The A B C's and D of Casino Blackjack
A Layman's Guide to Winning a Little and Losing Even Less
by
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Preface. This is a layman’s guide to understanding casino Blackjack in order that you can enjoy the experience without being intimidated or risk losing lots of your hard earned money in the process. This is not about beating the odds but simply about understanding them. It is not about gambling and it is not about getting rich. If your objective is to get rich quick you are definitely reading the wrong book or you may just be delusional. You are better off to buy a lottery ticket. The strategies laid out in this guide are intended to help you understand the probability theory behind the game in order to minimize your risk of losing while putting you in a position to win more frequently. The bottom line should be more about having fun than making money but I will be the first one to say it is definitely more fun to win. If you were to ask people on the street if they know how to play Blackjack most would probably say “of course”. If you were to ask them the objective of the game they would probably say “drawing cards to get as close to 21 and beat the dealer without exceeding 21”. This would be wrong. The right answer is knowing what to do in every situation depending on what the dealer is showing based on probable outcomes. This is referred to as Basic Strategy and involves a little memory work but will make the difference between winning and losing over the long haul. When I say long haul I mean it. The whole strategy is based on the Law of Large Numbers which I will explain in Chapter B when I describe Basic Strategy. That means that we are thinking in terms of a marathon and not a sprint or many visits to the tables and not just one. Let’s face it. There is no system that can guarantee you will win every time and you will definitely lose sometimes. Understanding that and being prepared to minimize the loss is the secret to getting ahead in the long term. It is well documented that you will lose about 50% of the hands that you play so the only way to make money is to watch for trends, not make mistakes and to have more money in play on winning hands than on losing hands. This is where splitting and doubling down in the right situations is crucial. Once again, this is about knowing what to do in every situation based on what your cards and the dealer’s “up” card dictate. This guide will also bust a few myths and misconceptions as well as give helpful tips on everything from table etiquette to money management principles. If you follow this advice religiously, you will be looking at a statistical advantage of coming out ahead at the end of the day. Let me once again remind you that this is a very slight advantage (less than 2%) which is not something you would get excited about as a return on an investment fund. Just ask Bernie Madoff.
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About the Book
This book is for the beginner or recreational Blackjack player who wants to enjoy playing without being intimidated. If one has the discipline to follow the strategies presented, one can actually come out a winner. The title, “The A, B, C’s and D of Casino Blackjack” identifies it as a primer for beginners rather than promising riches to professional gamblers. This book provides a conservative approach, and will help you avoid the simple mistakes that cause players to lose in the long run. It is amazing how many players do not bring enough bankroll, bet consistently, understand Basic Strategy or practice good money management. This light and punchy guide can be read in one sitting and understood and applied by anyone with an interest in the game. It should appeal to the one time tourist or occasional visitor to a casino or cruise ship who wants to try their hand at Blackjack. Also, someone wanting to take up Blackjack as a recreational sport on a regular basis would be interested in this book. In fact, even seasoned players may well benefit from getting back to basics. The book uses simple language to explain the probability theory behind Basic Strategy and the potential advantage of counting cards. It also explains how things work on the casino floor as well as table etiquette so players won’t make embarrassing mistakes. The major premise is to take the intimidation out of sitting down to play. This book does not promise riches but does promote having fun without losing any of your hard earned money.
About the Author
With a Bachelors Degree in Honours Mathematics and a Masters Degree in Applied Statistics, John McWhinne took an early interest in Blackjack from a mathematical perspective. As a Statistician and later as an Executive with the Canadian Government, he has played Blackjack for fun and profit all around the world for more than forty years. His motto is "Work Hard, Play Hard" and he has managed to not let one interfere with the other. Since his retirement in 2006, he has set up an Executive Coaching and Consulting firm but has enjoyed more time to put his Blackjack methods into practice profitably. He has also become a serious contender on the tournament circuit. While having been successful with a conservative approach, he has always been amazed over the years watching folks lose because they simply do not know how to play or manage their money. This is what prompted him to write this very simple and fun to read guide to help people understand the basics and improve their game. John lives in Ottawa with his wife Vicki and their cat Lola.