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What I mean is easier per dollar earned. Here are a few possibilities: Hole carding table games, Video poker play for free play coupons, Promotions, Drawings. The edge in each of those is usually much higher than card counting. The trick is they require different skills, and often a lot of scouting. But when you do find an opportunity, you will have a bigger edge and much lower risk.
First, let me say that I always use this site to sharpen my skills before cruising/gambling. I’m well ahead of the game after the last 7 years…Thank You!
Second, I find that the last cruise I took…last month…I couldn’t count cards as they were constantly reshuffling the cards back into the machine. Pity, as I was a decent card counter! 8o)) Any suggestions?
Ah, the scourge of continuous shuffle machines. On a cruise ship it’s not unusual to see them at every table. As you fear, card counting tactics are useless in that situation. Occasionally you may find a dealer that doesn’t immediately put the discards back into the shuffler, but the minor information you can gain won’t offset the base house edge of the game.
Note that it still may be possible to “beat” this game by getting more of your cruise costs comped than the expected loss on the game. I haven’t exploited this angle myself so I don’t know how practical it is.
Don’t believe you can get cruise costs comped. Haven’t tried it, but as you have to prepay…Cruise lines are also famously selfish about giving anything away
Your strategy chart shows us 16vsT and 16vsA are SR. I know it. Why are pair of 8’s vsT and pair of 8’s vsA H? Basic strategy charts of other sites show us SR. I’m sorry, my English is not good.
Grrr. I made a small change in the logic of how the No Peek chart displays its results back in August, and I broke this. I simply MUST restructure this code so it is easier to work with without causing problems. I’ll correct this within the next few days.
But, yes, in the 6D LS No Peek game, you should surrender 88vT and 88vA. Sorry for the trouble.
In regards to Michael losing $3k in a matter of minutes @ the MGM, how much was he betting $1000 a hand? I am no card counter but I have played Black Jack since 1978 in Vegas and many casinos around the country. Michael had a lot of complaints and when you lose everything is wrong or bothering you.
I see as everyone else that most people do not know how to play much less know how to bet. Blackjack is a game of patience you have to start with a “base bet” every single time and build up from there on your winning streaks. I see players betting $25 or $50 lose 5 or 6 in a row and then bet $300 and lose again now what’s your next bet $600? a quick way to go down. Or the player who after losing 5 in a row is now winning play after play but does not raise their bet, how will you get your money back or get a big win if you do not build on your base bet? or the player who has won several stacked bets in a row and 5 or 6 hands later reduces the bet to table minimum anticipating a loss.
As for the green or chicken players who make mistakes non stop, your hand can go either way, I do not give advice at the table or correct people’s mistakes because the next time they play it right we may lose again! I do like a “no mid shoe” table overall.
ok thank you very much, and in this Special Situation: i have hard 12 against a Dealers 3 and there are many 9s and 8s out of the shoe, always hit or is it possibile to stay in this Situation??
Yes, 12v3 is a basic strategy hit, but the deck composition doesn’t have to change much to make standing better. In fact, many decisions can be subject to these kinds of strategy variations. For detail on how this is handled in card counting systems, see these references: The instructions for my advanced card set include a brief explanation: https://www.blackjackinfo.com/card/advanced-strategy-cards.php Or, the free blackjack school covers it in depth: https://www.blackjackinfo.com/blackjack-school The relevant section starts at Lesson 13 – The Advanced Course.
I’m a bit new, and I realize the author clearly states to stand on any 3 card 16 against a dealer 10 but I wanted to make sure that would include the specific hand where the player hits A,5 against a dealer 10 and gets a 10 for A,5,10 or 16. Thank you for the article.
This is confirmation bias again. Everyone wants to complain when Third Base takes the dealer’s bust card and the table gets swept. They forget all those times when it went the other way. Gamblers are a superstitious lot who haven’t the vaguest idea as to what they’re doing.
Ask a dozen Roulette players the odds of hitting “red” or “black” is and you’ll get twelve wrong answers.
Ask a dozen Craps players how many ways a seven can fall, and it’s “DUHHHH…”
As for Blackjack, the most popular strategy is the Whudidowiddishand non-strategy strategy. The 50th anniversary of _Beat the Dealer_ has come and gone. For most of these people, it’s 1961 all over again.
You’re right. A player’s edge in this case is small enough that tips are going to eliminate the advantage. At most, you might consider a $1 tip after each blackjack. If you’re looking for a net positive result, tipping is quite expensive to that goal.
Am I saying you should not tip? No, because everyone has different goals and expectations at the table. But it’s also wise to be aware that you are paying the dealer for something if you tip, and it isn’t your cards. It’s for the experience at the table. But if your main goal is getting an edge, anything over minimal tipping is going to make that impossible if you are a basic strategy player.
Ken – “And, there are also easier ways to make money in the casino.”
Such as?
What I mean is easier per dollar earned.
Here are a few possibilities: Hole carding table games, Video poker play for free play coupons, Promotions, Drawings.
The edge in each of those is usually much higher than card counting. The trick is they require different skills, and often a lot of scouting.
But when you do find an opportunity, you will have a bigger edge and much lower risk.
