I have played BJ 4 or 5 times before using the basic strategy and have been successful. I'm going to throw down one big bet on sunday and was wondering if it is okay to look at a more detailed chart whilst playing.*
If you're throwing down one big bet, will you have the funds available to double or split if required? What if basic strategy tells you to split and double multiple times on that one hand? Some casinos allow you to split two or three times, and double on each split hand if appropriate. Doubling occurs in situations that favour the player, but that doesn't mean that the extra money isn't at risk too.
Of course, you don't have to take these options, but if you don't, the house edge increases dramatically - so much so that you would be better off playing baccarat, or even roulette.
On a different note, why do you want to do this? Is there something you would be able to buy with your winnings which you cannot currently buy with the money you plan to bet? Consider exactly how you would feel if you won, how you would feel if you lost, and what purchases you could make in either case. Weigh these up against your chances of winning or losing. If you want to know more, look up the concept of economic utility.
Just so you know, you have a fairly high chance of losing your bet compared to winning. The small house edge, about 0.5% is calculated because the player can split, double, (and surrender), etc. You'd be giving up a huge edge throwing down too much money where you can't split or double or whatever.
I would advise you against doing this, but that's just with my limited information on what's going on. Regardless, good luck.
"Everyone wants to be rich, but nobody wants to work for it." -Ryan Howard [The Office]
I will have the money to double or split if need to. I can afford to lose it, it won't be devastating. I plan on getting a nice home theater style recliner if I win which I'm not betting quite the price of. I had considered betting a color on Roulette since the odds are better, but playing it does not sound like fun at all. It is worth the extra risk of playing BJ because it's what I really like playing and would rather lose at BJ if I lose.
The odds are not better on roulette, at all, as long as you indeed have the money to split/double whatever you needed to.... Just in case there's any chance you were gonna change your mind at the last minute...
I just got done playing a hand where I split 3 time and doubled 3 times, for a total of seven times the original bet on that one hand, and lost. I hope that doesn't happen to you....! There's a lot worse stories than that on these pages, tho statistically rare.
And in the interest of full disclosure and not being overly dramatic, I'm happy to report they were hands played at my kitchen table. I was enjoying a bagel, I do recall...
"I did it for me..... I liked it. I was good at it...and I was...really...I was alive..."
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