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In a game of poker, or a round of blackjack, or a spin of the roulette wheel the dealer is important. The dealer has a direct effect on the outcome of your game, whether you realize it or not. For example, a bad dealer can cause you to lose your focus, costing you the win. It is important to learn to read the dealers, so to speak, so that you choose the best dealer for you when picking a table.

How to Read the Dealer

Notice How They Interact With Other Players

Before sliding up to a new table take a moment to observe how the dealer is interacting with the players already at the table. If the dealer seems friendly and sure of themselves, chances are you will have a positive gaming experience. If the dealer seems silent or too stern, it is probably best to move on to another table. Many professional players will attest that the mood and or experience of a dealer can be a critical factor in the outcome of the game.

Ask the Dealer Questions

When you first start playing, do not hesitate to engage the dealer. While you do not need to quiz every dealer you come across, it does not hurt to test your dealer knowledge. After all, you want a knowledgeable dealer. Especially if a round of the game comes into question or another player’s actions are not entirely honest.

Learn When to Move to Another Table

If you do not enjoy the dealer you are playing with, get up and move to another table. Playing at a table you do not like can lead to bad plays and missed hands. However, chances are you are not going to love every call every dealer makes and eventually you will run out of new tables to move.

Learn to strike a balance between your feelings on the dealer and what is actually fair practice. If the dealer is behaving honestly, try and let a few things slide before you move on. Especially if the game is going well for you.

If you have been to a casino, it is likely you have seen the crowded Blackjack tables. Blackjack is one of the oldest and most popular games at the casino. Playing blackjack well takes a good mixture of skill and luck, which is why blackjack players are always looking to improve their game. While there are several ways of making yourself a better blackjack player in the long run, there are a few things you can do now to improve your game immediately.

Three Ways to Improve Your Blackjack Game

Set Winning Goals

While it is important to manage your bankroll, and divide your bets for maximum playing time, you should also be setting winning goals. A goal is simply a way of knowing when you have achieved what you came to achieve. This is good for two reasons. One, having a winning goal in mind will help give you perspective even when the last few hands have not gone your way. For two, a winning goal will help you know when to quit. If you set a goal and quit when you get there, you are far more likely to walk away from the Blackjack table with cash in hand.

Keep Your Emotions in Check

Proper emotional control is a huge key to successful playing in any gambling game, but this is especially true in Blackjack. Blackjack can be a very intense game. The emotions often run high at the table, the drinks are flowing, and the other players are adding to the confusion. It is easy to slip up and let your emotions get the best of you. This can cause you to run a bet too high or fold when you should not have. Learn to keep your emotions in check and your bankroll will thank you.

Choose Your Table Wisely

If there is more then one blackjack table in the casino, then pick the one you think will be the best fit for you. Study the other players for a few hands. If it seems like the players will disrupt your strategy, go to another table. If you start playing at a table and do not like the vibe, get up and move to the next one. Playing with a dealer or players you do not enjoy can negatively affect your game. Move around until you find a table you like.

Multi-tasking is nothing new at the casino – for years poker players have swung by the sportsbook while waiting for a table or slots players have bought a keno ticket while having a coffee in the cafe – but online casinos have taken the concept of side games to a whole new level. These days you can play any number of games at once with one featured center screen and another minimized in the corner or with up to a dozen or more poker tables resized and going at once. Many games – like bingo and keno, for example – have consistently been side games at the casino, but these days their growing popularity is seeing them increasingly played front and center. Here are a few traditional casino side games that we believe deserve your full attention.

Lottery-style Games

Keno was first popularized in live American casinos as a diversion for players sitting in their rooms or killing time at the cafe. Alternately bingo has always had its own crowd of casual players outside the casino. These preconceived perceptions of the games are slowly changing thanks to the new exposure they’re receiving from online casinos. All the fun of bingo and keno is in seeing your numbers get drawn, plus these lottery-style games tend to attract a large and active crowd of live players, so why not get a bit more involved with your lottery-style game the next time you play?

