John Ferguson, who is better known by his pen name Stanford Wong, has become legendary throughout the blackjack world for writing some game-changing blackjack books. In addition to this, he’s also created computer programs and techniques that have furthered blackjack strategy to a great degree. This being said, Stanford Wong is definitely a man worth looking at a little closer. Continue reading “Blackjack Legends: Stanford Wong”
Author: jason
Blackjack Card Counting Tips
Blackjack card counting is the stuff of legend because skilled players have used this practice to make thousands or even millions of dollars. The MIT Blackjack Team even made a profitable multi-million dollar business out of card counting! Obviously it’s hard to replicate this type of success, but that’s not to say it is impossible for you to be a good card counter. If you’re interested in taking up the practice, here are some tips that will help you get started. Continue reading “Blackjack Card Counting Tips”
Blackjack Cheats
Many of you have probably heard the saying, “Cheaters never prosper.” But there are plenty of blackjack players who are willing to test this thought with various blackjack cheating methods. Most blackjack cheats involve slight of hand tricks, and if your hand isn’t slight enough, you can end up in jail. That’s why the BlackjackLife staff doesn’t recommend blackjack cheating to players. But if you’re still interested, here is a quick look at some of the most common blackjack cheats. Continue reading “Blackjack Cheats”
Paying for Blackjack Betting Systems
Blackjack betting systems are quite common since people use them in an effort to win more money with the game. The idea here is not to overcome the house edge (unless you’re card counting), but rather to vary bets in a fashion that will help you come out on top. Continue reading “Paying for Blackjack Betting Systems”
Taking Advantage of Online Blackjack Bonuses
One driving force behind the popularity of online blackjack is that many sites are generous with bonuses. In fact, some players are able to beat the house edge when they combine skilled play with blackjack bonuses. Of course, not every player will achieve this feat because they don’t put much effort into taking advantage of these rewards. But seeing as how you can lose out on a lot of money by not going after blackjack bonuses, it’s definitely worth discussing what you should be looking for here. Continue reading “Taking Advantage of Online Blackjack Bonuses”
Blackjack Legends: Bill Kaplan and J.P. Massar
Bill Kaplan and J.P. Massar formed the basis for what would become the most famous card counting team in history – the MIT Blackjack Team. Interestingly enough, the two Americans met at a Chinese restaurant in Cambridge, Massachusetts of all places. Massar overheard Kaplan talking about blackjack card counting in the restaurant, and walked over to introduce himself, which is where our story begins. Continue reading “Blackjack Legends: Bill Kaplan and J.P. Massar”
Blackjack Dealer Tells
One of the lesser known skills among blackjack players involves recognizing dealer tells and exploiting them. Now this might sound strange because blackjack isn’t like poker where you’re trying to judge the strength of an opponent’s hand before making moves of your own. Instead, you make decisions based on your score total versus the dealer’s upcard. But with the blackjack dealer tells concept, you look for subtle gestures and cues as to what the dealer’s hole card is. Now that we’ve covered the introduction on this subject, here are some more things you need to know. Continue reading “Blackjack Dealer Tells”
Blackjack Legends: Erica Schoenberg
The typical blackjack stereotype is an overweight, middle-aged man with poor fashion tastes and a receding hairline. Erica Shoenberg certainly does not meet this stereotypical view of a blackjack player. In fact, the Akron, Ohio native earned the nickname the “Blackjack Babe” for her good looks and modeling career. But is Schoenberg really a blackjack legend, or just some model who happens to play a little blackjack on the side? Let’s take a look… Continue reading “Blackjack Legends: Erica Schoenberg”
Blackjack Tournament Strategy
One exciting adaption to the game of blackjack was in 1978, when Las Vegas’ Sahara Casino began running blackjack tournaments. Rather than pitting players against the house, blackjack tournaments start players off with equal chip amounts, and pay out prizes to the top chip earners. If you’re interested in playing some blackjack tournaments in the future, or you already play them, here’s a look at some strategy for these games. Continue reading “Blackjack Tournament Strategy”
Paroli System in Blackjack
One of the simpler blackjack betting systems in the game is the Paroli system. Although not widely used, those who do employ the Paroli system swear by its potential to earn big profits at the blackjack tables. And if you’re already used to using the popular Martingale system, you should have no trouble learning the Paroli. With the introduction out of the way, let’s get into how you use the Paroli when playing blackjack games. Continue reading “Paroli System in Blackjack”
Basic Blackjack Strategy
Even those who barely know anything about blackjack strategy are familiar with the fact that skilled players stand a much better chance to win in the game. And it’s for this reason why people study basic blackjack strategy so that they can reduce the house edge considerably. In fact, you can lower the blackjack house edge down to 0.5% by using perfect basic strategy. With this being said, here is a look at some of the things you need to keep in mind with blackjack strategy. Continue reading “Basic Blackjack Strategy”
Live Dealer Casino Blackjack Card Counting – Does it work?
