if i make a stupid play does it effect others at the table?

[robbie380]

ok i am a newb at blackjack strategy. i am going to vegas for the first time at the end of next month and i figure i will be playing blackjack the most since i have the best chance at losing the least money there with basic strategy. i am a stock trader by profession so i don't like to gamble and i don't really like to lose money.

anyhow...my friends and i were playing cards this weekend and we decided to deal some blackjack. i made a stupid hit on a soft 18 against the dealer 6, but i ended up winning. basically, they were all railing on me for making the hit and saying it screws up their hands even if i do win. that makes ZERO sense to me. each player's hand is independent of the other person's hand, correct? is this just a gambling myth that people believe or is it true that if one player makes a bad play for himself then it effects the other players?

[mrbill]

Stupid plays will help as much as hurt. It all works out in the end.

You say in your post you plan on playing basic strategy. The basic strategy I'm familiar with is to Double a Soft 18 against 6 if allowed, otherwise stand. So, unless you'd already hit it once, then the mistake was not doubling.

[robbie380]

yeah i think thats what i was thinking when i hit, but they were just saying it was stupid to hit period and they were being jerks about it.

i am trying to soak up as much info as i can before i go to vegas because i don't really like to lose. i know i can't learn to count cards in a month because i am not that smart, but i want to learn as much as i can since they had to act all snobby about their blackjack playing lol.

[shadroch]

A stupid play will NOT effect the players results. But it will effect their manners.People often get irrational when you make a play they don't approve of.Times like that,its good to have a large cheap cigar in your pocket.Look them in the eye and say"Well,if you didn't like that,I'm sure you will just love this" as you light it up.Works even better if you are hitting a soft 17 at the time.
Bottom line-play the best game you are capable of,and don't worry about the rest of the table. The good players know better,and the jerks will be jerks,regardless.

[shadroch]

If you are playing BJ on the strip,you'll find a majority of players are clueless.
If you are on Fremont Street,its a different story.

[Mikeaber]

Originally Posted by shadroch

If you are playing BJ on the strip,you'll find a majority of players are clueless.
If you are on Fremont Street,its a different story.

I've seen some massively ignorant ones on Fremont....but that could have been cover

[robbie380]

thanks for the validation guys. when you are in that situation it's like people are showing you the color red and saying "hey look at this blue color!"

a second thing...should i just get started by memorizing that chart on wizardofodds.com http://wizardofodds.com/blackjack? is there any area i should move onto next after memorizing the basic strategy charts?

[shadroch]

Originally Posted by Mikeaber

I've seen some massively ignorant ones on Fremont....but that could have been cover

Of course,you'll see some stupid plays anywhere you go.Just less of them,as a rule,on Fremont Street.

[ortango]

Originally Posted by robbie380

thanks for the validation guys. when you are in that situation it's like people are showing you the color red and saying "hey look at this blue color!"

a second thing...should i just get started by memorizing that chart on wizardofodds.com http://wizardofodds.com/blackjack? is there any area i should move onto next after memorizing the basic strategy charts?

Yes, that is a good start. Next step would be counting, but not only do you have to be perfect basic stragtegy, it has to come to you FAST. Before moving ot counting, try the trainer at:

http://www.blackjack-bst.com/

When you can get under 500 secs with less than 10 mistakes, then you are ready to practice counting. Once again, I would recommend lots of practice before trying for real money in a casino. Practice counting watching a game from behind a table. Or on sites like CountingEdge.com, or by hand with your own deck, or with software.

As far as insipid superstitions like people messing up your hands, its not your fault because of the legions of morons who think without logic and because it is popularized in the media (such as in the recent movie "The Cooler".)

There is one exception. A VERY good player may ask you to wait till the end of the shoe to come in. You may notice he has large bets out. That's because he wants all the good hands to himself! haha... but then it again it might be someone who thinks you will "mess up his hands".

[EasyRhino]

Originally Posted by robbie380

i am a stock trader by profession so i don't like to gamble

*teehee*

Okay, but seriously, I don't like to lose either. However, bear these things in mine:

1) If you go in, even playing basic strategy, the long-run promise is that you will lose money. Treat it as an entertainment expense.

2) While the long-term money loss isn't that high a rate, there's some really large fluctuations, even if you're just placing $5 bets. Over one trip, the short-term luck factor is going to be a bigger impact than the long-term house edge.

For one trip, I think basic strategy would be fine. You could also consider using the basic strategy engine here, especially if you know the exact type of game you plan on playing.

However, if you want to be a hotshot after that, you could either try to cram in knowledge of a card counting system in a month (unlikely). Or you could find some of those Frank Rezny articles that list a few basic strategy deviations you can play, and all you have to do is look at cards on the table at any given moment.