Sportsbooks

The term “side bet” was probably coined at a sportsbook, and yet for some casino players all sportsbook bets are side bets. Half-hearted sports bettors are missing all the fun (not to mention losing lots of bets). What’s great about sportsbooks is that they give sports fanatics a new way to interact with the game. The next time you’re logging in to make a quick bet at your preferred sportsbook, take a little extra time to read about the odds, browse forum postings or peruse expert advice on your selected event – we guarantee the added knowledge will make your participation more exciting.

Blackjack

Any serious blackjack player would scoff at its being labeled as a side game, but the truth is that blackjack has become an increasingly popular diversion for slots and poker players. The irony of playing blackjack as a side game is that with the right strategy and the right blackjack table you could probably earn more at this game than any other offered in the casino. For this reason alone blackjack deserves your undivided attention. The game’s potentially high payback percentage relies entirely on your use of a perfect strategy, and that requires concentration.

Blackjack is one of the most popular games at the casino. The main goal of blackjack is to reach a sum of twenty-one without going over. In blackjack a dealer will continue to deal cards to a player one at a time until the player tells the dealer to stop or goes over twenty-one, known as busting.

Blackjack is one of the most frequented tables at any casino. Blackjack can become an addicting game, and players often wonder how to increase their skills.

With a few simple tricks you can up your skill level no matter how experienced, or inexperienced, you are.

Tips for Playing Blackjack

1. Practice makes perfect. Blackjack is a fast paced game where players are expected to add quickly in their heads, and make instant decisions on their hands. This can be daunting to new players. If you are uncomfortable playing at the fast paced level of a casino table you can practice at an online casino, or during a home game of poker, until you feel more comfortable playing against casino dealers.

2. Gauge your bank roll. The longer a player is able to stay in the game, the higher their odds are of winning. If you can, start with a bankroll that is at least twenty times the minimum bet. This way you are guaranteed to play at least twenty hands of Blackjack at the minimum bet.

3. Start with small bets. Poker players, especially beginners, are prone to getting overly excited at Blackjack tables and tossing their entire bankroll in to one hand. This is a risky business, especially if you are playing with a limited bankroll. Instead, try starting off betting only the minimum. Not only will this increase your playing time, but it will allow to you develop a higher bankroll as you start to win hands. Once you have a high bank roll you can start betting those riskier bets.

4. Know your terms. Blackjack is such a popular game that there are entire websites, books, and television shows devoted to learning the skills behind Blackjack. Take time to read a book or two. Blackjack has its own set of lingo, betting rules, and skill sets. The more you know about the game, the better you will play.

5. Only bet when you feel comfortable. Blackjack tables can be intimidating places to some poker players. Instead of worrying about what your neighboring player is doing, worry about your hand. If you don’t feel comfortable betting on a hand, or betting to a certain amount, then don’t do it. Take the game as slowly as you wish. After all, Blackjack is meant to be fun.

Every game in the casino from Texas Hold ‘Em to the slot machines has a house edge. A house edge is how the casino ensures they keep some of their money and are able to stay in business. However, different games have a different house edge that can vary from less then one percent to five or more depending on the game. Knowing the best games to play in the casino with the lowest house advantage may help you walk away a winner.

The Five Casino Games with the Lowest House Edge

1. Video Poker- Video poker machines typically carry a house advantage of two percent or less, and some poker machines go as low as half a percent. You can determine the video poker machine’s house advantage by reading the payout scale. The payout scale is typically located on top of or near the poker machine. Occasionally the scale may be listed on the interactive menu.

2. Poker Tables- The poker tables may be the best seat in the house if a player is trying to beat the house edge. This is due to the fact that in the exception of a small sum removed from each pot, the house has virtually no advantage at the poker table. House winnings are completely up to the dealer and the luck of the draw. A highly skilled poker player can eliminate the house advantage at the table.

3. Blackjack- The blackjack table is another spot in the casino with a low house edge. Most blackjack tables carry a house advantage of less then one percent. By knowing the basic blackjack strategies, a player can reduce the house edge to half a percent.

