Blackjack Betting Strategies

Do You Want To Play Online Blackjack?

2011-12-03T17:34:00.002-08:00

Do you want to play online blackjack but are worried about getting scammed by a shady online casino?

I'm glad you are cautious, because truth be told, there is little to no regulations that the Government enforces. Many times you are at the whim of whoever owns the casino, and many of them are greedy.

In my college years--when I had just started playing blackjack online, I quickly discovered which casinos were shady, and which ones are on the up-and-up. Here are two of my favorites: Mount Rushmore and Cherry Red.

Mount Rushmore

Mount Rushmore is a real diamond in the rough. Anyone who loves blackjack is going to love the variety of games offered by Mount Rushmore. You just won't find these games at land-based casinos folks!

Face Up 21

One game that I am absolutely obsessed with is “Face Up 21”. Now listen up folks, because you are going to love this one.

This game is a blackjack variation that allows you to see the dealer's cards! Finally! What I've been waiting for my whole life! Looks like I won't need to invent those non-lethal X-ray glasses any more.

Just like standard blackjack, your goal is to get closer to 21 than the dealer, without going over.

The player is allowed to double on hard totals of 9, 10, and 11, and can even double after a split. To make things even better, the player wins on all blackjack ties, and the dealer hits on soft 17. If you love playing blackjack, then you will love Face Up 21.

Faceup 21 Screenshot:

Super 21

"Super 21" is a game that has been very good to me in the past. Super 21 is your standard blackjack game, with a ton of added bonuses that pay out huge. Most of the bonuses involve getting multi-card 21's.

Special payouts occur on the following: five-card 21’s, six-card 21’s, and on a diamond blackjack. If you have nerves of steel, you can keep on hitting to shoot for a six-card twenty-one (I’ve done it, but I’m a risk taker).

Super 21 allows you to double-down once on your original hand, and you can surrender your hand at any time. It also allows splitting in certain situations. Also, the dealer has to hit on soft 17, and player blackjacks always win! Super 21 is a prime example of why I keep making blackjack online deposits after all these years. You just can't find these sweet payouts at land-based casinos.

Super 21 screenshot:

PerfectPairs

PerfectPairs is one of the most addictive blackjack variations I have ever played. In this game you get huge bonuses for hitting pairs off your first two cards. This makes every single hand exciting to play.

The Catch? You have to place a side bet in order to be able to win perfect pairs? This is why I don't play the side bet every single hand, but I will play about every ten hands or so.

Here is a screen shot of me hitting the jackpot. Twenty-Five times my original bet… Gotta' love playing making blackjack online deposits and cashing in once in awhile.

PerfectPairs screenshot:

Match Play 21

Match Play 21 is a variation of blackjack that is quite different from the rest! I say this because the entire structure of the game is changed in this game.

In Match Play 21, all the 10’s are removed from the deck, and tons of special payouts are up for grabs. The best special payout you can get is called Match Play 21, which is a hand of three suited 7’s with the dealer’s face-card also a 7.

Other special payouts include: five-card 21, any 6-7-8, any 7-7-7, six-card 21, suited 7-7-7, 6-7-8 spades, 7-7-7 spades, and 21's created with seven or more cards. The player is allowed to split under certain situations, and player blackjack always wins.

Match Play 21 screenshot:

Pontoon

Pontoon sports an awesome twist on blackjack. In this game, you play against the dealer and try to score closer to 21 points without wiping out—but this time both the dealer's cards are hidden! You only have your two cards and blind instinct to decide your next move. Take a hit, stand, double down, or split your hand and hope the tides turn in your favour! Pontoon is one of the most fun variations I have played, but it sucks when you bust and learn that the dealer only has 16. Oh well, when you make a blackjack online deposit, you can't always expect to win.

Pontoon screenshot:

European Blackjack

Of course, no online-casino would be complete without European Blackjack. This game is similar to standard blackjack, but in European Blackjack the dealer doesn't receive a hold card until the player has finished making all his decisions; including doubling and splitting. Also, the dealer has to stand on soft 17, and players can only double on hard totals of 9 or 11.

European Blackjack Screenshot:

No matter what game you play, I’m sure you’ll be satisfied with the gameplay and the quick dealing speeds provided by Mount Rushmore. Even if you don’t have a lot of time to play, you can easily get in a good number of hands in a short time. Depending on your luck it will either be your golden goose, or worse nightmare. Either way, it’s all about the rush in the end, is it not? Rushmore. It’ll give you just that.

Every gambler wants some variety though, right? That is why I have another great recommendation for you. Try Cherry Red casino as well. It is very similar to Mount Rushmore, but with a somewhat sexier interface. The odds and the games are both the same. Sometimes I like to switch it up between the two.

Play Blackjack Online—Where Is The Best Place To Play?

2011-04-19T12:02:00.000-07:00

If you are looking to play blackjack online—and it's your first time—then you will want to heed my advice.

First, not all online blackjack sites are the same. A lot of them use different software platforms, and some online blackjack sites are even rigged. How many? More than you think!

If you are thinking about playing blackjack online, then you need to remember that it is your hard earned money that you will be playing with—so please, find a reputable site before you just start jumping into things.

The online blackjack sites that I advertise through this blog have always been good to me. Whether or not you choose to go with one of the blackjack sites recommended here is up to you—but be warned—stay away from Ultimate Bet. I have had freakishly large losing streaks using their blackjack software.

In my personal opinion, the best place to play blackjack online is either Cherry Red, or Mount Rushmore. These online blackjack sites seem to give a fair payout.

Wherever you decide to play blackjack online, always follow basic strategy, and set a limit for yourself.

Playing Blackjack Online For Money? Ten Quick Tips.

2011-03-24T15:15:00.000-07:00

Are you thinking about getting your feet wet and making your first deposit at an online casino? Well before you go ahead and do that, here are ten things you will want to consider.

1. Many online casinos offer deposit bonuses--in fact pretty much all of them do. The ones I advertise through this blog are among the best. I know, because I played online blackjack a ton in my college years. No word of a lie, I was known as "Gamblore" throughout my residence. Huge fat tip for ya--stay away from Ultimate Bet, I'm almost certain it's rigged.

