BLACKJACK STANDING:


Standing in the game of blackjack takes patience. You often find yourself in a position where drawing an additional card would seem like the logical thing to do. For example 14.
Many players believe they should hit this two card total every time, regardless of the dealer's up card. This would be the correct play if the dealer's up card is a 10, you'd have to assume the dealer has a total of 20. However if the dealer's up card is a 4, the percentage play would be to stand on your 14. The dealer must hit on 16 and stand on 17. In this situation you must keep your hand alive and the dealer will bust most of the time.

Below are listed the occasions on which you should stand when playing blackjack:

Inside The Swag Bag:


Any other play would be considered aggressive or foolish. My advice here is to stay patient, after all patience is virtue greed and stupidity never get anybody anywhere.

TAKING A HIT


Taking a hit in blackjack is simple. All you have to do is tap your finger behind the box, this will instruct the dealer to deliver an additional card to your hand.

The problem is knowing when to hit and when not to hit.
A lot of blackjack players seem to think having a two card total of 14 for example is a long way from 21 and consequently take a hit every time. This is a major mistake.

Although you're trying to get a two card total as close to 21 as possible, there are times where its better not to hit but stay.
You have 14; the dealer's up card is 10 you have to assume the dealers hold card is 10, giving the dealer a total of 20.

In this case you must take a hit or you automatically lose.
However, if the dealer's up card is 4, assuming the hold card is 10, the dealer would also have a total of 14.

Now the odds are in your favor if you stand. The reason for this is that the dealer must draw to a total of 17 and therefore the odds suggest that the dealer will bust more often than not.


The chart below shows the best times to take a hit in the game of blackjack

Inside the swag bag


It's often a very difficult decision to make when it comes to taking a hit but you must if you want to take full advantage of the odds.
The most difficult time is when you're holding a total of 16 and the dealer has 7 up. This is a very close call so it's rare that any other players at the table would be disappointed whether you choose to hit or stand. By taking the hit you would be 0.03% better off than standing.

My advice: Be brave, take the hit. All these numbers add up and its your business to protect your bank roll.

DOUBLING DOWN


Doubling down in Blackjack is a major part of basic strategy. If you hope to win at the blackjack table or minimize your loss, you must study this section very carefully.
Doubling down is an option offered to you after the first two cards have been dealt. Whenever you have the opportunity to double down, it’s in your favor if you know when to double.

To double down you simply place an equal amount of chips to those of the original wager you will then receive one additional card to complete your hand. The basic strategy chart below shows when you should double down in multi-deck blackjack

Inside The Swag Bag


Some casinos will allow you to double down for an amount less than the original wager.

My advice is, if you have enough chips, attack to the maximum without any fear, every time the opportunities above are available

BLACKJACK INSURANCE MULTI DECK



Taking out insurance in blackjack is a part of basic strategy. The only time during the game you will be offered the option take insurance is when the dealer’s up card is an ACE.


If you choose to take insurance you will be asked to bet up to, but not exceeding, 50% of your original wager. This must be placed on the line marked 'Insurance'.


If the dealer does not have blackjack you will lose this insurance bet and then continue to play out the original bet just like any other hand.

In the event the dealer has blackjack your insurance bet will be paid out at the odds of 2-1 however you will lose the original wager.
The final result of all this means that you end up with a push if you placed the full 50% of insurance available. The bottom line here is that you’re simply being invited to make a bet on whether or not the dealer has a blackjack.




Inside the Swag Bag


Have you ever come across an insurance company that you trusted? If so please let me know about them as I definitely have not. Insurance in blackjack is no different - it’s generally a bad bet. The only time I would recommend you even consider taking out insurance is when you have a blackjack.

In most Casinos these days if you do have a blackjack and take Insurance they would just simply pay your original bet and then remove your cards - this helps speed up the game and the end result is exactly the same.

BLACKJACK: SPLITTING PAIRS


Splitting pairs is a major part of blackjack strategy when you have a pair in Blackjack for the most part its going to be to your advantage. If you’re going into the casino and you want to come out a winner try studying this section very carefully.


Splitting cards means making one hand into two. For example, if you make a $10 bet and receive a pair of sixes (6.6), instead of staying with a total of 12 you have the option to wager a further $10 and have two hands of six.


Some casinos will allow a player to split as often as he or she likes, while others will have a restriction on the amount of splits you can make from a single box.
Once you have made the decision to split you will play them like any other hand in blackjack.





There is one exception, a pair of ACES. A lot of casinos will only allow the ACES to be split one time, in addition to this when the ACES are split, they will only receive one additional card to complete the hand. You must also remember that blackjack must be the first two cards dealt to a box. If you split ACES and then get dealt a 10 or face card you have a total of 21, not blackjack. You'll lose if the dealer has a blackjack.








INSIDE THE SWAG BAG


Basic strategy for splitting pairs on a multi-deck blackjack game:

If you split a pair of tens expect to get a good old Fashioned smack to the head.