blackjack stuff

Updated 10/3/01

Note: I originally wrote these pages for a few friends, but somehow they got indexed on Alta Vista and now there's links from all over the place. If I'd known it was going to be public i would have done a lot of things differently, so give me some slack!

POETRY!!! since this is a such a classy crowd i figured i should get all artistic on ya and publish some poetry by my good buddy wilfo: How the Grinch Stole Las Vegas

 Basic Strategy

"Basic Strategy" (BS) is defined as the optimum blackjack strategy for a given set of rules, provided that you don't count cards or use other outside information. A large percentage of people you will meet in the casino, even people who have played regularly for years at high-stakes tables and consider themselves good players (but aren't card counters), will frequently stand on 15 against 10, or stand on 16 against 8, or always insure their blackjacks ("even money"). With a couple hours work, they could save themselves a truckload of money. DO YOURSELF A FAVOR: learn Basic Strategy cold!

 You should start with the Atlantic City basic strategy. Its accurate for most multi-deck "shoe" games, and according to Humble & Cooper's "World's Greatest Blackjack Book", you don't give up much by using the AC strategy in single- and double-deck games.

• atlantic city basic strategy from rec.gambling FAQ. Note: Turning Stone basic strategy is the same as AC, although the rules are slightly different: multiple splits are allowed (up to 4 times?).
• single-deck basic strategy from rec.gambling FAQ

• the rec.gambling.blackjack newsgroup was traditionally a good source of information. Recently it has been ruined by a certain individual with a large axe to grind. For that reason rec.gambling.blackjack.moderated was formed. also check out the RGB FAQ.
• a pretty good writeup by Michael Hall on the HI-OPT I counting system; it has some good info for non-counters also, like the change in basic strategy edge for different rule variations
• Wanna know how much you're likely to win (or lose)? check out my little graph of win/loss distributions. Also see the way-cool interactive Blackjack Outcome Calculator on QFIT's site
• "Illustrious 18" -- the 18 most important strategy variations for counters.

 CARD COUNTING DOESN"T WORK I TRIED IT AND I LOST $80!!!!!!! EIGHTY DOLLARS!!!!! I COULD HAVE BOUGHT A 240-PACK OF BUD WITH THAT!!!!!! -- (anyone know who's sig file i got this from?)