An important blackjack player option

There are a lot of options for the player when it comes to blackjack. A player can hit, stand, split, double down, take insurance and in some casinos a player can even surrender. However, one of the most powerful player options in the game is knowing when to quit.

You can quit playing anytime you wish and for any reason. If you won a lot, or lost a lot, it doesn’t matter. You are in complete control at blackjack, and for what ever reason you decide, when and where, that is how it is. There are no ifs, ands or buts about it. You can walk into one casino, stroll around and not even play a single hand if you desire. You have that option; use it to your advantage.

There have been times when I visited a specific casino mainly for its good restaurant. On one visit I particularly remember; after dinner I thought I would like to do a little gaming. I looked at the 21 tables and didn’t like the rules (double on 10 and 11 only on single deck). The few shoe games that were open were crowded, with no seats available.

All and all it just didn’t seem to be a good time to do any playing, so I left. I thought it might be better down the street at another casino or maybe later that night or it might be better the next day. What was important was I was in charge. I didn’t think my win-rate would be affected that much because I hadn’t played. The conditions weren’t right at the time, so I quit.

You can do the same any time you visit a casino and want to play a little blackjack. I suggest you ask your self a few questions as you enter a casino. Early on, you want to know if the rules are reasonable.

• Do they pay 3 to 2 for a blackjack, or are they only paying 6 to 5?


• Do they offer a variety of single, double and shoe games?


• Can you play at a table with a few (2 or 3) other players, or are all the tables pretty much full?

Don’t be that player who is not doing very well at the table and says, “I’ll quit after I lose this last $50 in chips.” The strategy should be to take the “last $50” and save for your next casino visit. You are in charge, don’t hesitate to quit, take advantage of that important option.


BET YOU DIDN'T KNOW

• In the U.K., the gaming commission thinks insurance is such a bad bet for the player that it can only be offered if a player has a blackjack.

• Mathematically, in 100 hands of blackjack, the dealer will win 48 hands, the player will win 44, and 8 will result in a tie.

• Even playing basic strategy at blackjack, the house has the advantage because the dealer plays his/her hand last.

• Some casinos have a spot on its blackjack rating slips which can be marked to indicate that a player knows blackjack Basic Strategy.

• Numerous surveys have shown that blackjack dealers prefer that you bet their tip, in lieu of just passing it to them. Even if the house sometimes wins it.

• Blackjack dealers will break, on average, about 28% of the time. Basic strategy players, on the other hand, will bust only about 16% on average.

• The Sahara casino-hotel in Las Vegas hosted the first blackjack tournament in town in December 1978.

This article is provided by the Frank Scoblete Network. Melissa A. Kaplan is the network's managing editor. If you would like to use this article on your website, please contact Casino City Press, the exclusive web syndication outlet for the Frank Scoblete Network. To contact Frank, please e-mail him at fscobe@optonline.net.