The easiest card counting system in blackjack is called Hi-Lo and works like this: for each low card (2, 3, 4, 5, 6) you see you add one point and for each high card (10, J, Q, K, A) you deduct one. The idea in this blackjack strategy is again to bet conservatively – just place a minimum bet and play. Use the reference charts to advise you on the best play in each case and use them well. Every time you win, just bet the same – minimum – amount, and do so until you lose. Now that you have lost, it's time to get your last bet back.
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I've spent a lot of time on the Internet over the last 5 years. One thing I never tire of seeing online is nonsense, especially unbelievable nonsense. And when it comes to gambling subjects, nonsense is even more plentiful online than with other subjects.
Honestly, most of what you'll find in any kind of search for gambling strategy related information is poorly written, poorly thought out, and flat-out incorrect information about how to play. What's remarkable about this phony gambling strategy information is the level of enthusiasm with which it's promoted.
Most of these bogus gambling system/gambling strategy salesmen share a theme. This theme is that the author of the gambling system that's being sold is in on some kind of inside information that isn't available to the general public. If it's a site about slot machines, then the author of the book is a slot machine technician. If it's a site about roulette, then the author of the book is a former roulette dealer. And if it's about blackjack, then the author of the book is either a former blackjack dealer or a card counter.
Secret Blackjack Sales Pitches
Here's how some of their pitches look:
How To Make a Killing Playing Blackjack with our Secret Blackjack System
Our Blackjack Secrets will enable you to leave the table with several hundred dollars in winnings every time you play
I've spent years developing my brand new 'Blackjack Secrets' system, where you double your bets at appropriate times in order to guarantee that you leave the blackjack table a winner. A knowledgeable blackjack player (one who has studied my 'blackjack secrets') is one of the only gamblers in the casino who can gain an edge over the house with skilled play.
And what's more..
My blackjack secrets are so effective that you can be a guaranteed blackjack winner without counting cards!
The first step to learning my secret blackjack strategy is memorizing basic blackjack strategy. When you learn basic strategy, you'll know when to stand, when to hit, when to double down, and when to split. You'll even know when to surrender.
The second step to learning my secret blackjack strategy is to learn an effective money management system. You can learn basic strategy almost anywhere, but my secret blackjack money management system is the key to being a guaranteed blackjack winner every time you play!
Blackjack Secret Testimonials
The sales page will also include several testimonials from people you've never heard of. These people will invariably be thrilled with their new blackjack secret knowledge. But you won't be able to find or contact these people to verify their experience with the product, ever.
These testimonials for these 'blackjack secrets' products usually look something like this:
'The blackjack secrets revealed in Mort X's system make up the most powerful winning strategies for blackjack in the business. Mort's sure-fire blackjack tips and techniques have helped me win an average of $400 every time I visit the casino to play blackjack.'
John Keene, Omaha, Nebraska
Here's another example of what you might see:
'Mort X's secret blackjack strategy is the best secret weapon a gambler could have in his arsenal. I have never lost a blackjack session since I started using his secret blackjack system. Anyone foolish enough to not try his system deserves to lose at blackjack!'
Sally Castle, Arlington, Texas
And my favorite testimonials are the ones with the most outlandish claims, like this one:
'The blackjack dealer was getting pissed that I was winning EVERY HAND!'
Richard Graham, The Phillipines
But after you've read all of the hype and the nonsense and the testimonials, you'll find nothing but more hype, nonsense, and claims. You won't find any verifiable evidence that these blackjack secrets and secret blackjack strategies actually work. No computer research, no scientific explanations of WHY these blackjack betting systems work, and in fact, no real information about the 'blackjack secrets' at all.
When you do see statistics, they'll be equally unbelievable:
I win at least $2000 playing blackjack every time I visit Vegas.
I win at least $400 playing blackjack every time I visit the riverboat.
I win between $100 and $300 playing blackjack every weekend in Reno.
I win between $500 and $1000 playing blackjack in Biloxi.
The reason for the vagueness is simple. The owners of these sites want you to send them $39 for this life-changing information. If they gave you specifics instead of empty promises, you would never shell over $39 for their product.
But you will get lots of promises like these:
Six blackjack strategy secrets that we guarantee you've never seen anywhere before.
The number one most overlooked blackjack secret tip that almost no one uses. Bovada casino no deposit bonus codes 2016.
Three secret blackjack tips that will help you win immediately the next time you visit the casino.
Two more blackjack secrets that will leave the casinos reeling. They won't know what hit them!
A dozen ways to win at blackjack that don't involve counting cards at all.
13 other secret gambling systems for other games, each of which is a $99 value, absolutely free with the purchase of our unbelievable blackjack secrets package.
Secret Blackjack Secrets are the Key To Winning at Blackjack!
With any luck, the contempt that I hold for these 'blackjack secrets' salesmen is obvious in the above post, which drips with irony. Please don't spend your money on such an obvious scam. There are no blackjack secrets. You can find legitimate blackjack strategy information at any number of legitimate websites for free, and there are several real blackjack books available for far less than the $39 you'd pay for some 'blackjack secrets' ebook that MIGHT have all of 40 pages in it.
Gambling sites no deposit. If you want to read a real book about blackjack which reveals real blackjack secrets, consider Beat The Dealer instead.
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It's mathematically impossible for either the house or the player to always win at the game of blackjack if both are playing a perfect game. It also comes down to how you interpret the phrase 'always win.'
