Winning Blackjack for the Serious Player

by Edwin Silberstang

• ISBN13: 9781580420648
• ISBN10: 1580420648
• Edition: 3rd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2002-10-01
• Publisher: Cardoza

Summary

Newly revised for the millions of players looking to beat the casino and make money, Winning Blackjack for the Serious Player teaches the rules, variations, options, and strategies for beating every single- or multiple-deck blackjack game in every situation. It also includes valuable advice on money management, self-discipline, tipping, and etiquette.

Table of Contents

Introduction	11	(2)
The Basics of Blackjack	13	(7)
The Deck or Decks of Cards	13	(1)
The Value of the Cards	13	(1)
The Original Hand	14	(1)
Hard Totals and Hands	15	(1)
Soft Totals and Hands	16	(1)
Busting	17	(1)
The Blackjack	18	(1)
The Object of the Game	19	(1)
The Casino Game	20	(4)
Introduction	20	(1)
The Blackjack Table	20	(4)
The Dealer's Duties	24	(12)
Introduction	24	(1)
Changing Cash for Chips	24	(2)
Running The Game	26	(1)
Single Deck Play	26	(2)
Multiple Deck Play	28	(1)
The Dealer's Actions	28	(3)
Other Casino Personnel	31	(1)
Bets, Betting Limits and Payoffs	32	(4)
Player's Options	36	(20)
Introduction	36	(1)
Hitting or Standing	37	(2)
Hitting or Standing When Cards are Face Down	39	(1)
Hitting or Standing When Cards are Face Up	40	(1)
Doubling Down	41	(1)
Doubling Down When Cards are Dealt Face Down	42	(1)
Doubling Down When Cards are Dealt Face Up	43	(1)
More about Doubling Down	43	(1)
Splitting Pairs	44	(2)
Splitting Aces	46	(1)
Doubling Down after Splitting	46	(2)
Insurance	48	(1)
Insuring Your Own Blackjack	49	(2)
Insurance Bet Summarized	51	(1)
Early Surrender	52	(1)
Surrender	52	(1)
Raising or Lowering Bets	53	(1)
Player's Options - Advantages	54	(2)
Casino Rules	56	(13)
Introduction	56	(1)
Standard Rules	56	(1)
Optional Rules - Advantages/Disadvantages	57	(1)
Rules by Jurisdiction	58	(1)
Las Vegas Strip	58	(2)
Las Vegas Downtown	60	(2)
Northern Nevada	62	(1)
Atlantic City	62	(1)
The Riverboats	63	(1)
Indian Reservations	64	(1)
European Rules	64	(1)
Asia-Caribbean - Other Locations	65	(1)
Unusual Rules	65	(1)
The 495 Pound Ace!	66	(3)
Single Deck Basic Strategy	69	(18)
Introduction	69	(3)
Single Deck Hitting vs. Standing	72	(1)
Hard 12 vs. Dealer 2-3	72	(1)
Hard 12 vs. Dealer 4-6, 7-A	73	(1)
Hard 13-16	73	(1)
Hard 17 or Higher	73	(1)
Single Deck Splitting Pairs	73	(1)
Splitting 2-2	74	(1)
Splitting 3-3	75	(1)
Splitting 4-4	76	(1)
Splitting 5-5	76	(1)
Splitting 6-6	76	(1)
Splitting 7-7	76	(1)
7-7 vs. Dealer 10	77	(1)
Splitting 8-8	77	(1)
Splitting 9-9	77	(1)
Splitting 10-10	78	(1)
Splitting Ace-Ace	78	(1)
Single Deck Doubling Down	79	(1)
Doubling 11	79	(1)
Doubling 10	80	(1)
Doubling 9	80	(1)
Doubling 8	80	(1)
Doubling 7 or Less	81	(1)
More on Doubling	81	(1)
Lucky Eddie Boy	81	(1)
Single Deck Soft Total Strategy	82	(1)
Soft 12: Ace-Ace	83	(1)
Soft 13-16: A2-A5	83	(1)
Soft 17: A6	84	(1)
Soft 18: A7	84	(1)
Soft 19: A8	85	(1)
Soft 20: A9	86	(1)
The Snapper: A10	86	(1)
Multiple Deck Basic Strategy	87	(10)
Multiple Deck Hitting vs. Standing	87	(1)
Multiple Deck Splitting Pairs	88	(1)
Doubling after Splitting Differences	88	(2)
Multiple Deck Doubling Down - Hard Totals	90	(1)
Doubling Hard 11 - Multiple Deck	91	(1)
Doubling Hard 10 - Multiple Deck	91	(1)
Doubling Hard 9 - Multiple Deck	91	(1)
Doubling Hard 8 - Multiple Deck	91	(1)
Multiple Deck Soft Total Strategy	92	(1)
Soft 13-16	92	(1)
Soft 17 - Multiple Deck	92	(1)
Soft 18 - Multiple Deck	93	(1)
Soft 19-20 - Multiple Deck	93	(1)
Northern Nevada Basic Strategy	93	(1)
Multiple Deck Early Surrender	94	(2)
Multiple Deck with Conventional Late Surrender	96	(1)
The Master Charts	97	(21)
The Importance of Basic Strategy	97	(1)
Note: Riverboat and Indian Reservation Blackjack	98	(3)
Multiple Deck Master Charts
Las Vegas, Riverboat, Indian Casino	101	(2)
