How to Employ Very Basic Strategy for Blackjack Beginners

You're all ready for your trip to Vegas. You've got your reservation at Caesars, your bathing suit and your alias. But this time, instead of dropping all your gambling money in the boring ol' slots, you want to try something a little more challenging. How about Blackjack, baby?! Here are a few beginner's tips to help you even out the odds with the house...

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Cash, dinero, filthy lucre
• Photo I.D. (if you look like you're under 21)

1. 
    

   In blackjack, you play solely against the dealer. Whichever of you gets closest to twenty-one with a combination of two or more cards wins the hand. If you and the dealer tie, that's called a PUSH, and you keep your bet. Face cards count ten and Aces can count as either one or eleven.
   
   You're originally dealt two cards. If you want more, you ask for a HIT. If you don't want any more cards, you STAND. If your cards add up to more than 21, you BUST. That's not a good thing.

2. Before you set foot in the casino, play one of the gazillion online free computer games. Hoyle Casino is a great computer game with a very helpful training setting.

3. 
    

   At most casinos now, the dealer will help you with adding up your cards and with basic strategy. Ask them, "What does the book say on this?" Other players will chime in too. There's also a little laminated card you can buy at any casino gift store that lists every possible combination of your cards versus the dealer's cards.

4. 
    

   Most of how you play is based on the dealer's up card (the one that's showing). So here is some very basic strategy:
   
   If the dealer shows a four, five or six, stand when you have twelve.
   If the dealer has a two or three, stand on thirteen.
   If the dealer's up card is a seven or above, stand on seventeen.
   If the dealer has an ace showing, he'll ask if you want insurance. Decline. He'll check in this little mirror thingy to see if he has blackjack. If he does, he will show you immediately and rake in the table's chips. If not, play continues and you should stand on eighteen.

5. If you're dealt two of the same card, you can SPLIT them and play them as separate hands, thereby increasing your bet and your chance of winning.
   
   So remember this if nothing else: Always split aces and eights. Never split fours, fives and tens or face cards.

6. 
    

   If you're dealt a ten or eleven, double your bet before taking another card. That's called DOUBLING DOWN.

7. 
    

   That's basically it for your basic strategy. And remember, what happens in Vegas... affects your bank account.

Tips & Warnings

• The casinos give away free drinks, so you'll be too drunk to remember your strategy. But soft drinks and coffee are free too!
• Do NOT touch the cards. The casino doesn't like it.

[Davidt]

on 6/10/2007 This is a nice and usefull article! To all of you who think no one can win in casino games like blackjack I truly recommend you to read the article about Edward Thorp - the man who managed to find a way to beat the dealer: http://www.777.com/articles/edward-o-thorp-the-man-who-beat-the-dealer

[madisdaddy1013]

on 4/18/2007 great article man, simple, fun, and easy to remember. write something on hold em

[hikernb]

on 1/27/2007 Thank you for this -- I am SO not a card shark so you've done a public service!