2. Many online gambling sites do not accept U.S citizens. This is largely due large political influence of American land-based casinos. The online gambling sites advertised through this blog all accept U.S citizens.

3. Different online casinos have different payouts. I have tried many online casinos and have seen enough in my years of playing blackjack to realize that some online casinos are just plain corrupt. For these companies, having the house edge just isn't enough; they need to cheat too. The casinos represented on this blog are on the up-and-up, and I know this because I have tracked my playing and recorded my win to lose ratio.

4. Record your wins and losses! If you are going to be serious about playing online blackjack with your hard earned money then for God's sake heed my advice on this one. The only way to find out in the end whether or not an online casino is scamming you is to play enough hands to collect a good amount of data. Sadly, using this method you have to lose your money before you find out whether the casino is dirty. How long should you track your win/loss record? Probably no less that one thousand hands. Yes, it can be expensive, but too little, and your results won't be accurate.

I have played well over 10,000 hands at both Cherry Red and Rushmore (although less at Rushmore).

Cherry Red- Win- 48% Lose- 52%

Rushmore- Win- 48% Lose- 52%

5. Learn basic strategy. Online blackjack is a great place to master basic blackjack strategy since you can take your time to make decisions without being rushed by other players. This gives you the opportunity to use your basic strategy card when making difficult decisions regarding splits and doubling (the most common mistakes). Capitalizing on your doubles and splits is absolutely necessary if you wish to make money playing online blackjack.

6. Learn to count cards. I want to stress right now card counting is impossible to use on online casinos because the deck is shuffled after each hand. However, I find that online blackjack is the best place to practice this skill as there are less distractions and you can take your time to get it right. Once you get the count down pat, you can move on to land-based casinos and start practicing at a higher pace and with distractions. If you can master card counting, it is quite possible to make a living off land-based casinos--if you don't get caught.

7. Many online casinos are not flexible in how they accept payments. I don't like to use my credit card online, so I usually make my deposits right through my bank account. All the blogs represented on this site are flexible in their deposit methods.

8. Some online casinos take a week or more to payout. I think that is simply ridiculous. In this technological age, any player should be able to get his winnings in a much more timely manner.

9. Stay away from UltimateBet! I have had many bad experiences with their blackjack.

10. I mean it, stay away from UltimateBet!

Where Is The Best Place To Play Online Blackjack?

2010-04-20T17:29:00.000-07:00

Are you looking to play black jack online using real money? Or maybe you are just looking to kick back with some friends after work. Either way, choosing a online casino is an important first step.

So where is the best place to play 21 online?

Unfortunately the only way to answer this is through trial and error.

Luckily for all of you I was an online blackjack fiend in my college days and blew a ton of money in the process. If there is one thing I've learned from the process, it is that online casinos are definitely not the same! Some will even straight up rip you off! (I'm talking to YOU Ultimatebet).

Server speeds are another thing to consider when choosing an online blackjack site. Trust me, you will quickly grow tired waiting for tables to load if your server sucks, and believe me, there are some crappy ones out there. Some seem to disconnect at the most convenient times... when you're winning! You are definitely going to want to avoid these.

Finally, aesthetics is very important to me. I know it sounds weird, but a nicely designed online blackjack casino should have a good ambiance, and uses colors that are easy on the eyes.

Taking all of these factors into consideration, I have found that the two best online blackjack casinos by far are Cherry Red and Mount Rushmore. Not only do they both accept players from the USA, but internationally as well!

Cherry Red Casino

Cherry Red's login screen is pretty swank. As you can see, you can choose to play with real money, or for fun.

Here is the sexy main menu, with the games right in front, easy to find. As you can see, Cherry Red offers other games besides blackjack.

Another perk, there is no delay in between hands! As soon as the hand completes you can press "rebet" right away. Other online blackjack sites have a stupid delay.

Mount Rushmore Casino

Like Cherry Red, Mount Rushmore offers you the ability to play with real cash or for fun.

This is the main menu for Mount Rushmore. As you can see there are numerous games you can play, but blackjack is all I need.

Great blackjack table, love the classic green!

Card Counting- Mentor System

2009-11-23T15:32:00.000-08:00

The Mentor System is a Level II card counting strategy that is quite popular among professional blackjack players. I would definitely place it in my top 5, although my preferred is the Zen Count.

This Mentor was first introduced in the book "Blackjack Bluebook II" by Fred Renzey. It quickly gained a solid reputation because of it's high degree of betting accuracy.

In many ways, the Mentor is similar to the Zen Count, which is probably why I like it so much. While there is no substantial difference between the two systems, the Mentor performs slightly better with multiple decks (but the difference is so small it is meaningless).

Remember, the Mentor is a balanced count, so divide your running count by the number of decks left in play to get the true count.

Card Counting- Revere Point

2009-11-16T23:35:00.000-08:00

As I'm sure you can see, the Revere Point is quite different from many other counting systems. Where most card counting systems give a point value of -1 to 10's and A's, the Revere Point gives -2.

Another thing, if you are already used to card counting with more traditional methods (hi-lo, zen, uston ss), it can be tricky to get used to the idea that 3, 4, 5, and 6 are worth +2 instead of +1. After a few hours of practice your brain will get used to the idea, but to master the count will take much longer.

The good news is, while the Revere Point is a harder count than most, it has an excellent betting correlation at .99. This means that it is highly accurate at predicting what amount to bet. This results in you maximizing your winnings, while minimizing losses. At least we know that all the hours of daunting practice will pay off!

Card Counting- Canfield Expert System

2009-11-15T16:58:00.000-08:00

The Canfield Expert was created back in the 70's when the music was good and the weed was plentiful.

I'll say this--whoever invented the Canfield Expert must have been smoking something as it was designed for single deck blackjack! I can personally guarantee that this count is useless today as virtually all casinos use multiple decks at their blackjack tables. One thing to be sure--if Vegas went to single deck, card counters everywhere would have a orgasm.

Card Counting- Wong Halves System

2009-11-08T03:12:00.000-08:00

Now I know what you're thinking--"Wong Halves? I thought Chinese people played Baccarat." Well, that's what I thought too, but it turns out that many Asians enjoy the game of blackjack, and they are putting their math skills to work!

Of course those crazy little number crunchers aren't going to make it easy for the rest of us. The Wong Halves is widely known to be the most difficult card counting system to date... Damn you Chang!

