This is the Blackjack Review Network‘s blackjack and card counting site blog. Home of Michael Dalton’s free online edition of the Encyclopedia of Blackjack – the most comprehensive resource available anywhere for blackjack information, card counting strategies and history of the game. Like free stuff? Enter our giveaway each month to win free blackjack, poker and gambling books and products. NOTE: Some of the sponsored blog items here help support free access to the Blackjack Review Network web site. FEED SOURCE
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- What’s New (Feb – June 2018) - Lots of new stuff on the Blackjack Review Network. Check it out! Click on the NEW link to get the latest updates. 06/26/18: Improved Blackjack Basic Strategy Calculator layout. 06/26/18: Improved site optimization / loading speed. 06/04/18: Added entry for Triple Win 20. 05/26/18: Added entry for Deal or No Deal Blackjack. 05/10/18: Correction to … Continue reading What’s New (Feb – June 2018)
- Blackjack: The Best Casino Game to Play Online? - by Nick White What makes blackjack the best casino game to play online? Blackjack is one of the most well-known casino games enjoyed in land-based casinos across the globe. Most every casino offers the game because players want to enjoy the thrill of beating the dealer with 21. When it comes to online casino game … Continue reading Blackjack: The Best Casino Game to Play Online?
- Live Dealer Blackjack - Live Dealer Blackjack: A Great Game for Casino Enthusiasts By Nick White If you enjoy online casino games, live dealer blackjack is a great game you should consider trying. Live dealer games are one of the most popular genres available today in online casino gaming, offering players the experience of a land-based casino from the … Continue reading Live Dealer Blackjack
- Words to Die By! - Words and phrases to avoid at the blackjack table by Michael Dalton Words can indeed be our own worst enemy! What we say and how we react to others can often mirror our intelligence, and reflect on our experience and knowledge. At the blackjack table, card counters1)Of course, this discussion also applies to any advantage … Continue reading Words to Die By!
- What’s New (July 2017 – Feb 2018) - Lots of new stuff on the Blackjack Review Network. Check it out! Click on the NEW link to get the latest updates. 02/23/18: Added encyclopedia entry for the Rule of 45. 02/23/18: Added encyclopedia entry for Jeffery Oxley’s book Winning Blackjack for the Average Joe. 02/22/18: Added encyclopedia entry for Nicholas Colon and the Alea … Continue reading What’s New (July 2017 – Feb 2018)
- Blackjack History Database Project - The first scientific and mathematically sound attempt to devise an optimal blackjack playing strategy was revealed in September 1956. Roger Baldwin, Wilbert Cantey, Herbert Maisel and James McDermott published a paper titled The Optimum Strategy in Blackjack in the Journal of the American Statistical Association. This paper would become the foundation of all future sound … Continue reading Blackjack History Database Project
- Bill Zender Newsletter – January 2018 - Bill Zender and Associates Newsletter January 9, 2017 Dear Friends and Business Associates, I hope everyone had an enjoyable holiday season, and is looking forward to a prosperous year in 2018. I have planned to kick off the first quart of this year with a seminar on “Optimal Defensive Card Counting”, February 6th and 7th … Continue reading Bill Zender Newsletter – January 2018
- How to Deal with Issues at Online Gambling Sites - How to Deal with Issues at Online Gambling Sites By Alice Mason Online gambling has become a beloved way of gambling by players across the globe. The ease of betting from anywhere and anytime attracts a higher number of players. But once you start playing, it is not necessary that you would find the best … Continue reading How to Deal with Issues at Online Gambling Sites
- How Casinos can be Sure a Person is Counting? - By Bill Zender October 2, 2017 Dear Friends and Business Associates, I will be attending this year’s G2E tomorrow, October 3rd, and Wednesday October 4th. Since I am on the Board of Directors, I will be “hanging out” primarily at the Galaxy Gaming booth 4208. The convention area is like a small city so be … Continue reading How Casinos can be Sure a Person is Counting?
