Archive for Blackjack
07.20.08
Posted in Gambling News, Blackjack at 1:54 am by Mike
Blackjack is one of the most popular casino games and is played by millions of players the world over. Players have always sought a method or strategy that offers them the best chance of success. Because of the random way in which cards are dealt in Blackjack, sustained winning and losing streaks do occur and while playing Optimal Strategy Blackjack is no guarantee of success, it does offer the best odds over a sustained period of time.
The table below shows you Optimal Blackjack Strategy (how to play the best mathematical odds). Depending upon which cards you hold and the value of the dealer’s face-up card there are courses of action you can take which are considered to be statistically the most advantageous way to play.
A “hard number” is one which is made up of two cards not containing an Ace. A “soft number” is one which contains an Ace and has two potential values. For example, if you have A-5 then you have either 6 or 16, giving you more options than if you have 10-6 to make 16.
Opimal Blackjack Strategy recommends that you should not split 10s, that you should look to double down when you have eleven, against anything other than a dealer’s Ace, and that you stand with 12 against a dealer’s 6. This may not be the way that you usually play, but it has been mathematically determined to be the best way of increasing the odds in your favour.
Here are some basic Blackjack tips professionals think you should always adhere to;
- Always split Aces, except when the dealer is showing an Ace
- Do not split a pair of 5s
- Stand on a hard 13 through to 16 if the dealer is showing a 6 or lower
- If the dealer is showing a 4,5 or 6 you should stick on 12
- You should always continue to hit until you have 17 or better if the dealer is showing a ten
- Always stand once you have a hard 17 or higher. The odds of you not busting are far too low for it to be worth the risk
- Always stand when you have A-8 or A-9
Hard and soft - tricky seventeen: A lot of players find 17 a difficult number in Blackjack. It is always sensible to stand on a hard 17, but here we demonstrate the same is not the case with a soft 17 (an ace and a six). Though 17 is a good hand, you have the chance to improve your holding without the fear of busting.
Drawing any card with a 10 value will mean you still have 17, while an Ace, 2, 3 or 4 will improve it. That leaves only a 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9 to weaken your hand. As you can see, eight cards either improve or maintain the strength of your hand and only five weaken it. This means that soft 17 is sometimes a good time to Double Down.
Play your hand, not your stake: Whether you are following optimal strategy or your own system, most players agree that it’s important to make decisions based on your cards and not the value of your stake. For example, if you’ve been dealt 14 and the dealer is showing a 10 then the optimal strategy is to hit and take another card.
However, if a player is playing too high a stake for the size of their bankroll they will often stand, because they don’t want to risk busting their hand. If you find yourself in this position it might be a good idea to make your stake a little smaller.
Doubling Down: Playing a stake which is out of their comfort-zone can also cause players not to take full advantage of the “Double Down” option. Doubling Down enables the player to gain full value when they have a good situation. If a player’s original stake is too large, they are often discouraged from making the Double Down, and are unable to gain that value.
Splitting pairs: In contrast to the reluctance players sometimes feel to Double Down, they are often too keen to split pairs of 10 value cards. If the dealer is showing a 5 or a 6, the player tends to think they have an easy chance to win two hands.
However, why would you want to break up one of the best Blackjack hands you can be dealt, and risk making two worse hands? There are many times when you should split your paired cards but when you are dealt 20 it is a good idea to stand every time.
The most popular online casinos for Blackjack: (And where we like to play Blackjack)
Bet365 Casino (Fast-play standard single player, 3-player and 5-player Blackjack games, no USA players)
Blackjack Ballroom Casino (39 Blackjack variants, stylish single-deck through to eight deck games, US OK from 39 States)
Bodog Casino (No download Flash Blackjack or download for more game options , US players welcome too)
Our current favorite Blackjack game: High Streak European Blackjack Gold at Blackjack Ballroom. The High Streak Bonus wins pay up to 10 to 1 for a winning streak and the game is almost photo realistic.
Stumble it! ::
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05.02.08
Posted in Casino Bonuses & Promos, Blackjack at 9:52 pm by Mike
Popular Irish online casino and card room DublinBet has a great player competition now on. You can win a trip to one of two amazing Grand Prix events just by playing your favourite casino games - like early payout Blackjack!! (our favourite) - and you get a entry to the lucky draw for every €50 deposited.
