May 2020 - My Blackjack Success

WHAT IS 21 + 3 BLACKJACK

June 1, 2020May 28, 2020 by Yvette Jones

This is not so much a variant of blackjack, but a super side bet that is played. It mixes 3-card poker and blackjack together, with very tempting odds. Another variant, Player’s Choice Blackjack, also mixes 3-card poker and blackjack, but in a different manner. You can check those rules here.

The game can be found in Las Vegas and online. According to Wizard of Odds, there are at least 8 different versions, based on the number of decks used and the payouts.

Rules & Play of the Game

2-8 decks used
Blackjack pay 3:2
Insurance is allowed
Double down is allowed
Splitting pairs is allowed, with 1 re-split
Can double after split
Dealer stands on any 17
+3 side bet must be played before cards are dealt
The player’s first 2 cards and the dealer’s upcard determine the 3-card bonus payout
+3 side bet is paid based on 3 card poker hands: Suited 3 of a kind, straight flush, 3 of a kind, straight, and flush

A hand starts with the player making a regular blackjack bet and the additional +3 side bet if they want to take that chance.

The player is dealt 2 faceup cards and the dealer receives 1 card face down and 1 card face up.

If the +3 bet wins, that is paid and play continues as in standard blackjack.

Strategy & Odds

Because it is still basic blackjack, after considering the side bet, basic strategy should be used. There is no strategy for the +3 bet, that is definitely the luck of the draw. Once again proving that a side bet is usually a sucker bet. In this game, taking that chance every now and then can be lucrative (up to 100:1) because how the odds vary:

Flush pays 5:1
Straight pays 10:1
Three of a kind pays 30:1
Straight Flush pays 40:1
Suited 3 of a kind pays 100:1

The above is just one payout version. Remember to check the odds where you play, because there are at least 8 different versions available where payouts can vary.

FINAL THOUGHTS

If you’re looking for a variant that will challenge you, this is NOT it. If you want to practice your basic strategy, with a chance to make a bit extra, then you could enjoy this. Because the +3 bet is optional and doesn’t have to be made, playing this variant can be just like standard blackjack.

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21 BURN BLACKJACK-Rules & Play

August 23, 2020May 23, 2020 by Yvette Jones

21 Burn Blackjack is a variant found at online casinos, as it was developed by software provider Betsoft. It is played like standard blackjack except that the player is allowed to “burn” or reject, his second card and accept another card.

It’s similar to Burn 20 blackjack, reviewed here, but the player gets to burn the card, instead of the dealer. The player must make the Burn wager, equal to half the original bet.

Vegas Casino Online

RULES

Six decks used
Dealer hits soft 17
Blackjack pays even money
Can double any two cards, even after a split
Pairs splits only once
No surrender
Insurance is allowed
Cannot burn after a split
Burn bet must equal half the original bet
Dealer peeks at hole card for blackjack
An ace and 10 after burning a card is treated as blackjack

Sun Palace Casino

Play of the Game

The hand starts with the player placing a wager onto the betting circle. Then two cards are dealt to the player and dealer, with one face up for the dealer. If the dealer has an ace up, player can take insurance, and then dealer checks for blackjack.

After any insurance bets are taken care of, the player decides if he wants to burn his 2^nd card. If so, he places the burn bet and receives a random card.

At this point, play continues as in standard blackjack, with the options to double down, split or stand.

Once the dealer’s hand plays out, winnings are paid on the original bet and burn bet and then a new hand begins.

High Country Casino

Burn Bet Paytable

The burn bet is a built-in side bet. If you receive an ace, it will pay 2:1 or 7:1 depending on the ace. If you receive any other card, that bet is lost.

Ace of spades – pays 7 to 1
All other aces – pay 2 to 1
All other cards – loss

STRATEGY

The overall play is similar to standard blackjack, but the burn bet should only be used in certain situations. By burning a card, you’re hoping to get lucky with a card that will improve your hand, for half the amount of your original bet.