- Game Protection and Card Counter Detection - From Bill Zender and AssociatesBill Zender Newsletter September 6, 2017 I cannot believe the number of “winning” player evaluations I have conducted this summer. Most of them concerned higher limit blackjack players, but I still had a couple higher limit baccarat players, and one Pai Gow tiles evaluation. Usually the evaluations only confirm what the … Continue reading Game Protection and Card Counter Detection
- Understanding Blackjack Bet Spread Requirements - From Bill Zender’s email discussing his upcoming activities and events which include some interesting comments on the state of advantage play. August 2, 2017 Dear Friends and Business Associates, I want everyone to know that I will have some openings to conduct on property training sessions, or table game evaluations at your property September through … Continue reading Understanding Blackjack Bet Spread Requirements
- What’s New (June – July 2017) - Check out what is new on the Blackjack Review Network. Lots of new encyclopedia entries, updated (better looking) basic strategy charts, new Blackjack Tests and Quizzes, a Wikipedia Resource page, a Blackjack history database tool, a new Blackjack strategy calculator, improved cross linking and hundreds of man-hours of cleanup. Click on the NEW link to … Continue reading What’s New (June – July 2017)
- Blackjack Basic Strategy – Is It Important? - From Bill Zender’s email discussing his upcoming activities and events. July 5, 2017 Dear Friends and Business Associates, I hope everyone is doing well. First off, I want to give the University of Nevada Reno’s Extended Studies course in Casino Management a recommendation, especially the Table Game Management course that is scheduled to be held … Continue reading Blackjack Basic Strategy – Is It Important?
- The Art of Blackjack Betting - The Art of Blackjack Betting by Manu Becoming a successful blackjack player isn’t just about coming to grips with strategy, or committing to a card counting system. It’s also about having a good understanding of the art of betting. There are many ways a player can place a bet (or wager) during the game, so … Continue reading The Art of Blackjack Betting
- New Blackjack History Database Tool - Just completed a new Blackjack History Database Tool on the BJRNET site. Did a blackjack, card counting or related gambling event happen in 1948, or in the month of January, or during April 1977? Check the Blackjack History Database Tool. You can search by any combination of month, day and year. Or view all of the … Continue reading New Blackjack History Database Tool
- Use of Rolling Chips in North America - From Bill Zender’s email discussing his upcoming activities and events. June 6, 2017 Dear Friends and Business Associates, I am sorry that I haven’t kept in touch with everyone. Between closing out my house in Las Vegas and working abroad, I didn’t have much time in which to pen my usual monthly eBlasts. Now … Continue reading Use of Rolling Chips in North America
- Everything you need to know about Bitcoin gambling - This page sponsored by Paddypower.com Everything you need to know about Bitcoin gambling The bitcoin is currently the most popular cryptocurrency used around the world. People are able to earn bitcoins in competitions where users offer their computing power to verify and record bitcoin transactions into the blockchain. This is also known as miners. Successful … Continue reading Everything you need to know about Bitcoin gambling
- Sydney Australia’s Star City Casino - Spent an afternoon at Sydney Australia’s Star City Casino this week. This is a huge casino with lots of blackjack tables. However, they are not worth playing as they all use automatic shufflers. Minimum bets that I saw started at $20 Australian which is about $15 US. I did not check the high-pit areas which … Continue reading Sydney Australia’s Star City Casino
- Monte Carlo Poker Room Closure - Just received this email from the Monte Carlo Poker Room: Michael, In the early morning hours of April 25th, 2017, the Monte Carlo Poker Room will be closing its doors. We thank you very much for your patronage and it was our privilege to serve you over the last 20 years. Effective April 1st, 2017, … Continue reading Monte Carlo Poker Room Closure
- Blackjack in Montana ??? - Bill would legalize blackjack in Montana, tax tables FREDDY MONARES, University of Montana School of Journalism Published 4:33 p.m. MT March 15, 2017 HELENA — Rep. Wylie Galt, R-Martinsdale, said generating revenue for the state can be as simple as counting to 21, meaning, playing blackjack. House Bill 578 would legalize the card game, for … Continue reading Blackjack in Montana ???
- Ten Fun Ways to Look Like an Idiot - Or avoiding blackjack protocol at all costs! by Michael Dalton Before you sit down at any table be sure to introduce yourself and shake the dealer’s hand. If you need chips, always hand the dealer the money directly. Never place money directly on the table… someone might steal it! Be sure to have a … Continue reading Ten Fun Ways to Look Like an Idiot
- Bill Zender Newsletter 01/17 - Some interesting comments from Bill Zender on the state of advantage play: January 10, 2017 Dear Friends and Business Associates, I hope everyone had a great Holiday Season and are looking forward to a prosperous New Year. It seems that I am always asked about what I see as the biggest Table Game problems, cheating … Continue reading Bill Zender Newsletter 01/17
- Casino will confiscate winnings for using brain! - Casino threatens to confiscate winnings for using your brain! I’ve seen similar Casino House Rules posted in front of casinos before but I thought it might be interesting to bring a specific “idiotic” house rule to the public’s attention. Let’s be clear, “card counting” is the simple use of your brain. It is not illegal … Continue reading Casino will confiscate winnings for using brain!
