Got a question for the GameMaster? E-mail him here and he'll answer you personally, as soon as possible. Questions of general interest will be posted here, but we won't use your name or e-mail address unless you want us to.

For single deck BJ tournament play, which is the best method to use Hi-Lo or Red7 and why? They can both be used with running count but two hands are all that are delt anyway. The "Running divided by 2" for both would be the "True Count" wouldn't it? So "Balanced" or "Unbalanced"? My kingdom for your answer ....
Thanx for a great web site,
Chico

Dear Chico,

Either count will work well for a tournament, since the most important thing under those conditions is betting properly against your opponents. If one is easier for you to use than the other, that's the way to go because you don't want to clutter your mind with a lot of calculations; you'll be busy enough figuring the proper amount to bet.

So, no kingdom won or lost. Thanks for the kind words on the site.

The GameMaster
November 18th, 1997

I am new to casino bj gambling - in fact have not been to a casino yet. Have practiced about 8 hrs so on internet software...have learned about 95% of the basic strategy I am using(was able to answer your 2 questions in your article 'Smart BJ for the casual Player)...so I still have more to do!!!

I will start practicing card counting seriously...right now i am using a flash card system i found on the net...using a hi-lo balanced count flipping 1 card at a time...am hitting 100% but that's at 3 secs per card...dont plan on going to a casino until i can do a deck 2 at a time under 30 secs...even then I won't call myself a counter until i test my self at a casino.

Plan to go to an Indian casino within an hour drive called Turning Stone in Oneida,NY. ...do you know what the rules are at this casino? If so, I would appreciate it... will down load at "Incredible Links" as you suggest.

Lastly, my library consists of Griffin's - The Theory of Blackjack...too deep for me!!!!... BJ Attack by Schlesinger...not much help to me now but believe in time it will. QUESTION: Thinking about buying KO Blackjack...any opinions on this book or any other suggestions? Know that a person can go bust buying books before ever playing bj.

Sorry for the length...thanking you in advance.

Good instincts,
Murphy

Dear Murph,

You seem to have a good handle on what it takes to succeed at Blackjack, so keep on practicing. Even when you go, stand behind a table for at least a shoe and see how well you can keep the count.

Turning Stone's rules are dealer stands on A-6, you may double after splitting pairs and double on any first two cards. Most are 6-deck games.

As for the best book, there is only one: Stanford Wong's Professional Blackjack. The KO system is a good one, but you're better off, I feel, in learning Hi/Lo. Good luck and let us know how you make out.

Yours for winning,
The GameMaster
November 6th, 1997

I want to relay a tip I use when playing Let it Ride.

Let the second bet ride when:

1. You already have a pair of tens or better. (of course)
2. Your four card hand passes the "rule of 48".

Let me explain. The rule of 48 is based on the assumption that you should only let a bet ride when your expected payout is better than 1 dollar for each one bet. With your four card hand showing, you know that there are 48 cards in the deck you haven't seen. Determine the cards that would turn your 4 card hand into a winning hand, and the payouts for each possible winning hand. Then multiply each winning card by its payout and add the results. If the number is greater than 48, let the second bet ride.

Here are a few examples:

Low inside straight. With a 4,5,7,8, unsuited there are four cards that will turn that hand into a winner (the four sixes). Since the payout for a straight is 5:1, multiplying the number of cards (4) times the payout (5) gives us the result of 20. Since this is not greater than 48, pull back the second bet.

Outside straight with several high cards: With a 9, 10, J, Q, unsuited, we know there are 8 cards that will create a straight (the four 8's and the 4 K's), plus nine cards (the remaining 10's, J's, and Q's) that will produce a winning hand. Multiplying 8 times 5 (for the straight) and 9 times 1(10's or better) and adding the results gives us 49. Since this is better than 48, let the second bet ride. (Note here that the outside straight with no high cards gives us a result of 40, 1 high gives us 43, 2 high gives us 46, etc.)

4 card flush: With any 4 card flush, there are 9 other cards in the deck that will give us a flush and a payout of 8:1. Since 9 times 8 is 72, this is always a good bet to let ride.

While it may seem difficult at first to multiply numbers in your head in a game situation, it's really not that hard. I find it easier though to work out different scenarios before playing and turning the results into rules that can be recalled during play.

Dear Robert,

Thanks for the tip. We'll pass it along to our readers.

