An important consideration for any serious blackjack player is their chosen casino’s shuffle policy. And by shuffle policy I am not referring to how well casinos shuffle their cards, or whether and to what extent machine shuffling occurs as against manual shuffles. What I am referring to is the point at which the shoe is re-shuffled and re-stacked ready for a new deal.

Why is this so important? Basically, the further into a shoe that deal proceeds, the more effective card counting strategies become and consequently the better astute players’ returns become.

While there are a number of methods employed for counting cards, they are all based on the same underlying truth…the more ‘high card rich’ the remaining shoe is, the better the player’s chances of winning. This is because a high card rich (ie many tens and picture cards) deck results in more blackjacks being dealt (which typically pay the player 3:2) and more dealer busts on forced hits. Counting strategies are simply methods devised to enable players to gauge to what extent the remaining shoe is high card rich, and bet accordingly.

Now the deeper into the shoe the deal proceeds, the better the player’s ability to assess the nature of the remaining shoe via the running count, and the more opportunity he or she has to apply this knowledge and bet to the count. If for example a shoe was dealt to the last card and a player’s running count with only a couple of dozen cards left was very high, they would be armed with a very accurate picture of the nature of the remaining cards.

In simple terms, the deeper into the shoe a player can penetrate, the sharper the picture he/she has of remaining cards. Unfortunately casinos, well aware of this, are eager to keep players’ picture as hazy as possible and one of the ways they do this is to re-shuffle and stack the shoe well before the deal ends. Where exactly this takes place (or where the cut card is inserted) is therefore an important consideration.

Turning to live (online) blackjack, this raises the question of where live casinos typically insert their cut cards and reshuffle.

While there are a number that institute a ‘regular re-shuffle’, the most common policy is a shuffle approximately mid-shoe. That is, in the case where an 8 deck shoe is used (as is common practice), the cut card is inserted approximately 4 decks in. This effectively means that any player wanting to apply a counting strategy will have to bet to the count well before half the shoe is dealt, negating the opportunity to employ an effective counting strategy.

Online Blackjack Tips
Online blackjack is a fun and easy way to start getting into online casino games. If you already know how to play blackjack from playing it in live casinos, youll have no problem with the online version, since the games play almost identically. With online blackjack, there are a few important tips to keep in [...]

Become an Online Blackjack Icon
There are a lot of fun games that you can play at an online casino. But since these sites have become all the rage, none have been more of a crowd pleaser than online blackjack.

Online Blackjack: Play for Fun, Play for Keeps
There are two kinds of people who play online blackjack: those who play for fun, and those who play for keeps. And of course, there are those who fit into both of these categories.

You saw the movie 21 which was about the MIT students who played team black in Vegas and won a fortune. They used the Hi Lo Card Counting system. The movie got you interested in card counting didn’t it?

The good news is that card counting is possible with practice. You can determine when the statistical advantage in a game of blackjack shifts from the casino to the player. The hi lo card counting system is one of the oldest, easiest balanced counting methods. Balanced means if you count through an entire deck starting a zero, you end at zero. Hi Lo is a good system to learn because is the basis for many other more complex methods. However, if a balanced system seems to difficult, and unbalanced system may be better for you.

You begin the hi lo method with a count of zero when the game begins or the decks are shuffled. Zero is the initial running count (called IRC). For each card played, you add the cards value to the count. The card values are as follows

The 2 through 6 cards have a value of +1. Ten, Jack, Queen, King and Ace cards have a value of -1 The 7 through 9 cards have a value of zero.

For example, if you start at zero, you get a pair of jacks and the dealer gets an eight and seven. You have zero minus one for each jack, and the seven and eight have no value. Thus the count is minus two.

Correctly keeping the running count while playing blackjack is the heart of any counting system.

The hi lo card counting system is a balanced system. Balanced systems must convert the running count into a true count. This is done by dividing the count by the number of decks left to be dealt. You estimate this number by estimating the number of decks discarded, and then subtracting that number from the total number of decks in play.

Estimating the number of decks in a pile of discards is skill that comes with a little practice. Eventually you’ll find you can come to a good approximation of the number of decks in a pile of cards.

The real trick is doing the estimation and the mathematical division in your head. For many people this on top of keeping the count becomes overwhelming. If you find yourself struggling with the division piece, try an unbalanced system like the Red Seven method. Unbalanced systems only require that you keep the count, and you don’t have to do any division.

