Your "standard" game will probably use a 6 deck shoe. Though with most casino's you can usually find a double-deck "pitch" game. The easy way to tell the difference is the dealer won't be using an auto-shuffler but instead shuffling them theirselves and players are allowed to hold their cards in this game. I've never seen one with a minimum bet of less than $25 though. But it's what I typically like to play when playing blackjack.

I don't think I'll be betting enough to play in those big leagues. I was hoping to stay under $500 on blackjack before retiring to the slots.

If you're on third base, never, ever take the dealer's bust card.

Could you explain that a little more? Specifically, what is "third base" and what do you mean by his "bust card?"

 

 

(Yeah, I am probably going to get clobbered out there.)

Edited August 6, 201115 yr by Birdsfan

Lots of good advice here. Just wanted to add a couple that I have not seen here. A couple of things to be aware of......

 

1. You can double for less than your original bet on a double down.

2. I recommend to always take even money when you have a Blackjack and the dealer is showing an ace. Especially is you have a sizable wager on the table.

 

Good luck in Vegas.

Could you explain that a little more? Specofocally, what is "third base" and what do you mean by his "bust card?"

 

 

(Yeah, I am probably going to get clobbered out there.)

 

"Taking his bust" card means don't hit in a situation where the dealer has to hit, and the card you get would have caused the dealer to bust. More specifically, "third base" refers to the player that is last to play before the dealer. They generally have the most pressure on them to make the right call of whether to hit or stand because the card they take (or don't take) is what the dealer either would have got or ends up getting.

 

Lots of good advice here. Just wanted to add a couple that I have not seen here. A couple of things to be aware of......

 

1. You can double for less than your original bet on a double down.

2. I recommend to always take even money when you have a Blackjack and the dealer is showing an ace. Especially is you have a sizable wager on the table.

 

Good luck in Vegas.

 

I completely disagree about #2, but that's simply a matter of preference. The dealer wouldn't offer that out, if they had the odds of winning in those situations.

"Taking his bust" card means don't hit in a situation where the dealer has to hit, and the card you get would have caused the dealer to bust. More specifically, "third base" refers to the player that is last to play before the dealer. They generally have the most pressure on them to make the right call of whether to hit or stand because the card they take (or don't take) is what the dealer either would have got or ends up getting.

 

 

 

I completely disagree about #2, but that's simply a matter of preference. The dealer wouldn't offer that out, if they had the odds of winning in those situations.

 

I have never had a dealer offer that out. If you don't ask, they are not going to automatically give it to you. If I had a 500 dollar bet out on the table, you can guarantee that I am not going to take the chance of a push. I want the guaranteed win. Many players I have played with don't even know this option exists.

I have never had a dealer offer that out. If you don't ask, they are not going to automatically give it to you. If I had a 500 dollar bet out on the table, you can guarantee that I am not going to take the chance of a push. I want the guaranteed win. Many players I have played with don't even know this option exists.

This is not the same as "insurance." Right? I've always heard that insurance was a bad bet.

This is not the same as "insurance." Right? I've always heard that insurance was a bad bet.

Insurance is a "sucker bet". Never take it.

 

What he means is if you have a blackjack and the dealer's up card is an ace you have the opportunity to take even money as opposed to the 3-2 you'd normally get paid out on a blackjack.

 

Since there is a good chance the dealer has a "ten card" behind that ace a lot of people think it makes sense to take the even money as opposed to having the dealer hit a blackjack and you get nothing. I agree with this line of thought.

This is not the same as "insurance." Right? I've always heard that insurance was a bad bet.

 

You are correct. This is different than insurance, when asked to take insurance, tell the dealer you want even money if you are holding a Blackjack. Never take insurance, you are correct, it's a bad bet.

Insurance is a "sucker bet". Never take it.

 

What he means is if you have a blackjack and the dealer's up card is an ace you have the opportunity to take even money as opposed to the 3-2 you'd normally get paid out on a blackjack.

 

Since there is a good chance the dealer has a "ten card" behind that ace a lot of people think it makes sense to take the even money as opposed to having the dealer hit a blackjack and you get nothing. I agree with this line of thought.

Oh okay, now I think I've got it. I'll remember that.

I have never had a dealer offer that out. If you don't ask, they are not going to automatically give it to you. If I had a 500 dollar bet out on the table, you can guarantee that I am not going to take the chance of a push. I want the guaranteed win. Many players I have played with don't even know this option exists.

I also generally see the player asking for it. Though when I've sat for marathon sessions they tend to offer it if you continue to do it.

Could you explain that a little more? Specofocally, what is "third base" and what do you mean by his "bust card?"

 

 

(Yeah, I am probably going to get clobbered out there.)

Think of the dealer as a hitter up to the plate. The person to his right is "1st base" and the person to his left is "3rd base". For some reason, poor 'ol 2nd base tends to get shorted.

 

And don't worry about getting all caught up on the terminology and such. You have a desire to learn and are playing a smart strategy which puts you ahead of 95% of the people I see sit down at a blackjack table. The terminology will come the more you play and dealers really are VERY helpful. They like to see people win as "winning = tips" and they know when a very poor player sits down it could easily end up with an empty table for them which equals no tips and insane boredom. I know several dealers and they say the worse thing is having to sit at an empty table or deal to an idiot.

Oh okay, now I think I've got it. I'll remember that.

I do think the numbers slightly point the other way on this one. But it sucks to lose a blackjack...:lol: :lol:

Your "standard" game will probably use a 6 deck shoe. Though with most casino's you can usually find a double-deck "pitch" game. The easy way to tell the difference is the dealer won't be using an auto-shuffler but instead shuffling them theirselves and players are allowed to hold their cards in this game. I've never seen one with a minimum bet of less than $25 though. But it's what I typically like to play when playing blackjack.

 

Take all the cards (though the one deck game is basically obsolete, I've never personally seen one) and decide what you like on the first day then just go back with it from then on. If you are betting enough to meet the minimum I think you'll enjoy the pitch game the best.

 

I played single-deck earlier this summer at Isle of Capri in Bettendorf, Iowa.

I played single-deck earlier this summer at Isle of Capri in Bettendorf, Iowa.

 

What was the minimum?

What was the minimum?

 

Can't recall for sure, but I think it was $10. Mind you, this was during a slow time (something like a Friday early afternoon), so I'm guessing that probably goes up to $25 on weekend days and nights.