I mean, as if keeping track of regular numbers isn't hard enough, the Wong Halves uses fractions! Look at the point values for 2, 5, 7 and 9... yikes!

Well, good luck to those brave enough to try this one, but I think I'm going to stick with the Zen. I'll say this, Wong Haves is definitely a money maker if you get the system down 100%.

Card Counting- Uston SS

2009-11-08T02:46:00.000-08:00

Uston SS Counting System

Level of difficulty: 3

The Uston SS is an advanced, Level 3, unbalanced card counting strategy. It is highly optimized for betting (predicting the right amount to wager). Since it is unbalanced, you do not need to worry about figuring out the true count.

First written about in "The Uston SS Count" (1986), Ken Uston's system literally blew the minds of professional blackjack players everywhere. It will definitely take some time to master, but once you have it under your belt you will literally be able to treat casinos like your personal piggy bank.

The Uston SS has the highest betting correlation of any card counting system that I've heard of. This means that it very accurately predicts when to bet big, and when to retract.

Are You Ready To Play Blackjack Online For Money

2009-10-31T17:44:00.000-07:00

If you are ready to dive into online blackjack for real money, you have come to the right place. I have personally lost a ton of money by joining up with the wrong online casinos.

And I don't care what anyone says, tons of online casinos are rigged! For instance, I have encountered unfathomable losing streaks with UltimateBet (a string of 21 losses in a row!)

The good news is, there are many online casinos that play fair, as they recognize that by doing so they will get all the customers, while the greedy casinos will eventually go down the crapper.

Two online casinos that I find to be both trustworthy and reliable are Cherry Red and Mount Rushmore. With these companies you can be sure of two things:

1. You get your payouts fast, and no service fees.
2. The game statistics (how many times you should win and lose) actually match up!

Obviously the second one is the most important, which is why I so heavily promote these two casinos. They are diamonds in the rough for internet gambling.

How To Win At Online Blackjack

2009-10-13T10:52:00.000-07:00

OK, so I know many of you must be wondering how the heck you can gain an advantage over online blackjack. Well you can stop looking, as there is literally no system in existence for long term blackjack gains.

The short run is a different story however! What am I talking about? Read and see! 5 easy steps that will get you well on your way to raking in some blackjack money.

How To Win At Online Blackjack In 5 Easy Steps

1. Find a online casino that offers a great signup bonus.

You can find some of the best ones around on the side of the page.

2. Deposit enough money so that you get the maximum amount of free cash possible.

Always try to take full advantage of the offered bonus. For example, if the casino will match you up to $500 on your deposit, then deposit $500 if possible. This will be free money for you to gamble with.

3. Use one of the betting strategies on this blog.

Find one that works for you. My favorite for short term gains is the Martingale. It usually allows me to increase my bankroll quite a bit, but you have to have the discipline to quit while you are ahead.

4. Bet aggressive, double your money, then walk away.

Since betting strategies are only for short term gains, bet aggressively so that you can increase your bankroll quickly before the losing streak happens. Once you double your money, simply walk away.

5. Find a new casino with another signup bonus and simply repeat the process.

There are tons of them out there and you can get a ton of free gambling money just by doing this.

Remember, always use the casinos money to gamble with, not yours. Be a smart player ;)

Learn To Read Dealer Tells In Blackjack

2009-09-19T01:23:00.000-07:00

Reading the dealer's tells is gaining huge popularity by blackjack pros everywhere. I once read about a guy who made over a million dollars in less than 3 years by travelling across the world and hitting up different casinos and looking for tells.

Here are a few things to look for the next time you are at the blackjack tables.

1. If the dealer glances at the hole card very quickly, the card is probably a face value. This is because they do not take long to calculate.

2. The best card for observing a dealer tell is the 4. This is because the 4 looks identical to the Ace from the bottom corner. This forces the dealer to lift the card up a bit higher to see the whole number. So look for times when the dealer lifts the card higher than normal and it will tell you that the card is either an Ace or a 4.

3. Examine the dealer for any kind of quirks that they might display after looking at their hole card. Some dealer's will blink if they see a blackjack so look for that when you are offered insurance. Other dealers (because they are assholes) will have a tiny smirk when they see a 21. Look for the corners of the lip curling, it will be very slight.

That's about it from me folks, good luck at the tables everyone!

Oh! And take the casinos for everything they are worth. Turn those dealers upside down and shake every last penny out of them.

How To Count Cards At Blackjack

2009-09-14T20:48:00.000-07:00

There are definitely many strategies you can use that will make you into the next Raymond. (What!? You mean you don't have to be autistic to count cards?) No! And I will teach you how.

"Bet, definititely bet."

Today I will focus on the methods you can use to learn how to count cards at blackjack faster.

Obviously there are tons of online programs you can use. An advantage of this is that it allows to learn counting while playing the game. This is the best way in my opinion.

The strategy that worked for me however was simply sitting alone in my room with a deck of cards while flipping through it hundreds of times. I would also shuffle each time in between. Eventually I started to time myself and got down to 15 seconds. At that point card counting had become second nature to me.

If you get bored (and it is boring) you can mix it up a bit by taking a few high or low cards out of the deck and seeing if your count is still accurate. It is better than having it end up at 0 everytime.

Well, thats about it from me for today. Check out my links on the left if you are looking for actual card counting systems.

How To Determine The True Count

2009-09-13T17:01:00.000-07:00

In card counting there are actually two counts, the running count and the true count. There is a big difference between the two.

The running count is the count that you use 99% of the time. It is that count where you are constantly going "+1, -1, 0, +1" and watching all the cards come out. The running count is what most inexperienced blackjack players simply refer to as "the count".

The true count is a number which is based off the running count. It is also the number card counters use to determine their next bet.

To get the true count you divide the running count by the number of decks left in play.

To figure out how many decks are in play just look to the side where the dealer piles cards at the end of each round (burn tray) and estimate how many decks are in there. So If there is 2 decks in the burn tray and you are playing 6 deck blackjack, there is only 4 decks left in play.

Use this counting/betting guide

The idea is to make the true count conversion at the beginning of each hand to determine whether or not to change your bet. There are many different betting systems but most of them start increasing the bets when the true count goes +2 and higher.

