THE ULTIMATE BLACKJACK STRATEGY GUIDE
We have compiled the most exhaustive and detailed introductory guide to the game of Blackjack anywhere in the world. The 888casino Ultimate Blackjack Strategy Guide presents everything players need to know about the game of Blackjack from A to Z. Let's get started!
WHY WE COMPILED THE ULTIMATE BLACKJACK STRATEGY GUIDE FOR YOU
As the world's most popular casino card game, Blackjack enjoys a commanding presence among players. Yet, strangely enough, most players are unfamiliar with the rules, tactics, and strategies needed to play Blackjack. There are specific protocols that players must follow in Blackjack – the Ultimate Blackjack Strategy Guide is your ticket to unlocking all of this information.
STRUCTURE OF THIS GUIDE
There are 18 chapters in the Ultimate Blackjack Strategy Guide. Each chapter in this guide commences with a series of bullet points. These present a summary of what is contained in each chapter. The Ultimate Blackjack Strategy Guide includes strategies in multiple different formats. These are presented in an easy-to-navigate fashion, with colour-coded charts. Wherever necessary and applicable, the mathematics of individual strategies are presented and explained in detail. These examples are useful for understanding the inner mechanics of Blackjack. The chapters contain a set of key takeaways and a quiz. This is a great way to test your understanding of each chapter. This guide kicks off with a section titled - How to Play Blackjack. Afterward, topics are introduced incrementally to give readers (players) the requisite knowledge to play blackjack games online or in person skillfully.
WHO IS THIS BLACKJACK STRATEGY GUIDE FOR?
This comprehensive guide was created for players who have never played the game of Blackjack before. But it's also designed for experienced players who want to fine-tune their game. You can gain a higher performance level by studying the chapters of this blackjack strategy guide. A detailed reading of the Ultimate Blackjack Strategy Guide will boost your confidence and present you with fascinating tactics and strategies to win blackjack games.
WHO WROTE THE ULTIMATE BLACKJACK STRATEGY GUIDE?
Henry Tamburin, Ph.D., a legendary player, is the author of this comprehensive blackjack strategy guide. He is one of the preeminent scholars on the subject and a world-class authority on Blackjack. He comes to the table with five decades of extensive experience. As a player, author, and strategist, he brings a multidimensional approach to Blackjack. Tamburin is a respected author, speaker, and professor. He has taught amateurs and professional blackjack players and is the reputed author of Blackjack: Take the Money and Run. Tamburin is well known for his card counting classes across the United States. Over the years, he has hosted multiple seminars for business organizations and conventions. His work has been showcased in various newspapers, on radio, and even on television. In addition, Tamburin is routinely invited to the illustrious Blackjack Ball as an expert blackjack tournament player. This elite gathering of professional blackjack players, writers, and mathematicians is the go-to event for game enthusiasts.
Before you buy into a blackjack game, it's essential to go over the ground rules of Blackjack. There's also blackjack table etiquette to consider at live blackjack games. In this Ultimate Blackjack Strategy Guide, you will learn precisely what makes Blackjack unique. Granted, the house has a built-in edge over the player, but this guide will teach you how to overcome the edge with blackjack strategy and best-practice techniques. During this chapter, you will learn about Blackjack strategy, including the storied history of Blackjack.
1.1 Blackjack Rules
The first order of business when playing Blackjack is understanding the foundations of the game. That means the rules and regulations and basic framework that underpins the game of Blackjack. An understanding of these elements is essential before you can learn blackjack strategies. Next, we will teach you about the objective of Blackjack, and it's not getting 21. After that, various player actions are possible per the casino's rules, and the dealer's enforced rules. Plus, we'll present several blackjack protocols to keep you in check.
1.2 Blackjack Etiquette
Etiquette describes the code of conduct, procedures, and protocols players follow when playing Blackjack. In this section of our blackjack strategy guide, we will list the most critical elements of blackjack etiquette, including several commonly made faux pas.
1.3 Why Play Blackjack
You have many choices when it comes to casino table games. This is true at online casinos and brick-and-mortar casinos alike. Why play Blackjack? What makes this game so different from others at the casino, and why is it the #1 choice for intelligent players. You'll find everything you want to know in this guide section.
