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The GameMaster Advisor
GameMaster, Dear Brian,
Yours for winning, Hey GameMaster, I had a question regarding basic strategy (or the ignoring of it) when the
count is in the player's favor, i.e. the true count is 3, 4 or greater and I
have12- 16 against dealers 7 or greater. If I good chance that a face card
will show up to bust me should I stay in these situations? I've heard that
when the count is high in the player's favor to do this, but I wanted to hear
what you had to say about this. Dear John,
Yours for winning, GameMaster,
I'll be heading to Vegas in a few weeks, any recommendations for what
casino to play for Blackjack or craps?
Anyhow, thank you for the great materials! Dear James,
Thanks for the compliments. Be sure to check out my other lessons which
are on my web site at www.gamemasteronline.com/ As for the best place in Vegas for Blackjack, I think it's at Sam's Town,
which is where a lot of 'locals' play.
Yours for winning, Hey Got a question, Dear Dave,
5 of a kind: 1295 to 1 If you hold a 6, the odds of getting 4 sixes on the second toss ( with 4
dice) are 1295 to 1, which is the same as getting any 5K on the first toss.
Thus, we can conclude that unless you need 5 sixes to win, you're just as
well off tossing all 5 again, but only if ANY 5 K will win the hand.
Beyond that, hold any pair or higher which you get on the first toss.
Yours for winning, Hi aceten, Either can work against DD, but I have a small preference for Hi/Lo. If I'm playing single or double deck, isn't it more to my
advantage to play only one on one with the dealer or maybe one other player
because, knowing the count determines what amount I bet, with many players at
the table, the count can change drastically before I get my second and
subsequent cards? Yes, the fewer players, the better, if you can keep the count accurately.
It goes fast when playing head-to-head.
I'm concerned about being able to count the cards dealt face down in a single
deck game, it sounds like it would be easier in a face-up double deck game.
What do you think an easier game to count for a novice counter like me would
be?
Face up will be much, much easier. What basic strategy is used for double deck, basic multiple deck
strategy?
Yes.
Finally, where do you recommend playing both single and double deck
games in Vegas?
Practice your DD, because there are damn few good single-deck games on the
Strip in Vegas. Try the Maxim and Excaliber to at least get a feel for
single-deck play The best SD games are in Laughlin, IMHO, but Sam's Town
in East L.V. is worth the trip. I know I've asked alot of questions, I appreciate your
response when you can, so I can practice for my trip! Good luck and let me know how it goes.
Yours for winning, GameMaster,
That's virtually impossible in a single-deck game and absolutely impossible
in a six-deck game.
How does adding up point values help you? 2 5 K A 3 ok so that's 1 2 1 0 1
SO WHAT! I just dont GET how that helps you. It identifies when there are a higher proportion of 10s and Aces (which is
beneficial to the player) left in the deck. And if someone is really good at this and wins lots of money? Why would
the casinos permit this?
I think they are screwing with us
in a way because the wouldn't let people win that easily! They don't have to screw with us, because it isn't easy. And if card counting is so SIMPLE why doesnt EVERYONE learn it and win
money? Because gamblers, by definition, what something for nothing. Secondly, it
isn't that easy.
And after one game does the dealer HAVE to discard those cards or does
he just put him back in the deck? In a 'real' casino, they have to put the cards in a discard tray or shuffle
the deck(s) after each hand. Casinos don't make any $$$ while the dealer's
shuffling. That would be a very easy solution for the casinos woulndt it? Just to
keep putting the cards back? They do that at on-line casinos and some R/T casinos use
'continuous-shuffle' machines. Thanks You're welcome.
Yours for winning, GameMaster, This might sound weird but I actually want to STUDY gambling especially
blackjack and become a great player! I know there are alot of people who
just play to get rich and rely on luck rather than wisdom! Not me; I
think gambling is based on way more wisdom than luck! What do you think? Luck has no part in serious Blackjack. Also is card counting really that helpful HONESTLY? Like if I studied
card counting like crazy how much on a scale of 1-10 would this help? It would have to be a 10, because it's the only way to win at Blackjack, in
my opinion.
