By all means walk through the strip Casinos. The Venetian has an indoor canal, New York, New York has a rollercoaster, MGM, live Lions. If you want to play Blackjack for the first time take a cab or bus to Freemont Street. You can most always find $5 minimum tables, and sometimes less. There is no need for a new player to start out at $15 or $25 tables while you are still learning basic strategy; that could prove to be a very expensive lesson.
I would suggest playing single or two deck games at The Plaza, Vegas Club, maybe The Golden Nugget. These are all within walking distance under the canopy of Freemont street.
Practise economically until you get Basic Strategy down pat, honestly down pat --no mistakes. This took me several years. Then pick out a card counting system. Right now, alot of players are using a counting system called HI-OPT 2. Which ever counting system you pick, stay with it and practice, practice, then practice some more. Some Basic Strategy rules also change based on the "count." Practice using BS based on the count.
I started out playing Blackjack when I was 21 in Atlantic City. Did'nt know a this about BS or counting, and usually lost a bundle. Spent years loosing money until I finally bought a book on Blackjack with a very basic, all-purpose BS chart in it. Have since read several more.
I don't know Kevin Blackwood from a hole in the ground. If I have ever played at a table with him, I did not know it. For me, the most powerful and profitable book I ever read was Blackwoods "Playing Blackjack Like The Pros." I read it several times followed his suggestions and have since started winning, now in the five digits. I highly recommend it. Wish I had the tools available when I was 21 that you have available at this very web-site. Good Luck.
