GM,
Just wanted to let you know that I've surfed many a website and yours is one of the best organized and most comprehensive I have ever seen. Great job!

I never was a big fan of Vegas even though I live within a few hours. But last time there I got hooked on Black Jack. I knew some simple strategy but played plenty by my own made-up odds and gut feelings. I kept telling people, "Sure you gotta go with the odds, but when it comes down to it, go with your heart." You quickly proved that to be a bunch of malarkey. I found your site two days ago and have read every bit of it. I am just starting the lessons and lesson one is great. I can't wait to become a master. I'll keep you informed.

Again--Nice job!
A10

Hello.
Thanks for the kind words and welcome aboard!
As you go through what we have to offer, please let me know if I can help.

Yours for winning,
The GameMaster
2/22/03

My question is :
Is there significant difference between hi-opt 1 with a side count of aces and hi-opt 2 with a side count of aces when playing single deck Blackjack? I use hi-opt 1 with a spread of 1-4 my units are 5$. Is it worth the extra effort in dollars?
Michele

Hello, Michele.

Your timing couldn't have been better, because I'm running a bunch of simulations for an article I'm doing, so I did a couple to answer your question.

I assumed a single-deck game where the dealer hits soft 17, double on anyfirst two cards, but no double after splitting pairs and a 1-4 bet spread. The penetration is four rounds to two players ("rule of 6"), which is pretty good. I used the single-deck basic strategy variations that are from Lesson 19 of my revised Blackjack School. Only the counts used were different; the first was HiOpt 1 with a side count of aces for betting purposes and the second was Hi Opt 2 with a side count of aces for betting purposes. The Hi Opt 1 sim. showed an average bet size of $7.55 with an overall player's edge of 1.35% and the Hi Opt 2 sim. had an average bet size of $8.71 and an overall player's edge of 1.42%. If you play at a rate of 100 hands/hour, the Hi Opt 2 count will produce an income of $12.35 per hour, versus the Hi Opt 1's income of $9.96. That's a 24% increase.

Is it worth the extra effort? Only you can answer that question.

Yours for winning,
The GameMaster
2/20/03

Dear Gamemaster:
I enjoy your site very much. I visit Vegas about three times a year with a couple of buddys.We do very well at Double Deck Blackjack,but we are getting a little bit tired of flying from Phila. to Vegas to play. Can you give me a list of good Double Deck games in Miss., St Louis, Mid West etc. We would like to try the Indian Casinos also.
Thank you.

Hi!
Forget the Indian Casinos and the rest of the Midwest. Go to Tunica, Mississippi. Currently, there are good DD games at Fitzgerald's, the Grand, the Horshoe and the Sheraton, not to mention some decent single-deck games. All of this is subject to change, of course, but a little exploration will undoubtedly pay off.

Yours for winning,
The GameMaster
2/13/03

GM,
I have read your site and enjoyed it. I wanted to ask you about a small theory I was thinking about. If you sit 1st base, and watch all the hit cards, plus the dealers play, is there any advantage to betting large when and if the last 3-4 in a row hit cards were low cards? Is it proper theory or math to assume the first card dealt to would be a ten or high card?

Just wondering. Keep up the good work.
Chase

Hello, Chase.
No, there is not a valid reason for expecting a high card to follow a series of low cards in a randomly-shuffled deck of cards. Making a larger bet based upon that is a waste of $$$.

Yours for winning,
The GameMaster
2/13/03

Dear Gamemaster,
Last night while playing blackjack at casino, I wasnt sure if I was robbed or not. The scenario was that I split aces and received 10s (not face) for both of them. The dealer then made a hand of 21, yet i didnt get paid 3:2. ????? Didn't I receive two blackjacks?? The dealer made it seem like a push. I didn't bother asking, since I figure the dealer knew the rules in and out. But tell me, was I robbed??
-Thanks

Hello.
No, you were not robbed. In almost every casino I know, the hands you got are just "21s", not blackjacks.

Yours for winning,
The GameMaster
2/13/03

Hi GM,
I've been doing my research on counting cards, but haven't been able to figure out one thing. How can casinos tell when someone is counting cards? What is their proof?

Kind Regards,
Sue M.

Hello, Sue.

Good question. As you undoubtedly suspect, it's all but impossible for a casino to "prove" that a person is counting cards. But what you need to remember is that they don't need to prove anything in order to ask you to leave, at least in most jurisdictions of the U.S. It's a completely different matter when it comes to a casino "suspecting" a person is counting. That situation varies widely from casino to casino. In some "sweat shops" (places that are nervous about losing), just winning is enough to get you "backed off." In most other places, the big tip-off to a counter is a wide (minimum to maximum) bet spread. In casinos with savvy game supervisors (lovingly referred to as "pit critters" by us counters), there are several other indicators, such as a player insuring a hand of, say, 14 with a big bet placed, sometimes hitting on 16 vs. 10 and sometimes standing, etc.

Yet, none of those actions truly prove that a person is counting, because any player may make those moves from a whim or superstition and so forth. Part of the challenge of being a counter is this "cat and mouse" aspect and I must admit that over the years it has become a very appealing part of the game for me.

Yours for winning,
The GameMaster
2/6/03

GM,
I have read your website and plan to use some of the wealth of information...however I have one question...after using the skills...how would the average casino react to a player who doubles previous bets on losses and returns to original bet on wins...hence covering your losses on the average. I understand most players would drop out after a run of losses...but how would they react noticing you playing this system?

Thanks
Alan


Hello, Alan.

Most casinos will not have a problem with you betting that way. In fact, the smart ones will welcome you with open arms because such a system will gain you no advantage whatsoever.