4. Acting as the Banker in Pai Gow- At first glance, acting as the banker in Pai Gow does not seem that appealing, after all you have to pay a five percent commission to the house for the spot. However, the banker in Pai Gow collects on any player he beats, and if you are good at the game, the five percent commission is well worth it.

5. Baccarat- While Baccarat has a higher house advantage then blackjack or the poker tables; it is still one of the best bets in the house. Baccarat only carries slightly more then one percent on the house edge.

By playing games with a low house advantage a player has a better chance of walking away from the casino a winner, however, no player should play a game with high stakes until they are completely familiar with the rules and strategies.

The man who was accused of counting cards at a blackjack table in the Paris Las Vegas casino in Las Vegas, Nevada is suing for rights to reenter the casino. According to the man, the casino’s decision to ban him from their establishment is not in accordance with Nevada law. Harris who is the defendant in the lawsuit owns the Paris Las Vegas casino.

According to Harris, Steven Silverstein was Counting Cards

Steven Silverstein was playing at a blackjack table at the Paris Las Vegas casino owned by Harris on September 6^th, 2009 when four casino employees approached him. Steven Silverstein was directed to the cashier’s desk and asked to cash in his casino chips. Upon doing so, Steven Silverstein met the Paris Las Vegas manager who instructed Silverstein to leave the casino and imposed a ban on him returning.

According to the casino manager, Steven Silverstein was counting cards at the blackjack table. According to a letter Steven Silverstein wrote to Harrah’s Chief Executive Gary Loveman following the event, he was not counting cards and the casino manager had mistaken him for someone else. Mark Dunn, the Vice President of Legal Affairs, responded to the letter by banning Steven Silverstein not only from the Paris Las Vegas casino but also from sixteen total casinos in Harris western district.

Steven Silverstein Sues Harris to be Able to Reenter the Casino

According to Steven Silverstein, he was not counting cards on September 6^th at that blackjack table. He also claims that Harris revoked his player’s club card for all of their casinos, effectively preventing him from playing poker at any of their establishments, which is against the original letter Mark Dunn wrote to Silverstein, which stated he was only banned from the western region of Harris’ branches. Steven Silverstein also believes that any ban is against Nevada’s laws and would like them all to be removed and his playing privileges to be reestablished at every Harris casino.

Steven Silverstein filed the lawsuit against Harris in the Clark County District Court earlier this month. Steven Silverstein is a lawyer in Los Angeles, California. To date, this is the only altercation he has had with the Harris casinos or any casinos on the Las Vegas strip. There is no word yet on whether Harris will decide to settle the Silverstein case out of court or proceed to trial.

Slots and roulette are games of chance.  Blackjack is a game of math.  In the long run, playing blackjack solely on hunches and gut feelings will not help you win. If you’re superstitious and like to make your bets based on superstitions, then blackjack is not the game for you.

Find the Right Table

The first thing you want to do is find the right table.  Scout out several tables before you choose one.  Watch a few hands at each table and pay close attention to the rapport of the dealer and the players.  If there are heavily intoxicated players at a particular table, then move on.  Intoxicated players can be both distracting and annoying and will, undoubtedly, take away from your enjoyment of the game.  You want to have fun, but your ultimate goal is to win some money.  If you are surrounded by drunk players it will most certainly lead to a lack of concentration on your part.

Crowded tables can make for an exciting atmosphere, but they can also be uncomfortable.  Of course, you don’t want to sit at a table with no players, but you don’t want to be elbow-to-elbow with a throng of other players either. Again, an overly-crowded table can easily break your concentration.

If a table has a lot of slow/novice players it will limit the amount of money you can win per hour.  Conversely, if players are slow it can also limit the amount of money you can lose in an hour because you’ll be placing wagers at a slower pace.  Lastly, hostile dealers should be avoided.  Much like the intoxicated players, an unfriendly dealer can break your concentration in addition to creating an unpleasant atmosphere.