Eight Simple Rules To Help You Win At Blackjack

2009-09-10T22:03:00.000-07:00

You can definitely gain an advantage in blackjack that will result in long term consistent profit. But what can you do to maximize your winnings?

Well my friends, here are 8 simple rules that will save your ass at the tables.

1. Learn Basic Strategy

I can't stress this enough. If you do not master basic blackjack strategy you will be forever lost.

2. Manage Your Money Correctly

You can easily manage your blackjack money by sticking to a betting system that works for you. My two favorites are the martingale and oscar grind, but there are plenty of others out there.

3. Learn to Count Cards Using a Specific System

If you are really looking to get serious at blackjack you will have to have some mad card counting skills. It has been mathematically proven that card counting gives the player a slight edge over the casino. Time to start treating it like your personal piggy bank. Remember, the most complex system doesn't necessarily mean it is the best. I have had lots of luck with the hi-lo count and it is definitely the easiest of them all.

4. Estimate the True Count

This is easy to do. To get the true count (the number you use to determine how much to bet) all you have to do is take the running count and divide it by the number of decks left to be played. To do this you have to eyball the size of the dealer's shoe and make a estimate of how many decks are still in play.

5. Learn to Adjust Your Bet Size Based on the True Count

As the true count goes up gradually increase your bet. As the true count goes down, decrease the size of your bet. You will always lose more hands then you will win, so in order to make money you have to jack up your bet when the odds are favorable. This is a key tip to your future success at blackjack.

6. Play with Favorable House Rules

Look around, different casinos offer different games with different odds. Find the best ones and let it ride baby.

7. State of Mind

If you are seriously playing for money, make sure that you are mentally alert and fired up. I like to drink tons of coffee. It gives me a great buzz and man am I alert! Do not try to count while intoxicated. While it is great fun, you usually end up losing. You need to be at your absolute sharpest.

8. Discipline - The Key to Success

In this case discipline means sticking with your system. Never deviate from basic strategy and never ignore what the count is telling you. There is no such thing as luck, there is only mathematical probablities.

Counting Two Cards At The Same Time

2009-09-03T22:53:00.000-07:00

One of the keys to success with card counting is to learn to count two cards at the same time. This saves a ton of mental evergy compared to counting each card individually.

For example, if we're using the hi-lo count and a 5-6 pops up you should count it as +2 instead of counting each card individually. In other words, always ignore the value of the first card until the second card is dealt.

Take a look at something like 2, and 10. As you can see, these two cards cancel eachother. If you learn to count in pairs your brain will automatically learn to disregard high/low pairs and you will be able to save a ton of mental energy. This should allow you to stay focused longer which will lead to less mistakes in the long run. And as every card counter knows, less mistakes = more money in the bank!

Basic Strategy Blackjack

2009-07-07T09:43:00.001-07:00

Common Mistakes Made By Blackjack Players

Are a few plays on the chart surprising you? You might be making a common beginner's boo boo:

1. Not hitting on 16. Always, always, ALWAYS hit on 16 if the dealer has a 7 or higher. If you aren't card counting then hit those 16's!

2, Always splitting 8's. Another common mistake that beginners often make is splitting 8's when going against a 10 or Ace face card. This is a no no... so stop.

3. Not hitting 12's. When the dealer shows a 2, or 3 many people consider these "bust cards" and stand, but it is actually in the player's favor to hit. I made this mistake when I first started out and noticed that after I corrected it, I started winning a lot more hands!

4. Splitting 10's. Who in their right mind would do such a stupid thing? Unless you are counting cards and you know for a fact that the deck is stacked with juicy 10's never, ever split 10's. A 20 is the second best hand you can have in the game!

5. Not hitting a soft 17. While most of the time you would stand, when going up against a 9 or 10 it is actually in your interest to hit. You will win more hands this way.

Trying to count cards without knowing how to play the game is like trying to watch a one armed man clap, it's funny, but it ain't gonna happen.

Last week me and my buds went to the casino and they were amazed by my uncanny ability to "predict" the cards (really I was just using a simple card counting technique).

Needless to say, while they were all down big time, I was up a cool $250. Card counting played a 1-2% role in my victory, solid blackjack strategy did the rest.

So, how did I get so good at blackjack? Through hours and hours of practice online. Since hands are dealt much quicker online than in the casinos, you get much more practice in the same amount of time.

If you are serious about making money through blackjack then you are going to have to study this strategy card until your eyes bleed and the little chart is burned into the back of your brain.

Once you have mastered your basic blackjack strategy move on to the card counting systems I have provided. I strongly recommend the Zen count as it is not only my favorite, but also the most effective.

Well, I'm out... Good luck with your game, and win big!

The Martingale Betting System

2009-05-09T20:41:00.000-07:00

Despite what many people say about the Martingale, I have always been a loyal fan.

"You will lose in the long run", people say. Yes, but you will lose in the long run with any betting strategy so how is the Martingale any different?

But here is the short of it, I personally have made some very substantial gains using the Martingale. The trick is to have the discipline to walk away when you are up. Set a stopping limit for yourself when using any betting strategy.

I remember the good ol' times of burning the midnight oil for hours straight playing blackjack with only the Martingale. It can be a fantastic system, as long as you don't get GREEDY.

The Martingale Betting System

The Martingale can be summed up quite easily--double after every loss.

For example, say you start with a $5 bet and win. You would continue to bet $5 until you lose a hand. Then you would double your bet to $10. You would keep doubling your bet like this until you win, in which case you return to betting $5.

Easy as pie, right?

Here is what ten losses would look like under the martingale betting progression.

$10, $20, $40, $80, $160, $320, $640, $1280, $2560, $5120

After ten losses you are betting $5120... Yikes! But wait, that's why we have our casino bonus money. Use all of you free sign up bonus money and bet aggressively. Make it or break it baby! After all, it's not you're money it's the casino's.

My advice? Bet big and bet hard right from the start and hope that the losing streak doesn't happen right off the get go. Once you double your money, walk away. Don't get greedy. That losing streak will happen, its just a question of when. But, if you play your cards right you can stand a chance to make a big time profit.

The Oscar Grind Betting System

2009-05-03T10:32:00.000-07:00

This betting system was first written about in a book by Allan Wilson called "The Casino Gambler's Guide" (1965).