As with most side bets in blackjack, the burn bet is negative. According to the experts, a player will lose 67.31% of the burn bet money they wager. With that in mind, the burn bet should only be used when:

The first card is a 7, the second card is an 8 or 9, and the dealer shows a 7
The first card is an 8, the second card is a 4 or 5, and the dealer shows a 7
The first card is an 8, the second card is a 6 or 7, and the dealer shows a 7 or 8
The first card is an 8, the second card is a 9, and the dealer shows a 9
The first card is a 9, the second card is a 3, and the dealer shows a 9, 10, or ace
The first card is a 9, the second card is a 4, and the dealer shows a 10 or ace
The first card is a 9, the second card is a 5, and the dealer shows a 10
The first card is a 9, the second card is a 6 or 7, always burn
The first card is a 9, the second card is an 8, and the dealer shows an 8, 9 or ace
The first card is a 10, the second card is a 7, except if dealer shows a 3, 4, 5, or 6
The first card is a 10, the second card is a 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6, always burn

You can find a chart form of this strategy at The Wizard of Odds.com

While that may seem like a long list, you rarely want to burn your second card. You should notice that burning the second card should only be considered if your first card is 7, 8, 9 or 10.

Remember, the burn bet is highly negative and should be used sparingly, only when the odds of winning the initial bet are considerably improved.

Where to Play

Best online casinos to play this:

Las Vegas USA Casino

Old Havana Casino

FINAL THOUGHTS

If you’re bored with standard blackjack, here’s another variant that will have you thinking and challenge your game play. Though the burn bet is enticing, remember it’s a sucker bet like most side bets, and you should only play it in certain situations. If you know basic strategy, you can have fun with the challenges of this variant.

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BASIC ROULETTE STRATEGY

June 1, 2020May 18, 2020 by Yvette Jones

While roulette is not a hard game to understand, the problem is learning how to bet properly. As in any game of chance, there is no fool-proof method to winning consistently.

How to Play

There is an American version and a European version, the difference being the “double zero” slot found in the American version. Players place their bets on the roulette table and watch as the croupier spins the roulette wheel in one direction and rolls the roulette ball in the opposite direction. Once the ball stops and lands in a numbered slot, if you placed a bet on the number that the ball landed in, you’re a winner! Once all bets are paid off for that spin, it starts all over again, a very simple process.

How to Bet on Roulette

Each player is given a different color chip, so the croupier knows which player to pay on different bets. He can also guess the player jumping up and down is probably the one who won his bet. There will also be a table minimum bet.

There are two basic areas for betting in roulette, the inside and the outside. The minimum bet for the table is usually the same for inside and outside, however, the inside bet can cover multiple bets, whereas the outside bet covers one spot and must be that minimum. For example, a $5 minimum inside bet can be $1 on 5 different numbers, and an outside $5 minimum bet is a $5 bet on one option.

Types of Inside Bets

Single Number – Straight bet – pays 35:1, the riskiest, but most rewarding
Two Numbers – Split bet – pays 17:1, your chips are placed on the line splitting 2 numbers
Three Numbers – Street bet – pays 11:1, your chips are placed on the line that separates the inside and outside of the table
Four Numbers – Corner or Square bet – pays 8:1, your chips are placed on the line intersecting all four numbers
Six Numbers – Double Street bet – pays 5:1, your chips are placed on the line between two rows of numbers, between the inside and outside of the table
In American roulette, there is a five number bet that pays 6:1, your chips are placed on the line beside the zero, double zero and numbers 1-3

Keep in mind that the inside bets have the best payouts, because they have the highest house edge and you have to assess the risks vs. the rewards.

