Re: New Player Needs Some Advice

In article <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Rod Garvey
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:

> Hello, fellow BlackJackers -
> 
> I am new to the art of blackjack (and yes, it IS an art). 

  The art is not in playing the cards, but in "cover".  The rest is pure
  mathematics.

> 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.

  Many home games, and Palm Pilot games, are rigged to produce
  a player's advantage far in excess of what is possible.  Do not
  use your results on those games to have any meaning except
  entertainment.

  It is possible, in principle, to play 21 at an advantage.  It is
  extremely difficult to do in practice, and the casinos have
  gotten rather good in the last 5 years at identifying and barring
  advantage players.

> 
> 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. 
> 

  You should pay more attention to how much you are willing to
  lose.  Winning tends to take care of itself. 

> 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.
> 

  Gut feelings of gamblers are more responsible  for ruined lives than
  anything else I can think of.  There is mathematics behind 21.
  Learn it.

-- 
Harvey J. Cohen, Ph. D.
-------

"The difference between fiction and reality is that fiction has to make
sense." - Tom Clancy

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