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Everyone knows how to play black jack, or 21. You're playing against the dealer, and you need to get closest to 21 without "busting." Blackjack is one of the most popular and better casinos games to play in terms of house edge. The casino’s advantage on black jack runs under 1.50% (this number is somewhat debatable, but it’s close enough) with basic strategy play, which is not too difficult to learn. It is very important to learn basic black jack strategy. You'll reduce the house edge to a very small percentage and increase your chances of leaving Las Vegas a small loser or even a winner. Otherwise, you'll likely leave a big loser and may even get some ugly stares from the other players at the table. How to use the basic strategy chart. The numbers at the top of the strategy chart is the dealer's up card and the numbers that are vertical are the total of your two cards. You just find where the two intersect and that is what you should do. For instance, the dealer's up card is a 6 and you have 16. The right decision is to stand. For the most part, deciding on whether to hit, stand, or double down is common sense. For instance, if the dealer’s up card (the card that you can see the value of) is between three and six and your cards total is between 12 and 16, then it makes sense to stand. But if the dealer's up card is 10 or a picture and again your cards total is between 12 and 16, then you should hit because you always assume that the dealer's face down card is a 10. Much of the decisions are common sense and you will learn real fast. So all you have to study are the more difficult situations such as what to do when you have a soft hand or pairs. There are a few instances where your cards determine what you should do. Obviously, if you have a blackjack, then you just flip over your cards and wait to get paid out. However, there are a few hands where it will not matter what the dealer's up card is. See below. Split a pair of aces and eights. Practice makes perfect. And don't practice when you're playing with real money. Practice before you go on your trip. If you follow the chart, you will decrease the house edge and increase your chances of having a winning session. Once you've memorized the basic strategy chart, there are a couple of other things to consider before you sit down: Table minimum is important because you want to be able to play within your means. Find a minimum that you feel comfortable playing at, yet one that provides you excitement when you win. You can always bet more than the minimum, but never less. Your bankroll is a big consideration when finding a table minimum to play. If you have $200 to spend for the day, a $25 minimum table is probably not your best bet. You should consider a $5 or $10 table minimum. Seat selection -- where you sit at the table -- is also important. Generally, don’t sit to the dealer’s immediate right unless you know basic strategy. This seat is important because you are the last person to decide to take a card -- or not -- before the dealer’s turn. Make the right call and you will make everyone at the table happy, and you’re the hero. However, if you make the wrong call -- especially if it’s very apparent -- you should expect to receive some nasty looks and possibly a comment or two. For me, I like to sit as far to the dealer’s right as possible. If that seat is not open, I’ll sit anywhere. However, I will watch how the other people at the table play, and if it seems like they don’t know what their doing (knowing the basic strategy), I will find another table to play at. The number of players at a table is important for two reasons: money management and comps. The less players at the table, the faster each game goes by, the more hands you play, and the more you can win or lose. Conversely, the more players at the table, the longer your money will last, the less hands you will play and the less you will hopefully win or lose. The other reason you would want more players at a table you plan to sit at is because if you’re using your players card, which you should, you are rated based on how long you play and with more players, you'll play longer (which is good for your comp rating), but you'll play less hands (decreasing your chances of losses). Drinking alcohol while gambling is never recommended. There will be plenty of time to drink when you aren't gambling. Keep the two separate.
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