Should you always play by the book in Blackjack?

**yisman** · 08-23-11, 06:35 PM

^ What if the dealer shows an Ace or a 10/J/Q/K? 16 vs. 7 it doesn't really matter whether you hit or stand.

**wquine** · 08-23-11, 06:41 PM

idk all the probabilities, but if you has an A5 and the dealer had a Qx then x is more likely to be 2-9 than if you had 97 for instance. but i dont play BJ, so just asking i guess. so yisman, you stand on 16 no matter what?

**wquine** · 08-23-11, 06:41 PM

obv not 88, but that goes without saying...

**BettingWizard** · 08-23-11, 06:43 PM

Originally posted by yisman

^ What if the dealer shows an Ace or a 10/J/Q/K? 16 vs. 7 it doesn't really matter whether you hit or stand.

7 is the worst hand to stand against if you have 16.

you hit and get a 2 3 4 or 5, you win against a pat 17. Ace is a push

**Streakster777** · 08-23-11, 06:48 PM

Not to go OT, but just had to mention another strange play I witnessed the other day. I have seen people stupidly stand on less than 10 before, but last weekend was the first time I have ever seen someone hit their hard 19. Dealer had a face card showing, player said he was tired of losing to the dealers 20. The face card he was given would of busted the dealer instead, lol.

**wiffle** · 08-26-11, 12:36 PM

Originally posted by warriorfan707

believe it or not, I have entertained the notion that never hitting on 16 may be +EV

look at it this way.... you hit on 16 you are hoping for a 5 or less

why not just hope the dealer has a 6 or less under, and then they have to hit

TBAB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!l!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!11111

**yisman** · 08-26-11, 01:35 PM

Originally posted by wquine

idk all the probabilities, but if you has an A5 and the dealer had a Qx then x is more likely to be 2-9 than if you had 97 for instance. but i dont play BJ, so just asking i guess. so yisman, you stand on 16 no matter what?

Where did I say i stand on 16? I play by the chart. It's simple.

If you have soft 16, you always hit.

If you have hard 16, you surrender vs. 10 or A and hit against 7-9

7 is the worst hand to stand against if you have 16.

it's worse to stand against an ace, I think.

16 vs. 7 it pretty much doesn't matter whether you hit or stand.

Originally posted by Streakster777

Not to go OT, but just had to mention another strange play I witnessed the other day. I have seen people stupidly stand on less than 10 before, but last weekend was the first time I have ever seen someone hit their hard 19. Dealer had a face card showing, player said he was tired of losing to the dealers 20. The face card he was given would of busted the dealer instead, lol.

if the dealer was showing a face card wouldn't he have gotten the other face for 20?

**yisman** · 08-26-11, 01:40 PM

Originally posted by wquine

idk all the probabilities, but if you has an A5 and the dealer had a Qx then x is more likely to be 2-9 than if you had 97 for instance. but i dont play BJ, so just asking i guess. so yisman, you stand on 16 no matter what?

Originally posted by ttwarrior1

i never hit on 16 ever, and alot of times won't hit on 15

Originally posted by wquine

someone said they never hit on a 16?! what if the dealer shows a 7?

You should be talking to ttwarrior. And again, 7 is not the example to give, because 16 vs. 7 is not the worst situation.

**BigDofBA** · 08-26-11, 01:57 PM

How can some people be so clueless?

Playing by the book gives you your best chance of winnIng. That means if you have a 16 and the dealer had a face card you should hit. You will win more hitting 14s and 15s against face cards than you will if you stand. Simple math.,,

If you stand, you're giving the dealer two shots to beat you. Most likely he already has you beaten if he I'd showing a face card, this is why you should hit. Even if he doesn't have a better hand, by not hitting, you give him a chance take your card and beat you.

I mean, if you have a 16.....an ace, 2, 3, 4, and 5 all improve your hand. You have lots of outs and you should try to hit them since most likely you're holding a loser anyway.

I'm not sure why anyone would go against playing by the book since it's proven math.