In the 60's, Wilson met a gambler named Oscar, who presented him with records of consistent profits using his unique betting system. After examining the records, they did indeed show consistent profits. Oscar had a huge bank account and the balls to put it all on the line for a one-unit-per-cycle win. But you know what? It worked!

So Allan Wilson decided to run 280,000 sequence simulations. The results? It is not impossible to have a profit after 280,000 hands of play, using Oscar's betting system. That is a crazy number or hands! A typical blackjack sitting is only a few hundred to 1000 hands (unless you're like me, Mr. Gamblore).

But remember, all betting systems are for short term profits. Without further ado, here is how the system works.

The Oscar Grind Betting System

You start by betting one unit on an even-money bet. If you win, there is no sequence and you start at one unit again. If you lose, then your next bet will be of the same size as the one you just lost. If you win, then your next bet is one unit larger than the previous bet. When winning you will continue to increase the size of the bet with one unit until the whole sequence gives a profit of one unit or more. At this point, you will bet just enough to give you an accumulated profit of one unit.

This system is pretty damn conservative but it is also the least volatile of any other blackjack betting strategy. It is my also my favorite by far, and I have definitely made a mountain of cash using it. Just remember to get out while you are ahead!

Card Counting- Unbalanced Zen II

2009-04-20T12:06:00.000-07:00

The Unbalanced Zen II is a easy to master level II card counting system that has extremely high betting correlation. This means that it predicts very well whether you should be big or pull back.

Established in 1995 by George C, the Unbalanced Zen II can best be described as a cross between Revere Point Count and the Zen Count.

The sweet part about this system is that it is unbalanced. This means that the you use the count as it is, there is no need to covert it into a true count. This makes things slightly easier, especially if you are at a loud noisy casino and are having trouble getting your head in the game.

Card Counting- Uston APC

2009-04-19T11:51:00.000-07:00

Well, here it is--another needlessly complicated card counting system by Ken Uston. While it gained short term fame for its playing efficiency, there are very few Uston APC counters left these days. The main problem with the system is that the benefits reaped are too small in comparison to the difficulty of the system.

Take a look at the charts and try not to crap yourself. You can see that 3's and 4's are both worth +2, but wait a minute--5's are worth +3! Uh oh, that might get confusing in a fast paced game of blackjack at a noisy casino. Then 6's and 7's go back to +2, and just because Ken Uston has a sick sense of humor, 8's go down to +1 and 9's are worth -1.

With this system your mind is counting almost all the time, the only card you get to ignore in the count is the Ace. Compare this to other strategies like the Hi-Lo where you get to ignore 7's, 8's, and 9's. The Hi-Lo also has consistent point values that aren't all over the map.

With that being said, you can certainly try the Uston APC if you are up to the challenge. As said earlier, Uston APC has fantastic playing efficiency. This means it is highly accurate in predicting whether high or low cards will be dealt.

The d'Alembert Betting System

2009-04-19T08:54:00.000-07:00

The d'Alembert betting strategy was invented by French mathematician, Jean le Rond d'Alembert. The name of this system is therefore self-explanatory as it took on the name of its creator.

It can be pretty fun to play and it is very easy to learn. A lot of people like to use this betting strategy for roulette as well.

How to use the d'Alembert Betting System

You begin this system by placing a bet of 1 unit. A unit can be whatever amount you desire (I like to use whatever the table minimum is).

The main thing to remember is that you increase your bet by one unit after each loss, and decrease your bet by one unit after each win. Check out this chart for more details.

Let's say that you place a bet for a single unit of $5 and lose. Your next bet would then be 2 units, or $10. If you lose again your bet increases to 3 units ($15) and then 4 units ($20) and so forth.

Then, after every win your bet decreases by 1 until you are back to betting a single unit again. This helps eliminate the possibility of wiping out and you can go much longer under this betting system.

The d'Alembert offers a much more careful approach to the game. The slower pace involved with this system enables the player to begin with a higher betting amount, if desired. It is also a very good system for recovering losses.

The Fibonacci Betting System

2009-04-15T09:56:00.000-07:00

The Fibonacci betting system is founded upon the Fibonacci sequence which is quite well known in different areas such as architecture and art. This sequence of numbers was created by Leonardo Pisan, an Italian mathematician, in the 12th century. The series of numbers for the Fibonacci system is 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89, 144 and so on. Each number in the sequence is produced by totaling the two previous numbers. The concept behind this betting system is that a win will compensate for any losses.

You begin this betting system by placing a wager of one unit on an even-money bet. In the event that you win the first bet, the sequence is not started and you place one unit again on the next bet. If first bet is lost, then the sequence of the Fibonacci betting system begins.

You then follow the Fibonacci sequence of 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89, 144...

Since you have already placed a bet in the amount of 1 unit, your next bet will be the second number in the sequence (which also happens to be 1). If you continue to lose the next bet, then you continue down the sequence until you finally hit a win.

Once you win a hand, return to the original betting amount of one unit. Once a number has been used by a player, it is then crossed out. It should also be noted that in the event of a win, the player erases the last two numbers in the sequence. The player comes to the end of the Fibonacci betting system pattern when all the numbers have been crossed out. It is recommended to limit the length of a Fibonacci betting system row to six or seven consecutive losses. This is considered to be a relatively steady system.

The "Let it Ride" Betting System

2009-04-10T15:11:00.000-07:00

The "Let It Ride" betting system, also known as the "Parlay" betting system, is a positive progression betting strategy. It is also one of my favourite betting systems because I love to yell "LET IT RIDE" when I have a big hand on the table. The Let it Ride betting system is one of the oldest forms of wagering, and is thought to cover some of the flaws in the Martingale system. It does this through a system known as pyramiding.

How to use the "Let it Ride" betting system

The trick to pyramiding is to choose a number of wins beforehand, and when you reach that number go back to your original bet.

Say that you win a $25 hand. You then decide, "I am going for a three win streak". You keep adding all of your winnings into the bet and once you win three in a row, take your winnings and return to the original wager.

The other time that you would return to your original bet is if you lose at any point. You then wait for another win before trying to "let it ride" again. Don't try to employ this betting strategy in the middle of a losing streak. This is one of the dumbest things you could do.

