The Blackjack Book

"What does the book say?"

You'll hear this question just about any time you play blackjack in Las Vegas. Players sometimes ask other players or the dealer what to do in certain situations. The funny thing is, even when people hear the correct play, they don't always do it.

Here's an example. Let's say you have 14 vs a dealer 10 card showing. The correct play is to hit. Let's say you get an ace. Now you're stuck with a crummy 15. So you ask the dealer - what is the correct move? Hit or stay? The dealer says to hit again. Keep hitting until you reach at least 17. But you're looking at your cards. You just hit 14 and you think that if you push your luck and hit again, you will certainly bust. You tell yourself "the book isn't always right." And while it's true that the odds are that you will bust, the odds are greater that you will lose if you don't hit and try to reach 17.

The good news is you don't have to memorize the right play or ask others what the book says. You can purchase a little cheat sheet card in any gift shop. The card is the book, essentially, because it shows you what to do in every situation. What the card won't tell you is how to find the right table. You need to make sure you are playing at at table that pays 3-2 on blackjack, not 6-5. There are other important rules that will either be in your favor or in the casino's favor, but I won't go into them here.

The important thing to remember is to have fun and follow "the book," which is really just making the right play based on odds. It's not tricky. It's not a gimmick. It's just numbers. And don't worry if anyone else at the table isn't following the book. In the long run, their play won't hurt you. You just have to focus on the money that is in front of you - yours.

I have lots more blackjack information about the book in my book. I hope you enjoy it!

Viva,

Mike