Hello everyone, long time reader, first time poster here.
I have played blackjack several times, but just recently have begun to learn counting and other advantage play strategies. (reading about strategy variations based on count, etc)
When I’ve played in the past it’s been at casinos, mostly Las Vegas, where the dealer is dealt a hole card. I never really gave this much thought at all, until noticing that a casino I was at recently doesn’t deal themselves one. I’ve never seen this before!
It is also the casino that I will likely be doing most of my playing at, so I’m a little gun-shy about a few things.
A situation arose recently where I was at third base playing with a hand of 16 versus the dealer’s ace. Since they don’t deal themselves a hole card, you cannot surrender against an ace at this place, but can against any other card. So the other player’s hands are dealt, which are a barrage of small cards, elevating the already high count even higher.
The count, as well as board condition (way more babies than high cards dealt), tell me I should stand. But since the dealer hasn’t received their second card yet, it suddenly dawned on me that I was hoped either way. Hit and bust, or stand and let the dealer take what will likely be a high card.
What would you do in this situation? Does the fact that the dealer waits until everyone is done playing their hands before taking a second card change much of our strategy?
That just seemed to come up so often that night at various tables, where I’m stuck either hitting and busting or standing and letting the dealer make a hand, where the count is positive.
Any comments on this would be appreciated! Thanks.
I have played blackjack several times, but just recently have begun to learn counting and other advantage play strategies. (reading about strategy variations based on count, etc)
When I’ve played in the past it’s been at casinos, mostly Las Vegas, where the dealer is dealt a hole card. I never really gave this much thought at all, until noticing that a casino I was at recently doesn’t deal themselves one. I’ve never seen this before!
It is also the casino that I will likely be doing most of my playing at, so I’m a little gun-shy about a few things.
A situation arose recently where I was at third base playing with a hand of 16 versus the dealer’s ace. Since they don’t deal themselves a hole card, you cannot surrender against an ace at this place, but can against any other card. So the other player’s hands are dealt, which are a barrage of small cards, elevating the already high count even higher.
The count, as well as board condition (way more babies than high cards dealt), tell me I should stand. But since the dealer hasn’t received their second card yet, it suddenly dawned on me that I was hoped either way. Hit and bust, or stand and let the dealer take what will likely be a high card.
What would you do in this situation? Does the fact that the dealer waits until everyone is done playing their hands before taking a second card change much of our strategy?
That just seemed to come up so often that night at various tables, where I’m stuck either hitting and busting or standing and letting the dealer make a hand, where the count is positive.
Any comments on this would be appreciated! Thanks.