**yisman** · 08-26-11, 02:00 PM

If you have 16 vs. a face card, you're better off surrendering.

**BettingWizard** · 08-26-11, 02:23 PM

Originally posted by BettingWizard

7 is the worst hand to stand against if you have 16.

you hit and get a 2 3 4 or 5, you win against a pat 17. Ace is a push

your most wins, hitting with 16, will come against a 7. That's why I said it's the worst.

**BigDofBA** · 08-26-11, 02:23 PM

Originally posted by yisman

If you have 16 vs. a face card, you're better off surrendering.

Not all Casinos offer surrendering. But yeah, it slightly cuts losses over time.

**yisman** · 08-26-11, 02:29 PM

7 is not worse than Ace.

**BiffTFinancial** · 08-26-11, 02:43 PM

i play by the book, sit all the way to the left, sit with at least two friends to my right, pound the shit out of all splits and double downs, and play the minimum so long as anyone at the table isn't playing by the book. i try to make one of the friends someone who will browbeat anyone who's not playing by the book. and if someone walks up to the table with some sort of coupon to jump in for a hand, sit that one out.

**yisman** · 08-26-11, 02:59 PM

^ What's the reasoning?

**Streakster777** · 08-26-11, 04:10 PM

The dumb plays and correct plays that others make at the table have no effect on your game longterm, maybe for that specific hand itself, but it really doesn't matter longterm, as the dumb plays others make may help you as much as hurt you. Of course its easier to remember the guy hitting his 12~16 versus a dealers 6 when you lose only, nobody remembers when it helped you win though.

**Streakster777** · 08-26-11, 04:13 PM

if the dealer was showing a face card wouldn't he have gotten the other face for 20?

The dealer had a face card showing and had a 5 underneath. Dealer would of busted if the guy stayed on his hard 19. Needless to say, he didn't last long at the table, lol.

**yisman** · 08-29-11, 08:12 PM

Yesterday, a guy doubled down on 13.

Long term, I should have an advantage, but I don't, because the dealer tends to bust a lot in these games.

If only it worked that way in real blackjack...

**Full Time Hobo** · 08-29-11, 09:06 PM

Originally posted by Streakster777

Not to go OT, but just had to mention another strange play I witnessed the other day. I have seen people stupidly stand on less than 10 before, but last weekend was the first time I have ever seen someone hit their hard 19. Dealer had a face card showing, player said he was tired of losing to the dealers 20. The face card he was given would of busted the dealer instead, lol.

Wow.

Play by the book like others have said.

When you get ahead get out. Basically need to have enough to last the swings of the different shoes.

**yisman** · 08-29-11, 09:51 PM

playing now, dealer just busted three hands in a row, at least.

People betting big and being reckless do well in DSI's blackjack tournies.

Every time dealer has a 12 and hits, gets a 10. Three 22s already for the dealer, I think.

Dealer just busted again! Incredible.

And again! Most of the 10 hands, dealer busted. I lost. Amazing.

**AmpleGamble** · 08-30-11, 03:21 PM

Playing by the book will allow you to lost the least money possible. You wont win in the long run

**mr.inpak** · 08-30-11, 03:32 PM

dealt the game for 26 years the answer is yes if you do you are only giving up a half a percent the only exception would be if you are counting cards

**krk1030** · 08-30-11, 03:45 PM

You will lose in the long run anyway so it really does not matter, playing blackjack is stupid.

**P.F.Kasooff** · 08-30-11, 03:53 PM

Maybe this has already been said. If you play by the book you'll LOSE LESS. Think about that for a moment! LOSE LESS

**yisman** · 08-31-11, 01:51 AM

What's to think about? Everyone knows there's a significant house edge with casinos.

Only way to win is by playing card games and counting cards, but casinos don't let people get away with that.

