Everyone has played blackjack.
So there will be only a short explaination of the game.
Everyone has his or her own strayegy on how to play the game.
In the final analysis, about 95% of you have no idea how to play the game.
This page will deal with basic strategy, money management, and card counting.

BLACKJACK BASICS


The game is played with a 52 card deck.
The 2 through 10 have the same numerical value as their numbers.
The J O K have a value of 10.
The ace can either be used as a 1 or an 11.
The player and deealer are dealt a 2 card hand.
The player may "stay" keep his 2 card hand or draw morecards to try to get to 21 or as close as possible.
If you go over 21 you lose.
The dealer must stand on 17 (if the dealer has an ace and a 6 that is called a "soft" 17 and some casinos require the dealer to "hit" take more cards) and above.
This practice is a definate disadvantage to the player and increases the casino's advantage.
The dealer must hit all hands of 16 and under.
The object of the game is to beat the dealer.
This is accomplished by either getting a higher point total than the dealer, or having the dealer "bust" go over 21.
You will see a place on the blackjack layout titled "insurance"
This is a sucker bet not to be played at any time.





STRATEGIES


I have heard players in every casino say "always assume the dealer has a 10 as his/her hole card"
You NEVER assume anything when gambling.
The odds are AGAINST the dealer having a 10 as the hole card.
There are 52 cards in a deck of which 16 are of the value 10, and 36 others not of the value 10.
Therefore 30.8% of a deck are of the value 10, and 69.2% of the deck are not of the value 10. This vatio is the same for double deck, 4 deck, 6 deck, whatever is used.

The following basic strategy chart will tell you to hit a 15 or 16 against the dealers 7 8 9 10.
You have a 30% chance of making a hand of 18 19 20 21.
Hitting against a 70% chance that you will bust, it may be advisable to seriously consider staying on 15 or 16 in the hopes the dealer has a hand that he/she must hit and may bust.
You must consider 15 or 16 is the worst hand anyway with a high chance of losing, so why make it worse by hitting against such grea odds against you?
Always hit 15 or 16 against a dealer's ace.
Believe it or not!
You have a better chance of winning playng alone against the dealer's cards if you play a solid basic strategy or card count.
The last thing you need is a tourist splitting 10's or making mistakes that could cost you money.
The dealer is not a monster to be afraid of.
Would you feel better if a chimpanzee were dealing the cards?
You'd get the same cards.
Approach the game with confidence in you knowledge.
Good vibes are a help in winning.
"Scared money" seldom wins.

The worst play I've ever seen is when a player doubles down on a pair of 4's.
The highest hand you can get is a 19.
There is no way to get a 20 or 21.
Enough said.
Won't waste time explaining further why this has to be the worst thing you can do.
SPLIT THE 4's!!!!!