LUCKY GRAND PRIX DRAWS IN MAY (Silverstone) and JUNE (Monza)
For every €50 deposited between now and May 31, 2008, you will earn one entry* into a draw for a trip for 2 to the Grand Prix at Silverstone!
For every €50 deposited between June 1st and June 30th, 2008 you will earn one entry* into a draw for a trip for 2 to the Grand Prix at Monza!
Each trip includes race tickets, accommodation, transfers, and €1,000 total cash for air travel and spending money.
Watch the Live Draws from the Fitzwilliam Card Club in Dublin on June 9th and July 4th, 2008.
>>Not yet made your first deposit with Dublin Bet? Earn a 100% Initial Deposit Bonus up to €100.
>>For more about DublinBet, like who can play and which currencies and payment methods are accepted - and of course what casino games you can play check out the latest May Casino Review of DublinBet.com here at CasinoLabRat.com.
*Note: Maximum 10 entries per player account per draw. One times play through required (€50 in action per €50 deposited for each draw entry.) Please see the DublinBet website for full bonus terms and conditions. Promotion ends June 30, 2008 at midnight GMT.
Stumble it! ::
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03.13.08
Posted in Uncategorized, New Games, Gambling News, Slots, Blackjack at 10:07 pm by Mike
Once the leading online payment method, Neteller has been through some major trials recently. This has been mainly due to American legalists deciding that the US Government wasn’t getting enough of the tax-take from the online gambling habits of their citizens. They put the squeeze on online payment mechanisims like Neteller which has had major ramifications on all online gamers, not just Americans.
It’s time non-US players dusted off their Neteller Accounts though as Neteller is on the road to recovery. Here’s the industry commentary:
“Online payment provider Neteller reported a pre-tax loss of $185.7 million, but said that it was on the road to recovery. Chief Executive Ron Martin said that operations had been scaled down since the US crackdown on online gambling, adding that he was comfortable with 2008 forecasts. Neteller plc has reported a 15% increase in annual revenues from continuing operations to $69.1 million, buoyed by strong growth in Europe and the Asia Pacific regions.”
This is great news as Neteller, (and the Neteller money card that we love!) really do provide an easy and safe way to make online casino payments and withdrawals.
Check out the best online casinos that you join and play with Neteller: (Sorry, no US players)
Microgaming: Ladbrokes Casino (Try the new Lara Croft Tomb Raider II Slot game Sequel - The Secret Sword. We’ve been hanging out for this slot game but there are over 300 other casino games to choose from too at Ladbrokes Casino)
Playtech: Bet365 Casino (A very professional operation with excellent blackjack and new 25, 30 and 50-payline slots that are well worth a look)
Cryptologic: William Hill Casino (Our favourite game here is Power Blackjack, like power poker but 50 blackjack hands at once. Very cool. Some fo the best slots on the net like the Marvel comic themed ones X-Men and Wolverine, etc. too)
Wagerworks: PaddyPower Casino (Excellent lucky streak blackjack that increases the payout for a win the more sequential wins you get… Great 5 reel interactive slots machines too like Bay Watch, Monopoly, Cluedo and Elvis - a new triple game)
Stumble it! ::
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01.09.08
Posted in New Games, Blackjack at 9:28 pm by Mike
Casino software specialists, Microgaming, released a new enhanced Blackjack variant yesterday that we predict will keep players coming back to casinos for years to come.
Each month the Microgaming team releases new casino games, adding to the already huge selection available online, but this new Blackjack is outstanding. As part of the Microgaming Gold Series of Table Games it features photo realistic images and offers some new gamble options that we think good (and lucky) Blackjack players will jump at!
New High Streak European Blackjack Gold lets you enhance your play with the High Streak side bet and progress along a generous chain of payouts - 4th High Streak wins pay at 10:1! What? Well, the more hands you win consecutively, the bigger the payouts get.
Some basics: This new Blackjack is played with 2 standard blackjack decks, the dealer must stand on all 17s. There is no peek option, and you can double down on 9, 10 and 11. You can split once to make 2 hands, but not unlike 10 value cards. A split Ace and a 10 count as 21 not BJ.
The Side bet options on this new Blackjack game really are pretty cool.
Once you win 2 hands in a row having placed side bets, the second consecutive win initiates “High Streak”. The 2nd Streak win pays 1 to 1. When your next consecutive hand is a winner, the 3rd Streak win pays 2 to 1, and your payout options progress accordingly for the next hand. If you win that hand too, your 4th streak win pays 5 to 1… and any 5th streak win pays at 10 to 1 ! The bonus bet pushes if the hands tie.
