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Putting the fun back in to Blackjack!

Putting the fun
back in to Blackjack!

Archive for August, 2009

Blackjack in films

Thursday, August 27th, 2009

Recently, I sat down to watch a film called ‘21’. Described as a tense casino thriller, it is loosely based on the book ‘Bringing Down The House’, written by notorious Massachusetts Institute of Technology card counter Ben Mezrich. Starring Kevin Spacey and Laurence Fishburne, it is a tale of five MIT students who supplement their meagre income by card counting in Las Vegas.

Blackjack in film - 21 film

Blackjack in film - 21 film

To be honest, I wasn’t expecting much coming for this film. Films featuring blackjack are notoriously few and far between. Indeed, when the source material is a questionable account of card counting in Las Vegas, you don’t expect to see this film winning any awards.

Still, I was pleasantly surprised. The film looks exceptionally authentic. The magnificent Planet Hollywood Casino in Las Vegas provides the backdrop for much of the film and, as a result, the movie accurately captures the scale and atmosphere of Las Vegas.

I was very interested in how the film conveyed card counting. Fairly, was my evaluation. Card counting is not an easy skill to master and the film accurately portrays the difficulty the students have in mastering the Hi-Lo system. Understandably, the film did not go into the complexities of card counting in blackjack. However, it does only run for 123 minutes and I suppose there must be some character exposition in a feature film of its stature.

The biggest fall the film takes is with Laurence Fishburne, a heavy-handed casino security manager. For those of you with a knowledge of Mezrich’s original material, you will know how questionable some of his novel is. The passages accounting beatings from casino staff are among the largest question marks of the novel. They remain intact for this film.

Laurence Fishburne - Blackjack film 21

Laurence Fishburne - Blackjack film 21

Which begs the question, if The House was to be filmed in such a tough and uncompromising light, why would The Planet Hollywood Casino allow the film to be shot inside its casino? Why did MGM Casinos decide to help finance the film?

As the credits rolled I was left pondering these questions. Maybe the casino industry in Vegas would want to discourage card counters. Maybe they thought the viewing public would consider the film as a complete work of fiction. Maybe they wanted to encourage amateurs to try and card count in their casinos. I have no idea. Like many things, The House’s actions will always be a mystery to me.

Well, except on a hard 17!

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Best casino blackjack – part two

Monday, August 24th, 2009

You may have read all about my blackjack travels in my previous blog best casino blackjack, detailing some memorable moments of my international blackjack mishaps and successes. However, there are still some casinos around the world where I would love to play blackjack. Two of these casinos are in Germany and China. While these countries may not spring straight to mind as desirable for first-class blackjack, the fact they are a little less obvious is what attracts me to Baden Baden Casino and The Venetian Macao.

European blackjack

Baden Baden may be more recognised for putting up the England football team and the Wags in the 2006 World Cup, but it is also home to the equally extravagant Baden Baden Casino. For me, a blackjack game here, would be amazing. The casino’s Roman pillars and street lamps lead up to a venue that has attracted the crème-de-la-crème of players. Marlene Dietrich described the casino as “the most beautiful casino in the world”. If it’s good enough for the legendary film actress, then Baden Baden Casino is good enough for a semi-pro-blackjack player from Surrey. That’s me, by the way.

Worldwide blackjack

The Venetian Macau casino is a taste of Las Vegas blackjack in the Far East. Its 800 tables, which are part of the largest gaming space in the world, are an attractive gaming prospect for any blackjack player. I’m calculating strategies to maximise the chances of my blackjack wins already. Open for just over a year now, the $2.4 billion casino is apparently modelled on its sister resort in Las Vegas. It’s been built to represent the streets on Venice, featuring a working river complete with gondola tours. I’m interested to discover how the legendary original has been developed for the superstitious Chinese market. Plus, I’d really like to visit China.

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Best casino blackjack – part one

Friday, August 21st, 2009

I’ve been lucky enough to have travelled to various countries around the world. As a keen blackjack enthusiast, I’ve always made time to visit a local casino for a game, or two.

Sometimes, I’ve been unlucky – both in terms of prize wins and dubious locations. Taking a break from our walking tour of Scotland, I unfortunately stumbled across the Millionayres Casino in, yes, you guessed it, Ayr. I think people will agree that, from its unfortunate name, Axminster carpets and outdated plastic seats, a game of blackjack needs a slightly more refined environment.

However, I’ve been fortunate to experience some great blackjack games in exciting locations including Monte Carlo in Monaco and Las Vegas.

