card and then secretly convey the information

to a partner player sitting at the table. An illegal form of cheating.

Spread To place more than one bet before the cards are dealt.

Stake The amount of money a player plans to play with (same as bankroll or buy-in)

Stand To decline another card (same as Stay or St ick ).

Stand Off Both player and dealer have the same hand total - player keeps bet (same as P ush or T i e).

Stay Not requiring any more cards (same as Stand or st ick ).

Steaming Said of a player who is making mistakes because he is upset.

Stick Not requiring any more cards (same as Stand or stay ).

Stiff Hand Hand with little chance of winning, regardless of how the hand is played (usually 12 - 16).

Surrender Giving up your hand and lose only half the bet.

SWAG Player Scientific Wild Assed Guessing player.

Sweeten (a Bet) To increase a wager (when it is permissible to do so).

The Switch When playing a blackjack switch game(with 2 or more parallel hands), a player is allowed to switch the

second cards between the hands. For example, when a player is dealt a hand of A, 5 and 6, Q, they may then take

the Q and 5 cards and switch them around. That way, the player gets the two following hands: A, Q and 6, 5 to form

a blackjack and a second hand with high winning potential.

Take (a card) When a player takes a hit contrary to basic strategy, he is said to have "taken" that card from the

next hand that should have been hit. This does not affect the odds at all, though a third-base player who "takes"

the dealer's bust card will draw glares from the other players when the dealer makes a hand.

Tell Play Observing the dealer's body language and expressions to determine his hand of cards.

Third Base Last taken seat to the dealer's right. (same as Anchor)

Tie Both player and dealer have the same hand total - player keeps bet (same as P ush or Stand Off ).

Time and a Half Slang referring to the 3:2 payoff on a blackjack.

Toke To "toke" the dealer is just another word for tipping the dealer. (short for token)

Toke Bet A tip made in the form of a wager placed for the dealerif the hand wins, the dealer collects the original

tip plus its winnings. Shortened from "token bet.

Tough Player A player who can hurt the casino monetarily with his or her intelligent play.

True Count The running count adjusted to account for the number of cards left in the deck or shoe to be played.

Up Card The dealer's first dealt card, placed face up.



Unbreakable (Hand) A hand that cannot be broken with the next hit, regardless of the value of the card.(same as

invincible)

Unit The dollar amount of a player's basic bet: most often (but not always) the table minimum.

Value Bet A situation in which a wager is placed with the mathematical expectation of winning.

WAG Player Wild Assed Guessing player.



And Now For A Little Bonus...

This is a slight variation of the basic strategy matrix. It is a bit more aggressive with pairs and double-down strategies (assuming the casino permits them). Used in conjunction with a progressive bettingstrategy, it has the potential to put a few extra chips your way.

Basic ProgressiveBlackjack Strategy Matrix

Your Dealer Up Card

Hand 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 T A

5-7 H H H H H H H H H H

8 H H H Dh Dh H H H H H

9 Dh Dh Dh Dh Dh H H H H H

10 D D D D D D D D H D

11 D D D D D D D D D D

12 H H S S S H H H H H13-

16S S S S S H H H H H

17-

20S S S S S S S S S S

DLR 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 T A

A,2-

A,5H H Dh Dh Dh H H H H H

A,6 H Dh Dh Dh Dh H H H H H

A,7 S Ds Ds Ds Ds S S H H S

A,8-

A,9

S S S S S S S S S S

DLR 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 T A

2,2-

3,3P P P P P P H H H H

4,4 H H H P P H H H H H

5,5 N E V E R E V E R

6,6 P P P P P H H H H H


8,8 P P P P P P P H H H

9,9 P P P P P P P P S S

T,T N E V E R E V E R

A,A P P P P P P P P P PDLR 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 T A

KEY

H = HIT S =STAY P = SPLIT

D=DOUBLE

Dh=DOUBLE(HIT IF NOT ALLOWED)

Ds=DOUBLE(STAY IF NOT ALLOWED)

beginner's blackjack project-phase 4

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