These days, it seems like regular online blackjack is being replaced in popularity by live dealer casino blackjack. With live dealer blackjack games, you have beautiful women dealing you the cards, and you get to interact with other players too. Essentially, this is the closest you’ll ever come to getting the live casino experience in your living room, which is more than alright with many people. Continue reading “Live Dealer Casino Blackjack Card Counting – Does it work?”
Blackjack Bankroll Management
In their pursuit of learning perfect blackjack strategy, some players often neglect to cover bankroll management. But just like with any other casino game, blackjack bankroll management is extremely important, and something that players should definitely study extensively. With this being said, let’s look over some of the main things that players need to know in regards to blackjack bankroll management. Continue reading “Blackjack Bankroll Management”
Blackjack Legends: Ken Uston and Al Francesco
Two blackjack legends whose legacies are tied together are Ken Uston and Al Francesco. The main reason why Uston and Francesco are linked is because they played on the same blackjack team together. Now most people would consider Uston the more famous out of these two because he went on to write several major blackjack books, and appeared on TV shows too. But it’s still worth discussing both of these blackjack legends in-depth because many within the blackjack community actually consider Francesco more of a prominent figure. Continue reading “Blackjack Legends: Ken Uston and Al Francesco”
Blackjack Rule Differences – How They affect the House Edge
One of the biggest things that beginning blackjack players should know is that blackjack rules aren’t always the same in every casino. And this is the case even if you’re playing the exact same game of ’21’ in different casinos. The main reason why casinos change rules is to increase their house edge over the player. With this being the case, it’s really important that you understand how the different rule changes can alter your chances of winning. The following will show the main rules that are changed, and keep in mind that you may find none or all of these rule changes in effect. Continue reading “Blackjack Rule Differences – How They affect the House Edge”
Blackjack Perfect Pairs: A Non-Perfect Bet
Jackpots and big payouts have a special allure in the casino world because they give players the opportunity to earn big money instantly. Of course, with the chance to win big payouts also comes a high house edge, which is certainly the case with the blackjack perfect pairs game. This being said, let’s further dissect the blackjack perfect pairs bet, and examine why it isn’t a very good wager to make. Continue reading “Blackjack Perfect Pairs: A Non-Perfect Bet”
D’Alembert System in Blackjack
While many blackjack betting systems call on you to make risky and bankroll-threatening decisions at the table, the D’Alembert system is a bit safer choice. The D’Alembert was named after its creator, 18th-century mathematician and physicist Jean le Rond D’Alembert, who theorized that his work could be used to balance out wins and losses over the long-term – though he didn’t entirely mean for this to become a blackjack system. In any case, D’Alembert’s original work is well known for its application in the blackjack world, which definitely makes it worth reviewing. Continue reading “D’Alembert System in Blackjack”
How to play Live Dealer Casino Blackjack
While the advent of online blackjack was certainly impressive, some people longed for an even more realistic blackjack experience. Enter live dealer casino blackjack, which features streaming video footage of a real person dealing the cards, and the chance to chat with other players. Live dealer blackjack gives players the opportunity to experience a real casino atmosphere without ever having to leave the house. If you’re interested in experiencing this for yourself, here is what you need to know about playing live dealer casino blackjack. Continue reading “How to play Live Dealer Casino Blackjack”
Casino Tricks used on Blackjack Players
When it comes to using questionable tactics to win in blackjack, much of the attention has often been put on the players, who’ve used everything from chip placing to cards in their sleeve to cheat the house. Even card counting is sometimes construed as cheating by novice blackjack players (though it’s not). Continue reading “Casino Tricks used on Blackjack Players”
Blackjack Legends: Edward Thorp
Out of all the figures throughout blackjack history, nobody is more famous than Edward O. Thorp. In fact, Thorp is credited with inventing the modern card counting system that blackjack pros have used to make huge profits. Seeing as how Thorp is such an important figure in the game of blackjack, let’s take an in-depth look at his accomplishments. Continue reading “Blackjack Legends: Edward Thorp”
Blackjack Party Pits – How the House Edge Increases
