Re: New Player Needs Some Advice

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

>What does 'double down' mean?

One of the plays at your disposal at the table is a double down.  You place an
additional wager up to the amount of your original bet and you recieve one and
only one card.

Depending on what hand you have, and what card the dealer is showing, it can be
a profitable move.  

> And if you don't mind me asking, why are
>you playing based on what the dealer is showing moreso than what
>you've got? After all, you're the only one who can bust your own hand
>- the dealer is playing the dealer's game, my opinion is not to worry
>about that as much as not going over 21.

You're joking right?

The game is to beat the dealer, not get as close as you can to 21.

The dealer *must* hit 16 or less and stand  on 17 or more.

When the dealer shows a small card, 2,3,4,5 or 6, he is more likely to bust
himself.  Accordingly, it is rare that you would want to hit any hand that can
bust yourself.  You sit on your stiff and allow the dealer to bust.

However, when the dealer shows a large card, 7,8,9,X or A, he is more likely to
make a pat hand under 21.  In that situation, you want to hit until *you* have
a pat hand (17 or 18 depending on hard or soft)

The basic strategy remains basically unchanged since a mathematical paper was
presented in 1956, further refined in the early 60's.  If you sit at a
blackjack table *without* knowing or playing the basic strategy, you are
increasing your chances that you will lose.

Many basic strategy plays are intuitive, they make sense.  Some do not, and you
would never figure them out on your own.  Learn the basic strategy and play it
without deviation.





Rusty Martin

"The man who reads nothing at all is better educated than the man who reads
nothing but newspapers."

--- Thomas Jefferson