First, let me say that I always use this site to sharpen my skills before cruising/gambling. I’m well ahead of the game after the last 7 years…Thank You!
Second, I find that the last cruise I took…last month…I couldn’t count cards as they were constantly reshuffling the cards back into the machine. Pity, as I was a decent card counter! 8o))
Any suggestions?
Again…THANK YOU!!
Thanks for the kind words about the site.
Ah, the scourge of continuous shuffle machines. On a cruise ship it’s not unusual to see them at every table.
As you fear, card counting tactics are useless in that situation. Occasionally you may find a dealer that doesn’t immediately put the discards back into the shuffler, but the minor information you can gain won’t offset the base house edge of the game.
Note that it still may be possible to “beat” this game by getting more of your cruise costs comped than the expected loss on the game.
I haven’t exploited this angle myself so I don’t know how practical it is.
Don’t believe you can get cruise costs comped. Haven’t tried it, but as you have to prepay…Cruise lines are also famously selfish about giving anything away
6decks,S17,DAS,Late Surrender,No Peek
Your strategy chart shows us 16vsT and 16vsA are SR.
I know it. Why are pair of 8’s vsT and pair of 8’s vsA H?
Basic strategy charts of other sites show us SR.
I’m sorry, my English is not good.
Grrr. I made a small change in the logic of how the No Peek chart displays its results back in August, and I broke this.
I simply MUST restructure this code so it is easier to work with without causing problems.
I’ll correct this within the next few days.
But, yes, in the 6D LS No Peek game, you should surrender 88vT and 88vA.
Sorry for the trouble.
In regards to Michael losing $3k in a matter of minutes @ the MGM, how much was he betting $1000 a hand? I am no card counter but I have played Black Jack since 1978 in Vegas and many casinos around the country. Michael had a lot of complaints and when you lose everything is wrong or bothering you.
I see as everyone else that most people do not know how to play much less know how to bet. Blackjack is a game of patience you have to start with a “base bet” every single time and build up from there on your winning streaks. I see players betting $25 or $50 lose 5 or 6 in a row and then bet $300 and lose again now what’s your next bet $600? a quick way to go down. Or the player who after losing 5 in a row is now winning play after play but does not raise their bet, how will you get your money back or get a big win if you do not build on your base bet? or the player who has won several stacked bets in a row and 5 or 6 hands later reduces the bet to table minimum anticipating a loss.
As for the green or chicken players who make mistakes non stop, your hand can go either way, I do not give advice at the table or correct people’s mistakes because the next time they play it right we may lose again! I do like a “no mid shoe” table overall.
Rule of 6 typo. One player gets five not six
Oops! You’re right of course. Thanks Lone Ranger for the correction. I’ve fixed the post now, so it correctly says that one player gets 5 rounds.
I just started blackjack in casinos last week. Thanks for all the tips.
and in a european game with early surrender, also stay with 3-Card 16 vs. 10??
Yes, you should stand with 3-or-more-card 16 vs 10 in the game you describe.
ok thank you very much, and in this Special Situation: i have hard 12 against a Dealers 3 and there are many 9s and 8s out of the shoe, always hit or is it possibile to stay in this Situation??
Yes, 12v3 is a basic strategy hit, but the deck composition doesn’t have to change much to make standing better.
In fact, many decisions can be subject to these kinds of strategy variations.
For detail on how this is handled in card counting systems, see these references:
The instructions for my advanced card set include a brief explanation: https://www.blackjackinfo.com/card/advanced-strategy-cards.php
Or, the free blackjack school covers it in depth: https://www.blackjackinfo.com/blackjack-school
The relevant section starts at Lesson 13 – The Advanced Course.
I’m a bit new, and I realize the author clearly states to stand on any 3 card 16 against a dealer 10 but I wanted to make sure that would include the specific hand where the player hits A,5 against a dealer 10 and gets a 10 for A,5,10 or 16. Thank you for the article.
Yes, with (A,5,T) vs a dealer 10, standing is better than hitting.
This is confirmation bias again. Everyone wants to complain when Third Base takes the dealer’s bust card and the table gets swept. They forget all those times when it went the other way. Gamblers are a superstitious lot who haven’t the vaguest idea as to what they’re doing.
Ask a dozen Roulette players the odds of hitting “red” or “black” is and you’ll get twelve wrong answers.
Ask a dozen Craps players how many ways a seven can fall, and it’s “DUHHHH…”
As for Blackjack, the most popular strategy is the Whudidowiddishand non-strategy strategy. The 50th anniversary of _Beat the Dealer_ has come and gone. For most of these people, it’s 1961 all over again.
The 6:5 double down debacle is now documented here: https://www.blackjackinfo.com/blog/double-down-on-a-65-blackjack-read-this-first/
You’re right. A player’s edge in this case is small enough that tips are going to eliminate the advantage. At most, you might consider a $1 tip after each blackjack. If you’re looking for a net positive result, tipping is quite expensive to that goal.
Am I saying you should not tip? No, because everyone has different goals and expectations at the table. But it’s also wise to be aware that you are paying the dealer for something if you tip, and it isn’t your cards. It’s for the experience at the table. But if your main goal is getting an edge, anything over minimal tipping is going to make that impossible if you are a basic strategy player.