Casino Gambling Poker

1. Before joining any online blackjack game, make sure you know the rules before depositing any money. Never bet more than you can afford and as always be sure not to drink and gamble – not even during an online game. Drinking will distract you from focusing properly on the actual strategy of the game and in turn you could risk losing a lot of money.

2. Since the dealer has to hit (place a card down) on any hand of 16 or lower, you will never win with less than 17 unless the dealer busts. So, take a hit on any hand below 17 when the dealer shows either an ace, K, Q, J, 10, 9, or 8 – basically cards that are unlikely to make the dealer bust. Stand on any hand above 11 when the dealer shows either a 4, 5, or 6. These are cards that will lead the dealer to bust over 40% of the time.

3. If you are dealt two cards of the same value, for example two 9’s, you may “split” them, doubling your bet and playing two hands. Never split 10’s or 5’s and always split 8’s or 7’s against a dealer’s card of equal or lower value. Always split 2’s or 3’s against a 4, 5, or 6 and always split aces. Remember never to split either face cards, 10’s, or 5’s.

4. Always split your Aces and 8s, regardless of what card the dealer is showing

5. You should continue to hit until you have at least 17 if the dealer’s up card is a 10.

6. If you decide to stand on a total of 17 or lower, you will be relying on the dealer to go over 21 and bust. If you have a ‘soft’ hand, you won’t go bust with a single hit, so here are 3 tips to bear in mind. When your hand contains 3 or more cards, hit on a soft 13-17. When your hand contains 2 cards it is advisable to double down soft 13-17 against the dealers up-card of 5or6.

Although many online blackjack players stand on soft 18, you might want to consider hitting when the dealers’ showing card is 9, 10-value, or ace. When the upcard is 2, 7, or 8, you should stand, and double down if the dealer shows a 3-6 upcard.

7. Find a table whose minimum is no more than 5% of you total betting money. When picking a table, consider rule variations that help the player like the option of doubling down on any two cards, or the dealer having to stand on soft 17. Even if you don’t completely understand all them, these rule variations can work to your advantage.

8. Only take the double if:
You get a 9 and the dealers’ showing card is 3-6.
You get a 10-value card and the dealer’s card isn’t 10 or an ace.
You get an ace (which is counted as either 1 or 11) and the dealer’s up-card isn’t an ace. “Doubling down” involves doubling your bet and receiving an additional card when you believe that you will beat the dealer by doing so. This is the player’s main advantage, so don’t ignore this option.

9. You should stand on a hard 13 through 16, but only if the card the dealer is showing is a 6 or lower. If the dealer’s showing card is a 7 through an Ace, you should hit.

10. A few other blackjack tips:
When you get a hard 12-16 and the dealers’ upcard is 4-6, stand.
When you get that same 12-16 and the dealer shows 2, 3 or 7+, hit.
On soft 17 you hit, but on 17-21 you stand.
Pairs of 8’s and aces are a classic split material.
When the dealer is showing a card of 8 or lower, double down on your 10.

When I think of a glamorous poker player, the player that comes to mind immediately is Devilfish. Decked out with his flashy jewelry and with beautiful women on his arm, it is no wonder that so many men are infatuated with the lives of professional poker players.

However, while the life of a professional poker player seems quite glamorous, I would argue that it isn’t. Playing poker is a profession full of uncertainty, and it is a job that can put a lot of pressure on an individual, especially one that is trying to support a family or a spouse. Even the best players take bad beats, and often very costly beats (remember Rounders?).

If you can play poker successfully and build yourself up a nice bankroll it would probably be in your best interest to make the transition from poker to business: this is a growing trend among professional poker players (one that Greg Dinkin discusses in detail in this month’s issue of Card Player).

Playing professional poker is a lot like being an actor or actress: they are great “booster” jobs that can throw you into the industry and open up all sorts of doors. Don’t aspire to be the next Daniel Negreanu, aspire to be the Mel Gibson of Poker because that’s where the glamor is.

Casino gambling isn’t just a few poker games with a roulette wheel thrown in for good measure; your casino offers many different games with a variety of stakes. For the frugal among us, the nickel slot machines are a very good bet. You can spend an entire evening gambling with as little as five dollars and still enjoy the thrills of hitting a jackpot.

casino gambling

For the card player, casino gambling offers blackjack and poker as main attractions. Casinos vary these games depending on the house rules. Some tables have lower stakes but use more decks to keep the game interesting, other gambling houses feature higher stakes games with one or only a couple of card decks in play. Make sure you know the house rules on subjects like table etiquette and gambling limits before you play. Some houses are very particular about when it’s ok to touch cards, and what’s considered a forfeit. For example, many casinos won’t recognize a hand if any card touches the discard pile. Knowing these details will come in handy when you’re ready to gamble.

Casino gambling may also include video poker, games of skill and electronic dice games. Once you’ve learned the ins and outs of these games, you may find them as exhilarating as the old-fashioned versions of blackjack, craps and poker. As always, know your limits, go to have fun and enjoy your casino experience!