Yours for winning,
The GameMaster
2/1/03

Hi GM!
I have some questions I've been pondering: 1) Would you personally say that the hi/lo system is generally accurate?

It has a 51% playing efficiency and a 97% betting correlation, so it's good for sizing your bet, but it's not very accurate in telling you how to play your hand.

2) When the count is high, doesn't it also benefit the dealer since there's a good as a chance the dealer will get 20 as well as the players?

Yes, but remember that the player gets paid 3 to 2 for a 'blackjack' but the dealer wins only your original bet when s/he gets one. Also, the dealer may not double nor split pairs. The dealer must hit a hand of 12-16, but the player may choose to stand, especially when the count is high.

3) When the true count is high, would it be a good idea to split tens over dealer's up card of 4,5, or 6?

Yes, it's a good play, from a strictly mathematical point of view, but as I say in my lessons:

"One play which is justified by a high count is the splitting of 10s. For example, there may come a time when it's worthwhile to split a pair of face cards against a 6. I counsel my students to avoid that play since it draws such a negative reaction from other players at the table. I don't really care what the others at a table think of my play, but if the floor personnel are alerted to what I've done, their initial suspicion may be that I'm a counter. If they've seen me playing good basic strategy and suddenly I have a big bet out and I do something like splitting 10s against a 6, they're going to think I'm either very stupid or very smart. I guess it all relates to the image your projecting in the casino; if it's one of a 'wild man', then go for it. But if you're quiet, polite and a non-drinker, I'd advise against making the play."

4) When the count is fairly negative, would it be good judgement to defy general strategy by hitting a hard 12 over dealer's up 4,5, or 6?

These plays are basic strategy variations that are covered in my lessons. However, I strongly urge players to leave the table when the count goes negative, rather than worry about plays like this where you'll likely have a minimum bet placed, anyway.

5) Would it be wise to double on a hard 15 versus dealer's up card 2-6 IF the count is really negative, meaning i'd probably hit between a 2-6 and receive 17-21?

Absolutely not!

6) It is said that a high count benefits the players, but what about the times i've gotten a hard 12 over dealer's up ten, and feeling that it is a no win situation since if I hit, i'd bust (b/c the count is high) but knowing the dealer probably has 20?

All you can do is hit. Don't forget that the 7s, 8s and 9s in the deck are not counted and you might get one of them. But, no counting system is going to help you to win with a hand of 12 against a dealer's 10.

7) Lastly, i'm not familiar with scenarios involving - or + counts and the proper strategy based on those counts. Can you provide me with some scenarios? (e.g. like the splitting tens on a high count)

Those are covered in lessons 13-17 of my GameMaster's Blackjack School.

Sorry if I've asked so many questions, I would be grateful if you can answer them. --A tenacious and serious BJ player.

Happy to help.

Yours for winning,
The GameMaster
1/20/03

Hi GM,
In Mesquite Nevada i came across this game. It looked awesome. Basically the Fullhouse was 12 flush 8 and straight 6 and the two pair was 1. here is the biggest thing though if you hit a four of a kind it turns a light on and if you hit another one within 10 pulls you win 4000, same as royal. I am sure the odds of doing this are horrible but just the full house and those payouts alone made me take notice. What is your thought?

Hello, Kee.
I think Shockwave is a great game! I actually hit a second 4K for the 4000-coin jackpot, down in Tunica on a quarter machine and I have to tell you, it's a lot of fun.

Are you sure the game was 12/8/6? The full-pay version is, to the best of my knowledge, 12/8/5 and that returns about 99.5% as I recall. The variance is pretty big, but it plays a lot like a Double Bonus/All American game, although I'd be lying if I told you I knew the proper play for every hand. But, I was at Bally's in Tunica for a Blackjack Tournament when I thought I'd give it a go and on one hand, the machine dealt me four Jacks and about four hands later, I hit four Aces. Bada boom! $1000. The game also pays 500 for 5 on a Straight Flush, so you can make some $$$ in a relatively short playing session.

The local Harrah's here in St. Louis has $1 versions on some of their multi-game machines at the bar on the Mardi Gras side, but they are short-pay. (What else at a Harrah's?) 10/8/5 as I recall, which is about 97.3%.

So,it's a game worth exploring if you can get decent cash back, but it's also a lot of fun, too.

I'd double-check the pay schedule, though and if it does pay 6 for a Straight, something must be wrong or it's not going to be there long.

Maybe some other reader has an insight to this.-GM

I thought I got the payout right, I mean i was coming back from 4 days in Vegas and might have been extremely tired but I am pretty sure that is what I saw.

If that's the case, then this is a great game that will likely disappear soon.

Yours for winning,
The GameMaster
1/4/03

Dear Sir,

Hi how are you doing? Thank you for your time in answering my questions. Could you please let me know if you are aware of any free online tutorial for WINNING ROULETTE SYSTEM?

Thank you
Sincerly
DAVE

P.S Keep up the good work

Hello, Dave.

There are no winning roulette systems, free or otherwise.

Yours for winning,
The GameMaster
1/3/03

Hi GM,
You say that no roulette systems work ,however this guy has been emailing me for about 6 months trying to convince me that his system (casino buster by dr neubauer) is the goods. i just wondered if you had any experience with this system at all. any advice would be greatly appreciated as im considering purchasing it. he just seems so damn sure that this thing works.

thanks
paul

Hello, Paul.

If it works, why isn't he at the casino using it? Trust me, it's a fraud.

Yours for winning,
The GameMaster
1/3/03