Questions by a newbie

[nightspirit]

What I've always wondered is this: if hitting on everything up to 17 works for the casinos, why don't people just use that strategy?

It works for the casino because the dealer plays her hand after you played yours. The "Mimic the dealer" strategy would give the house an edge of ~5.5%.

 

[Sonny]

What I've always wondered is this: if hitting on everything up to 17 works for the casinos, why don't people just use that strategy?

Because you would bust WAY too often. That’s how the casino gets its advantage. When the player busts, the house wins the hand even if the dealer busts. As a player you want to limit the number of times you bust in order to have a chance to beat the house.

Here’s a short passage from The Wizard:

“Mimic the dealer: For my analysis of this strategy I assumed the player would always hit 16 or less and stand on 17 or more. The player as well as dealer stood on soft 17. The player never doubled or split, since the dealer is not allowed to do so. This results in a house edge of 5.48%.”

-Sonny-

 

[Knox]

What I've always wondered is this: if hitting on everything up to 17 works for the casinos, why don't people just use that strategy?

Not to be rude but are you freakin' kidding me!??!

Do us all a favor and ask Sonny to recommend a good entry level book for you. My suggestion is the reasonably well written and extremely easy counting system book "Knockout Blackjack". It covers many of these basic topics you should learn about.

 

[ChefJJ]

Not to be rude but are you freakin' kidding me!??!

Do us all a favor and ask Sonny to recommend a good entry level book for you.

An elementary question, but a valid one nonetheless. You've gotta start somewhere, so what's wrong with asking here?

 

[MollyRose]

Not to be rude but are you freakin' kidding me!??!

Do us all a favor and ask Sonny to recommend a good entry level book for you. My suggestion is the reasonably well written and extremely easy counting system book "Knockout Blackjack". It covers many of these basic topics you should learn about.

Ah - this is why I posted under "questions from a newbie", and not "questions from someone who already knows what they are doing".

Thanks ChefJJ and those who answered my ridiculously stupid, moronic question. Consider this your charity work for the day.

 

[Canceler]

Oh, phooey!

...my ridiculously stupid, moronic question.

MollyRose, if you have any more questions, I hope you'll ask them here. Plenty of people here will be glad to answer them.

Those who don't want to answer them should just ignore them.

 

[eps6724]

Ah - this is why I posted under "questions from a newbie", and not "questions from someone who already knows what they are doing".

Thanks ChefJJ and those who answered my ridiculously stupid, moronic question.

Might I suggest Blackjack Bluebook II? A lot of your questions will probably be answered here in a plain, straightforward answer. Plus the author, Fred Rezney is a frequest contributor and is quick to answer questions you might have, no matter how " stupid and moronic". Trust me on this, I speak from experience!:grin: Besides, isn't EVERY question stupid and moronic when first asked? And if we didn't ask, and try to learn, I guess that would make us...well, stupid morons

 

[Kasi]

MollyRose, if you have any more questions, I hope you'll ask them here. Plenty of people here will be glad to answer them.

As Diana Ross, I think, sung, "I second that emotion"

Ask away! If I had worried about stupid questions, I wouldn't know a damn thing!

I don't believe there is such a thing as a stupid question.

Well, maybe my wife is an occasional exception :grin:

 

[eps6724]

I don't believe there is such a thing as a stupid question.

Well, maybe my wife is an occasional exception :grin:

Perhaps righ before becoming your wife she GAVE a stupid answer?:laugh:

 

[halcyon1234]

Ok - I am also a newbie and have a question. (I'm not sophisticated enough to be counting cards yet, but I've got the basic strategy down pretty good). I have been practicing with the trainer on this site, playing 100 hands per session and have my "trainer agreement" up to 99%. When I play like this I win about 43% of the time.

I tried an experiment and played like a dealer - hit on everything up to 17. PLaying this way I also win about 43% of the time.

What I've always wondered is this: if hitting on everything up to 17 works for the casinos, why don't people just use that strategy?

(I realize this may have been discussed before and maybe there's an obvious answer, but I'm trying to learn!)

Short answer: You play at a 5.48% disadvantage when you do that.

Long answer: Google "Mimic the dealer" and/or read The Wizard Of Odds.

 

[ChefJJ]

MollyRose -

You've also gotta remember that these advantage percentages are based on long-term probabilities (as are the basic strategy plays), so individual sessions may vary in performance.