Las Vegas blackjack play: basic or advanced strategy?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 2,324
Las Vegas blackjack play: basic or advanced strategy?
When you "play" this particular "gaming entertainment", do you stick with just basic strategy, or are you more aggressive?
Do you sometimes NOT do what "the book" says? Example would be your NOT doubling down with the dealer showing anything but an ace.
Example on multi deck basic or aggressive play: Dealer shows 4,5,6. You have 8. Basic says to hit your 8. Aggressive would be to double down.
Your story, pls.
Kohoutek
Do you sometimes NOT do what "the book" says? Example would be your NOT doubling down with the dealer showing anything but an ace.
Example on multi deck basic or aggressive play: Dealer shows 4,5,6. You have 8. Basic says to hit your 8. Aggressive would be to double down.
Your story, pls.
Kohoutek
Last edited by Kohoutek; Mar 21, 2009 at 12:00 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Grazie Gold Lounge
Programs: UA-2MM; GalacticXpress-Irridium
Posts: 10,332
about 7 times out of ten I will play by the book. Will be more aggressive depending on how plays are going for me and whether dealer is busting a lot.
#3
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 121
I never fully follow the book and I don't play an aggressive style. I don't like to double down against face cards and aces. I usually only split when I'm against dealer's 5 or 6.
With that said, I don't change my play much whether I'm playing seriously or playing for fun. I might play a more aggressive style when it's just for fun and I'm betting much less than I usually do. But that's just me. A lot of people split 8s against 10. Double down on soft 18s. That's not me.
With that said, I don't change my play much whether I'm playing seriously or playing for fun. I might play a more aggressive style when it's just for fun and I'm betting much less than I usually do. But that's just me. A lot of people split 8s against 10. Double down on soft 18s. That's not me.
#5
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: LAS ORD
Programs: AA Pro (mostly B6) OZ♦ (flying BR/UA), BA Silver Hyatt LT, Wynn Black, Cosmo Plat, Mlife Noir
Posts: 5,992
I always follow the book with the exception of hitting 12 v. 2/3. In that case, I just see how I'm feeling and then I play that way for the rest of the session.
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2002
Programs: UA Gold MM; AA Gold MM; WN A-List; IHG Diamond Ambassador; Marriott Gold; Hyatt Explorist
Posts: 24,564
#8
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Chicago, IL, USA
Programs: AA EXP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 574
#10
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 121
For me there are some clearcut rules and then there are discretionary rules. You don't hit anything above 11 against a dealer's 6 is a clearcut rule to me. When people ask me for strategy, I always say "the books says to do this..." "some people do this..." and "I would do this..." Ultimately, this is still a game and there's really no "wrong" way to play some hands.
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist




Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Finally back in Boston after escaping from New York
Posts: 13,684
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 2,324
For multi-deck play:
"The Book" states you STAND if you hold a hard 16 with the dealer showing 2 through 6, and you HIT with the dealer showing 7 to A.
You don't always follow this "rule". Or maybe, at a single session, you flip-flop back and forth with your "system". Sometimes, you hit, other times, you stand. After all, you're "gaming", with no expection of winning.
I need your advice.
Kohoutek
Is the dealer a relative?
Kohoutek
Blackjack "play" is not "fun", it's "work".
Kohoutek
^^
Oh, I beg to differ! Haven't you seen, Goosey, players standing on hard 8-10?
Thanks for your post.
Kohoutek
"The Book" states you STAND if you hold a hard 16 with the dealer showing 2 through 6, and you HIT with the dealer showing 7 to A.
You don't always follow this "rule". Or maybe, at a single session, you flip-flop back and forth with your "system". Sometimes, you hit, other times, you stand. After all, you're "gaming", with no expection of winning.
I need your advice.
Kohoutek
Kohoutek
Kohoutek
For me there are some clearcut rules and then there are discretionary rules. You don't hit anything above 11 against a dealer's 6 is a clearcut rule to me. When people ask me for strategy, I always say "the books says to do this..." "some people do this..." and "I would do this..."
Thanks for your post.
Kohoutek
Last edited by cblaisd; Apr 6, 2009 at 12:31 am Reason: Consolidated poster's four consecutive posts
#13




Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: PBI | Formerly CLT, LHR & AMS (with just a bit of PSP)
Programs: Proud AA CK Spouse, AA Plat, HH Diamond, BonVoy Titanium, Caesars7* (comp), Wynn Black, HR Icon
Posts: 8,208
Well, if you don't want to work, then play baccarat.
Always the same house edge, never any issues with how you play it. And, drinking isn't as much of a concern. (Well, unless drinking causes you to push all your chips out on a single hand
)
Blackjack requires you avoid hunches and follow the rules for the particular game and number of decks. Which also requires that you avoid alcohol. The ability to count, and adjust for the true count and vary your game based on the count is also a plus. This especially requires that you are playing your "A" game. Unfortunately, playing any other way requires that you are OK with giving up EV.
Not really sure there's much additional advice anyone can give.......
Always the same house edge, never any issues with how you play it. And, drinking isn't as much of a concern. (Well, unless drinking causes you to push all your chips out on a single hand

)Blackjack requires you avoid hunches and follow the rules for the particular game and number of decks. Which also requires that you avoid alcohol. The ability to count, and adjust for the true count and vary your game based on the count is also a plus. This especially requires that you are playing your "A" game. Unfortunately, playing any other way requires that you are OK with giving up EV.
Not really sure there's much additional advice anyone can give.......
#14
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 121
[QUOTE=baccarat_king;11467779]Well, if you don't want to work, then play baccarat.
Always the same house edge, never any issues with how you play it. [QUOTE]
Don't you get nasty stares when you bet against everyone on the table with your minimum bet and win? I guess that's just me.
Always the same house edge, never any issues with how you play it. [QUOTE]
Don't you get nasty stares when you bet against everyone on the table with your minimum bet and win? I guess that's just me.
#15




Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: PBI | Formerly CLT, LHR & AMS (with just a bit of PSP)
Programs: Proud AA CK Spouse, AA Plat, HH Diamond, BonVoy Titanium, Caesars7* (comp), Wynn Black, HR Icon
Posts: 8,208