Types of Outside Bets

Red or Black – pays 1:1, chips are placed on the red or black diamond
Odd or Even – pays 1:1, chips are placed on the odd or even rectangle
Field Bets – pays 1:1, chips are placed in the rectangles marked 1-18, or 19-36
Dozen Bet – pays 2:1, chips are placed in the rectangles marked 1^st 12, 2^nd 12 or 3^rd 12
Column Bet – pays 2:1, also a 12 number bet, chips are placed in the squares at the end of the number columns

Outside bets are safer bets and therefore have lower payouts.

Best Roulette Tips and Strategy

Beware of the house edge – Understand that the house edge in American Roulette is 5.26% (it’s 2.7% in the European game) which is big compared to the .5% house edge in blackjack. There are better ways than roulette, to make money in a casino.
Manage your bankroll wisely – as in most casino games, give yourself a loss limit before you step to the table
Control your emotions – if you keep calm while having fun, the smarter bets you’ll make and hopefully win more money
Stick to the outside bets – While they have the lowest payouts, they are the safest bets, with more consistent payouts over the long run.
Stay away from betting systems – There are popular betting systems, such as The Martingale System, associated with roulette, but for the most part, you’ll lose your bankroll quick if you run into a bad streak. As a beginner, don’t try to use any roulette betting system, just play for the fun and the experience.

FINAL THOUGHTS

In a casino, the roulette table can produce some of the loudest cheers. It’s a fun game that can have huge payouts for the players. There is no absolute strategy with this game of chance. Each roll is a separate occurrence and you must remember the old adage “the wheel has no memory.” Give it a chance, just for the fun of it!

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WAR BLACKJACK

June 1, 2020May 15, 2020 by Yvette Jones

War Blackjack was first played in Las Vegas in 2013 and won the Raving Table Games Conference Best New Table Game of the year at the convention.

The good thing about this variant is that it’s not complicated at all because the difference is that it includes a side bet called the War Bet. It is a combination of blackjack and the card game war.

RULES

Can be based on any blackjack rules
For purposes of the War bet, Aces count as 1, all other cards are ranked as in poker (KvsQ is not a tie, it’s a win for the King)
Dealer wins War bet ties
The War bet is based on the first cards for the player and dealer
If the player wins the War bet, he can either collect his war wager and winnings or collect the war wager only and parlay the winnings by adding it to the blackjack wager
War bet pays even money
Once the player and dealer have 2 cards, the hand plays out like traditional blackjack
Double down is allowed
Splitting is allowed
Insurance is allowed
Surrender is not allowed
Dealer hits soft 17

Play of the Game

To start the hand, the player first makes a regular blackjack bet and a War bet if he wants. The War bet is actually optional and doesn’t have to be made. The War bet is only defined by table limits, it does not have to be any multiple of the blackjack bet.

The dealer deals the player a card and himself a card face up. Whichever card is higher by rank, wins the War the bet.

As mentioned in the rules, if the player wins the War bet, he has two options. He can collect the bet and the winnings, or collect just the winnings and add the bet to his blackjack bet.

After that decision has been made, play continues with the player receiving a second card and the dealer receiving a second card face down.

If the dealer has a 10 or Ace showing, insurance is offered. If the dealer doesn’t have blackjack, play continues as a standard game, where the player may hit, stand, double, or split. The hand closest to 21, without going over wins.

Strategy

Of course, the regular blackjack part of the game should be played with basic blackjack strategy. The War bet is where some different strategy should be implemented.

Fortunately, it only involves a few decisions:

Never parlay the bet if the dealer shows an Ace or 10-value card
Never parlay the bet if you win with a 5 or lower
If you win with a six or higher, parlay only if your card and the dealer’s card total 11 or more
The only exception to the above rule is to parlay an 8 against a dealer’s 2

FINAL THOUGHTS

While it is basically traditional blackjack with a side bet, the house edge is heightened just a bit to 1.16% because of that. But remember, the War bet is optional, so you can play at the table as if were regular blackjack, which would bring the house edge back down to .5%.

