Basic Tips to Remember When You Play Blackjack
Basic Tips to Remember When You Play Blackjack
Blackjack really isn't all that complicated, but you should know a few things before you sit down to play a hand. After you read the following tips, watch a few players play their hands when you enter the casino, and then sit down and try your luck. And if you still have any doubts, ask the dealer.
You Need Chips to Play
Casino blackjack is played with chips, not cash. You can buy chips in different denominations at the main cashier or at the table itself. After you've placed a bet on the table and the dealer starts dealing, don't touch your bet. If you ignore this tip, you will probably get a verbal scolding from the dealer, dagger looks included.
Know the Dealer Minimum Rule
Watch the dealers' cards, they are required to draw to at least 17. That means they have to keep drawing cards until they have 17 or higher. Keep this in mind when devising your own strategy.
Don't Touch Those Cards
Most Vegas blackjack games use six decks of cards all mixed together in a shoe, which is a special card dispenser. You get your cards face up, and it's important that you do not touch them! The dealer is the only one allowed to handle the cards in these multi-deck games. You are scolded if you touch them. You can occasionally find a single-deck game where the dealer deals the cards by hand, face down in front of you. In this scenario, you are permitted to touch them, since you need to see what you got. As a side note, most single-deck games pay 6:5 on a natural blackjack instead of 3:2 on multi-deck games.
Find a Dealer That Matches Your Mood
Before you choose your table, watch the dealer to see if she is one of the stone-faced, boring ones, or if she is friendly. Go for the one that smiles once in a while, chats or gives occasional advice. It goes a long way to make the session more fun. This is up to you. If you are in a serious mood yourself, the boring and serious dealer might be a better fit. If you are in a fun mood, don't go to table where everyone looks so serious with their cards. The converse is true, meaning you do not want a table where everyone is whooping it up, and you are in your serious mood.
Keep a Stash
Any financial planner will tell you that you should always save. And it's no different when gambling. This means you need to maintain two separate piles of chips, one to bet and one to save. Every time you win a hand, set aside part of your winnings into the 'save' pile, and don't touch it. If you have bad luck, and you go through your betting pile, walk away. This will ensure you will still have some money left at the end of the session.
Practice with Video Blackjack If You Are a Beginner
Most of the better casinos have computerized blackjack games, similar to those video poker games, that cost a quarter a try. Practice first on these machines, think of it as going to school first. Most real tables on the strip start at 10$ a deal so using these machines is a good way to start. It will not feel the same as having a real dealer but the rules are the same and it's perfect especially if you are a beginner.
If You Are in Vegas, Gamble Downtown
Serious gamblers, and by that we mean those who play to win, always gamble downtown. They don't care about glitz and flash. Downtown, you can easily get single-deck play, where the odds are better. The minimum stakes are lower, as low as $5 a hand as opposed to $10 on the Strip.
Lastly, while playing blackjack, be sure to ask the dealer or the pit boss about restaurants, shows, and attractions in the casino where you are playing. You will probably get a comp on meals, show tickets and other discounts, specially if you have been betting more than $20 per hand for a few hours. Remember that they will not offer these goodies unless you ask.
Blackjack really isn't all that complicated, but you should know a few things before you sit down to play a hand. After you read the following tips, watch a few players play their hands when you enter the casino, and then sit down and try your luck. And if you still have any doubts, ask the dealer.
You Need Chips to Play
Casino blackjack is played with chips, not cash. You can buy chips in different denominations at the main cashier or at the table itself. After you've placed a bet on the table and the dealer starts dealing, don't touch your bet. If you ignore this tip, you will probably get a verbal scolding from the dealer, dagger looks included.
Know the Dealer Minimum Rule
Watch the dealers' cards, they are required to draw to at least 17. That means they have to keep drawing cards until they have 17 or higher. Keep this in mind when devising your own strategy.
Don't Touch Those Cards
Most Vegas blackjack games use six decks of cards all mixed together in a shoe, which is a special card dispenser. You get your cards face up, and it's important that you do not touch them! The dealer is the only one allowed to handle the cards in these multi-deck games. You are scolded if you touch them. You can occasionally find a single-deck game where the dealer deals the cards by hand, face down in front of you. In this scenario, you are permitted to touch them, since you need to see what you got. As a side note, most single-deck games pay 6:5 on a natural blackjack instead of 3:2 on multi-deck games.
Find a Dealer That Matches Your Mood
Before you choose your table, watch the dealer to see if she is one of the stone-faced, boring ones, or if she is friendly. Go for the one that smiles once in a while, chats or gives occasional advice. It goes a long way to make the session more fun. This is up to you. If you are in a serious mood yourself, the boring and serious dealer might be a better fit. If you are in a fun mood, don't go to table where everyone looks so serious with their cards. The converse is true, meaning you do not want a table where everyone is whooping it up, and you are in your serious mood.
Keep a Stash
Any financial planner will tell you that you should always save. And it's no different when gambling. This means you need to maintain two separate piles of chips, one to bet and one to save. Every time you win a hand, set aside part of your winnings into the 'save' pile, and don't touch it. If you have bad luck, and you go through your betting pile, walk away. This will ensure you will still have some money left at the end of the session.
Practice with Video Blackjack If You Are a Beginner
Most of the better casinos have computerized blackjack games, similar to those video poker games, that cost a quarter a try. Practice first on these machines, think of it as going to school first. Most real tables on the strip start at 10$ a deal so using these machines is a good way to start. It will not feel the same as having a real dealer but the rules are the same and it's perfect especially if you are a beginner.
If You Are in Vegas, Gamble Downtown
Serious gamblers, and by that we mean those who play to win, always gamble downtown. They don't care about glitz and flash. Downtown, you can easily get single-deck play, where the odds are better. The minimum stakes are lower, as low as $5 a hand as opposed to $10 on the Strip.
Lastly, while playing blackjack, be sure to ask the dealer or the pit boss about restaurants, shows, and attractions in the casino where you are playing. You will probably get a comp on meals, show tickets and other discounts, specially if you have been betting more than $20 per hand for a few hours. Remember that they will not offer these goodies unless you ask.
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