Latest Blackjack News Unhappy blackjack player forgot a basic principl At a recent blackjack session, I morphed into one of those players I hate to have at the table. You know the type: Folks with an aura of doom so dark they make Li'l Abner's Joe Btfsplk, the world's worst jinx, seem as cheery as Papa Smurf. Deal Me In: Shopping list for the right blackjack setu Dear Mark: Please settle a disagreement between my brother and me. My brother thinks he has better odds against the house at blackjack playing out of a shoe with several decks. I think it is to the gambler's advantage to play at tables with a single deck. Please explain the reason for your answer. Winning at Blackjac Why is it that the house always seems to win at blackjack? The fact is the house does have an advantage over the player when it comes to blackjack, just like most of the games in the casino. But there are some things a player can do to overcome that house edge. More Blackjack News

Blackjack can be a lot of fun. At least based on my experience, it is a whole lot more fun when you walk away from the table with more than you came with. Unfortunately, the odds of that happening are not in favor of the gambler (casinos wouldn't make much money if they were). However, unlike a lot of other casino games, Blackjack odds can be improved depending on how you play. There is one correct decision that can be made on each hand to insure the highest probability of success. The best part is if you put in a little time, it is not hard to learn. Blackjack University will teach you correct play, or what is known as basic stategy. Does this give you even odds with the dealer? Not quite, but after learning a couple of tricks, you can have statistics on your side.

Before we continue, let me clear up a misconception that some people may have.

Q. If I learn basic strategy am I guaranteed to win on a given trip to the casino?

A. Absolutely not. Your chances of winning are better though. Have you ever flipped a coin and had it come up heads four times in a row? It happens because flipping a coin only four times is the short term. However, as the years pass, your coin-flipping percentage will approach a 50/50 split between heads and tails. The same is true for Blackjack except the house has a slight edge. So if you plan to play blackjack, you have three courses of action:

1. Play by gut instinct and decide whether to hit or stand based on how "lucky" you feel.
2. Learn basic strategy.
3. Learn basic strategy and some cardcounting.

If you chose number one, enjoy your time at the casino. I hope Lady Luck is on your side.

If you fit into the second category, you don't trust luck and want to better your odds. You've decided to minimize what the casino will take from you over the course of your lifetime. Blackjack University can help you, just head off to the classroom!

You're a number three? That's great! You've realized there is no such thing as luck in the long run and you want to give yourself a statistical edge. And it is not as hard as it sounds either. Blackjack University will teach you basic strategy, a simple cardcounting scheme, and information you should know about the game. Step into the classroom!

Enjoy the site! I hope it is of help to you.