Strategy card

[Jetjarv]

I'm not that experienced at playing at the casinos. My wife and I are going to Vegas and we want to play blackjack and not loose our tails.

I've been playing this strategy chart. http://www.eblackjackonline.net/blackjack-strategy/

In addition I have been surrendering on 15 when the dealer has a 10 or A: 16 and dealer 9, 10, or A: 17 dealer A.

I'm looking for any advice other than just what the chart says. I've found the MGM has stay at soft 17, double after split, and surrender. Would you pick a different table? Looks as though the strip's min bet is 15.

If you have advice other what the chart states, a casino, different table rules, or if it is obvious I need to learn different strategy I should be using I would appreciate it.

I feel playing the chart burns me on some of the hands. Especially with an A-6 or A-7; however this may just be perception.

Thanks!

[chang04133]

If you are not counting cards, then you are playing a losing game.
What Basic strategy says is exactly right if you do not count.
Upon following exact basic strategy, your EV will be like -.3% ~-.7%, depending on rules and conditions.

[RS]

Do what Tthree said. At the casinos I've played at, they let you have a BS card with you at the table. If you don't have BS memorized, it will be worth your while to print it out and bring it with you. I've seen casinos sell a BS chart card at their shop dealy-thing....but I wouldn't trust it, since some of them aren't completely accurate. Assuming you're not counting, you'll be playing a losing game. However, if you have a player's card and play a while, you could get comps that can off-set your losses (if you play at a packed table, you'll get more points per hand, since you get points per hour played and not how many hands you get...so instead of playing by yourself getting 200 hands per hour, you can play at a packed table and get much less than that). If you're playing a game with -0.5% EV with a $15 average/flat bet, then you'll be losing 0.005*15 dollars per hand, which is about 7 and a half cents. Playing solo with 200 hands per hour, that's -$15 per hour (200 * -0.005 * 15 = $15/hour). If you play at a packed table, and say maybe get, 80 hands per hour, then you'll be losing 80 * -0.005 * 15 = $6/hour. In the end, it's a difference of $9 per hour, which might not be too much for you....or it might be quite a bit (if you play ten hours, that's an extra -$90 loss, which might be significant to you....or if you just want to play for an hour or two by yourself, that's only $18....which is probably worth it so you can get a bunch of hands in at a relatively small cost...although it isn't as efficient for generating comps....but, to each his own.)

[Intermediate]

If you get a car and visit the off strip casinos, you will find lower minimums e.g., $5, $10 and even some $3. Those tables tend to be crowded, so the rounds per hour will be fewer, and like RS says, that would be favorable for accumulating comps. And if you are just playing Basic Strategy, I suppose playing at tables with CSM'S is an option that would mean more tables at lower minimums.

Regarding rules, play at the tables that allow DAS. Many of the CET properties like Harrah's, Rio, Paris, etc don't offer DAS on their 2D games.

[Jetjarv]

Thanks! Appreciate the info.

[shadroch]

There are three diifferent BS cards you should have.. Single Deck, Double Deck, and multideck. Then you have slight changes if the game is H17 or S17, and again if DAS is allowed or not.
One BS will not work on all games, although the multideck will work best on all of them if you choose to have only one.
Don Schessinger used to sell an oversized set of all of them, and you got a three month subscription to Green Chip as well. The large size really helps older eyes .

[zengrifter]

User is banned, content deleted.

[shadroch]

Thats what I would recommend, however all sets available here -
http://www.blackjackinfo.com/store/

Depending on what size betting you are doing, having the BS card visible at table could deprive you of earning full comp.

I always put my BS card on the table and make a point of referring to it on a tough choice- splitting 3s against a 7, or splitting 6s against a 6 for example. I have it all downpat, but using the card is part of my camo. Its often good for an interesting conversation as someone tells me how the casinos designed BS or some such.

BTW- Kens cards ar way too small for my aging eyes.

[BJNewbeeNoMore]

Funny you mentioned splitting 3s against a 7. I had this recently and all the other 3 ploppies and the dealer didn't want me to split. I took out BS card from my wallet and showed them I SHOULD split the 3s. Ended up splitting 4x, double down on 2 and dealer busted with a 9 under and pulled a 6. Love when that happens!