Dear
Mark: When my ex-girlfriend and I used to go to Vegas,
every once in a while we would have someone at our
blackjack table split tens. This used to drive my
ex absolutely crazy and there were times when I thought
that I actually saw steam come out of her ears when
someone did that. So my question is, is there actually
any time when it is a good idea to split tens? Keith
K.
For
starters, Keith, it's wasted energy getting hot-and-bothered
when someone splits 10s. The flawed point of view
of the heated one - your split ex - is that this blameworthy
move always seems to take the dealer's bust card.
Not so, Keith, and ex girlfriend. As long as the shuffle
is randomized, improper play by others will just as
likely help as hurt.
The
person splitting 10s, nor your ex, has no idea
what the next card is, so that poor play will
have no consequence on the game in general. It's
limited only to the splitter's wager. Splitter
goes down in flames, but not necessarily anyone
else.
Actually one notable gaming author, John Scarne,
in Scarne on Cards (1949), recommends splitting
10s, but that book was first published well before
computers could analyze blackjack with multi-million
hand simulations.
There is, however, one time when it is proper
basic strategy to split 10s and that is on a Face-up
Blackjack game. In Face-up Blackjack, all the
cards dealt are exposed, including both of the
dealer's cards. Only here does correct strategy
call for splitting 10s against a dealer's 13,
14, 15, or 16.
However, Keith, before seeking out the nearest
Face-up game to part those tens, ex might reflect
on the fee involved. The casino edge on regular
blackjack, using perfect basic strategy, is 0.4
percent. With Face-up Blackjack, it's five times
that, coming in at a neat 2.0 percent - reason
being, in Face-up you lose when you push (tie).
Blackjack
split 8s breaking up a 16
When you split 8s, you will lose $44 for every
$100 wagered. You may not necessarily always put
extra jingle in your pocket by splitting 8s, but
you will jingle louder and longer if you split
'em. Blackjack
Doubling Down Outpaces the Insurance Bet
Far too many players don't double, fearing that
losing the extra bets might wreak havoc on their
bankrolls PERFECT
BASIC STRATEGY - not just a pretty slogan
In passing, most players try to take on the casino
with too small a bankroll. Your bankroll is the
amount of money that you are willing to put at
risk, knowing that there is a reasonable possibility
that you... Easy
Card Counting System For Blackjack
Card counting, is not restricted to any one method.
The central idea is simply that a deck rich in
high cards favors the player and a deck rich in
low cards favors the dealer.
Good
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