1.4 Understanding the Casino's Edge
In this section, we'll teach you why the casino has a built-in edge over the player in Blackjack. But, it will also show how players can implement basic blackjack strategies to whittle down the house edge and even the playing field. With the right tactics and strategy, it's possible to reduce the casino's advantage to less than 1%.
1.5 Blackjack Variations
Blackjack has an illustrious history that dates back to the 1700s. We will teach you everything you need to know about this storied game's history. As we uncover the fascinating evolution of Blackjack, you will see why it became the world's most popular casino card game. Discover when Blackjack made its way to North America and how the game's name changed from 21 to Blackjack. We also show which people were responsible for developing an accurate blackjack playing strategy. And we will reveal who created and published the world's first winning blackjack card counting system. That's all coming up in the blackjack variations section.
The Ultimate Blackjack Strategy Guide is geared towards teaching novices and experienced players the best basic playing strategy. We will coach you through hitting, standing, doubling, pair splitting, and surrender options. We also introduce important elements such as blackjack side bets, even money wagers, and blackjack insurance.
2.1 Importance of Basic Blackjack Strategy
This guide section will teach you the essential elements of the basic Blackjack playing strategy. Plus, you will learn how a basic Blackjack strategy can save you lots of money (C$) during your playing sessions.2.2 Blackjack Surrender Strategy
As Lady Luck would have it, sometimes we are dealt great hands, and sometimes we're not. In this section of our guide, we will explain how you can minimize the impact of poor hands by using a popular option known as surrender. Be advised that this option includes black-and-white tables and colour-coded blackjack charts containing the most accurate and up-to-date surrender basic strategy for all games.2.3 Blackjack Pair Splitting Strategy
There are at least three reasons players split pairs in the game of Blackjack. In this guide section, we will teach you what they are. These include black-and-white tables and colour-coded blackjack charts containing accurate pair splitting strategies for blackjack games.
2.4 Blackjack Doubling Down Strategy
When you double down, you play offensively. This is usually done when the dealer is vulnerable. This guide section will teach you how it works, including black-and-white tables and colour-coded blackjack charts containing accurate doubling-down strategies for blackjack games.
2.5 Blackjack Hit & Stand Strategy
Of all the decisions made in Blackjack, none is more frequent than when to hit and when to stand. In this section of our blackjack strategy guide, we will walk you through the correct strategies for hitting and standing in Blackjack. This includes black-and-white tables and colour-coded blackjack charts containing accurate hitting & standing strategies for playing all blackjack games.
2.6 Blackjack Insurance & Even Money Strategy
There are two popular side bets in the Blackjack game: insurance and even-money strategy. In this section of our ultimate blackjack strategy guide, you will learn about these bets and when you should make them.
In this chapter of our Ultimate Blackjack Strategy Guide, you will learn everything you need to know about Basic Blackjack Playing Strategies with accurate and complete colour-coded blackjack charts. These charts are designed for white tables for single, double, and 4+ deck games.
3.1 Single-Deck Blackjack Game
In this section, we will teach you the correct basic Blackjack playing strategy used in single-deck games of Blackjack. It is contained in special colour-coded blackjack charts and white tables for different blackjack rules.
3.2 Double-Deck Blackjack Game
This section presents the ideal basic playing strategy for double-deck blackjack games, with colour-coded charts and white tables for different blackjack rules.
3.3 Four or More Decks Blackjack Game
In this section of our ultimate blackjack strategy guide, we introduce the most accurate basic Blackjack playing strategy for games using four or more decks of cards. These are presented in colour-coded charts and white tables, with four different blackjack playing rules.
HOW TO PRACTICE BLACKJACK STRATEGY
In this chapter of The Ultimate Blackjack Strategy Guide, we present a variety of practical tips that you can use to learn basic Blackjack playing strategies. In addition, it includes decision-making processes and practice sessions of Blackjack.
4.1 Order of the Decision-Making Process
After you are dealt your first two cards in Blackjack, you don't have much time to decide what you will do. You can hit, stand, double, split, surrender, or take insurance if all of these options are available. In this section of our guide, we will present a logical sequence that you can follow to determine the best playing options.
4.2 Practice Blackjack Strategy
In this section, we present you with a Blackjack Quiz. This will test your knowledge of basic Blackjack playing strategy. But, don't worry, answers are provided.
As a basic strategy player, blackjack strategies can help you improve your odds of winning. They can also reduce the house edge further. All of this is presented in this chapter.