When you lose a hand, you lose all High streak side bets and have to build up the side betting lines from scratch by winning consecutive games again…
Sounds complicated? Far from it! To get into this extra betting action just place a side (high streak) bet when you bet as usual, and as you win, you’ll be promoted up the payout levels automatically. Easy - and profitable!
Here’s some help: Blackjack Basic Strategy
We suggest you check this new Microgaming Blackjack out at these top casinos: (You can play it for free as a guest or register to play for real money)
Wild Jack Casino (Players welcome from around the World including 39 US States)
Spin Palace Casino (UK owned and one of Europe’s most popular online casino venues)
Stumble it! ::
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01.05.08
Posted in Casino Bonuses & Promos, Blackjack at 8:04 pm by Mike
Our favourite Irish Casino DublinBet.com is running two lucky player draws in January and there is no limit to the number of entries you can have.
1. Win a Dell notebook computer, a trip to Ireland or €1500 in cash at Dublinbet in January. Just deposit and play €300 or more for an entry.
2. Players who deposit and play €100 or more are in a lucky draw for prizes of €500.
This promotion ends January 31 and the prizes will be drawn LIVE** on DublinBet, Tuesday February 5, 2008!
(**DublinBet in addition to offering great “standard” computer based online casino games - and some simply awesome early payout blackjack - is one of the top streaming video based Live Dealer casinos available on the net)
Here are the prize Details:
- DELL XPS M1530 laptop prize package ships direct from DELL. Maximum configuration value of prize is €1,500 including VAT and shipping.
- Win a trip to Ireland prize package is valued at approximately €1,500 and includes: Up to €1,000 Flight Credit –, 3 Days 2 Nights accommodation – deluxe room for 2 including high-speed internet access, Two 1-Day Tours to explore beautiful Ireland – a selection of tours will be provided for you to choose from - prize balance up to €500 in chips at the Fitzwilliam Card Club.
- Players may choose to take the equivalent prize package of €1,500 in CASH to your player account!
>>Check out Dublinbet
>>Read a detailed casino review on DublinBet
>>Compare the latest January Casino bonuses and promotional offers
Good luck from the team at CasinoLabRat.com!
Stumble it! ::
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12.28.07
Posted in Casino Bonuses & Promos, Blackjack at 10:31 pm by Mike
You’ve still got a chance to win a trip for two to Ireland (or a cash equivalent, your choice) courtesy of DublinBet online casino. Any deposit until midnight December 31 gives you an entry in the lucky draw. The more deposits you make, the more chances you have to win.
The draw will be held live on DublinBet.com January 2nd 2008!
That’s airfares, accomodation, €500 in free chips at Fitzwillian Card Club & Casino and 2x 1 day tours of beautiful Ireland.
There is also a count down to New Year running at DublinBet where you can claim up to €1500 in bonus casino chips…
By the way, DublinBet in our view offers one of the best Blackjack games on the net. You can play Early Payout Basic Strategy Blackjack either as a standard online casino game or against a live dealer (who is usually a dude called Sean or Mick or a cutie called Colleen… well, no we’ve actually had mostly non Irish named dealers, like Damian and Stuart).
We’ve had feedback that several readers who joined DublinBet having read about them in CasinoLabRat.com have had a STUNNING month payout wise in December… Fancy YOUR luck in January?
Check out DublinBet.com (Sorry, no US players due to America’s stoopid gambling laws)
Read more about DublinBet in the latest casino review on site at CasinoLabRat.com.
Stumble it! ::
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11.16.07
Posted in New Games, Gambling News, Blackjack at 9:37 pm by webmaster
If you’re cruising the net looking for the best Live Dealer Casino** - check out this new 1-page comparison of Live Dealer casino games at GoonersGuide.com.
** you know, where you can play Blackjack and other casino games online via web cam/streaming video & audio direct from a land-based casino
In Live Dealer games there are no computer “random number generators” or casino software in between you and your big win - or whatever fate has in store for you! These games are multiplayer, so the dealer deals to up to seven other live players at your table and through the video link you watch all the action as it falls.