Is it possible to win every hand in blackjack without cheating? No, not even if the other player makes the worst choice on every hand (hitting on anything other than a 21). If both players draw 21, the push negates any win or loss.
By that reasoning alone, a cheater would have to control the deal to prevent the other player from ever drawing a blackjack.
For the sake of reasonable discussion, I'll interpret 'always win' to mean 'leave the table with more money than you took in.' I still can't offer any guarantees, but the following strategies improve your chances of always leaving the table a winner.
1 – Set a Hard Limit on Earnings
Although card counting doesn't perform the magic people expect, as you become more experienced at counting cards you should see some improvement in your win/loss ratios. This is why, despite all the precautions they take, casinos still pay attention to card counters.
The basic idea in good gambling practice is to only risk losing money you don't mind losing. If you really want to get ahead, then your thinking should become more conservative as you accumulate more money.
Rather than change your playing strategy, which is why you're ahead, just call it quits before you've won too much.
How much is too much? If the pit boss is paying unusual attention to your table, that could be a sign you should take a break.
2 – Practice Every Chance You Get
How To Play Blackjack At A Casino
Some of the best blackjack experts in the world say they ran through memory exercises for months before taking on the Vegas casinos.
You need to memorize two things to be successful in blackjack—the rules of the game (including table rules) and the best blackjack strategies for each card you're dealt.
The basic rules of the game are easy to learn. Casinos add their own rules to limit players' chances of success or to limit their winnings. The change from 3:2 payouts to 6:5 payouts is an example of how casinos are limiting winnings.
You need to react instinctively to the cards on the table. You need to know what you can do and what you should do in every situation.
You won't get there by losing your money for months or years on end.
How To Win At Blackjack Every Time
3 – Pick Your Tables Carefully
Because casinos have changed many of the old school blackjack rules, standard advice that people followed 10, 15, or 20 years ago doesn't always apply any more. The old classic blackjack strategy books were great resources in their days, but the world has changed.
Choosing the best blackjack table may be easy. You could walk into a casino that still offers the basic game. You may have to visit a few casinos in your area to find the best game.
Because finding a good table is so hard, some players now prefer playing online blackjack games. They can choose from a variety of casinos, and because of the competition, online casinos offer a lot of different blackjack variations.
When you know the table rules you want to play by, they become part of your strategy as much as part of the house's strategy.
4 – Bet in Consistent Patterns
Standard card counting technique says you should increase your bets when the deck is favorable. Because everyone shares this advice in books, video tutorials, and articles, it's not a secret to the casinos.
Varying your bets when the cards are favorable may lead to the unfavorable reaction by the casino—they shuffle the cards.
Although many card counters still swear by the practice, they concede it's much harder to win this way than in years past. The solo player is less likely to win much money over all than a team.
Instead of trying to win as much as a team wins, be more consistent in your betting. A little bit of subtlety in your patterns may give you the psychological boost you need to keep playing.
How can you be consistent and subtle?
5 – Only Play When the Crowd Is Small
This is more a matter of personal preference. But having spent some time at the blackjack tables, I find it disruptive when people constantly come and go.
That is the exact reason why I stopped trying to count cards.
If you want to socialize, then chat away if the other players are willing to do that. But if your goal is to win, then treat the game like it's your job. Do the work when you have the fewest distractions.
If you're a regular high roller, you might be able to request a private table. And this is another reason why some people prefer to play online blackjack over a game in a casino. Whether it's a live dealer table or a computer game, if you have the table to yourself, you can play without distractions.
6 – Ignore the Extras in the Game
You might be tempted to play a progressive blackjack game or to take insurance. I've done both, but in the long run, these game options just suck your money away from you.
The casino throws in extra options to make the game more interesting, but they're also after your money.
Surrendering is a borderline practice. If you have the option of surrendering, some experts recommend you only do this when the cards are clearly against you.
Some casinos require late surrender, meaning you must wait for the dealer to check for a blackjack in her hand. Some games allow early surrender where you can forfeit based on the cards you see in your hand and the dealer's face card.
Some surrender articles speak in terms of probabilities.
Your decision to surrender preserves capital. You should take into consideration what the face up cards show, what the table's rule for dealer stands is (soft 17 or not), and the number of decks in the shoe (4 to 8).
Players usually surrender on a hard 16 if the dealer shows a 9, 10, or ace. They usually surrender on a hard 15 if the dealer shows a 10 or ace.
Some players criticize a player who surrenders. It's your decision, not theirs.
Some surrender articles speak in terms of probabilities.
Your decision to surrender preserves capital. You should take into consideration what the face up cards show, what the table's rule for dealer stands is (soft 17 or not), and the number of decks in the shoe (4 to 8).
Players usually surrender on a hard 16 if the dealer shows a 9, 10, or ace. They usually surrender on a hard 15 if the dealer shows a 10 or ace.
Some players criticize a player who surrenders. It's your decision, not theirs.
Conclusion
As a player you want to enjoy what you're doing even if you're there to win. It's hard to concentrate when you feel like every hand is against you. The psychological side of the game is important.
It's just like going to work every morning, do you love your job or not?
Unless you're there as part of a team, you don't have to keep playing if the game isn't fun anymore. Choosing to play only when you have a good time builds your confidence.
Confidence doesn't contribute directly to winning, but you're more likely to trust your choices when you're confident. Winning makes you confident but winning can be the result of random chance.
Your job begins before you make the first bet. Study the rules, practice good strategy, and set a goal of achieving perfect play through instinct and experience.
Whether you count cards or not, the better you play the game, the more likely you'll leave the table a winner.
