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this sounds all great! i learnt the basics on my own and memorized a “cheat sheet” online in about 20 minutes (my brain is something else) and went to go play at the casino and won 400$ in about an hour and a half on 15$ bets (not including double downs etc) but i ended up leaving with what I came with because my emotions came into the way when I should’ve done certain moves in the previous hands. Definitely a lesson learned.
My questions is, as the teachers and masters of this website. How successful have you been in the real world, or are you just teaching it? It seems like if you become a master at this game, you can make serious bank, not guaranteed of course, but well advanced than the regular winners.
Yes, the potential is real and achievable. I’ve been very successful over many years. Blackjack is just one of many ways that smart players can get a true edge in casinos. It remains the best introduction to advantage gambling. Once your eyes have been opened, you’ll start seeing other opportunities as well.
First, let me say I really enjoy your site and the new look is great. I enjoy playing the practice games. And as a recreational player I have learned a great deal and it is paying off with trips that end up costing me nothing and sometimes letting me bring some money home also.
Second, my question. I found a single deck game that allows you to double down on any first two cards but if you get a pair of A’s you can only split once and then you cannot double down on A’s after you split. YOU CAN double down on any other cards
When I use your Strategy Engine the only options are Double After Split Allowed or No Double After Split.
I have been using Double After Split Allowed since I have split and ended up with an 11 or some hand that strategy says to double down on. Is using Double After Split Allowed the correct choice to generate the best strategy?
Yes, the game you describe allows Double After Split. The rule allowing “only one card to split Aces” is a normal restriction in almost all games. (See the final paragraph here: Rules of Blackjack: Player Choices.)
Thanks! I’ve just started learning and I get in the habit of looking at the hand count rather than figuring it in my head. If I was experienced I would probably just be able to see the cards, but since I’m not I get used to looking at the number rather than the hand. It doesn’t cause a whole lot of problems until I get a soft hand then I tend to act on impulse and say try to surrender on a soft 15 rather than hit. Overall this is my favorite trainer so far. Awesome work! Removing the count would make it perfect for me. Any idea when the new version might be rolling out?
Hi there I have played BJ recently about 2 months and I applied basic strategy. I played in Fallviews Casino, CSM 6 decks. I am not a card counter. The more I played the more I lost, up and down and I find it getting harder and harder to get my loosing money back which is $4,000. But I still hope if I come back and play slowly slowly I will make money? The second question is I played at the $50 table and I won many times so I was afraid I would loose so I bet less and the dealer said “you are winning, why you decrease your bet” so I kept my bet then I won again and every time the dealer encouraged me to bet more, I won but after that 1hr more people came to the table so she didn’t say anything to me and since that time I kept loosing everything Now I just want to get back my money and I want to play BJ like a job ($500/week) anyone can give me advice? Thanks
Yes, KO is a very effective yet simple counting system. It allows you to use just the running count because of the way it is structured (starting count, key count, and an unbalanced set of tag numbers). It’s an ideal first counting system, and you may never have to leave it behind.
I am getting back to study and practice. Your lessons and exercises are very helpful, thanks for sharing all of this, because it makes us understand that it is not only people with a gift that can make it, but hard work and patience will pay off.
I have one more question if you don’t mind, please :
I read the French version of KO Blackjack. Do you agree with the fact that it is sufficient to keep the running count and not the true count to have the edge over the casino ? I think I will start that way because it’s simpler.
It’s called variance. Get used to it! Thanks for the great advice you sound like your smarter than you thought since you figured out the answer to your own Question! Keep up the good work. This is a Great website and I am sure it is going to help me win all my money back plus interest.
That would seem likely, but it turns out to not really be the case. See this page: Win/Lose/Push by True Count. You do lose fewer hands, and most of the difference is offset by pushing more often. Win percentage is surprisingly flat over the range of true counts.
Hello and thank you for this great website. I play in France with 6 decks game and I am still in need for practise.
Just in relation with the message that talked about doubling your bet after each loss : is it right to consider you have 43% chances to win every single hand before it is dealt ?
In my mind, the chances of winning a hand depend on the true count just before that hand is dealt. Is it right to think so ? That is, when the true count is +2 for example you would have more chances to win a hand than when it is 0 ?
Don’t fall for the nonsense posted by Mike Gunter above. He says “1 in 100 really know how to play blackjack”. He may be right about that, but the rest of his reply shows that he isn’t among that elite number. Amidst all the good advice on this site, his reply is at the other end of the spectrum.
Probably you are right! I am no card counter and I am smart enough to follow the basic strategy and I have no courage for split and double down and etc Today, I played with 100$ for the very first time. I went to casino in the morning and there was no body in my table. after one hour I made 100$ profit. I still wonder how I made that money?!! maybe what you said is right. I was alone with one dealer and following basic strategy only
this sounds all great! i learnt the basics on my own and memorized a “cheat sheet” online in about 20 minutes (my brain is something else) and went to go play at the casino and won 400$ in about an hour and a half on 15$ bets (not including double downs etc) but i ended up leaving with what I came with because my emotions came into the way when I should’ve done certain moves in the previous hands. Definitely a lesson learned.