Again, the hi lo card counting system is based on knowing when the statistical advantage changes to the player. When the count reaches certain values, the advantage changes. These points are different depending on the number of deck used. Here are the points.

count is zero or less; wager one unit for 2 decks; one unit for 6 decks count is +1; wager 2 units for 2 decks; 2 units for 6 decks count is +2; wager 3 units for 2 decks; 4 units for 6 decks count is +3; wager 4 units for 2 decks; 8 units for 6 decks count is +4; wager 5 units for 2 decks; 10 units for 6 decks count is +% or more; wager 6 units for 2 decks; 12 units for 6 decks

A unit is the table minimum bet. You play the minimum while the casino has the advantage. The wager increases as the count goes higher. You are betting more when you have a larger edge.

Blackjack Tips from the Experienced Players
Aside from becoming familiar with blackjack strategies, tips and pieces of advice from experts are also important to know. Knowing these blackjack tips can improve your winning chances and helps in making the right strategic move during the game.

The internet is completely filled with a multitude of online casinos. But with so much choice how do you know which one is the best for you?

There are a number of ways to decide, here are just a few.

Research, research, research. If you find a casino you like the look of then type it into one of the major search engines and see what you get. If it’s a big name then there should be several reviews for you to look through and assess – try looking for independent reviews or get on some forums to discuss what people are saying. A good rule of thumb is if you’ve heard of the casino before you start looking, and not because of bad things, then they are probably one of the more reputable casinos.

A good indicator is to check how many payment methods they accept. The more the better, if they only accept bank transfers then stay away. The majority of the online wallets (moneybookers, PayPal etc.) are reputable ways to transfer your funds in and out of a casino.

Take a look at the games on offer – most casinos will offer you the chance to play for free before signing up. Have a look at what’s on offer and if they suit the style and methods you are planning to apply.

Check out the offers for signing up bonuses. Some offer good bonuses some offer great bonuses. However, make sure that you check the small print. Some will require you to make 100 or so bets before you can claim your bonus others will add other ways to make it very difficult for you to claim what appears to be yours. And remember the old adage ‘If it seems too good to be true then it probably is.

So you’ve chosen your casino now what? The casino is full of ways to gamble with your money some ways can be very profitable and some ways you might as well just throw your money away. The bets to look out for are bets that give the house a high advantage. Below are a list bets that you should avoid at all costs in any casino, online or on land.

Blackjack

Unless you are counting cards (do not do this whilst playing online) and know the odds of the dealer making a blackjack never take insurance. When you take insurance the house has a huge advantage so it is not a wise idea.

Baccarat

Never bet on a tie. The odds of a tie are not favourable at all and are not even worth a flutter, avoid at all costs. Some people will tell you that ties often repeat close after each other, this is not the case, just play your own game.

Roulette

Some methods can be reasonably effective in roulette, depending on the table limits and the minimum bet. Avoid single number bets unless you have the enough money to place the same bet 36+ times in a row, not the most enjoyable way to play either.

For some more gambling advice have a look at these roulette systems.

Most people that play Blackjack dream of playing every day and making millions. So you buy books, go online for information and with your new found knowledge practice for months until you think you have it down cold.

You can count a deck of cards down in 15 seconds. You know basic strategy inside and out. Money management, well, that was the easy part.

A friend has dealt thousands of hands to you. You hold conversations while counting, play loud music, everything the books tell you to do.

The whole process has taken 7 long months, but it has been worth it because the time has come to take it to the casino. Nothing can stop you from realizing your dream of becoming a professional card counter and making millions of dollars. You’ll never have to work again. So you pack your bags and jump on a plane to Las Vegas or Atlantic City or any of the 29 states where casinos are now legal. You check into your room and sit there for an hour psyching yourself up for the coming 5 days.

You have a nice sized bankroll, basic strategy is automatic, card counting, you could almost do it in your sleep.

It’s time to go to the casino. You walk around for about an hour and get the feel of the room.Stand behind a couple of tables and count the deck down. You are not procrastinating, you’re doing exactly what you should be doing. You find a table that looks good and sit down.

You know what your bankroll should be and that’s what you put in your pocket. No way you’re going to lose more than the system allows.

It’s time to rock and roll.

You play about 6 hours, make few mistakes that you know about and don’t get any heat from the pit. All in all it’s been a good session, except for one thing. You lost. Not much, but you lost. Did you make any mistakes? You bet you did!

You broke the first two rules of card counting.

You committed your whole bankroll on your first session.

