Blackjack is a game of chance and skill. It is more exciting than a slot machine and less complicated than poker, but it requires a certain amount of concentration to play well. For those who want to master the game, there are mathematical strategies that can be used to tilt the odds in their favor.
In a blackjack game, players and the dealer each receive two cards. The goal is to get a higher hand value than the dealer, without going over 21. Aces count as one or 11, face cards as 10, and other cards according to their index value. Players must decide whether to hit (take additional cards) or stand (stop drawing cards) based on predetermined rules.
When a player has a hand that totals more than the dealer’s, they win and are paid an amount equal to their original wager. If a player’s hand is closer to 21 than the dealer’s, they “bust” and lose. Ties are a push and the dealer’s bet stays on the table.
Players may also choose to split pairs of cards that are of the same rank. They each receive a second card and then play the hands independently of each other. Doubling and re-splitting are sometimes restricted in blackjack games, with some casinos only allowing it for pairs of cards valued at 10 or above.
The game is played with one or more 52-card decks. Unlike most casino games, where the house has a built-in advantage, blackjack is a game in which the player can reduce the house edge by using strategy. A good blackjack player can reduce the house’s edge to a fraction of its actual value.
Many books and websites claim to teach the reader how to sidestep the house’s winning ways. Unfortunately, most of these are misguided at best and rubbish at worst. However, a few savvy gamblers have discovered how to use mathematics to make the game of blackjack work in their favor.
Colin Jones, now 39, had an ah-ha moment 15 years ago at a blackjack table in a Las Vegas casino. It was a lightning-burst of inspiration that altered the trajectory of his life for the better. He had discovered how to use mathematics to beat the dealer in blackjack.
Anyone can learn to count cards in blackjack by following simple rules that keep track of the concentration of aces and face cards. The most advanced counting systems also include a count of the number of 10s in the deck. Most counters do their counting in their head, although some use a small device that keeps track of the count for them. A good blackjack player can increase their bets when the count is favorable and decrease them when the count is unfavorable. Those who are ready for more complex strategies can try the plus-and-minus system recommended in some of the better blackjack books on the market. However, some casinos consider this type of card counting to be illegal and ban it.