One concept that’s really increased in popularity over the past few years is the blackjack party pit. Just like the name suggests, blackjack party pits feature a fun and festive atmosphere where music is blaring, beautiful women are dealing the cards, and more women are in the background dancing. The basic idea behind blackjack party pits is pure enjoyment, which is definitely alluring to the average player. However, you also have to be cautious when playing at these tables, and we’ll explain why below. Continue reading “Blackjack Party Pits – How the House Edge Increases”
Single Deck Blackjack Advantages and Disadvantages
Single deck blackjack has often been looked at as the holy grail of the game because it offers players the best chance to win profits. In fact, the house edge is just 0.15% when players stick to blackjack games with a single deck. With this being the case, you’d think that single deck blackjack is the greatest thing ever. However, there are actually some disadvantages to the subject as well, which is covered below along with single deck blackjack advantages. Continue reading “Single Deck Blackjack Advantages and Disadvantages”
Labouchere System in Blackjack
While some blackjack betting systems are fairly simple to learn, the Labouchere system requires a bit of an explanation. Now this isn’t to say the Labouchere is overly-difficult to learn, you just need to understand a couple of basic points before putting it into practice. That being said, here is a closer look at the basics of using the Labouchere and its effectiveness. Continue reading “Labouchere System in Blackjack”
Blackjack Legends: Kerry Packer
While most famous blackjack players accumulate their wealth on the tables and through books, Kerry Packer is an exception to the norm. Packer built a media empire over his lifetime, and became the richest man in Australia ($A6.5 billion) before his death in 2005. Beyond his extravagant wealth and media empire, the Aussie was known for his high stakes gambling ventures into blackjack, poker, baccarat and other games. Of course, what we’re most interested in here is the blackjack, and how Packer became a legend for his play. Continue reading “Blackjack Legends: Kerry Packer”
Negative and Positive Progression Blackjack Systems
Blackjack betting systems are commonly used by players to make the game more exciting while attempting to make more profits. The most common system is flat betting, which sees blackjack players make the exact same bet over and over again. Every other type of betting system besides flat betting is either a negative or positive progression. Seeing as how these are the two main types of betting system classifications, let’s take a look at both of them more closely. Continue reading “Negative and Positive Progression Blackjack Systems”
Blackjack Legends: Arnold Snyder
Some blackjack players become legends for their unparalleled profits at the table, and quirky stories away from the felt. Others become blackjack legends because of their theories and contributions to the game. Arnold Snyder is of the latter variety because, while he’s definitely been a successful player, he has found even more success as an author. Since Snyder is such an interesting fellow, let’s dive a little deeper into his life and blackjack contributions. Continue reading “Blackjack Legends: Arnold Snyder”
Advantages of playing at Crowded Blackjack Tables
When some people think of crowded blackjack tables, they cringe because they don’t want to deal with a loud and boisterous atmosphere while trying to play the game. But even if you don’t like being around a bunch of people while playing blackjack, there are still some advantages you should consider first before refusing to sit down at a table with six other players. That being said, here’s a quick look at those benefits. Continue reading “Advantages of playing at Crowded Blackjack Tables”
Blackjack Legends: Russ Hamilton
Russ Hamilton is definitely one of the more interesting figures in blackjack history because he’s both a successful blackjack and poker player. In fact, it was the latter that got Hamilton started playing cards in the first place, and a college professor once told the Detroit native that he’d profit more from poker than school. So Hamilton started playing in underground poker games around the Detroit area, and was very good at it. This prompted him to move to Las Vegas, where a new game caught his attention. Continue reading “Blackjack Legends: Russ Hamilton”
Basic Blackjack Tips
With several difficult choices available in every hand, blackjack is not the easiest game in terms of strategy. And don’t even get us started on blackjack card counting! Fortunately, blackjack strategy can be simplified quite easily if you concentrate on a few basic tips to start with. This being said, here is a quick look at some basic blackjack tips that will help you play well right away. Continue reading “Basic Blackjack Tips”
1-3-2-6 System in Blackjack
Those who don’t like to use risky blackjack betting systems like the Parlay or Martingale usually opt for split strategies like the 1-3-2-6 system. At first this sounds pretty complicated because it’s just a string of numbers. However, using this betting strategy isn’t overly-difficult – even for beginning blackjack players. That said, let’s take a closer look at how to use this system. Continue reading “1-3-2-6 System in Blackjack”
