Players lose money in the long haul by making sure “at least you get paid,” on individual hands instead of taking the 3-2 blackjack payoff more than two-thirds of the time. When dealers not just offer, but encourage, players to take even money with a blackjack against an ace, they are perpetuating a myth that this is a better option. The dealer who consistently mocks a solid play of taking advantage of surrender rules to take half a bet back with a 16 against a 10 are sending a wrong message. It is completely unnecessary to mislead players. The house already has a built-in advantage and enough players who make zero attempt to learn the right way and therefore give the casino a huge edge. Most give the right answers, but the wrong answers come out too frequently.Ĭasinos have every right to set their own policies on whether dealers should answer strategy questions, but one policy that needs to exist is that the dealers should never give players false or misleading information. One troubling thing about blackjack play in Pennsylvania since the start of table games last year is how common it is to hear bad advice from dealers. I even preface any answer I ever offer with, “They’re your cards so do what you want, but according to the odds, the basic strategy says to … “ The obligation for others at the table and especially the dealer, who is looked to as a knowledgeable information source, is to be certain you are giving correct advice or give none at all. There are often references to the “book,” which is not actually one book but multiple published charts on the correct mathematical play for each situation. Players who realize there is a correct basic strategy for blackjack but do not know what it is or have not memorized every situation often will turn to others at the table – or the dealer – and ask what they should do. New players often get a similar treatment, a little hesitation to give them a chance to reconsider.ĭepending on policies in place at a casino, the dealers often are a source of information for players.

Play solid basic strategy consistently, and as concentration wanes and you’re about to make a foolish play, the dealer often will hesitate as if to ask, “Do you really want to do that?” Sometimes, the dealer actually will ask something such as, “Do you really want to hit? I have a 4.” The dealer can be a player’s best friend at the blackjack table.

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Blackjack against friends