EXPECTED RESULTS
Blackjack is a game where every decision you make affects your percentage expectation against the house. If you play poorly, you can give up more than 3%, or even 5% overall to the casino. That may not sound like much, but when you multiply, say 3%, by every single bet you make—which is how the math works out—that adds up to a lot of money quickly.
TURNING THE TABLES
But let’s look at the other side of the coin. What if, instead, you were better prepared and played at only a ½% disadvantage at an average of $10 per hand for twenty hours? Instead of losing $480, you would be out an average of only $80. That’s a $400 difference for a relatively short amount of time. Multiply these numbers by many sessions and many trips and we’re talking about a significant amount of money!
FIVE STEPS TO BECOMING A WINNING BLACKJACK PLAYER
Step One
Reread the strategy section and study the basic strategy charts. Get comfortable not only with the correct plays you should make, but the logic behind those plays. This will make learning the strategies easier and keep you focused on why certain plays should be made all the time, regardless of whether you’re losing or winning.
Step Two
Give yourself self-tests on various strategy situations to see if you have remembered the correct plays. You do this until you have the strategy down cold.
Step Three
Deal out practice hands to yourself, giving the dealer his upward as well. Get comfortable making plays with this simulated situation. Every time you are uncertain of the correct play, look it up in the strategy charts. You should deal out hands over and over again until you can make the correct decision on every situation that comes up.
Step Four
Have someone deal out hands to you so that you get the feel of playing against a dealer. This is as close to a simulation as you can get without being in the casino. This will let you practice with a dealer controlling the pace, not you. If you can play flawlessly without referencing the strategy charts, you’re ready to play casino blackjack with all your guns going.
Step Four
Have someone deal out hands to you so that you get the feel of playing against a dealer. This is as close to a simulation as you can get without being in the casino. This will let you practice with a dealer controlling the pace, not you. If you can play flawlessly without referencing the strategy charts, you’re ready to play casino blackjack with all your guns going.
Step Five
You’ve practiced by yourself, you’ve studied the charts, and you’ve also practiced with a simulated dealer. There is one more step to get you to maximum efficiency as a Basic Strategy player: Score 100% on the quizzes in the following chapter. If you do well here, you’re a tough Basic Strategy player, and that will make you better than 95% of the other blackjack players at the tables. If you ace these, you’re ready for live action.
Comment
It’s one thing to think you know what the proper strategy decisions are, it’s another to actually make those correct decisions when you are under the bright lights. Let’s look at some ways to get ready for live play. I’m assuming you read this book carefully, understand the rules of the game and you’re playing options, and have studiously and carefully read my advice on money management. Okay, let’s get started.