5.1 Composition-Dependent Strategy
Here, you'll learn about various basic blackjack playing strategies predicated on the composition of the cards you currently hold.5.2 Hand Interaction
Here we will introduce important concepts about how (and when) to place a bet on another player's hand for profit.5.3 Casino Comps
This section presents you with insider tips about earning additional casino comps when you play blackjack games.
5.4 Casino Coupons
You have the edge over the house whenever you use a casino coupon. Learn exactly what casino coupons are, how they work, and where to acquire them.
5.5 Loss Rebate
It's usually high rollers who skillfully negotiate with casinos vis-a-vis loss rebates. This is an excellent strategy that can give you an edge in Blackjack.
Did you know that most blackjack players enter a casino and sit at the first blackjack table they find? That's a big no-no. We'll teach you how to maximize your advantage by scouting blackjack tables properly.
6.1 Searching for the best Blackjack Table: What to Look For
Many different factors come into play when seeking out the best blackjack table. These include the rules of the game, the number of decks of cards in play, blackjack payoffs, and card shuffling techniques, among others. We'll get into specifics in this section of our guide.
6.2 Good and Bad Blackjack Rules
Just because it's a rule doesn't mean it's suitable for players. In this section, we introduce good and bad blackjack rules.
In this section of our Ultimate Blackjack Strategy Guide, we introduce unique types of betting systems that were designed expressly for Blackjack and why they don't work.
7.1 Popular Betting Systems
The most popular blackjack betting systems are predicated on the outcomes of the previous hand/hands. With some of these systems, you increase your bet size after a loss, while others increase your bet after a win. We will introduce the functionality of each of these betting systems in this section of our guide.7.2 Why Some Betting Systems Just Don’t Work
Much to the chagrin of most blackjack players, we introduce popular blackjack betting systems and why they don't work and will never work.
The ultimate blackjack strategy guide also presents you with many popular blackjack myths. You've probably heard about some of them, such as:
* Increase your bets when the dealer is cold
* Always insure good hands
* The order of your cards is sacred in Blackjack
* If there are bad players at your table, they will hurt your winning chances
There are many others, and we will expose them!
This chapter of our Ultimate Blackjack Strategy Guide introduces a list of frequently asked questions (FAQs). The answers to these questions are clear, polished, and easy to understand. For example, should you tip the blackjack dealer, and if you do, how much should you give? What if the dealer makes a mistake that causes you to lose your hand? How can you get comps when you play Blackjack? Where is the best blackjack game in Las Vegas? We will answer these and other questions!
10.1 Card Counting Myths
There are scores of blackjack myths around the issue of card counting. Trust me; I've heard all of them over the last 50 years. In this section, you will get my opinion about the most popular myths and truths about blackjack card counting.
10.2 Effect of Card Removal
Picture this: You close your eyes and randomly pick a marble from a bowl containing an equal number of black and white marbles. What are the chances that it'll be a white marble? Since it's an even number of both, you've got 50-50 odds.10.3 How Card Counting Works in Blackjack
Here we explain to you why the removal of low-value cards is favourable to players and the removal of high-value cards is unfavourable to players.
10.4 Learning the Hi-lo Card Counting Systems
The hi-lo card counting system is the gold standard and has been for many years. It's also the blackjack card counting system that I have successfully used for almost 50 years. I also taught it to hundreds of blackjack players at my blackjack school and during seminars.
10.5 How to Use the Running Count in Single and Double-Deck Games
Here's some good news: it's pretty easy to change your bets up in single-deck blackjack games. The bad news is that there aren't many beatable single-deck blackjack games available. On the other hand, this means there are a few games that give you – the card counter – the advantage.
10.6 How to Use True Count for Betting in Multi-Deck Games
If you're wondering how you will be able to determine the number of unplayed decks of cards, don't worry. Casinos have indirectly provided us with a blackjack device to do this. It's the discard tray – it's not the dealing shoe!
10.7 How to Use the True Count to Vary Your Playing Strategy
You can use the true count to size your bets correctly, but you can also use the true count to deviate from the basic Blackjack playing strategy. The more positive the true count, the more likely you are to stand, double, split, take insurance, or surrender in Blackjack.
