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The GameMaster Advisor
December, 2002

Hello GM,
I am just wondering if blackjack has the best odds of winning compared to all the other casino games. I heard baccarat has just as good or better odds. I have also heard that there is place you can sit on the table which enables you to see the dealers hole card, is this true? or does it just depend on how the dealer deals the cards? If there is a way of figuring that out...I think Icould make a living off of it

Thanks

p.s. thank you for all the help on the blackjack school

The average Blackjack game has a casino edge of 0.50%, whereas the average edge in Baccarat is over 1%. Plus, BJ can be beaten with card counting and that's not the case with Baccarat. Sometimes certain dealers - especially rookies - will "flash" their hole card and that's usually visible to the observant player sitting at "first" base, but it's rare to find. The information may be legally used by the player, even though the casino might consider it cheating. For a lot more information on "hole card play", get the book, "Beyond Counting" by James Grosjean.

Yours for winning,
The GameMaster
12/30/02
Hi GM!
I read all of your lessons about blackjack at gamemasteronline school, and I can say you are extremlly good teacher. I really think so!

But, when I tried to play at some casinos on the net, I saw they play with diferent number of decks (no that number they claimed!!!). I played for example at recomended Global Player Casino at Reno (1 deck) but during game play there was more cards then 1 deck contains (without shufling!). That means I can not use counting system for playing. But that also mean they are not honest!!!!!In fact they are cheating!!!!!!

Actually, the casino is shuffling the deck after every round of play and that is not cheating.

If you know, please, send me a list (you probably know that) of casinos you recomend for playing Blackjack. I mean a list of honest Casinos, without cheating!!!!

Very few casinos cheat. I am not aware of any casino that advertises with us that has ever been proven to cheat.

I know I have to play a lot to earn a litlle but if you have no chance at all then.....!!!!!!

You seem to think that all on-line casinos cheat. My only recommendation is that you consider stopping your play at all on-line casinos.

Yours for winning,
The GameMaster
12/30/02
GameMaster,
I've been counting cards and playing in indian casinos in Oklahoma,but I've been losing more than I win.They charge a 25 cent commission per hand.Can I beat the game paying the comission?

Hello.

Unfortunately, that quarter per hand gives the casino an additional 1% edge over you if you are betting $25 per hand. If your average bet is $10, the casino has nearly a 3 percent edge depending upon their rules.

Yours for winning,
The GameMaster
12/28/02
GM,
I would like a little clarification on one of your tables. I have the 6 Decks, H17, DA2, DAS, No surrender tables and I was just wondering what the reasoning for not splitting 9's with a dealer 7 showing but splitting in those other situations and why you split 4's at all. I am just getting started playing black jack and I found you site to be very helpful.

Thank you for your time.
-Matt

Hello, Matt.

Not splitting 9s versus a dealer's 7 is based upon the fact that the dealer may have a 10 or Ace "in the hole", giving him a 17 or 18 that your 18 can tie or beat. But you split against a 9, for example, due to the ability to double after splitting pairs. That double after split option is also why you split 4s vs. 5s and 6s. Please trust me when I tell you that all these plays are based upon sound mathematics and they are correct.

Yours for winning,
The GameMaster
12/25/02
Hello GM,

Need advice on how to conduct playing strategy for hi-lo.

When it comes to making a bs deviation, is it good enough to use the running count (including all the cards showing on the table) divided by the # decks remaining at last end of last round?

Or is it necessary to re-examine the discards to re-evaluate the true count denominator? Will it make much difference if you simply use the same denominator (ie, 6 minus #decks on discard) as you did when figuring out the bet at the end of the last round. I use 1/2 deck accuracy in deck estimation.

I hope my question is clear?
Cheers,
Richard.

Hello, Richard.

I understand what you're saying. Just remember that the more accurate you are in calculating the True Count, the more $$$ you'll ultimately win. In reality, you'll learn how to figure the TC almost instantly as you gain more experience. Doing it the way you described isn't severely wrong, but it's not ideal, either.

Yours for winning,
The GameMaster
12/14/02
GameMaster,

I have some issues with basic strategy I don't understand. If I have an A, 2, 4 vs dealers 8 do I say my point total is 17 and since you stand on 17 and above I stop. Or do I say I have 7 and keep hitting? I don't understand how you should play these aces once you get past the first 2 cards. Any help would be appreciated.

Hello, You have the right idea. For a complete explanation, see the article, "Multiple Card Soft Hands", which is in the archives on the blackjack page of my site.

Yours for winning,
The GameMaster
12/11/02

Hi GM,
I am having some difficulty working out the proper strategy for Soft totals when three cards have been dealt to the player. Can you please give me the correct decision for the following hands and also what rule applies to them,

A,4,2 vs 3 HIT
A,2,2 vs 6 HIT
A,3,4 vs 6 STAND
2,3,4,A vs 6 STAND
A,2,5 vs 6 STAND
A,5,A vs 3 HIT
A,2,4 vs 6 STAND
A,4,A vs 2, HIT


Hi Brad,
For the rule that applies, see the article "Multiple Card Soft Hands", which is in the archives of the Blackjack page of my site.

Yours for winning,
The GameMaster
12/11/02

GameMaster,
Just finished lesson one...WOW! Thanks for making it so easy to learn.

  I was referred to your site by a friend, who said this was the best place to start...he was ABSOLUTELY right.

  Can't wait to get my homework done and go on with the rest of the series. Once again, thanks.
Kevin

Hello, Kevin. Glad you found us. As you go through the lessons, let me know if I can help.

Yours for winning,
The GameMaster
12/11/02

GM,
The basic strategy shows that one never doubles to the dealers ace.However,where the dealer checks for his blackjack and doesn't have it,I feel that doubling is the correct strategy on a players 10 or 11.Any calculations on this?

Hello, Morris.

The Basic Strategy that I use in my lessons already assumes the dealer has checked for a 'blackjack' and doesn't have one, so not doubling is the correct play. That said, the lessons also assume that the dealer stands on A-6. However, if the dealer hits A-6 (H17), doubling 11 vs. an Ace is the correct play. Doubling a 10 vs. Ace in a H17 game has an expected value of -0.30%, whereas just hitting has an EV of +0.35%. Clearly, hitting 10 vs. Ace is the only way to go.

Yours for winning,
The GameMaster
12/10/02

GM,
Is there a source on the internet that I may access to determine house rules at various casinos that I will be visiting?
thanks!
-josh

Hello, Josh.
I don't know of any one place on the 'Net that offers that, but you can get a free, trial issue of Current Blackjack News at www.BJ21.com/ It's available for purchase by the single copy, too. The trial issue is a back issue, so plan on getting the latest before your trip. It comes out on the 3rd of each month.

Yours for winning,
The GameMaster
12/9/02