Casino SPA

1. Best Way To Win At Blackjack
2. How To Win At 21 Blackjack Machine

Card counting is one of the most famous advantage-play methods in gambling. In fact, a number of Hollywood movies include card counting scenes or are based entirely on this technique.

Skilled counters can gain anywhere from a 0.5% to 1.5% edge over the house, which leads to good profits over time.

How to Win 21 Card Game? Blackjack is also popularly known as the twenty-one is considered as one of the most famous and popular game in the world especially when it comes to gambling. In this game, there is a card which gets compared, and this comparison takes place between the player and the dealer. In fact, the movie 21 dedicates multiple scenes to the casinos’ pursuit of the MIT Blackjack Team. The same holds true of any other blackjack advantage-play method you use, whether it be hole carding, shuffle tracking, or edge sorting. Casinos are private establishments that can refuse service to blackjack players. If the Dealer gets over 21, they Bust and all remaining Players win Double their stake. If you get 21 with 2 cards, you have Blackjack, and if the Dealer doesn’t have 21 with their first 2 cards, you get 1.5 your bet back, as well as the bet itself – equivalent to 2.5 times your bet.

Given card counting’s fame, the mainstream population and even many blackjack players themselves think that this is the only way to gain an edge.

But the truth is that you don’t have to count cards to beat blackjack. Instead, you can use one of several other advantage-play techniques to win.

I’m going to discuss how hole carding, shuffle tracking, ace sequencing, and edge sorting can help you beat the game. I’ll also discuss if any of these advantage-play methods are better than card counting.

Hole Carding

Blackjack dealers at North American casinos deal themselves one face-up and one face-down card. The face-down card is referred to as the hole card because it’s not visible to players.

The dealer is the only person at the table who sees the hole card, because they check for a natural blackjack before players act.

Given that you don’t see the hole card, you’re basing blackjack decisions on incomplete information.

Basic strategy helps you narrow the gap between the house and yourself. But you’re still at a slight disadvantage when using perfect basic strategy.

Enter hole carding: an advantage-play technique that involves spotting the dealer’s hole card. If you see their hole card, you can gain up to a 13% advantage.

Any dealer who consistently offers players a chance to see this is called a “flasher.” These dealers, through one mistake or another, allow players to gain a big advantage by flashing their hole card.

The best way to spot these dealer flaws is by sitting in the right seat and paying close attention to every hand.

Most players don’t pay attention to when the dealer peeks for blackjack or deals themselves the hole card. But by doing so, this gives you a tremendous advantage at a flasher’s table.

Spotting the dealer’s face-down card when they peek for a blackjack is called “first-basing” or “third-basing.” Spotting the hole card when it’s slid under the up-card is called “front loading.”

Many hole-carders sit at first base, which is the first seat to the dealer’s left. This gives you the best chance at seeing a right-handed dealer’s hole card.

The other popular hole-carding seat is third base, which is to the dealer’s immediate right. This is the best spot to see a left-handed dealer’s face-down card.

It also helps if you can gain a vantage point closer to the table felt. The more level your eyes are with the table, the better chance you have of seeing the hole card.

Shorter players have an advantage in this regard because they’re naturally closer to the table felt. Taller players often lean back to improve their vantage point.

Of course, the key is to do so in a subtle manner. Being obvious about leaning back or slouching draws attention to your hole-carding efforts.

Another thing that you need to be careful of is over-using your advantage. Sometimes you should ignore the info you gain when using basic strategy because some plays look too suspicious.

Here’s an example.

• Your first two cards total a hard 8
• The dealer’s up-card is a 10
• You see that the dealer’s hole card is 2
• The optimal play is to double down against the dealer’s 12
• But no regular player is going to make this decision because they’re not supposed to have this info

The last thing that you want to do is continue taking advantage of plays like this, especially when your dealer is a consistent flasher.

If the casino finds out that a dealer is consistently flashing cards and helping a player(s) win, one of two things will happen.

