In order to master the game and leave the casino as winners, players should always follow a strategy and prepare themselves in advance for every possible hand they may be dealt. Along with a solid knowledge of the game’s rules and probabilities, they should also have money-management skills and discipline. Moreover, without setting loss limits and win goals, no matter how lucky they are, they are bound to lose everything.
The only way players can make a profit is if they focus on winning in the long term by applying their chosen strategy throughout the game. Even if they encounter a sequence of losing hands, it is essential not to abandon it, as what really matters is winning the majority of hands, not all of them.
Regardless of what strategy players choose to follow, their decisions should always be based on the dealer’s up card and their own hand’s total value. It is crucial to determine the best move according to these two factors because, after all, players are competing against the dealer. Regardless of how obvious this may be, there are still many players around the world who misplay their hands because they fail to give the up card the attention it deserves.
Importance of the Dealer’s Up Card When Choosing a Move
The dealer’s up card, together with the players’ two cards, are the key factors gamblers should take into account when making a decision. The dealer’s up card gives them valuable information about his position and his chances of winning, and it should never be underestimated. Even though one more card – the hole card – remains invisible to players, they can still predict, to some extent, the possible outcomes of a particular situation.
The only time they should take the rest of the cards in the deck into account, including the cards of the other players, is when their chosen strategy is card counting. Otherwise, there is no need to track them, as the number of remaining cards of any given rank does not affect the odds and probabilities underpinning basic strategy.
| Dealer’s Up Card and Chances of Busting | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dealer’s up card | Dealer’s chances of going bust | Players’ advantage when using basic strategy |
| 2 | 35.30% | 9.8% |
| 3 | 37.56% | 13.4% |
| 4 | 40.28% | 18.0% |
| 5 | 42.89% | 23.2% |
| 6 | 42.08% | 23.9% |
| 7 | 25.99% | 14.3% |
| 8 | 23.86% | 5.4% |
| 9 | 23.34% | -4.3% |
| 10, J, Q, K | 21.43% | -16.9% |
| A | 11.65% | -16.0% |
Importance of the Dealer’s Up Card When Choosing a Live Casino Table
As already mentioned above, the dealer’s up card is extremely important as it gives players a general idea of their position during the game. However, the dealer’s up card should also be taken into account even before they become part of the game. Many professional players know how essential it is to take their time to observe the dealer’s up card prior to sitting at the table, as this way they have the chance to see whether he is in a weak position or not. This particular card plays a crucial role not only throughout the game but also when they choose a blackjack table.
Splitting a Pair of 9’s
Splitting a Pair of 10’s
Dealer’s Up Card
Basic Strategy Money Management
Running True Count
Important Things to Consider When Choosing a Live Casino Table
Regardless of the strategy players choose to follow, it is always favourable to start when the dealer’s position is weak. This way they will gain an advantage over the casino and their chances of winning will significantly increase. Prior to joining a table, it is recommended that players observe the dealer’s up card in order to determine the situation. It is worth mentioning that they should focus only on it, not on the outcome of the dealer’s hand.
Also, players should look for tables that have at least two available seats in order to make sure that their time won’t be wasted by observing a table which they cannot join. Even though it can sometimes take a long time to find the desired table, they need to remember that all of their efforts won’t be in vain in the end. The best time to join a game is when the dealer is in a weak position, also known as a cold streak.
It is also worth mentioning that, at some point in the game, the dealer’s cards may follow a particular trend, and this is what players should take into account. This trend is a double-edged sword, as players who are aware of it can use it to their advantage. However, those who are not can place themselves in a very disadvantageous position. Therefore, they should observe the string of cards the dealer is showing and, if the cards are good, refrain from joining the table. In that case, competing against the dealer will be difficult, and they will not be able to double down or split, which significantly decreases their chances of making extra money.
Determining the Dealer’s Position
When choosing a table, players need to determine the dealer’s position by considering the up card. If the up card is a powerful one, it becomes harder to compete against the dealer. Hence, joining the game at such a moment is not the best decision. There are three types of cards in the deck that help players to define their situation.
The power cards are all the face cards, as well as nine and ten. They are the ones that give the dealer the greatest advantage. Conversely, the weak cards are those from two through six; reaching twenty-one with them is difficult. Eight and seven are considered to be neither weak nor strong, which makes them neutral.
If you are a blackjack devotee who is not just playing at random, you most likely understand probability. In a nutshell, it shows the chances of winning or losing a given hand. Usually, probability odds are essential in the long run. Many casino enthusiasts play blackjack simply because the game offers a low house edge. In other words, you lose less money in the long term.
Another aspect of the game that attracts hundreds of thousands of casino aficionados is that it requires a healthy dose of skill. Therefore, players can improve their odds by using a basic strategy. As we have already explained above, the dealer’s up card is as important as knowing the rules of the game. Now, let us look at the table below, which shows the probability of the dealer going bust and the player’s advantage over the dealer based on the up card.
| Dealer’s Up Card | Dealer Odds of Going Over 21 | Player’s Advantage |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | 35.30% | 9.8% |
| 3 | 37.56% | 13.4% |
| 4 | 40.28% | 18.0% |
| 5 | 42.89% | 23.2% |
| 6 | 42.08% | 23.9% |
| 7 | 25.99% | 14.3% |
| 8 | 23.86% | 5.4% |
As you can see from the figures in the table, the player is in an advantageous position if the dealer’s up card is from 2 through 8. However, if the dealer’s up card is 9, 10, J, Q, K, or A, players should know that they are in a not so favourable position.
| Dealer’s Up Card | Dealer Odds of Going Over 21 | Player’s Advantage |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | 23.34% | -4.3% |
| 10 | 21.43% | -16.9% |
| J | 21.43% | -16.9% |
| Q | 21.43% | -16.9% |
| K | 21.43% | -16.9% |
| A | 11.65% | -16.0% |
Conclusion
The dealer’s up card is very important not only during the game but also beforehand. It gives players the chance to determine whether the dealer is on a cold or a hot streak. Every small detail in blackjack can make a huge difference. If players do the necessary preparation before the game, they can significantly boost their chances of winning. It is crucial to take the time to determine which table might favour them and which will not, as this will give them an advantage over the casino.