In my opinion, this betting system is one of the most fun. I have won many times using this method and it is very exciting when you are playing a big hand and win.

Just last week I was using this betting system making original bets of $5. Things were going up and down for a long time, and then I hit a small losing streak. I put down $5 and won. "Let it ride!" I put my $10 win into the pot for a total of $20. My next hand is... blackjack, for a win of $15 dollars! "Let it ride!" I throw my $15 into the pot for a juicy $25 bet. The dealer busts on 14! "Just one more" I say to myself as I throw in my $25 win to let it. Next hand is... blackjack!

I had just won $125 in the blink of an eye and had a huge adrenaline rush going. Granted, it doesn't always work out like that, but isn't it great when it does? I love the Let it Ride betting system.

The Labouchere Betting System

2009-04-07T15:18:00.000-07:00

Another blackjack betting strategy that has worked well for me is the Labouchere system. It is also sometimes referred to as the "Split Martingale". This betting strategy is considered to be a negative progression system. There are many variations of the Labouchere system, but I am going to show you one that has worked for me particularly well.

To begin this betting strategy, you must first write down a series of numbers such as 1 2 3 4 5 6. The numbers you write don't have to be in order, and can be long or short. These numbers represent betting units.

Here is an example, let's say you are using the 1 2 3 4 5 6 betting series. Your first bet will be 7 units (the first number, 1 unit, plus the last number 6 units). If you were playing blackjack at a base unit of $5, the first bet would be 7 units x $5 per unit = $35. If you win, you then cross out the 6 and the 1 and bet a total of 7 units again (5 +2). If you lose you add two numbers back (6+1).

Each number represents the amount in chips that you are going to bet. You add up the first and last numbers in the series and that is the amount of units you will bet. Once you have rotated through your entire series of numbers by winning each bet, you then start over from the beginning. By using the Labouchere betting system, you will always turn a profit when you finally finish cycling through your entire betting series by winning all bets.

The Paroli Betting System

2009-04-03T14:44:00.000-07:00

The Paroli betting system is pretty much the opposite of the Martingale system. In this betting system you double your bet after every win and bet low after each loss. To do this, you need a betting plan before you start playing. You need to decide how far you are willing to go with your betting before you decide to start over again.

Here is one example; say you are playing some online blackjack and brought $100 to the table. Using the Paroli strategy, you place a $2 bet and win. You then place your second bet of $4. You win again and place your third bet of $8.

At this point you decide that 3 consecutive wins will be your stopping point and proceed back to the original bet of $2.

Should I Use the Paroli Betting System?
One of the greatest advantages to this blackjack betting strategy is that it does not require a large bankroll compared to many other betting systems you might find. This betting strategy is also considered to be a more stable than other betting systems.

1-3-2-6 Betting System

2009-04-02T15:13:00.000-07:00

The name of this system, the 1-3-2-6 betting system, really explains it all. It's a system based on the betting pattern 1 unit, then 3 units, then 2 units, then 6 units. This type of blackjack betting system is based on the Paroli system and it's based on the premise that you can win 4 times in a row.

This system is a positive progression betting system which means you increase the betting amount when you win.

Examples of the 1-3-2-6 Betting System

For this example we will assume that we are betting in units of $5.

Using the 1-3-2-6 sequence, your first bet would be one unit ($5.00). If you win this bet move on to the next number in the sequence.

Since the next number is 3 that means our next bet is 3 units of 5 dollars which = $15.00 total bet. Again, if we win we move to the next number in the sequence until we reach the end.

If at anytime you are to lose, simply restart the sequence from the beginning. Try to get through the sequence all over again.

This system is very good at money management and can be quite fun to play with as well.

Blackjack Card Counting Secrets

2009-03-31T21:48:00.000-07:00

As I am sure you have all seen before in movies such as 21, there is much more to counting cards than adding and subtracting. The art of card counting takes years to master, but I am going to share with you a trick that makes it much easier.

Remembering the count is going to be your toughest challenge as it is very easy to lose concentration. This is why you should associate words with numbers.

Card Counting Tricks of the Trade

+1 = Tree (only one tree in a field of grass)
+2 = Switch (on and off)
+3 = Stool (has three legs)
+4 = Car (four wheels)
+5 = Glove (five fingers)
+6 = Gun (six rounds)
+7 = Craps
+8 = Pool (the black 8 ball)
+9 = Cat (cat has nine lives)
+10 = Bowling (ten pins)
+11 = Football
+12 = Eggs (a dozen eggs in a basket)
+13 = Witch
+14 = Ring (14k gold)
+15 = Paycheck (15th and 30th of every month)
+16 = Sweet
+17 = Magazine (the magazine "Seventeen")
+18 = Voting booth (have to be 18 to vote)

Instead of trying to remember the count in number form (which gets mentally exhausting and leads to error), say a sentence to yourself after each hand. For example, if the count is +10 you can say to yourself, "maybe I will go bowling after this". Don't say it out loud of course or they might think something up! This trick will really help your card counting skills evolve to the next level.

Finally, you can use the same words if the count is negative because that part is not difficult to remember. In other words, you will always know whether the count is positive or negative, but the number remembering is tricky. Hopefully this helps all of you aspiring card counters. Good luck!

How to count cards in blackjack

2009-03-31T09:44:00.000-07:00

Before you can actually try any of the card counting strategies on my blog, you must first understand the basic concepts of how to count cards in blackjack.

All you really need to remember is that each card is given a specific point value ranging from -1, 0, and +1. These values change depeding on what card counting system you are using. I have provided charts for each system so that you can learn the point values.

Regardless which card counting system you choose, they all serve the same purpose in the end--to predict when those sweet high cards will be coming our way. Some systems accomplish this better than others.

You will see many similarites across counting systems. High cards will always have a negative value, and low cards will always have a positive value, just some of the numbers will change. If you think you can handle it then I strongly encourage you to give it a go!

Card Counting- The Hi-Lo System

2009-03-30T17:37:00.000-07:00

The Hi-Lo Counting Strategy
Level of difficulty: 1

The Hi-Lo count was my ace in the hole for the longest time. I would frequently visit casinos with my friends, watching them burn a hole in their pockets yet still finding ways to criticise my game.

