>>Yay Vegascon! I just booked my hotel and flight. Who is going to play blackjack with me? :D
ARGH! I so want to go this year, and I'd so help to bump the odds at the blackjack table. If only I could guarantee that a) my girlfriend could get off of work and b) my job wouldn't require me to be here that week.
Come Simucon, though, I fully intend to be there and playing blackjack on their casino boats.
Since I won't be at Vegascon, barring a miracle, I'll pass along my blackjack tips.
Most blackjack games in Vegas use 8 decks (32 aces, 128 tens), and the large deck is normally cut about midway, so the average showing of those should be about 16 and 64. If there haven't been a lot of 10s and the dealer's showing a 5 or 6, always double down (or split a pair) because the dealer will likely bust. Almost always split aces and eights unless a LOT of 10s have already come out. Even then, it's generally a good idea. Don't pay any attention to people talking about positions (first/third base, et al.), because playing the numbers always trumps superstition.
If your at an unfriendly table, be it dealers or players, walk away.
Never take insurance.
Don't play drunk if you intend to win money reliably.
Start with 10-14 hands worth of money, because odd streaks happen. For a $5 table, I start with about $60-70.
Once you're 30% ahead of your initial cash that you started the game with, walk away.
Using the tips above combined with your standard rules (i.e. Hoyle's, et al.) I have not lost at blackjack.
~player of Gulphphunger