• 1. The dealer will receive better training
• 2. The dealer will be fired if flashing becomes a consistent problem

In either case, the work you put into finding a flasher goes out the window. And this is hardly worth taking advantage of a few suspicious plays that you should let go.

Players need to think long term and realize what kind of profits they can make by continuing to play at the dealer’s table. Avoid decisions that are too far outside the bounds of regular strategy.

It’s hard to find a consistent flasher. Casinos train dealers on how to deal without giving players a chance to see their hole card.

Nevertheless, some dealers either don’t pick up enough skills in training or become lackadaisical over time.

The best place to start when looking for flashers is casino-heavy cities like Las Vegas, Atlantic City, and Reno. This enables you to bounce from casino to casino within a single shift.

Odds are that you’re not going to find a flasher within your first few hunts. But once you do find one, note what shift they work and make it a priority to play at their table.

Shuffle Tracking

In the 1960s and ‘70s, Las Vegas casinos began implementing shoe games. The idea was to hinder card counters by forcing them to count through multiple decks in each shoe.

Casinos thought that they solved their card counting problem with shoe blackjack tables. But card counters merely adjusted their strategy, and other techniques such as shuffle tracking were born as well.

Shuffle tracking refers to tracking specific cards, or a sequence of cards, through multiple shuffles. Shuffle trackers monitor where 10s and face cards (a.k.a. high cards) are throughout the coming rounds.

Much like card counting, the goal is to bet more when the shoe is abundant in high cards. When used properly, shuffle tracking is much more effective than counting.

But this technique is also very difficult to use, because you must know an advanced strategy on top of card counting.

The basic idea behind shuffle tracking is that shuffles aren’t random, and you can track certain cards after a shuffle.

You might think, “Can’t dealers just shuffle more to make decks more random and stop shuffle trackers?” But many casinos don’t like their dealers wasting too much time with shuffles, because this slows the game and lowers profits.

Blackjack dealers commonly use a “zero shuffle,” where cards are separated into piles, with the shuffling only being done between the piles (i.e., the dealer grabs two piles and riffles them). This means that the ace of hearts, for example, would have a high chance of only being in one or two sections of the shuffled shoe.

Card counting comes in because you want keep track of the count in different discard sections. I’ll start this explanation by looking at the point values assigned in the Hi-Lo counting method.

• 2 through 6 = +1
• 7 through 9 = 0
• 10 through ace = -1

You can use other card counting systems with shuffle tracking. But the Hi-Lo is a popular counting strategy that’s easy to use.

As you may know, high cards favor the player by improving their chances of getting a natural blackjack payout. This advantage comes from the fact that players get either a 3:2 or 6:5 bonus with a natural.

Meanwhile, low cards reduce the dealer’s chance of busting out while they try to reach a hard 17. Anything that increases the dealer’s odds of winning is bad for players.

The premise is to make higher bets when the shoe is rich in aces and 10-value cards (i.e., positive count) and bet the table minimum when the shoe contains more low cards (i.e., negative count).

The overall positive or negative count is referred to as a “running count.” But Hi-Lo system users convert this into a “true count,” which accounts for the number of unplayed decks in the shoe.

Here’s an example:

• Your running count is +8
• There are 4 decks remaining
• 8/4 = +2 true count

Card counting and shuffle tracking come together when players have a good idea of what card values are left in the shoe based on their count. If they can take this a step further by visually tracking high cards and finding them bunched together, they gain an even greater advantage.

One big benefit of shuffle tracking is that it’s harder to spot than card counting.

Sure, you’re still increasing bets during favorable situations. But your increased bets come in a shorter span once 10-value cards and aces emerge in clumps.

Another advantage is that you can gain up to a 50% advantage with perfect shuffle tracking.

No player will have this edge all of the time. But an expert shuffle tracker may gain between a 10% and 30% long-term edge, depending upon the dealer and shuffling style they’re using.