My questions is, as the teachers and masters of this website. How successful have you been in the real world, or are you just teaching it? It seems like if you become a master at this game, you can make serious bank, not guaranteed of course, but well advanced than the regular winners.
Yes, the potential is real and achievable. I’ve been very successful over many years. Blackjack is just one of many ways that smart players can get a true edge in casinos. It remains the best introduction to advantage gambling. Once your eyes have been opened, you’ll start seeing other opportunities as well.
Ken,
First, let me say I really enjoy your site and the new look is great. I enjoy playing the practice games. And as a recreational player I have learned a great deal and it is paying off with trips that end up costing me nothing and sometimes letting me bring some money home also.
Second, my question. I found a single deck game that allows you to double down on any first two cards but if you get a pair of A’s you can only split once and then you cannot double down on A’s after you split.
YOU CAN double down on any other cards
When I use your Strategy Engine the only options are Double After Split Allowed or No Double After Split.
I have been using Double After Split Allowed since I have split and ended up with an 11 or some hand that strategy says to double down on.
Is using Double After Split Allowed the correct choice to generate the best strategy?
Randy Newman
Yes, the game you describe allows Double After Split.
The rule allowing “only one card to split Aces” is a normal restriction in almost all games.
(See the final paragraph here: Rules of Blackjack: Player Choices.)
Then according to your Strategy Engine the Casino Edge is only 0.04
That is great
Can you make an option to get rid of the count? Adding them in my head helps me train. Thank you!
Making the hand value display optional is on the feature list of the new version. Thanks.
Thanks! I’ve just started learning and I get in the habit of looking at the hand count rather than figuring it in my head. If I was experienced I would probably just be able to see the cards, but since I’m not I get used to looking at the number rather than the hand. It doesn’t cause a whole lot of problems until I get a soft hand then I tend to act on impulse and say try to surrender on a soft 15 rather than hit. Overall this is my favorite trainer so far. Awesome work! Removing the count would make it perfect for me. Any idea when the new version might be rolling out?
Hi there
I have played BJ recently about 2 months and I applied basic strategy. I played in Fallviews Casino, CSM 6 decks. I am not a card counter. The more I played the more I lost, up and down and I find it getting harder and harder to get my loosing money back which is $4,000. But I still hope if I come back and play slowly slowly I will make money?
The second question is I played at the $50 table and I won many times so I was afraid I would loose so I bet less and the dealer said “you are winning, why you decrease your bet” so I kept my bet then I won again and every time the dealer encouraged me to bet more, I won but after that 1hr more people came to the table so she didn’t say anything to me and since that time I kept loosing everything
Now I just want to get back my money and I want to play BJ like a job ($500/week) anyone can give me advice?
Thanks
The trainer does allow doubling on soft hands. You likely either chose a limited doubling rule like double 10,11 only, or you were out of funds.
Why no doubleing on soft hands ?
Nicely answered. 🙂
Yes, KO is a very effective yet simple counting system. It allows you to use just the running count because of the way it is structured (starting count, key count, and an unbalanced set of tag numbers). It’s an ideal first counting system, and you may never have to leave it behind.
Thanks very much for your reply.
I am getting back to study and practice. Your lessons and exercises are very helpful, thanks for sharing all of this, because it makes us understand that it is not only people with a gift that can make it, but hard work and patience will pay off.
I have one more question if you don’t mind, please :
I read the French version of KO Blackjack. Do you agree with the fact that it is sufficient to keep the running count and not the true count to have the edge over the casino ?
I think I will start that way because it’s simpler.
It’s called variance. Get used to it! Thanks for the great advice you sound like your smarter than you thought since you figured out the answer to your own Question! Keep up the good work. This is a Great website and I am sure it is going to help me win all my money back plus interest.
That would seem likely, but it turns out to not really be the case.
See this page: Win/Lose/Push by True Count.
You do lose fewer hands, and most of the difference is offset by pushing more often. Win percentage is surprisingly flat over the range of true counts.
Hello and thank you for this great website.
I play in France with 6 decks game and I am still in need for practise.
Just in relation with the message that talked about doubling your bet after each loss : is it right to consider you have 43% chances to win every single hand before it is dealt ?
In my mind, the chances of winning a hand depend on the true count just before that hand is dealt. Is it right to think so ? That is, when the true count is +2 for example you would have more chances to win a hand than when it is 0 ?
Three good choices: Blackjack Bluebook II, Knock-Out Blackjack (simpler than HiLo, and darned effective counting system), The Blackjack Zone (free online PDF!).
Don’t fall for the nonsense posted by Mike Gunter above. He says “1 in 100 really know how to play blackjack”. He may be right about that, but the rest of his reply shows that he isn’t among that elite number. Amidst all the good advice on this site, his reply is at the other end of the spectrum.
Probably you are right!
I am no card counter and I am smart enough to follow the basic strategy and I have no courage for split and double down and etc
Today, I played with 100$ for the very first time. I went to casino in the morning and there was no body in my table. after one hour I made 100$ profit.
I still wonder how I made that money?!! maybe what you said is right. I was alone with one dealer and following basic strategy only