How to Play Casino Blackjack
Many people these days prefer to stay at home and play online blackjack when starting out because it’s less intimidating. But the more you fall in love with the game, the more likely it is that you’ll want to play blackjack in a land-based casino. This being said, here’s a quick look at the basics of playing casino blackjack. Continue reading “How to Play Casino Blackjack”
Blackjack Legends: Don Johnson
While most blackjack legends become famous for card counting, Don Johnson has etched his name into blackjack history by using conventional strategy to win millions of dollars. By his own admissions, Johnson doesn’t count cards, and claims that many players could beat the house if they had the bankroll to do so. Seeing as how Johnson’s theory on blackjack is so interesting, he’s definitely worth looking at closer. Continue reading “Blackjack Legends: Don Johnson”
Blackjack Myths destroy your Bankroll
Few casino games involve the amount of strategy that blackjack does, and it’s important to make as many correct moves as possible to lower the house edge. Of course, it’s virtually impossible to play the game correctly when you subscribe to all of the blackjack myths out there. After all, many blackjack myths revolve around poor strategy moves, and this can cost you a lot of money. So in order to avoid these problems, it’s important to identify the myths and avoid them. Continue reading “Blackjack Myths destroy your Bankroll”
How Realistic is Blackjack Card Counting?
Movies and TV shows often depict blackjack card counting as this glamorous activity that people can quickly learn, and use to win huge sums of money from casinos. But the reality is that card counting is much harder than what the general public is shown through movies. This being said, let’s take a quick look at just how realistic being a successful card counter is. Continue reading “How Realistic is Blackjack Card Counting?”
How to Play Online Blackjack
For anyone who’s new to blackjack, it’s highly recommended that you start with online blackjack first. The reason why is because the online casino software is a good guide for players who are unsure of the intricacies involved with playing the game. Of course, it’s still worth looking at how to play online blackjack, which you can read about below. Continue reading “How to Play Online Blackjack”
Blackjack Insurance – A Bad Bet
One seemingly good bet to beginning blackjack players is taking insurance. And a major reason why beginning players are fooled into thinking insurance is a good idea is because dealers ask players beforehand if they want insurance when the opportunity arises. However, this is a very poor wager, and we’ll get into the specifics of why after explaining more about this bet. Continue reading “Blackjack Insurance – A Bad Bet”
Do Blackjack Betting Systems Work?
Blackjack is definitely one of the best casino games to play because of its low house edge when proper strategy is used. Assuming you’re on a table with favorable rules and good blackjack strategy is used, you can bring the house edge below 1%. Continue reading “Do Blackjack Betting Systems Work?”
Parlay System in Blackjack
Along with the Martingale system, the Parlay system is definitely one of the most extreme blackjack strategies that you can use. The reason why the Parlay is so extreme is because you double bets after every win. This being said, it’s hard to keep your profits when you’re letting winnings ride on every wager. Interestingly enough, this is why they also call the Parlay the “Let It Ride” system too. No matter what you call the Parlay though, it’s a very popular system that’s worth examining closer. Continue reading “Parlay System in Blackjack”
Online Blackjack Card Counting – Is It Possible?
There are numerous stories and legends about blackjack card counters who’ve experienced major success in land-based casinos. This being the case, some online blackjack players wonder if it’s possible for them to duplicate these feats in the online version of the game. After all, if you can sit at home and make thousands of dollars playing a casino game, it would definitely be worth a try. In addition to this, there is no casino staff to throw you out at an online casino site if you’re a successful counter. Keeping this in mind, let’s look at if online blackjack card counting is possible. Continue reading “Online Blackjack Card Counting – Is It Possible?”
Martingale System in Blackjack
The most alluring system in blackjack is the Martingale, which initially seems like a can’t-fail strategy. But once you learn more about the Martingale, you’ll find that it is also an extremely risky strategy which could cost you your entire bankroll. Seeing as how this is the case, let’s examine the finer points of the Martingale, and discuss if you should actually consider this system. Continue reading “Martingale System in Blackjack”