10.8 Unbalanced Card Counting Systems
If you've been a little reluctant to learn about basic blackjack card counting because you're worried about the mental division of converting a running count to a true count on every hand you play, don't fret. I introduced this in Chapter 10.6 for you. There is a new style of a card counting system that only uses the running count for playing and betting decisions. This new system makes it much easier for players to understand.
10.9 Entry-level Card-counting Systems
Good news! A Speed Count System incorporates aggressive and conservative betting spreads, much like the balanced/unbalanced card counting systems. As the spread increases, so does the edge increase, but it's riskier for your bankroll.
10.10 How to Enhance Your Edge
Fast fact: blackjack croupiers will never deal all the cards to players. Mostly, they deal anywhere from 50% to 80% of the cards in the shoe. Then they shuffle the cards. The percentage of cards dealt to players is known as deck penetration.
10.11 Casinos’ Countermeasures Against Card Counters
Card counting is technically legal, provided you use your brain and not any devices, but casinos still frown upon it. In this subsection of our Ultimate Blackjack Strategy Guide, we introduce the techniques casinos use to discourage players from counting cards. We will also tell you how they catch card counters and what they do to them.
10.12 How to Disguise Your Skills
On a balmy evening in Las Vegas, a gentleman was walking along the iconic Las Vegas Strip, wondering what it just occurred. He was a great card counter, he could count down a deck of cards in just 20 seconds flat, and he knew his strategy deviations well.
10.13 Bankroll and Risk of Ruin
You need two things to beat the casino at Blackjack – a winning system that is accurately played, as well as a bankroll to back your betting. Never take your bankroll for granted. A limited bankroll is a surefire recipe for disaster as a card counter.
There are plenty of different side bets in Blackjack. This guide will precisely explain those side bets, including the rules of play, payoffs, and which side bets you can beat.
Blackjack comes in many different variants, despite each of them being similar to one another. This chapter looks at blackjack variants – other games and how to play them. We'll also show you which games can give you the edge over the casino.
12.1 Spanish 21
A classic! Learn how to play Spanish 21, a game with no pip 10s but lots of liberal playing rules.12.2 Blackjack Switch
Learn how to play Blackjack Switch. In this blackjack game, players must play two hands, and they can switch the second card dealt to each hand to improve their winning chances.12.3 Free Bet Blackjack
Learn how to play free bet blackjack. The blackjack dealer will pay you to match your double down and pair splits in this game.12.4 Super Fun 21
Play Super Fun 21. In this blackjack game, both of the dealer's cards are displayed in full view.
In this chapter of our Ultimate Blackjack Strategy Guide, we provide info on what you can expect when you play Blackjack overseas – outside of the United States and Canada. Topics reviewed include winnings declarations and North American regulations vis-a-vis cash transactions in casinos.
ONLINE BLACKJACK RULES
In this chapter, we look at playing Blackjack at online casinos. We examine how online Blackjack works, how you can get started, and what you should be looking for.
BLACKJACK TOURNAMENTS
In this chapter, we delve into the world of blackjack tournaments. We'll show you how they work, what types of blackjack strategies you can and how to improve your winning chances. With our blackjack tournaments chapter, you'll learn how to boost your chances of finishing at a final table.
15.1 How Blackjack Tournaments Work
Multiple tournament formats are available in Blackjack. This section will teach you what they are and how they work.
15.2 Blackjack Strategies for Tournament Play
There is a difference between blackjack tournament play and blackjack table play. Here we highlight the most effective betting and playing strategies for blackjack tournaments.
BLACKJACK LEGENDS
Ever wanted to know who the legends of Blackjack are? Now's your chance to learn their names and what they've achieved in the game of Blackjack.
16.1 Major Contributors to Our Knowledge of the Game
In this section, we present a summary of players who have made outsized contributions to the game of Blackjack regarding their knowledge, skills, and success.
16.2 Blackjack Hall of Fame
Want to know about the Blackjack Hall of Fame? Now's your chance! Will tell you where it is located, who the inductees are, and what contributions they've made to the game. We also explain how players are nominated and voted into the Hall of Fame.
16.3 Blackjack Ball
The Blackjack Ball is an annual event for blackjack aficionados held at a private location in Las Vegas, Nevada. We'll give you the inside scoop on this prestigious affair. Many of these blackjack players have made a small fortune playing the game at casinos worldwide.
THE PROCESS OF WINNING AT BLACKJACK
We will walk you through why most blackjack players lose at a game you can beat.
