blackjack Archives - Brango Magazine

Feb 23

Doubling Down Move In Blackjack Explanation

Blackjack is a classic among casino table games. It is a favorite game of many players who like to keep their minds entertained and in a busy mode. We already wrote about how to choose a blackjack table and all about card counting. Now, it’s time for you to move to the next level. It would be the improvement of moves. Doubling down move is one of the most thrilling in blackjack. Find out more about it below.

Doubling Down Move Basics

This move allows you to double your bet in the middle of a hand in exchange for receiving just one card. It’s a risky move, as it usually ends your betting. You can’t hit again even if you receive a particularly low second card.

The first rule of this move is similar to the general Blackjack rule. The less value you get in your first card, the lesser is the chance of you going bust when you ask for the next. Therefore, you should only apply double down on a hand where the combined value of your first cards is 11 or less.

Strategy

Fortunately, basic strategies for blackjack have been mapped using mathematical probability. They were designed to tell you exactly when it is best, in the long run, to double down. There are three situations when you can make this move.

When your cards account to 11 and the dealer has a low card, go for doubling down. This is because you have an incredible chance to hit 21. Even if you don’t, you are likely to get a score close to that magic number.

If you have an Ace and either a 5, 6, or 7 giving you a “soft” total of 16 to 18 and the dealer shows a card from 2 to 6, this is a great time to double your bet. With an Ace and a lower card (2 to 4), it is better to just hit, as you are less likely to end with a high hand.

When you have a hard 9 or 10 where you will be having no ace, and if the dealer has a lower total, it’s time to double down.

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May 21

The Most Unbelievable Gambling Stories

By Tom Wolfe Lifestyle One Comment

There have always been great people in history who gambled big money away only to win even more. Some of them were purely lucky, others thought it through before coming to a casino. Some even had their own agendas and strategies. All of them had one common goal – to break the bank. These are some of the most unbelievable gambling stories in recent history. You may find them inspirational. Or, they can make you try looking at things from another perspective. Afterwards, join us at bet safe and crypto accepted Casino Brango. We are live 24/7 and offer hot selection of games and instant payouts.

Nick Leeson

Nick Leeson is considered the ultimate gambler who lost enormous amount of money and did not even entered a casino. Unlike other 2 gamblers on our list, Leeson’s gambling stories were adventurous, bud sad. He made several extremely bad choices. However, the amazing thing is that despite his epic fall, more than a decade after, he was giving interviews and speeches on how not to break the bank. So, what did he do?

In short, Leeson was a Fund Manager at Baring’s Bank, one of the oldest banks in the world. And he brought it down to bankruptcy. He traded with derivatives, reportedly using the bank’s weak spot of not being able to track his wrongdoings. Therefore, he created a secret account to hide the losses he made. On the other hand, Leeson tried to reimburse the money by risking it even more in shady trades.

Nick Leeson’s $1 Billion Fall

One of the most unbelievable gambling stories started in 1995. Leeson gambled that the Nikkei index would stay still overnight. Now, he must had really been born under an unlucky star because the Nikkei index fell rapidly in just a few hours, due to the earthquake that hit Japan that very night. The loss was estimated to app. $1 billion! Leeson escaped, only to be caught soon in Germany and sentenced to 4 years in prison.

In 1998 there was a movie, inspired by his story, called “The Rogue Trader”. Nevertheless, we find it more interesting to hear from the man himself about the adventure that marked his life.

Edward Thorpe

Unbelievable gambling stories would not be complete without mentioning Edward Thorpe. Many of you must have heard this name. Mr. Thorpe wrote the most popular book on Blackjack, which became a must-read for all fans of the game of 21. It is called “Beat the Dealer”. Naturally, the book reflects on Thorpe’s own experience and his knowledge in mathematics. He was a professor of probability and statistical analysis.

Thorpe’s work actually proves to what extent Blackjack is a game that demands skill. Although, this may sound intimidating because you really need to put some effort to master the skill, it is at the same time comforting to know that a man can beat the system.

Edward Thorpe’s Influence on Casinos’ Operation

The book “Beat the Dealer” provoked casinos to change the Blackjack rules, in order to put Thorpe’s theory out of practice. Nevertheless, this decision reflected in significantly lower number of players at Blackjack tables. Hence, the rules were reinstated. This is a short interview with Mr. Thorpe showing the way he thinks about gambling and finances.

Paul Newey

If you Google his name, the result you get is that Paul Newey is a businessman and semi-professional poker player from Dorset, England. He is also said to be the co-founder of Ocean Finance and New Wave Ventures. People estimate Newey’s net worth to more than $335 million. Unbelievable gambling stories Mr. Newey could tell are probably many. However, we will focus on just one.

