KB: Strategy?

[KB]

Hey folks,

I've more or less just started playing the game, and of course, I'm addicted. Horribly addicted. My way of thinking, is if I'm going to be addicted, I might as well be educated on my addiction. :-) I went out and bought "Blackjack's hidden secrets: win without counting" and didn't find it to be as instructive/informative as I had hoped for the beginner. I've got basic strategy down cold almost but the issue lies within my indecisiveness. An example would be that if I've got a 16 and the dealer has a face up, apparently I'm supposed to hit. The likelihood of me pulling 5 or less is not very high, so this leaves me to the logic of "well he probably has another face or 10-value in the hole" so I hit. Usually this will happen on 12's, 13's, and up aside from 17 where I'll be stuck with my move. Usually, I'll hit and end up with 23, 24, etc. and the dealer would have had a 5 under there or some other break card or weak hand. Can anyone recommend a good book or site to teach good strategy? I really appreciate any feedback.

Kindest regards,

KB

[Parker]

> Hey folks,

> I've more or less just started playing the
> game, and of course, I'm addicted. Horribly
> addicted. My way of thinking, is if I'm
> going to be addicted, I might as well be
> educated on my addiction. :-)

If you are indeed truly addicted, I strongly recommend that you contact Gambler's Anonymous. This is not something to take lightly.

> I went out and
> bought "Blackjack's hidden secrets: win
> without counting" and didn't find it to
> be as instructive/informative as I had hoped
> for the beginner.

Parker's two second book review: A complete waste of money.

> I've got basic strategy
> down cold almost but the issue lies within
> my indecisiveness. An example would be that
> if I've got a 16 and the dealer has a face
> up, apparently I'm supposed to hit. The
> likelihood of me pulling 5 or less is not
> very high, so this leaves me to the logic of
> "well he probably has another face or
> 10-value in the hole" so I hit. Usually
> this will happen on 12's, 13's, and up aside
> from 17 where I'll be stuck with my move.
> Usually, I'll hit and end up with 23, 24,
> etc. and the dealer would have had a 5 under
> there or some other break card or weak hand.

The first thing to realize is that when you have a 16 vs 10, you are essentially screwed. You will lose the hand more often than not, no matter how you play it. You will simply lose slightly less often by hitting than by standing. This is why we surrender the hand, if that option is available.

We play percentages. Sure, there will be plenty of times when you draw a ten and bust, and the dealer had a 6 in the hole. That doesn't mean that you played it wrong. &*%# happens.

> Can anyone recommend a good book or site to
> teach good strategy? I really appreciate any
> feedback.

Sure - here are two: Blackjack in the Zone, Revised and Expanded Edition, by Rick "Night Train" Blaine. Showing it's age a bit, but still excellent, is Professional Blackjack, by Stanford Wong. Despite the title, this book starts with the basics.

Either book may be ordered from our Online Catalog - link above.

[Ouchez]

> Hey folks,

> I've more or less just started playing the
> game, and of course, I'm addicted. Horribly
> addicted. My way of thinking, is if I'm
> going to be addicted, I might as well be
> educated on my addiction. :-) I went out and
> bought "Blackjack's hidden secrets: win
> without counting" and didn't find it to
> be as instructive/informative as I had hoped
> for the beginner. I've got basic strategy
> down cold almost but the issue lies within
> my indecisiveness. An example would be that
> if I've got a 16 and the dealer has a face
> up, apparently I'm supposed to hit. The
> likelihood of me pulling 5 or less is not
> very high, so this leaves me to the logic of
> "well he probably has another face or
> 10-value in the hole" so I hit. Usually
> this will happen on 12's, 13's, and up aside
> from 17 where I'll be stuck with my move.
> Usually, I'll hit and end up with 23, 24,
> etc. and the dealer would have had a 5 under
> there or some other break card or weak hand.
> Can anyone recommend a good book or site to
> teach good strategy? I really appreciate any
> feedback.

> Kindest regards,

> KB

Don't be afraid to hit that 16 against the dealer seven thru Ace, unless you are counting and at the proper point you will not hit. Or if you see the HC you may decide not to hit.

Now if you are lucky enough to be playing a LS game, things change.

Be careful NOT to get addicted!

Good cards,
Ouchez.

[Ed Tice]

> If you are indeed truly addicted, I strongly
> recommend that you contact Gambler's
> Anonymous. This is not something to take
> lightly.

Speaking of which. Are there any statistics on number of card counters turned craps addict? I think it might be surprisingly high. I read a post on the BJ21 archives about why many counters still have negative EV and I remember the comment that many of them lose their edge playing craps "for cover" even though they don't need it.

Craps is definitely the most fun game in the casino and I'd hate to start out as a wannabe-counter and end up a craps addict. But I certainly could see it happening, especially as a part-time player who doesn't really need the money.

If I ever decided to play full time, I hope that I'd never go near a craps table unless I was playing BJ black and craps red, and maybe not then.

But its a curious statistic and I don't know how we could even begin to estimate it.