"Why don't you just play poker? Blackjack is a fool's game!"

"I don't LIKE poker, OK? It's slow, boring, monotonous... not for me! Oh, and by the way, where did all your cash go?

The Hi-Lo counting strategy is the first system I ever learned and is still one of my favorites because it taught my buddies to shut their traps. Now they want me to teach them to count cards!

Don't be fooled into thinking the Hi-Lo is weak because it's simple. Master the count and you will be making money hand over fist (literally). The only hard part in maintaining your focus and concentration.

Low cards- Two, three, four, five, and six are all given a value of +1. These cards are bad for us because they make it less likely for the dealer to bust.

High cards- Ten, Jack, Queen, King, and Ace are given a value of -1. These cards help us out by increasing our probability of getting 17 or above on our first two cards. It also increases the dealer's chances of busting.

Neutral cards- The cards seven, eight, and nine have no value so you basically ignore them.

Here is a great betting system that you can use with the Hi-Lo or any other card counting system.

Card Counting- The Hi-Opt I System

2009-03-29T10:48:00.000-07:00

The Hi-Opt I Counting Strategy
Level of Difficulty: 1

Point Values Explained:

Low cards- Three, four, five, and six are all given a value of +1.

High cards- Ten, Jack, Queen, and King, are given a value of -1.

Neutral cards- Ace, two, seven, eight, nine have a value of 0.

The Hi-Opt I is another very popular card counting system that many people use because of its level of ease. Like the Hi-Lo system, it is a balanced counting strategy meaning that if you count the whole deck from start to end your final number will be zero.

This counting strategy is very straightforward. The only difference between this system and the Hi-Lo is that Aces and 2's hold no value. This makes it an even easier than the Hi-Lo count. That being said, many people choose to keep a side count of the number of Aces played. This gives you a more accurate idea when to place insurance or double down.

Card Counting- The Hi-Opt II System

2009-03-28T06:04:00.000-07:00

The Hi-Opt II Counting Strategy

Level of difficulty: 2

The Hi-Opt II is another variation of the Hi-Lo system. It will be hard at first getting used to this if you have been using the Hi-Lo for a long time but it will happen. If you are just learning to count then this is the system I would recommend. It is more powerful in terms of accuracy, which means more money for you in the long run. To make this system even better you could keep a side count of how many Aces have been dealt.

Start practicing this system by flipping through a deck of cards. Do this one hundred times a day. Once you start to get real good you will be able to count two cards at the same time. This will save you a ton of mental energy.

Point Values Explained

Low Cards- 2, 3, and 7 have a value of +1. Now this is where it gets tricky because 4, 5, and 6 have a value of +2. This is the part that takes some getting used to.

High Cards- Like most card counting strategies, all 10 valued cards are counted as -1.

Neutral Cards- The neutral cards in the Hi Opt II are Ace, 8, 9.

Card Counting- The Zen Count

2009-03-27T23:44:00.000-07:00

The Zen Count
Level of difficulty: 2

I know what you all are thinking and no, the Zen Count is not some kind of Buddhist meditation. But it is a wicked powerful card counting system that can win you a lot of money if you play your cards right.

The Zen Count was first introduced in a book written by Arnold Snyder, a professional blackjack player for many years. The book is called "Black Belt in Blackjack" and I really recommend you pick it up if you want to expand your knowledge further.

One of the things I really like about the Zen Count is that it comes with its own unique betting system.

If count is...
Negative to +1 bet one unit.
+2 bet two units.
+3 bet three units
+4 bet four units
+5 bet five units
+6 bet six units
+7 bet seven units
+8 bet eight units
+9 bet nine units
+10 bet ten units

And that's the Zen Count in a nutshell. Easy, right?

And if you're having trouble remembering the count, just keep practicing, and don't get discouraged. Remember, this is also a level 2 card counting system, so it is harder than the hi-lo.

Card Counting- The Omega II System

2009-03-26T11:15:00.000-07:00

The Omega II Counting Strategy

Level of Difficulty: 2 (advanced)

The Omega II was used by many pros in the 90's, however due to its difficulty many have abandoned this system in favor of ones less complex.As you can see from the chart, the point values are much different in the Omega II system. Additionally, it is less effective if you do not keep an ace count on the side, so I would advise that you do. This makes it even more challenging, but if you can master it you will have it made at any casino you go into.

The Omega II is the one of, if not the strongest counting system that currently exists. The betting correlation (how good the system is at recognizing favourable conditions) is 0.92 without and Ace count, and 0.99 with an Ace count! This makes the Omega II a card counter's dream, if he can master it.

Card Counting- The K-O System

2009-03-25T10:31:00.000-07:00

The K-O Strategy

Level of difficulty: 1

The "Knock Out" counting strategy, known to most as the "K-O strategy" is one of the most popular counting systems to date. It is a unbalanced count, which makes it much easier because you can use the running count as your true count.

The K-O is considered to be a powerful level 1 system. In fact, when this strategy was first published in 1996, most experts had a difficult time believing that such a powerful counting system could also be so simple. It is now place at the same level as the Hi-Lo system. You can practice this count by flipping through a deck of cards from start to end. If you do it perfect you should have a count of +4 by the time you reach the end.

$5 Blackjack Online

2009-03-24T22:26:00.000-07:00

There are plenty of places where you can play $5 blackjack online. I have found that the best places are not necessarily the most well known.

I have found a few golden casinos that have been working like a charm for me. In my opinion, there are three online casinos that offer you the best odds at the $5 blackjack tables.

Blackjack Ballroom

This place is top notch for $5 blackjack. I have always had good luck playing at Blackjack Ballroom, which leads me to believe that the software is quite fair. Never have I had an unusual number of losing streaks. In fact, at Blackjack Ballroom I quite often win.

Additionally, when you play $5 blackjack you get a huge deposit bonus (1 hour and $500 free to make as much as you can). How can you beat a deal like that?

Cherry Red Casino

A great place to play $5 blackjack is Cherry Red Casino. It has huge deposit bonuses (up to $777) and has gained a wide reputation for being fair. I would not hesitate recommending Cherry Red to anyone looking to make a quick buck from playing $5 blackjack online.