The reason he found his place on our list is the fact he made £3 million in just one night. He broke the bank in a casino in Birmingham, UK, where he played roulette. Before poker, roulette was his game of choice.

Newey had his own strategy, which he referred to as “full & complete”. It basically covers many variations of a number he bets on. The goal is to enhance the odds, and the estimates say that his odds were at 3-1. Therefore, he found no difficulties in betting £300,000 on a single roulette spin.

The money he won, the entire £3 million he reportedly lost in the following month – only to continue playing and eventually winning even more. Take a look at some of the most amazing poker folds.

Sep 26

Playing One or Two Hands in Blackjack?

By Tom Wolfe Tips & Tricks No Comments

There is no greater joy than enduring at the table. Every gambler wishes to see a bankroll last. When playing Blackjack, it is important to assess the situation correctly. Relying on basic strategy is ok. However, if a player wishes to advance, there are details to think of. Join us for the exploration of whether playing one or two hands in Blackjack is an advantage.

Assessing the Chances

A great deal of players prefers playing two hands, as they believe this increases their chances. Alternatively, they start with a hand and then spread it onward. The reasoning behind this strategy is that when a player plays two hands, he or she will be dealt more cards an hour. More cards – more winning chances, or so it seems.

However, more experienced players know that playing more hands will get a player’s bankroll in danger. Actually, this is the perfect way to expose the bankroll to more losses, as the house edge does not disappear when a player plays two hands. On the other hand, if a player is skilled, there is a way to make multi-hand profitable.

Betting on Two Hands

Betting on two hands is beneficial if you are counting cards. But we will get to that later on.

Choosing to bet on one or two hands in Blackjack is not easy. The positive aspect of betting on two hands is that a player can decrease the hourly loss. Naturally, this depends on the total number of players at the table. For example, a player decides to split the betting in the following way: instead of betting $20 on one hand, he or she bets evenly and wager $10 on each of two hands. In theory, the hourly loss would come down from $10 (when betting $20 on one hand) to $8 (when betting $10 each hand).

Nonetheless, betting on two hands has its own downsides. With increasing the total bet on two hands, the risk increases as well. Imagine, that instead of betting $20 on one hand, a player decides to bet $20 on each hand. Apparently, the more money you invest, the higher the chances of winning big. However, in this case, a player enlarges the total amount of a bet. Consequently, the hourly loss increases as well. There are still chances of winning, but the risk is great as well.

What Happens with the Bankroll?

As for the bankroll, the bottom line is that there would be no more or less ups and downs when betting on two hands, other than usual. Players should keep in mind that although two hands appear to be separate wagers, the overall amount that is wagered is the same. Furthermore, both hands relate to the same dealer’s hand, so if you are winning, you are winning on both hands. Alternatively, you are losing on both.

The good thing is that betting on two hands can prolong the time spent at the table. If you are playing for the pure joy, or if pleasure of the game is your primary goal, betting on two hands is a way to go.

Should I Count Cards?

In short terms: you would need to decide what your goal is.

If you are counting cards, the experts suggest going with the two-hand bets. When counting, you have the edge already. This is also the situation when spreading your bet equally among hands means less risk. The interesting thing is that the risk does not increase with changing of the betting amount.

Moreover, most of the casinos require to bet double the table minimum for each hand, when betting on two hands. Eventually, this leads to more opportunities of winning or losing a more significant amount.

There is also the advantage of spreading the bet to two hands with minimum bets, in order to move through the negative count smoothly. Minimum bets in this case should serve to get rid of the cards with small value. That way, a player is left with the remaining cards of the higher value to be dealt. Similarly, a player can start betting on two hands with minimum bets, and then switch to one-hand and larger bets when better cards come his or her way.

Whether you bet on one or two hands in Blackjack could be the question of style, not just the skill. Either way, we are looking forward to hearing about your experiences in Blackjack.

Sep 20

How to Become a Professional Gambler

By Tom Wolfe Tips & Tricks No Comments

Would you like to spend all your time playing games? If so, join us as we explore how to become a professional gambler. This is most probably one of the most exciting and interesting professions in the world.

Professional Gambler’s Profile

We would like to think of gambling as a fun profession. Moreover, there are individuals who actually live out of gambling. By nature, gamblers are people who are willing to risk. We could say they are bald and curious. However, cautiousness is also of great importance. The professional gambler knows when to take the money and get out of the casino.

Another thing that all professional players know is to “blend with the crowd”. Yes, we know it is in human nature to boast about the well-deserved status. However, an experienced gambler is the person who is aware of his or her achievements. This gambler knows how important it is not to draw too much attention.

How to Choose a Game

Upon entering the gambling world, most players start with slots and Blackjack. However, as we have said – gamblers are curious creatures constantly looking for opportunities. Hence, exploring different tables.