War blackjack seems to be available only in live casinos in Las Vegas, California, South Dakota and Oklahoma. It makes blackjack fun to have an extra side bet if you want it.

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BE A SMART GAMBLER

May 23, 2020May 13, 2020 by Yvette Jones

Is it really possible to be a smart gambler? In terms of casino games, where you’re more than likely to lose your bet, it doesn’t seem that anybody could be a smart gambler. You just have to realize that to be a smart gambler doesn’t mean you’ll always win. I think you can consider yourself a smart gambler if you can become a better gambler.

SET A LOSS LIMIT – Stick to it!

You’ve probably heard the old adage, don’t play with money you can’t afford to lose. Well that’s a very good place to start. To be smart, give yourself a loss limit before even stepping into a casino.

While that is an easy thing to say, what gets most people in trouble is that they go into a casino with more than their loss limit. The typical gambler will enter a casino with $400 and tell themselves that they’ll stop if they lose $200.

Many casino games play at a very fast pace and that $200 will be gone in 20 minutes! You’ll be shocked and telling yourself “I just got here, I want to play a little more.” There’s the hook the casino threw and you grabbed it! You’ll play with that extra $200, but hopefully at a slower pace, but then it’s gone in another 30 minutes. Wow, $400 dollars gone in about 1 hour! But was it fun? The first $200 was fun because you knew you could afford to lose that, but the 2^nd $200 probably hurt a bit. Give yourself a limit and stick to it!

DON’T GET GREEDY

Just like a loss limit, you should also have in mind a win amount you would be happy with. While I’m not saying stop playing when the dice are rolling your way, or the cards a coming your way, but stop when it starts to go bad.

Of course you want to keep playing when it’s going well and you’re winning every other hand or so, but recognize when the winning stops and pull yourself away.

Let’s say you go in thinking I’ll be happy winning $150 and a winning streak has you up $500. At that point, the cards turn and the next thing you know, you’re back down to up $100. Now you’re mad at yourself because you were up more the 2.5 times what you wanted, but have backed it down to less than you wanted. Teach yourself to walk away when the winning streak has come to an end and take the winnings you’re given! Don’t be greedy!

You have to remember, the longer you play any casino game, the more you’re apt to lose! Stay long, play wrong! In the long run, the casino always wins.

KNOW THE ODDS

All casino games have a house edge, so the idea is to play those with the lowest house edge.

Ranking of casino games by house edge:

Blackjack: .5%
Video Poker: .5% – 3%
Craps: .6% – 1.4%
Baccarat: 1.2%
Poker: 2.5% – 5.2%
Roulette: 5.3%
Slots: 5% – 10%
Keno: 27%

You should know not to play slots expecting a profit. The only thing worse than slots is Keno, which explains why you never see too many people playing Keno. (at least I don’t see many Keno players) But then again, how do you explain slots players? Slots are fun! The thrill of hitting a jackpot just can’t be overstated!

You can have fun at all the games in a casino. To be smart though, try to stick with Blackjack, Craps or Baccarat. You will have the best chance to win with those games. Understanding the odds, will allow you to better manage your winnings. What is more fun than winning?

PLAY WITH PROPER STRATEGY

While the games have rules that give the house the edge, there are perfect strategies that can be played to cut down the house edge and give you a better chance to win.

There are often side bets in many table games, but you have to understand they are usually sucker bets. You will never find a strategy book that will tell you any side bet is proper strategy.

If you make bad plays, you don’t play smart. If you don’t play smart, you don’t gamble smart.

BE CAREFUL WITH BETTING SYSTEMS

Betting systems give you a specific way to make your wagers. There are a lot of different systems out there and they profess to be the best way to manage your bankroll.

While most of them will help you win big if things are running favorably, but they can’t change the house edge. Remember, in the long run, the house edge wins out and the systems won’t help you when things go sour.