Manage Your Money Wisely

The strategy of playing blackjack differs greatly from that of slots or roulette, but the principles of managing your bankroll do not.  Don’t bet over your head, bet with it. Some experts recommend using the 1/20 rule.  This simply means to never go to a table with a bet size that’s more than 1/20 of your bankroll.  Obviously, if you don’t have a large bankroll or are playing to kill a couple of hours, you’ll want to find the tables with the lowest minimum bet.  On the other hand, if you have a sizable bankroll and are looking to win some money and move on to the next game, you’ll want to go to a high-limits table.  Many low-to-mid sized casinos will offer lower minimum bets that the higher-end casinos do not.  Just about every casino will offer free drinks to blackjack players, just be sure to tip your waitresses.

On the surface, double exposure blackjack seems just like the traditional version played in casinos around the world.  However, this is not the case.  The unique aspect of this variant is that both of the dealer’s cards are dealt face up, hence the name “double exposure.”

Double exposure gives the players instant access to twice as much information as the original variation, and this information that can be used to compose a winning strategy.  By having the luxury to see exactly what the dealer is working with, the player can make better decisions on whether they should stand, hit, double down, split, or surrender their bet.

While the structure of double exposure blackjack gives the player an obvious advantage over the house, other rules have been implemented to make sure that this advantage is tempered.

The Rules of Double Exposure Blackjack

Double exposure is played with eight standard decks of playing cards.  The player is allowed to double down on hands of 9, 10, and 11, while the dealer is required to hit on a soft 17.  As the player, you can also split up to three times and double down afterwards.  Split aces, however, can only receive one additional card.

Of course, the most noteworthy change to the traditional rules is that the both of the dealer’s cards are exposed.  Therefore, it is only practical that the house shift the balance so neither side has too much of an advantage over the other.

One of the rules in double exposure blackjack that benefits the house the most is that the dealer automatically wins on all ties.  The one exception is a tied blackjack, which would be won by the player.  The other is the rule stating that a player pays out at even money, rather than the standard 3 to 2.

From the player’s perspective, these are major disadvantages that could make double exposure blackjack very undesirable.  Be that is it may, these are rules you simply have to live with if you want the benefit of being able to see the dealer’s cards.

Double Exposure Strategy

The object of double exposure is the same as all blackjack variants – beat the dealer by assembling a hand as close to 21 as possible without going over.  However, the strategy the player must employ to accomplish this is quite different than other versions.  Applying a sound strategy does not have to be a difficult thing.  In fact, the dealer’s exposed second card will often reveal exactly what the player needs to do to secure a victory.

For example, let’s say the total value of your hand is 18.  In this scenario, traditional strategy would call for you to play it safe and automatically stand.   On the other hand, in double exposure, if you have 18 and see that the dealer has you beat with 19, then the most logical strategy would be to take a hit.  At this point, you have nothing to lose, and there is always the possibility of drawing the cards you need to hit 21 and win.

Here is another good strategy you may want to employ.  Let’s assume your hand value is 12 and you see that the dealer initially draws a 9 on their first card.  In this scenario, traditional strategy would encourage you to hit.  However, if you notice that dealer’s next card is 4, which would give them a total of 13, you know that the dealer must take more hits and increase their risk of going over.  This would be a good time to stand your ground and play it safe.

Strategy Tables

Because they only reveal the dealer’s face up card across the top of the chart, strategy tables designed for traditional blackjack are essentially useless when it comes to double exposure.   Fortunately, strategy charts specifically made for this unique variation of the game are widely available online.  If you want to try your hand at double exposure, finding these charts and making use of them would be worth your while.  A good strategy table could be the difference maker you need to come out a winner.

Conclusion

Double Exposure blackjack is a major hit in online casinos.  However, it is still frequently played offline, especially in Las Vegas casinos, where the variant first appeared.  If you have been seeking a game that offers something far beyond traditional blackjack, double exposure could be the thrill ride you’re after.

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