The downside is that shuffle tracking is extremely difficult to pull off. You not only need to keep a good count, but also follow the deck with your eyes and understand how high cards will disperse after shuffles.

Be prepared to practice for quite some time in order to become an expert shuffle tracker. Even then, you need to be good enough to pull this off with a high degree of certainty.

In other words, some players fool themselves into thinking that they’re gaining an edge, when they’re really not doing anything special.

Another drawback is that not every casino trains their blackjack dealers in a shuffle that can be exploited. Some casinos use a 2-pass shuffle, where they go through two rounds of riffling and restacking.

2-pass shuffles make it harder to track cards during a shuffle. Ideally, you want a one-pass shuffle to cut down on the randomness of the shoe.

One more point worth making is that you can’t shuffle track with a continuous shuffling machine (CSM). That said, look for hand-shuffled shoes with one-pass shuffles.

Ace Sequencing

Ace sequencing is a different type of card tracking, where you try to remember what cards are on top of the ace in the discard pile. You then make larger bets when you see these cards come out in hopes of being dealt an ace.

Like shuffle tracking, ace sequencing is a difficult pursuit. The best ace trackers can remember up to a dozen card sequences in each shoe, thus greatly improving their chances of catching aces.

If you know that you’re likely to be dealt an ace, you can gain up to a 50% advantage on the house. When you’re dealt an ace, you have a 31% chance of getting a 10-value card and completing a natural blackjack.

But becoming a great ace tracker is hard because there’s not many materials on the matter – unlike with card counting. Additionally, it takes a while to learn how to properly execute this concept.

Ace sequencing begins with watching discard segments so that you can guess what clumps might appear intact after a shuffle. You also want to watch where aces go into the discard tray, so that you have a good idea on when an ace will be dealt in a segment.

Finally, you want to remember 2-3 cards that are placed on top of the ace in the discard try. Dubbed “key cards,” these are what you watch for after the deck is shuffled.

Best Way To Win At Blackjack

You then increase your bet when you see the key cards and can anticipate an ace being dealt.

But keep in mind that ace sequencing is just like shuffle-tracking in that it doesn’t work when your table has a CSM.

Edge Sorting

Edge sorting is an advantage-play technique that was popularized by poker pro Phil Ivey. Along with his partner Cheung Yin Sun, Ivey won over $20 million collectively from Crockfords and the Borgata.

Lawsuits ensued, and the court sided with both casinos on the matter. But this was only after Ivey’s case was heavily scrutinized by casino security.

That said, it’s theoretically possible for blackjack and other card players to win money with edge sorting.
This technique involves spotting flaws on card backs and using this information to predict card values before they’re revealed.

But you can’t just walk into the casino and expect to find a flawed deck to take advantage of. Instead, you need to know about design flaws in specific manufactured decks and determine where these decks are used.

This is how Cheung was able to help Ivey win millions of dollars. She analyzed a purple Gemaco deck for hours and became good at spotting the design flaws.

These flaws often come in the following form.

• One side of certain card backs will feature half-diamonds on the edge
• Other cards may have full diamonds on the edges
• These flaws are easiest to spot when the flawed side is rotated towards you
• The goal is to figure out which values have an irregular diamond pattern on the back

Edge sorting works best when cards are rotated 180 degrees because this makes it easier to see the diamond patterns. This is why Ivey specifically requested that cards be rotated 180 degrees under the guise of superstition.

But Ivey is a high-stakes gambler who can make these kinds of requests. The average player doesn’t have this sway and won’t have a chance with edge sorting.

Unless you’re a high-stakes blackjack player, then you can’t gain an advantage through this technique through special requests. Even when you can make these requests, casinos will be on guard due to the fame associated with Ivey’s case.

Do Any of These Advantage-Play Methods Beat Blackjack?

All of the blackjack advantage-play techniques covered above can give you a greater edge than card counting.

You can gain up to a 50% advantage in the case of both shuffle tracking and ace sequencing. Hole carding can also give you a nice edge worth up to 13%.