Yours for winning,
The GameMaster
October 10, 1997

I recently came across one of the internet casinos that pays 5-1 on "any 7" in craps. The norm I beleive for this wager is 4-1. Do you know of any strategy that will take advantage of this situation?

Steve K.

Dear Steve,

Does it pay 5 TO 1 or 5 FOR 1? The latter is just a 4-1 in disguise. If it really is 5 TO 1, just bet it as you would a free odds bet, because while you don't have an edge there, it is an even money proposition.

The GameMaster
October 15th, 97

Congrats on your website being rated #4 in the nation by gambling.com. Hopefully you'll get advertisers ASAP, and with the $$, update your 'zine more often. I love it.

Now to my question on blackjack. Certain experts disagree on basic strategy. For instance in his book on advanced blackjack, John Patrick says not to split 8's versus a dealer's 10, and in most instances just hit the 16. That way when you lose, you've only lost one bet, NOT TWO. When you hit on 16, your expectation is to lose 53.5% of all the money you bet in that situation. When yous split 8's with DAS, your expectation is to lose 48.3% of all the money you bet including your second bet. SO according to John Patrick, even though you've slightly increased your chances of winning by splitting, you will still lose more money in the long run since you have 2 bets. Let me give you an example. Over the long run, for every $100 bet on 16, you'll lose $53.50. However, if you split the 8's your bet is now $200(or possibly more in a double down situation), so in the long run, you'll lose $96.60 (200*48.3%). What's the flaw to his logic???? Perhaps, in my example, I am misinterpreting his reasoning. I thought when the basic strategy charts were created, it was based upon the results of millions of hands runs on computer simulations. Most books I've read do recommend splitting 8's.

I appreciate your help. Thank you.
Stingray

Dear Stingray,

Like most of John Patrick's logic, this is indeed flawed. The expectation on a pair of 8s against a dealer's 10 is to lose 53.7% by standing, 53.5% by hitting and 29.9% by splitting with no double after split and 29.0% if double after splitting is allowed. My figures are from Stanford Wong's book "Professional Blackjack" where he clearly states that for pairs, the expectation is for the total (doubled) bet. That's on page 299 of the 1994 softback edition. Therefore, splitting 8s against a dealer's 10 is the correct play.

The GameMaster
October 10th, 97

Using Wong's own figures this still doesn't make sense. Over the long run for every $100 bet, if you hit on a 16, you'll lose $53.50. However, if you split(DAS allowed), you'll lose 29.0% of every $200 bet, which is $58.00

No. Wong is saying that for every $100 TOTAL bet on 8-8, you lose 29%. Look at it another way -- by splitting, you lose 14.5% on each hand, therefore, for a total bet of $200, the loss is $29.00, a vast improvement over $53.50. Even without the math, which makes more sense, hitting a 16 or an 8?

The GameMaster
October 10th, 97

GameMaster

My wife and I are casual visitors to Atlantic City and were querious about the best slots to play in AC especially in Trumps where my wife has a comp card. By the way thoroughly enjoy your web site. Thanks

Thanks for the kind words; we're all glad that you enjoy our site.

Video poker is another story entirely, since you can tell by the pay schedule what the payback is before you sit down to play. You really should learn how to play video poker. See the 'Video Poker' section of The Strategy Page for some ideas on how to begin. Good luck.

The GameMaster
October 7th, '97

Dear GameMaster,

Congratulations for your new site. I have bothered you before with some questions from Greece and I would like to hit you with a new lot if I may.

The rules are: : 6 decks,S17,DA2,DAS, No surrender. The European No-Hole-Card rule applies. Penetration is average. 4 decks max and 3 min are dealt (depending on table limits.)

1. All well-known books and your Internet lessons indicate that third base is best for a counter (if he alters play according to count). Though I understand the argument I prefer first base. My argument is the following. For sure third base is best for playing purposes but for my game (6 decks average penetration) is just marginally better (considering also that alterations to play according to count occur about 10% of the time). On the other hand first base is best for betting purposes according to count. So I prefer trading playing efficiency for betting efficiency. Where have I got it wrong?

2. If I decide to split a pair of tens according to count should I follow your lesson suggestions for doubling A,9 against 5 at a count of 6 and A,9 against 6 at a count of 5 or different numbers apply?

3. Is there a best place to sit for playing the over-under bets using the crash-count?

Yours Sincerely
Emmanouel

Dear Emmaouel,