Cluster Counting In Blackjack

Card counting is one of the most popular techniques in blackjack.  At the same time, it is quite controversial.  Different people hold different opinions on card counting.  For my part, I think that it is essential if you want to win long term in blackjack.

One of the most effective ways of counting cards in blackjack is the cluster counting method.  So what is cluster counting?  In simple terms, it is based on the premise that the cards have a statistical tendency to group together – or cluster – in different parts of a shoe with many decks.  Players can then theoretically track the how the cards are shuffled at the end of the shoe.

Free Blackjack Tips has a good summary of what cluster counting is all about:

•    When dealing with a new shoe, take note of the flow of cards, while mentally dividing that shoe into deck sections
•    Next observe the portions of each section that are high in face cards, tens and Aces.
•    Rate each deck section as either rich or poor in high value cards, and make note of how those cards are placed in the discard box.
•    At the end of each shoe, pay attention to how the dealer shuffles the next shoe, and keep track of the location of the high value cards wthin each section. This will help you predict where such cards will surface in the next shoe.
•    When playing the next shoe, increase your bet as each high value section is reached, and decrease your wager after the high value cards have passed.

The next time you play blackjack, try implementing these steps and see how you do.

Hooked On A Feeling

Do not worry, I am not talking about the song by David Hasselhoff (I found the video of that song very very disturbing, by the way).  What I want to talk about in this post is how some blackjack players use their “feeling” as a basis for how they play at the table.  Now, I know that gut feeling can prove to right sometimes and I do acknowledge the role that it can play.

When you always depend on your feelings at the blackjack table, however, that is a totally different story.  Saying that you are doing something “because it feels right” without having a solid basis for it is one of the biggest mistakes that you can commit while playing blackjack.  This is even more applicable if you keep doing things “because they feel right.”

Sometimes, you just might get lucky and actually hit the mother lode when you do something “because it feels right.”  But don’t bet on it happening a lot.  What you should do instead is to get your basic strategy down pat.  Make sure that you know this inside and out.

More than that, learn other strategies that can make your blackjack game even better. There are many tips and techniques that you can study.  Playing blackjack is not something that you should leave up to chance and feel.  The game of blackjack is something that people actually work hard to be good at.  Saying that gut feeling is enough to make you a success at the game is actually akin to insulting those who do the work…

Blackjack’s Robin Hood

Who says that gamblers do not think of anyone else except themselves?  Well, that is simply wrong and there is no one who can tell you better than Robin Hood 702. Nope, it is not the Robin Hood who wears green tights and leads a band of forest bandits.  This Robin Hood is from modern times but he is keeping the spirit of the original Robin Hood alive.

Bodog Life tells his story:

Robin Hood 702 is a high-stakes Blackjack player who solicited submissions from families that are struggling with the current economic climate. He promised to select one family and use his Blackjack skills to try and win them out of debt.

Robin Hood 702 recently made a selection from the hundreds he received. Last Friday that family, along with a Fox news team, were whisked away from their trailer by a limo sent by Robin Hood 702 and were flown first class to Las Vegas where they got to watch their saviour attempt to win them out of debt.

The deal offered was that no matter what the family would receive at least half of what they needed to get out of debt. But if Robin Hood 702 won enough then they would have all their bills paid.

It is just like a fairy tale from the books, isn’t it?  I think you can watch the show at FOX.  You know, it is actually a good idea.  Maybe other big time blackjack and poker players can also do this.  If you had the chance, would you do something similar?

Reading The Dealer

Tells are overrated – I heard someone say this at a party I went to on Saturday night.  It got me thinking, are tells really overrated?  Perhaps not.  Though tells are most often associated with poker and it many variants, you can also make use of tells in blackjack.  That is, if you are playing at a real table in a real casino.  Blackjack dealers, in fact, could give away some information.  That’s where dealer tells come in.

The basic definition of a tell is a gesture or an expression that a person (in this case the blackjack dealer) makes subconsciously. This gesture or expression can be interpreted to gain valuable information to help you in your blackjack game.  Blackjack dealers are humans and they can be prone to tells as well.

The most common blackjack dealer tell gives away information about his hole card – that is, the card that is not turned up.  If a dealer has a stiff card – cards which can be 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 – he just might need to look at the card more than usual.  This is because he wants to make sure that it isn’t an Ace.  Stiff cards can be easily confused for an Ace, especially a 4.  On the other hand, if the dealer has a paint or face card, the dealer would probably only look at the card very briefly.

Do remember that this should not be taken as a clear cut rule for dealer tells.  In fact, different dealers would have different tells.  What you should do is to observe the dealer carefully and figure out what his tells are.

Why Play Blackjack Online? (Part 2)

In the previous post, I shared some very compelling reasons you should play blackjack online, courtesy of  Poker News Casino. Just in case you were not convinced by my previous post, here are more reasons for you to play blackjack online.

You don’t have to worry about travel, being able to play at your favourite Online Casino in the luxury of your own home.

I like this reason a LOT!  That is because I love being able to do lots of things from the comforts of my home.  And when I want to play blackjack, I love the fact that I can do it at home.  Don’t you agree?

Online Casinos always have a table free, allowing you to sit down and start playing Blackjack immediately.

Another point for online blackjack – there are always free rooms, free tables.  Compare this to overly crowded casinos wherein you may not be able to find a free seat.  Now which would you prefer?

There is more variety with playing limits.

If you are playing for money and you do not have much, then you will really appreciate the fact that online casinos offer you more options as to the minimum bet.  You can go as low as $1 as compared to $5 in most real life casinos.

There are hundreds of sign-up bonuses to choose from.

Another great reason to play blackjack – you get all sorts of bonuses, sign-up and otherwise.  If you want to get more credits, you only have to find an online casino offering a certain promotion.

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