I can’t find exact figures on what advantage a player can gain with edge sorting. But based on how well Ivey did, I’m assuming that you can earn over a 20% advantage with it.

Compared to all of these techniques, card counting is a much tougher grind. The average skilled card counter only gains a 1% advantage.

This means that you’ll experience almost as many losing sessions as you do winning ones. Because of this, card counters need large bankrolls worth $30,000 or more to survive variance with any degree of certainty.

But the good thing about counting is that it’s easier to pull off than any of the methods I covered above. Furthermore, you can find more blackjack games that are susceptible to card counting.

Contrast this to hole carding, shuffle tracking, ace sequencing, and edge sorting, where you need much more specific conditions to win.

I’m not saying that you shouldn’t try these advanced strategies. This is especially the case with hole carding, shuffle tracking, and ace sequencing, which work with great success in the right games.

But be aware that you’ll need to put in more work with these techniques to properly use them.

Conclusion

You’ve likely heard stories of card counters getting kicked out of casinos. In fact, the movie 21 dedicates multiple scenes to the casinos’ pursuit of the MIT Blackjack Team.

The same holds true of any other blackjack advantage-play method you use, whether it be hole carding, shuffle tracking, or edge sorting.

Casinos are private establishments that can refuse service to blackjack players. And if they determine that you’ve gained an advantage in any form, they’ll ask you to leave.

This makes it important to blend in and act like a normal player if you do gain an advantage. If your edge is large enough, you might even consider messing up a few plays just to look like an average recreational player.

Above all, make sure that you have an advantage first. Then you can concentrate on a persona to use to avoid casino detection.

But before you embark on a quest to become a pro, I recommend playing some low-stakes blackjack while you figure the game out.

You can use basic strategy while keeping an eye on the dealer’s hole card, flawed decks, or shuffle-tracking opportunities. This is a nice way to transition from being a regular player to getting an edge on casinos.

Blackjack is an exciting casino game. It is highly popular among gamblers since it has a straightforward strategy. The game is played against the dealer and not other players, so you will always have a small disadv...

Blackjack is an exciting casino game. It is highly popular among gamblers since it has a straightforward strategy. The game is played against the dealer and not other players, so you will always have a small disadvantage. Learning the proper blackjack strategy will help lower this advantage to a minimum, and that will improve your chances of winning. This article will give you a quick overview of the basic strategy. You should also learn how to manage your bankroll since a poor management plan can lead to bankruptcy. As a casino game, blackjack is a game of chance, so your aim should be to have fun as you enjoy the possibility of winning huge sums of money.

The table you choose will have a big impact on the results of the game. One of the most important rules you have to consider is whether the dealer has to stand at soft 17. Such tables are preferred to those that re...

The table you choose will have a big impact on the results of the game. One of the most important rules you have to consider is whether the dealer has to stand at soft 17. Such tables are preferred to those that require a draw. You should also check the number of decks. A single deck table will usually have better odds than multi-deck ones. Different tables also have different betting limits, and these can affect your strategy. If you have a small bankroll, you should play at a table that has low limits so that you can split it into many small bets. Players who apply the doubling down strategy should always play at tables with a wide range between the lowest bet and the highest one.

Getting overwhelmed can make you abandon your blackjack strategy in the middle of the game. Keeping a clear mind throughout the game is important. One thing you should remember is to turn down the free drinks offer...

Getting overwhelmed can make you abandon your blackjack strategy in the middle of the game. Keeping a clear mind throughout the game is important. One thing you should remember is to turn down the free drinks offered in the casino. Getting tipsy or drunk will reduce your concentration levels, and you will quickly lose all your money in a short while. If you are playing online, you should still avoid alcohol and other mind-altering substances. Many people get over excited when they land significant wins. It is essential to stick to the strategy you started with, regardless of the size of winning you get. Similarly, if you land multiple losses in a row, you should not change your strategy since your winnings are highly influenced by luck. Your plan is not just meant to increase your chances of winning- it also helps you limit your overall losses.