Blackjack in Monte Carlo

Monte Carlo Casino’s dress code states smart dress at all times, so I made sure I packed my silk dickie bow alongside my blackjack literature.  Despite my considerable experience, I didn’t want to look like an amateur in front of professional gamblers that frequent Monte Carlo Casino’s tables. Carefully selecting a blackjack table in a quiet area of the expansive floor, I eventually beat the dealer twice. One memorable win was getting a higher total of just two. From then on, my wife and I were fine dining like my rich counterparts for the rest of our holiday.

Las Vegas Blackjack

While it might be a stereotypical choice of casino and location, I’m proud to say that I’ve played blackjack in Las Vegas. In such a daunting city, my calm and collected nature helped me keep my cool. One Las Vegas casino notably played a massive part in my blackjack career; New York New York Hotel And Casino. The blackjack dealer busted twice on the blackjack games I was playing. Admitedly I wasn’t so cool after those blackjack wins; I celebrated with more than one whisky and a Frank Sinatra sing-along. After all, I was in New York New York, so what else is expected but a rendition of Ol’ Blue Eyes?

My travels have confirmed there is something magical about playing blackjack in a real-life casino, and I will be continuing to enjoy land-based blackjack for years to come.

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Online blackjack – Tactics and strategy

Tuesday, August 18th, 2009

In my experience, blackjack players fall into two distinct categories. There are casual players – blackjack gamers who play for fun, don’t keep records and like blackjack for what it is: a simple game which can be relaxing and occasionally profitable. And there are committed players: blackjack gamers who understand the strategies, know how to card count and play again and again because it can be profitable.

I’ve found there are two main differences between these types of players.

Whereas amateur (for lack of a better term) blackjack players gamble with their money – I’ve seen players hit and stand for no particular reason other than a hunch – professional players do not gamble. They will use logical tactics to decide their next move. Underneath the simple gameplay of blackjack and online blackjack, there is a game of immense skill and strategy.

While blackjack may seem like a game of chance to a new player – much like roulette or fruit machines – it is not. I think this misconception drives amateur players to continue gambling. Long after a rational blackjack player would have left the table, a casual gamer will remain, hoping that luck will recoup their losses.

Which brings me onto a further point about casual and professional players. Professional players do not get emotional over their blackjack game. Now, I’m not suggesting that amateur gamers will burst into tears over a loss, but rather, they let their emotions get the better of them.
A professional player knows when to walk away from the table. They know if they can recoup their losses, or not. They know the game of blackjack and they know how to play it well. I’ve found that amateur gamers play regardless. I’ve seen blackjack players become frustrated with the deal; they had piled pounds and pounds onto the table and as their funds dried out, their blackjack game became more and more erratic.

If you’re being given the hard end of a blackjack deal, it’s common to let your emotions get the better of you. You might feel frustrated or angry. The trick is, don’t let your feelings affect your game.

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Blackjack in film

Thursday, August 13th, 2009

Blackjack has been no stranger to the big screen over the years.

Poker, admittedly, is always popular in casino film scenes, but it’s great to see blackjack, a game I enjoy so much, being homaged by Hollywood legends; and even gently ribbed too.


In this blog, I take a look at some memorable blackjack moments from films and share with you my top three blackjack scenes.




Based on the best-selling book, 21 is a film solely about blackjack, and more specifically a real-life story about university student Ben Campbell. To help fund his tuition, he joins a blackjack team at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), which counts cards during blackjack. The team, headed by Kevin Spacey’s character Professor Micky Rosa, ends up winning over $649,000 in Las Vegas. This exciting drama shows exactly what you can do using clear and concise blackjack strategies – although some players and houses would frown upon card counting if it was done to this extreme.





Austin Powers : International Man of Mystery, has an infamous blackjack scene. Austin Powers and Vanessa Kensington pose as a married couple on a mission to find more information about Dr Evil’s plans to take over the world. Austin plays blackjack with risky odds against Dr Evil’s employees, saying he likes to ‘live dangerously’, much to the amusement of the audience. Also, eagle-eyed blackjack players should watch out for a timing mistake.




Blackjack might not instantly spring to mind when you think of 1975 Oscar-winning film One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest, but this intense picture has several scenes that should jog your memory. Jack Nicholson’s character Randle McMurphy is constantly playing blackjack; in the ward, in a group meeting with a Nurse Ratched, and when he’s talking to the asylum director about ‘the rigged game.’

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Blackjack Etiquette For Beginners

Monday, August 10th, 2009

Blackjack players are a friendly bunch. We love to see new people picking up the game – blackjack is an accessible casino classic with a huge following and new players are always welcome.

However, as a blackjack fan, one of my main bugbears is players not knowing, or ignoring, the etiquette of the game. I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve seen a blackjack game ruined by someone who didn’t understand the proper etiquette of the blackjack table. I’ve seen drinks spilt on the green felt and I’ve seen dealers shouted at.