What you should have done was play two or three sessions for minimum bets until you were comfortable with playing in a casino.

The second rule you broke was playing for 6 hours.

Even seasoned pros play no more than 4 hour sessions. Two hours is even better.

The reason for these two rules is, #1 you should be totally comfortable with the betting and casino atmosphere before committing your entire bankroll and #2, the longer you play the more tired you will get and the more mistakes you will make. So keep your sessions short.

The next day you go back and lose again. A little more this time. This goes on for the entire time you’re there. Five days of Hell. By the time you leave and get on the plane you have lost 3/4 of your bankroll. You’re thinking bad thoughts all the way home.

You get home and announce to your friends that card counting doesn’t work and you are quitting. It happens every day. You lost confidence in the system. Even though you know it works you can’t believe that you could have lost, therefore it doesn’t work. All because you broke the first two rules of card counting.

The fact is that had you played with less money for a couple of sessions you wouldn’t have lost so much. But, the biggest problem was that you played too long. Had you played 2 hours instead of 6 hours you would have won 4 of 5 sessions(a guess). You got tired and made mistakes in the second half of the sessions which turned you into a loser.

Had you followed the rules, your bankroll and your ego would still be in tact and you would be ready to continue your counting career knowing that counting works and that you are playing correctly.

A final word. Expect to lose sessions. You’re in it for the long haul. Play by ALL the rules, not just the ones you like. Smarter people than you or I made the rules and they work!

The Basics of Blackjack
Blackjack is one of the casino games that gives the players a good probability of winning if they have the right strategy. Before the strategies, a player must first master the basics of blackjack.

Spanish Blackjack Game
Blackjack is well known all over the globe, and because of its popularity comes a lot of variations that everybody enjoys. Winning is a Spanish blackjack requires careful strategy with the use of intelligence to bring the winning odds to your favor.

blackjack II, electric boogaloo
I got a cheap blackjack II, and I’m happy with it for the most part. However, I’m having trouble finding a headset/hands free set up for my car… I’m trying to avoid a bluetooth for price concerns and also, well – I find them dorky. I’d prefer a headset that sits around the ear like these or these. I cant seem to find one for the blackjack II, and opted for an earbud. The earbud suuucks, and doesnt seem to actually stay in my ear. The problem seems to be the jack that plugs into the phone is weird (see link for photo). Does anyone have a blackjack II and have a good headset? I’ve tried lots of googling, but to no avail. I’ll break down and buy a bluetooth if I have to, but for the small amount of time that I’d use the headset in my car (cali law) it just doesnt seem to make sense.

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Instant Play 3D CasinoTo enter the 888.com 3D Casino no download is required; simply head over to the 888.com Casino website and login to the 3D Casino environment. 3D Casino RoomsThe 3D Casino has rooms for roulette, blackjack and slots players plus a special room for High Rollers, and once you’re in the 3D Casino you navigate through the lobby by means of your keyboard arrows. Customizable AvatarYou start out with a default avatar but you can create your own fully customized virtual character by choosing from different body types, facial features and clothing styles.    You can meet and interact with the other casino visitors when walking through the various gaming rooms, or while sitting down at the tables. You can also approach one of the 888.com support staff, recognizable by the dealer uniforms and 888.com Casino badges. Interactive and Realistic ExperienceThe multiplayer casino games – like roulette and blackjack – are particularly more interesting when played in 3D. The 3D gaming experience allows you to literally stand between the other gamblers at the tables, making it an interactive and realistic way of online gambling.   

Celtic Casino Launches Live Blackjack With Early Payout
Celtic Casino launched their Live Blackjack with Early Payout on December 7th, 2009. The game offers gamers the chance to interact with a live dealer while playing blackjack.

Florida Lawmakers and Seminole Officials Continues to Discuss Gaming Compact
Rep. Galvano said that he is hopeful that they are close to approving a compact with the Seminole tribe. The compact will allow the Seminoles to offer blackjack at 4 casinos.

Resorts Casino to Launch Resorts Blackjack
The Resorts Casino Hotel will offer Retro Blackjack to its customers. The game will use the same rules in standard blackjack.

Your First Blackjack Experience
The first time that you play blackjack can be intimidating, stressful, and often times scary. After all, you may feel out of place or simply afraid that you are going to lose too much money.

Let your Blackjack Knowledge Takeover
When playing a hand of blackjack, your chances of winning increase if you know what you are doing. Some players only have minimal knowledge of the game whereas others are much more advanced.