CHAPTER I
I ONLY PLAY BLACKJACK
The only game I play is Blackjack. I don’t know if one can consistently win at other casino games because I’ve never really tried. I’ve known consistent winners at other casino games, but for me, there are certain advantages of blackjack which I don’t think exists with other casino games. Here are some of the advantages.
Blackjack is the Only game in Vegas whereby the odds of you winning a hand can be altered or determined by observing and noting the cards that appear in the previous hand. No other game gives you this advantage.
There are 4 Aces and l6 ten point (picture) cards in a deck. If you and the dealer were both dealt hands with no pictures or aces, the odds of you receiving a picture or an ace in the next hand is greater than the initial odds. Of course, the odds of the dealer receiving a good hand also increases in identical fashion. But because you are paid 3 to 2 if you receive an Ace and a picture card (blackjack), and because the dealer wins only even money with the same hand, you have the advantage. The strategy used in determining whether or not a deck of cards at any given time gives you a greater or lesser winning advantage is called ‘card counting’; and there are books readily available with easy to learn techniques, making it possible for you to quickly acquire this winning advantage.
My system does not recommend card counting. I’ll tell you why. Card counting, of course, makes you aware of greater or lesser odds at winning in blackjack. But aside from being tedious and robbing you of the elements of ease and relaxation at the tables, elements necessary for you to survive the prolonged casino ordeal, almost always, to go through all the trouble of counting cards merely to detect the slight increase or decrease in your chances at winning a hand is not worth the effort. True odds is based on thousands of hands played. A few hands will not reflect true odds anyway. And remember, the dealer’s winning advantage increases the longer you play. I am not saying that you should not take advantage of a “rich” deck (a deck with a lot of picture cards). By all means, try to keep a “sense” of how many picture cards and aces are left in the deck, but don’t be obsessive about counting, and don’t base your major strategy on it. There are more important factors in winning. And even if you have a computer mind and can calculate your odds at every hand, adjusting your bet accordingly, it doesn’t matter. The end result of whether you win or lose is dictated by larger factors.
Rather than tedious card counting, you would have better and more consistent winning odds simply by going to a casino with more liberal rules. Just by playing at a casino that, for example, allows you to double down after the 3rd card, as compared with a casino that doesn’t allow it, gives you far greater increase in odds at winning, than the painstaking practice of “card counting”. Get my point? For me, I prefer playing with a 6 deck shoe rather than single deck, and frequent casinos and tables that have rules which increase my odds.
The thing is, luck rules, regardless of “card counting” or liberal rules. I don’t care what you do, there are going to be times when you just cannot win regardless of the attempts you make at trying to “increase” your odds (by “card counting” or otherwise); and, there will be times when you cannot lose even at casinos with the most stringent rules.
Another good thing about blackjack is that, unlike slot machines, in blackjack, you play against a dealer: a human being. If you were ever an employer (or employee), you’re probably aware that there are always imperfections regarding employee performance. There exists the human error. Some workers are just not ‘cut out’ to perform the task, others perform remarkably ‘perfect’. What makes one worker more skilled than another? The phenomenon is analogous to a skilled or unskilled driver. The oncoming traffic is the same for both drivers, but the driver with higher accident karma as compared to the totally efficient driver will always experience more accidents. One can even discover similarities in the profiles of all accident drivers.
Similarly, in blackjack, the oncoming traffic is the same for both dealers. Yet, there are hot dealers who take your money, and cold dealers who offer a better opportunity for winning. Dealers also have good and bad days. Cold dealers have losing karmas; they find themselves not so consistently effective. They usually have less concentration, less focus, loyalty, and dedication. In blackjack, you are able to study dealer ‘traits’ and select a dealer who unknowingly gives you a better chance of winning the game, simply because of his or her innate karmic make- up. I often try to get a feel for the dealer’s extent of dedication and focus by asking questions such as “Where are you from?” “How long have you been dealing?” “How long have you been working here at this casino?” “Do you like it?”
I often frequent smaller, local casinos for the sole purpose of finding cold dealers. I notice that the dealers employed at these smaller establishments are not as long term employed nor polished as their large casino counterparts. Often, there are dealers still in training, Here is an extreme example which happens maybe only once in a lifetime, but once, many years ago, at a downtown casino, a dealer for reasons unknown kept on showing me his hidden card when dealing with a handheld deck. I was already on a winning streak, sitting dead center at the table with 2 other players. He would bend the deck purposely exposing the card everytime just before dealing it to himself. I didn’t know what to do, and was actually a little scared. At first, I thought he wanted to trick me into betting big, at which time, he wouldn’t do it anymore. But this went on for maybe at least 20 hands. As timid as I was, I recall raising my bets only a little. Now, I think maybe he was desperate for tips, which I in fact, foolishly didn’t give him.
An advantage of Blackjack is that it is a SIMPLE game to understand the play thereof. It can also be a comfortable game to play, even for long periods. You sit down, choosing where you sit – and can quit and leave with ease at anytime. Oftentimes the atmosphere is friendly at tables whereby you could chat and be sociable if desired. Refreshments are free.
Still another advantage is that there are countless excellent books and instruction on How To Play Blackjack written already, most of these books are different from each other only on betting strategies; but the basic mechanics and strategies of playing are always the same. All the scientific research, studies, and calculations have already been extensively done for you on every combination of hands to guide your every move. This is similar to growing anthuriums in Hawaii, where the Dept of Agriculture has already done all the research, have encountered every combination of problems that will arise for you, and guides you every step of the way to insure your success.
There are simple charts which one can memorize or keep in his or her pocket to refer to which reveal exactly, through computer analysis, what one should do in every known situation. There are charts for Vegas Casinos and different charts for Atlantic City Casinos. And they are simple to learn.
This book by the way, is not to teach you the mechanics of playing basic blackjack. I assume you either already know how to play or will learn the basics through a recommended list of books and other available sources readily available. I do however give you a few guidelines. By simply reading a few books and practicing in mock play at home with one’s spouse or a partner, and by following some of my tips, there is no doubt that one can easily and quickly master the blackjack mechanics and basic strategy.
Basic blackjack is a game of Player Defense: You must study the blackjack mechanics and learn to use without fail every basic known strategy, because without taking every opportunity as it occurs, and without using every advantage known for players, such as ‘double-down’ or splitting pairs every time you’re supposed to, you really don’t stand a chance of winning against the Dealer.
In blackjack, you have to constantly defend yourself against the more powerful dealer who has a Winning advantage over you, the player. Yet, it is the game which offers excellent honest opportunities at winning.
My system is simply playing blackjack but with a new, unique playing routine and betting strategy. You can use it at any Casino you choose using house rules, following their rules and table bets, and still win consistently, simply because my system actually gives you an ADVANTAGE over the dealer. The key to winning any competition is to control the pace and intensity of the competition. This is exactly what my system teaches you to do. It is all perfectly legal, yet you’ll realize winnings like never before with no one even detecting what you are doing.
RULE #1: Always play as though your Life is being wagered.