Las Vegas, Riverboat, Indian Casino (Late Surrender Allowed)	103	(2)
Favorable Multiple Deck Rules (Doubling After Splitting - Late Surrender)	105	(2)
Northern Nevada	107	(2)
Atlantic City Multiple Deck	109	(2)
European No Hole Card Style	111	(2)
Single Deck Master Charts
Northern Nevada	113	(2)
Las Vegas (Doubling Allowed After Splitting)	115	(2)
Las Vegas (No Doubling Allowed After Splitting)	117	(1)
Card Counting	118	(14)
Introduction	118	(1)
The Counting Method	119	(3)
The Count	122	(1)
Practicing the Count	123	(1)
First Round of Play	124	(1)
Counting Unseen Cards	125	(1)
Practice Example #1	126	(1)
Practice Example #2	127	(2)
The True Count	129	(1)
The Importance of a True Count	130	(2)
Single Deck True Count Strategy	132	(13)
Introduction	132	(2)
Strategic Bet Raising	134	(1)
Single Deck: True Count Betting	135	(1)
Aces and the Count	136	(2)
Squeezing Out Final Bits of Information	138	(1)
Collecting Information	139	(1)
Single Deck: Altering Play According to the Count	140	(1)
Single Deck: Plus Count Alteration Chart	141	(1)
Single Deck: Minus Count Alteration Chart	142	(1)
The Fantasy Casino	143	(2)
Multiple Deck True Count Strategy	145	(11)
Introduction	145	(1)
Practice Estimating Half-Decks	146	(1)
The Chip Technique	146	(1)
Multiple Deck Running Count	147	(1)
Multiple Deck: Altering Bets According to True Count	148	(1)
Increasing the Bet	148	(1)
Multiple Deck: True Count Betting	149	(1)
Multiple Deck: True Count Betting Chart	150	(1)
Multiple Deck: Altering Play According to the Count	151	(1)
Multiple Deck: Minus Count Alteration Chart	152	(1)
Keeping Track of Aces	152	(2)
A Simplified Count for Multiple Deck Games	154	(1)
Using the Running Count Alone	155	(1)
Managing the Dealer	156	(6)
Introduction	156	(1)
How to Judge a Dealer	157	(1)
Playing Empty Tables	158	(1)
The Role of the Dealer	159	(1)
Getting Information from the Dealer	159	(3)
Advanced Dealer Tips	162	(14)
1st Tip: Dealer Gives Away the Hole Card	162	(1)
Dealer Has a Stiff Card	162	(1)
Dealer Has Paint	163	(1)
First Basing	163	(1)
2nd Tip: Dealer Makes Incorrect Payout	164	(1)
3rd Tip: Dealer is in Collusion with Another Player	165	(2)
Last Tip: Dealer Thinks He Can Spot a Counter	167	(1)
Tipping the Dealer	168	(1)
Hostile Dealers	169	(1)
Average Dealers	170	(1)
The Best Dealers	170	(2)
Advanced Toking - Five Concepts	172	(4)
Money Management	176	(14)
Introduction	176	(1)
Blackjack's Roller Coaster Rides	176	(1)
Your Winning Expectation	177	(2)
The Player's Advantage	179	(1)
Your Bankroll	179	(1)
Overall Bankroll	179	(1)
Minimum & Maximum Stakes	180	(2)
Single Session Play: Stake Needed	182	(1)
Winning and Losing Limits: Single Session	183	(1)
Limit Your Losses	184	(2)
Maximize Winning Strategy	186	(4)
Maximizing Your Profits	190	(12)
Play with the Standard Chips of the Table	190	(1)
Increase the Neutral Bet when Winning	191	(3)
Never Increase the Neutral Bet when Losing	194	(1)
Try to Play Head-To-Head Whenever Possible	195	(1)
Don't Always Sit Through a Terrible Deck	196	(1)
Table Hopping	196	(2)
If Possible Don't Be the Biggest Bettor at the Table	198	(1)
Playing More than One Hand	198	(4)
Eight Rules of Self-Discipline	202	(7)
Taking Control of Your Game	209	(11)
Your Place at the Blackjack Table	209	(1)
Don't Sit At a Crowded Table	209	(1)
Study the Game Before Sitting	210	(2)
Don't Play with Bad Rules	212	(1)
Look for the Best Game	213	(1)
Dealing with Casino Personnel	214	(1)
Assume a Friendly Tone When You Sit Down	214	(1)
Study the Name of the Dealer	214	(1)
Study the Dealer's Moves and Gestures	215	(1)
Act as if You're Not Really Paying Full Attention	216	(1)
Engage the Floorman in Conversation	217	(1)
If Countermeasures Ordered, Don't Linger at the Table	217	(1)
Standard Casino Countermeasures	218	(2)
Beating the Casino	220	(12)
Five Practice Quizzes	232	(11)
Glossary	243