Blackjack rules are pretty basic among its table games peers, however, they can vary amongst blackjack variants. Blackjack is played with the standard 52-card deck. The cards 2 to 10 are worth their face value, and...

Blackjack rules are pretty basic among its table games peers, however, they can vary amongst blackjack variants. Blackjack is played with the standard 52-card deck. The cards 2 to 10 are worth their face value, and aces are worth 1 or 11. If your hand goes over 21, aces will be assigned a value of 1. But if you are within the 21 value limit, your aces will have a value of 11. Kings, queens, and jacks are worth 10. The player aims at getting as close as possible to 21 without going over this number. If you have a value that is higher than that of the dealer but under 21, you will win the game. The best hand in the game is a two-card 21. This is referred to as a blackjack, and it pays 3-2. It is possible to draw with the dealer, and when this happens, you only get your original bet back.

Following a strategy can teach you how to win blackjack. A good strategy can help you lower the house edge to 0.5%. It will help you choose the best course of action given the value of your hand. In the first parts...

Following a strategy can teach you how to win blackjack. A good strategy can help you lower the house edge to 0.5%. It will help you choose the best course of action given the value of your hand. In the first parts of the game, you will have to decide whether or not to surrender. If you can’t, you should decide whether you should or should not split. Splitting is only an option if you have two cards of a similar value. It is worth noting that two ten-valued cards can be split, even if they are not alike. If you can’t split, your next decision should be on doubling down. Hands that can be doubled down are great since they have a high chance of winning. The last thing you will consider in the basic blackjack strategy is whether you should hit or stand.

Sticking to your limits is crucial to anyone who is interested in winning blackjack. If you go beyond your limits, you may lose all your money in a single game and may even end up spending money that had more impor...

Sticking to your limits is crucial to anyone who is interested in winning blackjack. If you go beyond your limits, you may lose all your money in a single game and may even end up spending money that had more important purposes. Before going out to play, make sure you have a good idea of the amount of money you intend to spend in the casino. If you have a sizeable bankroll, you can choose to play at a table with high limits. Your bankroll should always be split into several smaller amounts so that you can play multiple games before your money gets depleted. Online casinos usually give you the option of limiting the amount of money you spend in a single session or a day. Make sure you take advantage of these features since the allure of big winnings can make you spend more than you have.

The blackjack insurance is a side bet on the dealer having a blackjack. Being a side bet, this wager will pay out independently. You can only take the blackjack insurance if the dealer shows at least one ace. Many ...

The blackjack insurance is a side bet on the dealer having a blackjack. Being a side bet, this wager will pay out independently. You can only take the blackjack insurance if the dealer shows at least one ace. Many tutorials on how to win blackjack discourage players from taking the blackjack insurance and this is primarily because the dealer always has very low chances of getting a blackjack. These bets will cost half your wager. You might win the insurance bet once in a while, but based on the odds, you will lose money in the long run. The dealer is likely to have a blackjack less than a third of the time, so you can expect to lose your money more than two-thirds of the time. Blackjack is probably the only place where insurance is a poor investment.

Seasoned blackjack players are known to be highly aware of their environments. They notice the posture and signals given by the dealer and other players, and they analyse these signs keenly. This way, they can dete...

How To Win At 21 Blackjack Machine

Seasoned blackjack players are known to be highly aware of their environments. They notice the posture and signals given by the dealer and other players, and they analyse these signs keenly. This way, they can determine the value of the cards in the deck or decks, and that allows them to make good decisions in the game. If you want to learn how to win at blackjack, you should move past the basic strategy and pay attention to more than just your cards and chips. All successful blackjack players count cards to some extent. This is only possible if you pay attention to the cards and movements of other players and the dealer. Winning at blackjack is highly dependent on luck, so you should also learn to enjoy the game when you lose. It is not easy to win all the time since the dealer has an advantage over the players.

Get Up To £50 Matched Bonus + 50 Free Spins on Starburst