Great live dealer chat too - quite fun to while away the wee small hours (check out DublinBet.com for a touch of the Irish Blarney and some truly excellent Early Payout Blackjack or for more sophisticated Eastern European flair, try Eurobet Live Casino)
Anyway - if you like it live - check out where the top action is (click on the image of the page, left).
(Sorry, due to US gambling legislation, no Live Dealer Casinos we recommend can currently accept US bettors)
Stumble it! ::
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10.31.07
Posted in Blackjack, Free Casino Games at 3:53 am by webmaster
Following a couple of recent blogs I’ve posted on Basic Blackjack Strategy we’ve had a lot of requests from people wanting to know where they can practice Blackjack online for free - (no download, no registration, no obligation to play for real) and where you can find several different Blackjack game variants to try. (e.g. Single deck, Blackjack surrender, Vegas Strip and Atlantic Blackjack)
The team at GoonersGuide.com** has published an excellent page of free links to casino games on Microgaming, Playtech and Real Time Gaming Platforms so you can compare the different virtual blackjack tables!
Check out this page by clicking on the image (left) or use this link Free Blackjack no download, no registration.
Remember - try the Basic Strategy to improve your blackjack play - it WILL improve your profits!
Kishan Nielsen
(**A “Gooner” is an Arsenal supporter, and the GoonersGuide web site is a long standing source for all sorts of betting tips and advice - not just English Football tips and opinion!)
Stumble it! ::
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10.25.07
Posted in Uncategorized, Blackjack at 5:44 am by webmaster
Okay, building on the last 2 blog posts I made (the 3 approaches to blackjack and basic blackjack strategy) here are two tables that should help you make smarter decisions on what to do when you hold specific cards - and the dealer up-card is a certain card. They should be used in conjunction with the earlier table (The “Easiest Options” posted 24 October, 2007).
Playing pairs in blackjack basic strategy.
How to play the soft hands under basic blackjack strategy. (For example where an A-3 hand can be totalled as a “soft 14″ or a ”4″)
Remember, the basic rules that make up these tables are tested (not just by me - but through billions of hands by computer software). Quite simply, if you apply these rules on when to Stand, Hit, Split or Double down you will considerably improve your chances of making money playing Blackjack!
Play blackjack at Blackjack Ballroom Casino (play for free as a guest to practice your basic strategy!) Europeans, Canadians, Australians, UK residents… and Americans from 39 States are very welcome.
The best Live Dealer blackjack on the net can be found at Ireland’s DublinBet.com. DublinBet’s Distance Gaming® is a ‘must-try’ even if you’re not fussed for live dealer games - we rate the unique and patented Early Payout Blackjack. (Sorry, no US players)
Stumble it! ::
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10.24.07
Posted in Uncategorized, Blackjack at 6:05 am by webmaster
This blog posting and the one a couple of days ago are all about “How to Become a Winning Blackjack Player” - you really can improve your play and potentially make more money at the Blackjack table.
In my last blog posting I discussed the 3 playing strategies for Blackjack (ie be a loser and just back yourself, your lucky stars, or whatever; play “basic strategy”; or card count). I also covered some key info you should find out before you start to play a blackjack game for real money…like the table rules! These can make a significant difference to your chances of winning.
There’s no one perfect basic strategy for every Blackjack game, as the rules do vary between casinos and between individual game variants. But, for a typical set of rules, some of the key decisions you take are set out in the table below. This covers “the easy options” - what you should do when you have specific cards in your hand and when the dealer’s up-card is a specific card.
Note: The dealer’s hand is considered the most important card at the blackjack table - and many players still don’t even bother to even look at it! 
I’ll give you a quick summary table of what to do with pairs and also how to handle “soft hands” (ie like A-7 or A-2) under basic blackjack strategy in my next blog post.
Remember, this stuff is tried and true and tested (not by me - but through billions of hands by computer software). If you follow it, these decisions on when to Stand, Hit, Split or Double down will considerably improve your chances of making money playing Blackjack!
Kishan Neilsen
As I said in my previous blog, my favourite online casino for Blackjack is Blackjack Ballroom - their 38 Microgaming Blackjack game variants offer excellent game play. (US players from 39 States accepted, but a favourite with Canadians and Europeans too)
Carbon Poker is the other site I enjoy - and lots of CasinoLabRat.com readers frequently pull fairly large wins at the Blackjack side games on offer at this US-friendly online poker room! (players from all US States welcome)
Stumble it! ::
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