FINAL THOUGHTS

To be a smart gambler, you have to learn how maximize your winnings and limit your losses. The best way to do that is to know which games to play, play them with perfect strategy and recognize when things are not going your way.

The only sure thing with gambling is that you will probably lose in the long run. Unless your goal is to be a professional gambler, do it just for fun and you will be a smart casino gambler.

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TRIPLE ATTACK BLACKJACK

May 23, 2020May 6, 2020 by Yvette Jones

If you’re looking for a blackjack variant with a challenge, you can stop right here. Triple Attack Blackjack was first introduced in 2010 and actually won the best new table game of the year award that year.

The game was created by Galaxy Gaming, known as being “distinctively different” in what they do. It is a game that will truly test your blackjack skills.

The gist of the game is being able to “attack” your hand with more wagers as the hand develops. The player can add to their bet after seeing their first card and add again after seeing the dealer’s up card. As you can image, this would create a big player advantage, so of course there are rules to offset that advantage.

RULES

Rules are the same as classic blackjack except for the following exceptions:

Uses Eight 48-card decks-all tens are removed, called a Spanish deck
Dealer hits soft 17
Can double any number of cards, even after a split
Split any 2 cards, up to four hands
Aces may be split up to four hands
Blackjack pays even money, wins even if dealer has blackjack
Insurance is allowed, pays 2-1, pays 5-1 if dealer has suited blackjack
If Dealer busts with 22, all remaining players push
Six card Charlie wins, total of 21 or less with 6 cards

PLAY OF THE GAME

Play of the hand starts with the players placing their initial bets, referred to as the first attack.

The dealer then deals the first cards to the players. The players now can make a 2^nd attack, or bet, based on just that card, without seeing the dealer’s card. This bet must be equal to the first bet.

Once all players have decided to make or not make a 2^nd attack, the dealer deals a card to himself, face up.

The players now have the option to make a 3^rd attack bet, equal to the first bet. A 3^rd attack bet is allowed even if you didn’t make a 2^nd attack, so for a hand, the player can have 1,2 or 3 bets at risk. (not counting side bets)

After all 3^rd bets are made, the dealer deals a second card to the players and himself (his card is face down)

If the dealer has an Ace up, he will ask if anybody wants insurance. Winning insurance bets pay 2-1, but 5-1 if the blackjack is suited.

Play continues as in classic blackjack. If you beat the dealer, your win pays even money.

Bonus Side Bets:

Suited Royals – Pays if your first two cards are suited, K-Q pays 40:1, other suited face cards pay 10:1, any other suited cards pay 2:1
Triple Match – Pay is based on player and dealer’s up card combined, suited 3 of a kind pays 150:1, not suited 3 of a kind pays 20:1, suited pair pays 4:1, not suited pair pays 2:1
Insurance – Considered a bonus bet because it pays 5:1 for suited blackjack

STRATEGY

As you can imagine, strategy for this version would be a bit more complicated than that of classic blackjack. Every new card dealt, can mean a different action should be employed.

The first attack is the initial bet, so that is mandatory. The 2^nd and 3^rd attacks are optional and determined by the dealt cards.

The second attack should only be made if you receive a face card or an ace. Whether or not a third attack is made, depends on your card and the dealer’s up card.

Strategy for playing the hand is quite varied because of the number cards you can end up with as a result of doubling and splitting. The Wizard of Odds has created several useful strategy charts, found here, that I would refer to.

House edge in this game is said to be 1.17%.

FINAL THOUGHTS

This has got to be one of the most challenging versions of blackjack around. If you find classic blackjack too easy and boring, try this for a change of pace. It will take more concentration to beat this game, than classic blackjack. I’m guessing only the best players can find the fun in this version, for most it will be a formidable opponent. Are you up for the challenge?