A good player knows that winning at each game is possible. Trying it out in a fun mode is always a good place to start. The more advanced and more dedicated gamblers do a lot of research on the game. Some of them even go that far so as to code the game themselves in order to see how it works. Why they do it? Well, a professional knows how to apply a strategy. Nonetheless, the essence is to build your own strategy that works. In order to do it, you have to be well-read and get into details. They say that it is a kind of an unwritten rule to do part of a research at the on the subject at the UNLV Las Vegas library. And remember to always rely on mathematics.

Land-Based or Online Casinos?

Professional gamblers play at both land-based and online casinos. Apparently, they are everywhere, and they are looking for opportunities. When in land-based casinos, professional gamblers pay a lot of attention to dealers.

Shuffling the cards can tell you a lot about the table. If the game includes single or double deck of cards, the dealer will probably hand-shuffle the cards. However, in case of a multi-deck game, dealers can either hand-shuffle or use the Continuous Shuffling Machine. Professionals say that if possible, they prefer to avoid the shuffling machine.

This machine usually contains four or five decks of cards. After every round, the dealer places the discards back into the machine which shuffles the cards are randomly. The thing is that this machine enables live dealers to continue dealing without interruption. So, a dealer can deal more hands per hour. Professional gamblers believe this increases the house edge, as it exposes the player’s bankroll.

On the other hand, gamblers should never loose online casinos out of the focus. Choosing a bet safe casino is of utmost importance. Additionally, online casinos often have different type of promotions to keep track of. Above all, they offer bonuses as incentives to players and all professional gamblers should take advantage of this fact.

How close to you think you are to becoming a professional gambler?

Aug 02

Blackjack Basic Tips

By Tom Wolfe Tips & Tricks 2 Comments

Contrary to many other casino games, Blackjack barely relies on luck. It is a smart game that requires cleverness, skill and dedication. Above all, learning the basics can get you on track. Afterwards, it is all up to your willingness to practice and learn new tricks. These are some of the basic tips to get you going in the right direction.

As a Beginner, Go for the Single Deck Strategy

The main goal of each casino strategy is to lower the house edge. In Blackjack the house edge is minimal. Choosing the single deck game is a great way to lower it even more. Namely, this was the original way to play Blackjack before the rules changed. However, counting cards is still not forbidden, so players got accustomed to playing the multiple decks Blackjack.

The thing is that if the table uses less decks the chances of scoring a blackjack are higher. The logic behind it is quite simple. All the tens and aces are otherwise scattered in several decks, while in single deck Blackjack these are all condensed.

Watch Out for the Payout

The usual payout is either 6 to 5 or 3 to 2. The experienced players prefer 3 to 2 payout. Simply, this actually means that for every $10 win, a player will get $15. Otherwise, in case of choosing 6 to 5, a player gets $12. This may not sound like a significant difference. However, in the long run, the gap gets huge. There are various calculators online that can help in projecting the possible winning amount.

Know When to Put Side Bets

Although house edge in Blackjack is not high, many consider side bets to be unprofitable. However, a player can always choose to stick to the side bets with the lowest house edge. Furthermore, if a player knows how to count cards he or she is equipped with the necessary advantage.

The Royal Match, for example, is one of the side bets with the highest payouts and lowest house edges. You will find it available at both single-deck and multi-deck tables. In a single-deck version, the payouts are 3 to 1 for an Easy Match and 10 to 1 for Royal Match. Again, there are mathematically based systems behind Royal Match. All you need to do is find the proper literature and educate yourself.

Taking “Even Money” or No?

The question of all questions. To take or not to take… When playing the game, at one point the dealer will offer you “even money” for your blackjack. This means that the dealer will give you the chance to take the money you wagered. This happens right before the dealer peeks at her down card. If you choose to take “even money”, the dealer gives you the amount you wagered and removes your cards from the layout. It is a win-win situation, right?

Nevertheless, the math experts claim differently and call for deeper consideration. Namely, a six-deck game contains 312 cards. Among all these cards, 96 are ten-value cards (24 each of tens, jacks, queens, and kings). Now, imagine you hold a blackjack and the dealer shows an Ace. At that moment there are still 309 cards left. The calculation tells us that among those 309 cards, there are 95 ten-value cards. If we want to calculate further, we will see that the chance the dealer holds a ten in the hole is 30.7%. This is the percentage of the time the dealer gets a blackjack and pushes a player’s blackjack.

On the other hand, this also means that another 69.3% of the time the dealer would not have the ten in a hole and your chances of winning more money are that much increased. It introduces a whole new perspective, doesn’t it?

Whatever strategy you choose to use, we wish you luck. Play safely and enjoy!

And do not forget to share your experiences with us in the comments below.

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