**BiffTFinancial** · 08-31-11, 06:41 PM

Originally posted by yisman

^ What's the reasoning?

because it's always worked well for me, which i know is not a good reason. all the way left lets me see more cards than anyone except dealer, and obviously it's better for everyone to play by the book. i think that blackjack is a game of staking. i bet the minimum a lot, and increase when i'm winning and try to hammer splits and double downs. i play the minimum the first 30 minutes to an hour, seems like i always start cold. i reset to minimum on change of dealer, if someone doesn't play by the book, if someone walks up with a coupon to play one hand. i never bet big when i'm cold or losing. it's a lot more art than science and i'm sure i've been lucky, but that is how i would describe the method that has worked best for me.

**ddesmara** · 08-31-11, 11:48 PM

play by the book most of the time. but take risks too.

**gdoom** · 08-31-11, 11:58 PM

The house always has the advantage.....Sometimes one will get lucky and win a couple stacks...

**Cappy** · 10-02-11, 08:59 PM

Originally posted by ttwarrior1

i never hit on 16 ever, and alot of times won't hit on 15

That's a good rule.

**Cappy** · 10-02-11, 09:27 PM

I would just like to say, that I am impressed about how dumb everyone is. I'm sure there are a lot of semi-smart people reading these posts who scratch their heads and go back to masturbating... But you guys are mostly retarded.

**hels** · 10-02-11, 09:58 PM

I'm surprised people haven't talked about %'s yet. Posters saying that new dealers, coupons, not hitting on 16 etc. need to be disregarded. Basic strategy is your best friend and will win you the greatest amount. However, perfect basic strategy will still lose you 0.5% every dollar you put it - or 50c every $100. How you beat this is to start card counting. It is actually pretty easy to do, I've done it when I've had the urge to sit at a table and it's just pluses and minuses. I'm sure it's helped me but I don't have any proven data. Learn it and do it. It's the only way you can win.

ps. don't play online as when you can receive AhAh you know that it there is a chance it may not be random.

**chipper** · 10-02-11, 11:50 PM

Sometimes you just have to play your hunches... I hate hitting 16's against a dealer 10 but most of the time I play by the book and take a hit and usually break. But every now and then something tells me to stand and what do you know the dealer turns over a stiff hand and takes the bust card that the book would have had me hit. Doesn't happen often but when it does I think you should trust your instincts.

**yisman** · 10-02-11, 11:51 PM

Originally posted by Cappy

I would just like to say, that I am impressed about how dumb everyone is. I'm sure there are a lot of semi-smart people reading these posts who scratch their heads and go back to masturbating... But you guys are mostly retarded.

How exactly are you contributing? Insulting everyone else is not helpful.

Many posts in this thread are dumb, but this is the Internet. Most people posting on the Internet are not particularly intelligent.

Coming in and calling everyone retarded and talking about masturbation is useless.

**Cappy** · 10-03-11, 04:40 AM

Originally posted by yisman

How exactly are you contributing? Insulting everyone else is not helpful.

Many posts in this thread are dumb, but this is the Internet. Most people posting on the Internet are not particularly intelligent.

Coming in and calling everyone retarded and talking about masturbation is useless.

I'm contributing by attempting to reduce the number of people who post their retarded, raw opinions. I have a fair amount to say on this subject, but I'm not about to waste typing useful, valuable information for the utter retards I see posting. If this were a legitimate discussion I could add to it... If this were a question which had not been answered (albeit by mongoloids) yet I would give a tempered thoughtful response which could spark a reasonable discussion.

Since those options have been taken from me, I will simply try to beat back the poison briar patch so that a glimmer of reasonable thought may someday peek through.

Also, by your logic (fuzzy as it is) wouldn't your reprimanding me for insulting the horde be just as useless as what I said????

**yisman** · 10-03-11, 07:39 AM

Originally posted by Cappy

Also, by your logic (fuzzy as it is) wouldn't your reprimanding me for insulting the horde be just as useless as what I said????

No, because I'm making a specific statement, by telling you that insulting people isn't helpful. That might help cut out that brand of nonsense.

Your post was just making a bunch of insults.