One of the main criticisms I hear from seasoned blackjack players regards novice gamers slowing down a game. I’m always fond of new players getting into blackjack, so it’s an unfortunate criticism.

Still, the fact remains that some blackjack players are more skilled than others. Blackjack is a game of protocol. There are certain rules to be acknowledged and sometimes a less-skilled player can considerably disrupt a game.

If you’re a new player, it’s worth spending some time at an empty blackjack table. You won’t disturb other players and you can take care to learn the tactics of the game. Although if you do decide to learn blackjack using this technique, don’t ask the dealer for advice. They’re not allowed to give you any tips on your blackjack play.

Some beginners prefer to learn the game by watching other players. This technique is fine. So long as you don’t disturb the game by talking to other blackjack gamers, no one should have a problem with you observing. Make sure you stand far enough from the game and don’t talk to the players around the table. Talking is generally considered to be a taboo in blackjack and many players don’t appreciate a discussion on the latest sports results while they’re trying to concentrate.

Novice players shouldn’t be scared to play blackjack. Personally, I always love to see new players joining in. Blackjack is a game dating back centuries and to know that the game is as popular today as it was when I was a beginner is a comforting thought.

And a final tip for seasoned pros:

If you’re playing next to a blackjack player who is obviously a novice, don’t harass them or ask them to move on. Remember, you were a beginner once.

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Blackjack card counting – the latest iPhone application

Friday, August 7th, 2009

Technically Cheating

I’m not what you’d call a tech-savvy individual. I’m hopeless with new gadgets and I still watch films on my old VHS player. My knowledge of computers is limited and while I have a laptop, I only use it for work and the occasional game of online blackjack. Like many people my age, if something goes wrong with anything electrical, I politely ask my teenage children to fix it.

So, I didn’t quite understand the ramifications of this blackjack story. According to reports, players can now use their iPhone or iTouch to card count during a blackjack game. Blackjack gamers with these devices can download a particular program which allows them to keep track of the running order. My teenage daughter has an iPhone and under her watchful guidance, I downloaded the game. Having dealt out a blackjack game in my study, I was interested to see how this new program would hold up when compared to my own card counting skills.

iPhone blackjack card counter

I quickly began to see how these devices could be used to swing a blackjack game. While human brains (mine included) can sometimes miscalculate, this new tool didn’t miss a beat. I simply pressed one of two buttons depending on the deal .The program did the sums accordingly. The phone even vibrated once the deal reached a true count of 6.0.

This program is an affront to the blackjack players who have taken the time and effort to learn how to card count. Being able to count cards is a technique used by millions of blackjack players. Men and women have spent large proportions of their adult lives researching this field. Using this program not only cheapens the skill of professional card counters but also brings the game of blackjack into disrepute.

If alpo players want to become better blackjack players they should invest their own time and money into their game. While casinos have not yet reported a case of these tools being used to card count in blackjack, surely it can only be a matter of time before someone is stupid enough to use this technique during a game. Indeed, the iPhone application also has a ‘stealth mode’; enabling players to input the count without having to turn their phone screen on. Theoretically, someone could be card counting electronically on the seat next to you. We shall all have to wait and see what the consequences of this might be.

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Blackjack – how to play better blackjack

Monday, August 3rd, 2009

Become a better blackjack player

“How do I become a better blackjack player?” is the most common question I get asked. Because blackjack is a simple game, dozens of new players take it up every day. These players want to know how to be the best at the game. They want to be able to walk into a casino or log on to an online casino and come away with big money.

Blackjack tips

So, how can they become better players?

There is no simple answer to this. Becoming a better blackjack player requires commitment and dedication. Professional blackjack players don’t become masters overnight. Learning the nuances of blackjack takes time and effort.

Time

My first advice would be to study the basic strategy chart. Learning the optimum strategy for any deal – be it your own or the dealers – will go a long way in helping you play better blackjack.
To novice blackjack players, the strategy chart can seem intimidating. The sheer number of possible deals and corresponding responses can be overwhelming. My personal advice would be to study sections of the chart over time. Don’t try and memorise the entire chart in one sitting. Blackjack is a graceful game, not an A-level exam paper. Take time to play the game as you learn the strategy chart. Know when to stand and when to stick. It will eventually pay dividends.

Practice

If you’re serious about improving your blackjack or online blackjack game, don’t just play for money. Practise your game at home. Deal for yourself and the dealer and play as if you would do in a casino. Try to play from the basic strategy without consulting the chart. It may seem difficult to begin with but eventually you’ll become fluent in basic blackjack strategy.

If you’re an online blackjack player, many online casinos now offer ‘free-play’ on their games. Casinos like Kerching online casino or Littlewoods allow players the chance to play for free. This is an excellent way to become a better blackjack player. It may take some time, but eventually you will see results.

See you at the table!

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