Rushmore Casino

A relatively new casino in the market, people are saying payouts are disproportionately high in an attempt to hook new customers. I have played at Rushmore and while I didn't find myself to be winning disproportionately, I was still up pretty large at the end of the night. And I was playing $5 blackjack at the time!

Card Counting- The Kiss II System

2009-03-24T17:05:00.000-07:00

The KISS II Counting Strategy

Level of difficulty: 1

The Kiss II strategy is an unbalanced level 1 counting system. It first appeared in Blackjack Bluebook II and quickly gained popularity among blackjack enthusiasts. The Kiss strategies are designed to start simple and get harder as you move up. Kiss 1 is used by only beginners who don't play blackjack often. You are much better to start with Kiss II or Kiss III. The Kiss II works better with single deck games while the Kiss III has better results for multiple decks.

The tricky part to learning the Kiss II counting system is that it's a suit aware count. In this system the 2's are counted differently, depending on the color of the suit. Hearts and diamonds (any red card) are worth +1, clubs and spades are worth 0. Keep in mind that this only applies to 2's, all the other cards you would disregard the suit.

$1 Blackjack Online

2009-03-23T21:49:00.000-07:00

Take it from me, there are literally hundreds of online casinos nowadays, and they all range in quality--from awesome to complete garbage.

So how can you find out where the best place to play $1 blackjack?

Plain and simple, because I am going to make it very easy for you. I have personally tried many many online blackjack games and when it comes right down to it there are only a few companies out there that really seem to payout huge.

Blackjack Ballroom

Blackjack Ballroom is one of the best places to play $1 blackjack, hands down. The odds seem fair, and I never notice myself having strange losing streaks like at other online casinos which make me question their trustworthiness. New players get their choice of a 1 hour and $500 free promotion, or a 40% matching bonus!

Cherry Red Casino

I have never felt short changed while playing $1 blackjack at Cherry Red. I really like the software and the visuals of the blackjack tables.

To sweeten the pot, Cherry Red offers huge blackjack bonuses for anyone who deposits. I strongly recommend Cherry Red to anyone looking for fair $1 blackjack.

Rushmore Casino

Rushmore Casino was my ace in the hole last year when I won over $3000 playing online blackjack in less than a month! It also offers $1 blackjack for those of you who bet more conservatively.

Card Counting- The Kiss III System

2009-03-23T09:33:00.000-07:00

The Kiss III Counting Strategy
Level of Difficulty: 1

The KISS strategies are designed to start easy and get harder as you go. The KISS III counting system is similar to the Red7 and works best with shoe games (meaning more than one deck). You will find that the Kiss III is much more accurate for betting compared to the KISS II.

Making the switch from the KISS II to the KISS III is easy as pie. The count is almost exactly the same, the only difference being that 7's are counted as +1 under the KISS III whereas 7's hold no value in the KISS II. The Kiss III is also a suit-aware count as you can see on the chart above. As you can tell, the 2 is counted differently depending on the color of the suit. Reds are +1, blacks are 0. This will increase the accuracy of your count even further.

Best Online Blackjack For Cash

2009-03-22T22:58:00.000-07:00

A lot of people ask me "where is the best place that I can play online blackjack for real cash?"

There are a lot of things to consider, like reputation, sign-up bonuses, and online community. But usually the best place for online blackjack will be the one's with the biggest bonuses. That's free cash baby!

Mount Rushmore is a solid online casino that has had me raking in the cash over the years. Take it from me, the blackjack offered here is 100% legit. I have never experienced bad streaks while playing here.

Cherry Red is another sexy casino with lucrative sign-up bonuses and a beautiful graphic interface that really puts you in the mood for blackjack. Cherry Red is without a doubt one of the best places on the net to play blackjack online for real cash.

Golden Casino is true to its name. It is truly a golden casino as I have literally raked in the cash on several occasions with a few fiery streaks. Let it ride baby!

Blackjack Ballroom is one of my favorites! You literally get $500 in free cash just for signing up. You have one hour to make as much as you can with it through online blackjack. You keep the winnings.

These are the best places that I have found anywhere, and I have done a lot of research online about the online blackjack industry. That's it from me, and good luck at the tables!

10 Tips for Making Money at Blackjack

2009-03-21T22:20:00.000-07:00

Take it from me, there are steps you can take right now that will have you making money at blackjack almost immediately.

How is this possible? With casino bonuses my friend. That's right, online casinos give huge sign-up bonuses to new players. Some of them even match your deposit, dollar for dollar!

Anyways, I have devised 10 tips aimed at helping the average player make money at blackjack instantly.

10 Tips for Making Money At Blackjack

1. Sign up for an online casino. Look for ones that have big sign up bonuses for new players. I have put some of the best ones on the right hand side of my blog for your convenience.

2. Make a deposit. The amount that you choose will be the amount that the casino match. For example, if you deposit $500 the casino will give you $500 to match.

3. Bet aggressively. Remember, this isn't your money it's the casinos. If you lose it all, don't dip into your money. Transfer it back to your bank account and signup to another online casino! There are so many out there that you can do this for a long long time.

4. Double up, then walk away. If you are winning with your bonus money, once you double up, walk away. You will only win in the short term.

5. Never split two 10's.

6. Always hit a 16 against a dealer's 10.

7. Always hit a soft 17 against a 9 and 10.

8. Unless you are card counting, never ever take insurance.

9. Quit while you're ahead.

10. Quit while you're ahead.

With So Many Online Gambling Casinos--Which Ones Are The Best?

2008-04-19T09:16:00.000-07:00

With new online casinos popping up every other week it is getting hard to keep track of them all. Sadly, because there are so few regulations when it comes to online gambling, many of these casinos are straight-up shady.

How do you find a good online gambling casino? By taking my word and staying away from sites like Ultimate Bet and company. Take it from me, I have pretty much tried them all, and lost a ton of money before I learned which online gambling casinos were reputable and honest.

Cherry Red is one of my favorite online gambling casinos, with a nice software platform to boot. I have tracked my win-loss record with them for a long time and have not found anything to be suspicious.

Mount Rushmore is on the up-and-up, I'm sure. I have tracked my win-loss record through thousands of hands and my numbers fall into the statistical norm.

Always remember, a company without regulations is likely to screw you over. Online gambling casinos are no different. Choose wisely before you make a decision.