[Sharmon]

I can put the 16 dilema in perseptive if you want . In a S17 game would you stop on a 12 ? The dealer HAS to follow the rules making your 12-16 equal insofar as you will win only if the dealer busts would you play a session where you won only if the dealer busts and you were never even dealt any cards ? This was the way I got the "hunch" urge out of playing 16. This, of course, is only if you have no other knowledge of the shoe , hence the term basic strategy. I loved S. Wongs Professional BJ but am a beginner as well and am currently following KO BJ. You can make this game as fun as you want depending on if you find the hunt or the kill more intriguing

> Hey folks,

> I've more or less just started playing the
> game, and of course, I'm addicted. Horribly
> addicted. My way of thinking, is if I'm
> going to be addicted, I might as well be
> educated on my addiction. :-) I went out and
> bought "Blackjack's hidden secrets: win
> without counting" and didn't find it to
> be as instructive/informative as I had hoped
> for the beginner. I've got basic strategy
> down cold almost but the issue lies within
> my indecisiveness. An example would be that
> if I've got a 16 and the dealer has a face
> up, apparently I'm supposed to hit. The
> likelihood of me pulling 5 or less is not
> very high, so this leaves me to the logic of
> "well he probably has another face or
> 10-value in the hole" so I hit. Usually
> this will happen on 12's, 13's, and up aside
> from 17 where I'll be stuck with my move.
> Usually, I'll hit and end up with 23, 24,
> etc. and the dealer would have had a 5 under
> there or some other break card or weak hand.
> Can anyone recommend a good book or site to
> teach good strategy? I really appreciate any
> feedback.

> Kindest regards,

> KB

[Norm Wattenberger]

Having a remarkably favorable BJ session one day at a big strip joint; on my way to the cage I passed a completely empty craps table. I thought one really stupid bet would give me cover for the win better than any tip. I threw a green chip on the table and said 'boxcars.' (Now this is a stupid bet.) Grabbed the dice and indeed threw two sixes.

My point is after winning 30:1 in five seconds, sometimes the most mathematically based of us have to take a second and remember that if we lose site of the overall odds and risks we are screwed. But I gather you know that

[Greasy John]

I've read many books on blackjacks and I
The World's Greatest Blackjack Book is my favorite. However, the Hi-Opt I with ace side count is very hard (forget it)in a six-deck game.

Regarding hitting 16 against a 10, you have a 75% chance of losing if you hit and a 77% chance of losing if you stand (not counting, of course). Hitting a 16 vs 10 is an example of "losing less."

Greasy John

[Ed Tice]

It is true that the expectation of standing on anything less than 16 is about the same. Entirely the same in a shoe game, or at least insignificantly different. But the expectation of hitting is much better for a 12 that it is for a 16. With a 16, only 5 cards will improve your hand to where you have any chance of not losing if the dealer doesn't bust. 8 cards send you bust.

With a 12, 5 cards improve your hand to where you have any chance of lot losing if the dealer doesn't bust. 4 cards will make you bust. And the other four cards make your hand worse but not bust, which is why a 12 is better than a 16.

I never question "the book" and more importantly I simulate everything I'm going to do before playing, so I know what my edge is if I play that way. Even if something I'm doing isn't optimal (index value wrong, etc.) I know that I'm still playing with an edge because a 250 billion hand simulation said I am.

The only exception to "not deviating from plan" is to give up making an index play if I'd get too much attention. But this is planned as well. For any game I'm going to play, I simulate my bet spread with BS and my bet spread with the indices I know.

I suggest that you do the same. Then when you are at the table, there is no "second guessing" your strategy because you know it works.

Ed

[Ed Tice]

That's a good story! I was in the casino a few weeks ago and had a winning BJ session. So I headed to the craps table. Found a very nice looking girl and asked her if she wanted to thow the dice and that I'd place the bets. We did. And then she continued to throw. Empty craps table so she is throwing the whole time. I had taken to keeping my chips in a slot cup and it was overflowing with $10 chips! I made like $500 that night. The pit bosses were all watching (and this time I enjoyed the heat!). A crowd had formed. I'm playing $5 on the pass line + odds and $6 on the 6 and 8. The dealers are going nuts trying to get me to press my bets and get thta hosue edge working, but I'm saying "Why should i do that. The current system is making me rich." What a great time. After that I felt invincible at the craps table.

I tried the same strategy on subsequent nights, but with different girls throwing the dice. Well I met some nice girls, but I have back my win and more! So I am now officially cured of the craps habit. But unfortunately I gave away a few nights of EV in the process.

Ed

> Having a remarkably favorable BJ session one
> day at a big strip joint; on my way to the
> cage I passed a completely empty craps
> table. I thought one really stupid bet would
> give me cover for the win better than any
> tip. I threw a green chip on the table and
> said 'boxcars.' (Now this is a stupid bet.)
> Grabbed the dice and indeed threw two sixes.

> My point is after winning 30:1 in five
> seconds, sometimes the most mathematically
> based of us have to take a second and
> remember that if we lose site of the overall
> odds and risks we are screwed. But I gather
> you know that