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Table Games Basic Strategy BJ players

Discussion in 'Table Games' started by powercage, Jul 19, 2012.

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  1. powercage

    powercage Newbie

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    Just curious on how successful you may (or may not) be playing only basic strategy in vegas. I'm a roulette/craps player mostly but I'm looking to dedicate a few hours from my upcoming trip to blackjack and will be playing basic strategy for the most part.
     
  2. Nevyn

    Nevyn VIP Whale

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    Not sure what you're looking for here.

    Are you asking whether it is hard to play basic strategy? Or are you asking whether it "works"?

    If its the former, you can get 90% of the basic strategy decisions down pretty quickly with some basic rules of thumb. And if you don't want to memorize the rest, you can also ask the dealer/pit boss/other players what the 'book' says for a given situation.

    If its the latter, well you still lose in the long run, but you should have almost as many winning sessions as losing ones (unless you buy in with very few units, press your bets, or play really long sessions).
     
  3. 4dazeoff

    4dazeoff Low-Roller

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    mostly craps/vp but started playing basic strategy bj last few trips. mostly $5 or $10 bets. good way to kill time and i haven't lost a big amount yet. actually up for a few sessions! learning how to press up during the hot streaks and when to go back to minimum bet. you can really get going by pressing but you have to back down when the cold streak starts. i'm trying to get the balls to buy in at $500 and start w/ $25 a hand. i've had good results with this on a training program but we all know it's a different story when you go live! ha ha! the main problem is splitting/double down with the higher bets because you need to keep this stategy in play with the higher bets. sometimes that might cost you $75-$100 for 1 hand. if you flat bet, you will lose over time so pressing is a must! it really comes down to what you are comfortable with. the more $$ on the table, the bigger the rush, especially when you win! tipping the dealer now and then usually make for a more positive experience. good luck!!:beer:
     
  4. Nevyn

    Nevyn VIP Whale

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  5. shifter

    shifter Degenerate Gambler

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    OMG, not that much! :eek:
     
  6. powercage

    powercage Newbie

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    Thanks for all the replies!

    I was just looking to hear from people's successes or losses with using basic strategy in practice at the tables. Just looking to have fun on this trip as I always do and I set my budget and don't plan to come back with it (if I do, I'll have even more fun).

    This trip I will only really have about 7 or 8 hours total (probably will all be in one day) to gamble and I was looking to give blackjack most of my playing time this round to try something new. i've played before, just not in vegas and not using basic strategy. I'll be betting $25-$50 a hand, possibly $100 if I'm feeling good toward the end.
     
  7. Magnix

    Magnix Tourist

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    I won $900 to $1500 (profits) playing BJs at Horseshoe Casino in LA. I started off just $100. My simple plan was to skip playing cards (dont play every cards - just pass to other players) and play some cards randomly. Strange, but it gave me a good chance to win more often. Im sure others have their own better plans.
     
  8. powercage

    powercage Newbie

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    I'm not sure I understand. You can pass your hands to other players? I thought that you had to play if you sat down at the table and if you don't place a bet, you better stand up and let someone else play in your seat (at least that's how it is when i play roulette...)
     
  9. gamblersruin

    gamblersruin Low-Roller

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    There's obviously been alot of discussion and debate on this issue but wizardofodds and blackjackinfo are among good places to start. In my own experience, adequate bankroll and disciplined play help to make your play last longer but that's about it. If anything, pressing your bet just makes the variance or "swings" larger.
     
  10. Magnix

    Magnix Tourist

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    Well, it wasn't required to play as long as you have chips in front of you - I dont know. With my experience in playing BJ for years, all of dealers didn't say anything about me not playing some cards. Most BJ tables were mostly full and there were plenty other tables to sit down and play.

    You might want to try it.
     
  11. Nevyn

    Nevyn VIP Whale

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    Well, I've played enough blackjack that I'm certainly down lifetime, but have had a lot of fun, winning sessions along the way.

    The tough thing with switching to basic strategy is there are calls that the book says are right, but that FEEL wrong (or feel wrong when a session is going bad/good). It can be a leap of faith and a test of discipline at first to not play hunches in those situations.

    For instance, a lot of non basic strategy players will often stay on 15-16 in situations where they should mathematically hit. Because you'll lose that hand before even seeing the dealers more often than not, and losing before the dealer has to show feels like a mistake, it is tough to make yourself ALWAYS do that against the hands you are meant to.

    Likewise, hitting 12 against a 2 feels very counterintuitive for the same reasons. And double downs with 11 against good starting hands can be real gutchecks (after you see a couple people stuck with 13 after such a play its easy to get gunshy).

    It takes a while to just have faith in the math, and sit back and enjoy the ride without following hunches. It is especially tough when you have a bad session or make those tough plays and they don't work out.
     
  12. powercage

    powercage Newbie

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    For sure, thanks for the replies again!
     
  13. JillyFromPhilly

    JillyFromPhilly Tourist

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    I've done pretty well playing BJ over the past 20 years or so - in fact, if I only played BJ, I would probably be up lifetime - but I also like to play roulette (and to a lesser extent, baccarat & high-limit slots) so what usually winds up happening is my winnings at blackjack usually just help subsidize my losses elsewhere in the casino.

    That being said, while I consider myself a strong "basic strategy" player - I know all the "right" moves reflexively at this point and mostly always stick to playing it - there are still times when I will go with my gut or a hunch & go against basic strategy [more likely if I'm playing alone than with others] - and sometimes it pays off, other times it doesn't. And whenever you go against & win you feel great, whenever you go against & lose you sit there cursing yourself for going against.

    But the thing to remember about basic strategy is, you can play it religiously and still get killed sometimes if the cards just aren't in your favor that night - so don't look at basic strategy as a "guaranteed" method to walk away a winner or without losing - true, it will probably help you mimimize your losses - and it will also keep other people from getting pissed at you if you're at a table with other players and make too many moves that go against basic strategy - but in the end while [theoretically] it helps keep the house edge to a minimum, it doesn't mean you won't ever lose just by sticking to it.
     
  14. Frisky

    Frisky Tourist

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    I play $25 a hand and press $25 after every win. On a good day/night I can play $200/$250 before losing and starting over at $25. I only play basic strategy with a few exceptions whenthe dealer has a 4 or 5 up card.
    I have played for many years and really like Basic Strategy which abbreviated is BS. That is what it feels like when I keep getting good hands only to be out drawn or tied by the dealer, but that is the game. Play and enjoy.:beer:
     
  15. Sklem211

    Sklem211 High-Roller

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    I play blackjack pretty much exclusively and use BS at all times. Out of 10 trips to Vegas...I've come back a winner on 8 of them :thumbsup:
     
  16. dfalk

    dfalk VIP Whale

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    I feel you shouldn't even be playing BJ unless you know BS.
     
  17. earth-3

    earth-3 VIP Whale

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    I play basic strategy, and as others have warned, I have lost a ton more than I have won. What will eat you up is the time you put in. If your way ahead, you have to stop and take the winnings. This is the hard thing to do, especially if the night is young and you had planned to spend it in the casino. Quiting early is the real gut wrenching thing about gambling.
     
  18. fox

    fox Tourist

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    It seems just as many people get pissed at me for playing PERFECT BS as well. I almost dread drawing a 12 vs 2 because I know someone is gonna say something.
     
  19. DonD

    DonD VIP Whale

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    Me too. How about against a 3?
     
  20. paperposter

    paperposter MIA

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    i only do 12 on 2 not a 3 .let them take the chance
     
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