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CRAPS FOR BEGINNERS – Basic Play & Strategy

May 23, 2020May 4, 2020 by Yvette Jones

As you walk into any casino and figure you’ll head to where all the noise is coming from, you’ll probably find yourself at a craps table. If you thought you could never understand how to play the game, you’re wrong and I’m going to show you how easy it is to play the game.

Game Objectives

First, keep in mind that casino games can’t be too difficult to play, or people wouldn’t play. The first thought for making a casino game is that it should be easy to play.

I think what scares people with craps is that at first glance, the craps table looks very confusing. There are a lot of sections, with all kinds of images of dice combinations, words and numbers.

The goal of the game is to bet on the outcome of the roll of two dice. The fun of the game is that there are several different bets you can make. Understanding all the bets is the complicated part, but fortunately you can still have fun, and win, just playing a couple of the simple bets.

Game Setup

The craps table is specially designed and features a betting layout where players place their bets. The players stand all around the table, as many as can fit comfortably. It can also be uncomfortable if it’s crowded!

One player is designated as the shooter and rolls the dice. Everybody at the table will have a chance to become the shooter if they want to, though you can choose not to roll. Some casinos require the shooter to place a bet as well.

Anybody at the table can place a wager, even the shooter, by placing their chips on their chosen bet spot.

There are usually at least 4 casino employees controlling the game. They are the Boxman, the Stickman, and the Base dealers.

The boxman is in charge of the chips at the table. He/she will exchange cash for chips, supervise the dealers and basically make sure the game runs smoothly.

The stickman is in charge of the dice, moving them around to pass to the shooter, with a stick(ergo the name) and announces the outcome of the dice roll.

The base dealers, usually 2, stand at the ends of the table to payout winners and collect losing bets. They can also help place bets for players who can’t reach the correct spot.

Play of the Game

A round of play starts with what is called the come out roll, made after all bets have been placed. This is the first roll of the shooter.

If this roll is a 2, 3, or 12 it’s considered “crapping out” and the round is over. Players will win don’t pass bets and players will lose pass line bets. If this first roll is 7 or 11, players will lose don’t pass bets and players will win pass line bets, and the round is over.

If any other number is rolled, it establishes a “point.” Once a point is established, the shooter continues to roll until the point number is rolled again or a 7 is rolled.

As additional rolls are made, bets are being placed on the outcome of those rolls.

A round is complete if the point is rolled or a 7 is rolled. The shooter remains the same if the point is hit, however, if 7 is rolled, the dice are passed to the next shooter.

Types of Bets

The list of available bets in craps is:

Pass line
Don’t Pass
Come
Don’t Come
Pass Line Odds
Don’t Pass Odds
Come Odds
Don’t Come Odds
Place Win
Place Lose
Buy
Lay
Big 6
Big 8
Hardways
Field
Any 7
Any 11
Any Craps
Ace Duece
Aces
Boxcars

With this long list of possible wagers, it is totally conceivable how play of the game can be considered confusing. They really aren’t that hard to understand (click here for bet details) and you don’t even have to understand them all to enjoy the game.

Beginners Strategy

Best bets to make:

Pass line bets with free odds
Come bets with free odds
Place bets on 6 or 8
Go with the streak if you’re winning
Copy the bets the player with the most money is making
Don’t make the high odds bets
Don’t listen to the dealer’s appeals for high odds bets
Backup your Pass/Don’t Pass bets and Come/Don’t Come bets with the allowed Odds bets
Remember to pick up your winnings between rolls or they will be considered a bet. Sometimes all the cheering makes people forget they won!

The first 3 bets have the lowest house edge, which is why they’re the safest bets. They’re easy bets to make and you can actually make a decent profit if a shooter gets on a roll. You don’t need to understand any other bet.

FINAL THOUGHTS

I hope I’ve given you enough information to not be afraid of trying craps. The basics of the game are not difficult to grasp. Everything in a casino is a gamble, but it can also be fun. Craps can become quite the party if a player gets hot with the dice. Play with money you can afford to lose and have fun!

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