Re: New Player Needs Some Advice

Rod Garvey <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message news:<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>...
> Hello, fellow BlackJackers -
> 
> I am new to the art of blackjack (and yes, it IS an art). I have
> played the game on my computer and on a friend's Palm Pilot, but will
> be making my first trip to a casino to play it live! And needless to
> say, I'm excited about the challenge. I don't mean to brag, but I'm
> GREAT at the game on my computer. I head to Atlantic City prepared to
> win a lot of money.
> 
> Here are two questions for the more casino-experienced of you. Is
> there a limit to how much money I should win before walking away? I
> would hate for the casinos to think I was somehow cheating. Because I
> plan to go back frequently when I need to make money for specific
> items in my life - vacation, car repair, etc. 
> 
> One more question: I am fully aware that you don't hit on 18-21, but
> what is the general consensus of the group for the following numbers:
> 
> 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17
> 
> My gut says hit on everything up to 16, but I'd love to hear another
> opinion or two.
> 
> See you at the tables!
> 
> Rod

Double down on 11.  12-16, hit or stand based on what the dealer is
showing.  17 is the mother in law hand: you don't like it, but you
can't hit it.  You'll find that gambling in a casino with real money
is quite a different game than playing on a computer.  Some of the
computer games are not quite accurate, rules vary by casino, and
you're not risking any money on a computer game.  As to when to walk
away, you can win all the money you're capable of winning without
bringing about the wrath of the casino (the amount you'd have to win
in order to even get noticed by the casino is more than 99% of us earn
in a year.)  Know how much you're willing to risk before you get to
the table, if you lose it, walk away, don't hit the ATM.  As to when
to walk away with winnings, if I'm winning, I'll set a certain amount
of chips to the side, and play with the rest, if I lose the chips I'm
playing with, then I'll leave.  There's no hard and fast number, but
I've heard it said that it's easy to win in a casino.  The hard part
is keeping it.  Don't give it all back if you win.