Do most of all the players use card counting? Probably 1 player in 50 uses card counting. And what is progressions; does this mean you play by expectations? No, it's using a method of betting to TRY to win; it won't overcome the
house's edge for very long. Like all these PROFESSIONAL balckjack players who ALWAYS win, how the
heck do they do it? They don't and those who say they do are lying. But there are
professionals who take a lot of $$$ out of the casinos on a somewhat
consistent basis. Most are counters, but some are shuffle trackers and
some are 'key card' players.
Can you refer GREAT books programs or videos that would help me? You should first get Stanford Wong's book, "Professional Blackjack." Then
check out his web site at www.bj21.com and look through the links which are
there. They will point you to a lot more info.
And in one of your articles I read that someone used their feet for
counting aces; that's great but what are you suppose to use for all the
other cards? You obviously haven't read my lessons; all other cards are tracked mentally.
Remember that it takes time, patience and discipline to become a player
that can beat the casinos. You can't just wish for it -- you have to work
for it. There are no 'tricks' in this business.
Do you any people who literally became RICH from blackjack? It depends upon your definition of "rich". As for me, I love the fact that
I walk into a casino, play with their cards, their dealer and by their
rules and I often walk out with their $$$. Most 'rich' people can't do that.
How long does it normally take to learn card counting before you're ready
to hit a casino?
Probably 4-6 weeks of study at the rate of 2-3 hours per day.
Well I just wanted to thank you for answering my questions even though
you are probably busy like hell!!
I always have time for a reader.
Yours for winning, Dear Gamemaster, I'm also looking for a good computer based blackjack tutorial. Do you have
any recommendations? Ideally, I'd like to be able to modify the rules to
simulate the casino in my area (Foxwoods in Connecticut.) Dear John,
Yours for winning, GameMaster,
Don't get me wrong. I abide by basic strategy but just don't fully
understand why. Dear Paul,
Yours for winning, GameMaster, Dear John, Hi! People who have a system for sale can be counted on to explain why theirs is better than others. Clumping may exist and, in rare instances, it can be exploited through a technique called 'shuffle tracking'. But, to say that clumping negates traditional card-counting is incorrect; it still works so well that suspected counters are asked to leave casinos. If it didn't work, why are the casinos putting in so much effort to identify counters? And I would point out that I have nothing to sell, other than advertising spots on my site. Those 'systems' cost $$$; my lessons are free. Why not try it my way first? Yours for winning,The GameMaster 4/11/99 GameMaster, Dear Henry, Appreciate your comments on the tournament. After all these years
(beginning with Jerry Patterson back in '78 - during his 'straight' days),
that was the first one for me. With the way Blackjack has been
deteriorating around here, tournaments offer better opportunities than
'regular' play. I'm just sorry it took me so long to learn that. The GameMaster 4/11/99 GameMaster, There are no tables specific to double-deck games; just single-deck and multideck. The tables for multi-deck apply. Yours for winning,The GameMaster 4/8/99 GameMaster,
Your web-site is spectacular. I have just started to look into Blackjack and
have read through your 12 lessons for an overview of the games complexity.
I've
only played 6-deck. Here's my question: If a player uses the same
strategy as
the dealer (hit up to 16, hold 17 or higher including A-7...etc.), how
does the
casino have a mathematical edge? I'd really appreciate it if you would write
back.
Dear Mark, The GameMaster 4/7/99 Hello GameMaster, Dear Matt,
Yours for winning, Hello, Dear Paul, Sorry, but Dad is wrong on this one. While autoshufflers are found in some casinos, at this point they're fairly rare, though he is right about card counting being ineffective against them. However, opportunities abound for skilled players; learn to count.
Yours for winning, |