Author: Matt Pelc | Article Posted at: March 11, 09 - 6:11 pm

Blackjack betting to win Big Money

Find yourself in the casino and looking for a game that involves a little skill mixed with the usual luck of the draw? Perhaps you should park yourself at the nearest blackjack table.

Many novice gamblers are drawn to a casino by their slot machines. Many expert gamblers are there for poker, roulette or the sports books, but a lot of people are drawn in by slot machines.

The lights, the noises and the pretty moving pictures of the slots draw people to them like a moth to a porch light. While there is nothing wrong with this, slots are always a game of chance.

Everyone knows the frustration of plunking coins for an hour or so into the same machine and getting minimal payout. The only reason you stay with it is because you JUST KNOW the damn thing will finally pay out. And then of course, those four beers make their way through you and nature calls. Upon returning you notice one of the 100 seniors who came to the casino on the Seniorville Trolley happily drowning in your hard-earned coins which are cascading out of the machine.

Forget the slots and get to the blackjack table. Yes, like everything in a casino, a lot of Blackjack is determined by what the house gives you, but at least you have a little bit of say in the matter.

Most casinos have several blackjack tables with small wagers, where more of the novices play and large minimum wages, where the more experienced gamers park themselves.

Hone your skill at the “kid’s table” first before moving on to play with the big boys.

The rules of blackjack are simple. If you have not ever played, you still probably know most of the basic rules.

Each player plays against the dealer. Your goal is to get to 21 without going over (busting). The dealer doles out two cards to you and then you have a number of options based on the value of the two cards you have received.

You can either stand (if you think you will beat the dealer), hit (receive more cards to try to get closer to 21), double down (double the bet) or split a pair (like double down, except you do this if you have a pair of the same cards, i.e. a pair of twos).

After you are content with your cards, and if you have not gone bust-or over 21, the dealer shows his cards. If you have a higher number than the dealer ends up with, YOU WIN! If the dealer beats you, you lose. If you have an equal number, the wager is a push and no one gains or loses anything.

In most cases if a dealer hits a 17, they will not hit but they have to hit on anything lower. It would be a good idea to ask your dealer the casino’s policies before placing your first wager.

Good luck and have fun with a game of skill instead of 100% luck.