- Ed Thorp’s A Man for All Markets - On January 24th 2017, Random House Publishing will release Ed Thorp’s memoirs in his new book A Man for All Markets: From Las Vegas to Wall Street, How I Beat the Dealer and the Market. Nassim Taleb did the foreword for this book and if you are interested you can read it here. Early reviews … Continue reading Ed Thorp’s A Man for All Markets
- Historical Events and Quotes - Announcing the Blackjack Review Networkhistorical event and quotation database. Every day that you visit the Blackjack Review Network web site you are greeted with a historical event and/or quote of the day. My goal is to have a relevant event and/or quote for each day of the year. Relevant means the event or quote should … Continue reading Historical Events and Quotes
- BJRNET Catalog Update: Every Day is Black Friday Sale - The Blackjack Review Network product catalog has been updated with lower prices throughout. Free shipping is now available on ALL orders shipped in the USA. Non-USA shipping still requires a shipping charge. Check our latest deals at blackjackreview.com/wp/catalog/ or click on the banner above. Don’t forget to check our Amazon listing for lots of used … Continue reading BJRNET Catalog Update: Every Day is Black Friday Sale
- Bill Zender’s Southwest Table Game Seminar - September 13, 2016 Dear Friends and Business Associates, The Southwest Table Game Seminar is coming to Albuquerque New Mexico!! I will be holding two-day Table Game seminar on October 18th and 19th, 2016 at the Crown Plaza Hotel and Resort near downtown Albuquerque, New Mexico. The Southwest Table Game Seminar is a “hybrid” … Continue reading Bill Zender’s Southwest Table Game Seminar
- BJRnet Catalog Update: FREE SHIPPING - The Blackjack Review Network product catalog has been updated with lower prices throughout. Many items are on clearance sale! Free shipping is now available on ALL orders shipped in the USA. Non-USA shipping still requires a shipping charge. Michael DaltonEditor / PublisherBlackjack Review NetworkSpur of the Moment Publishing
- New Games Menu - Woo-hoo…. we have some games! The Blackjack Review Network has a new left side menu. Click on GAMES to review some of the new fun games we’ve included.
- Blackjack Review Progress Update - Considerable progress has been made updating the Blackjack Review site at bjrnet.com and blackjackreview.com. The entire site is going through an overhaul which means everything is being updated. I am working 12-15 hours every day on this project. My completion estimate is the end of August 2016, for phase 1. The Encyclopedia of Blackjack (Twenty-One) … Continue reading Blackjack Review Progress Update
- Encyclopedia of Blackjack Updates - After several years of neglect, the Encyclopedia of Twenty-One was finally updated in 2016. To better reflect the contents and improve online access, the title of the book was changed to The Encyclopedia of Blackjack in 2017. This book is a living document and you will undoubtedly find some broken or incorrect links. If you … Continue reading Encyclopedia of Blackjack Updates
- BJRnet.com Product Catalog SALE!!!!!!! - The Blackjack Review Network product catalog has been updated with lower prices throughout. Many items are on clearance sale! Free shipping on all orders over $19.94. Check it out at https://www.blackjackreview.com/wp/catalog/ or click on the banner above. Michael Dalton Editor / PublisherBlackjack Review Networkhttps://www.bjrnet.comhttps://www.blackjackreview.com Spur of the Moment Publishing
- Casinos As Spies For The Federal Government - The following notice has not beenapproved by any government official.(In fact, some of them would probably beunhappy to see this warning published.) WARNING TO ALL CASINO PATRONS By Professor I. Nelson Rose If you win big, are a high roller, or do anything that a casino or the government regards as suspicious, you will be … Continue reading Casinos As Spies For The Federal Government
- What are the top blackjack play variations… - … that yield the greatest gain for card counters? By Michael Dalton The top play variations for blackjack card counters are knowing when to take insurance and stand on 16 versus a dealer’s 10. The top 18 plays, known as the Illustrious 18 are show in the table below in order of importance 1)The gains … Continue reading What are the top blackjack play variations…
- Bill Zender’s Optimal Baccarat Seminar 2016 - I have only six seats remaining for my August 9th Optimal Baccarat Seminar in Las Vegas Nevada, at the Tuscany Hotel/Resort. If you are interested, please contact me as soon as possible so you don’t get shut out. This 7 hour session covers topics such as: Mathematics for establishing house advantage in baccarat Value of … Continue reading Bill Zender’s Optimal Baccarat Seminar 2016
- What is the best card counting system? - By Michael Dalton There is no such thing as a “best” card counting system unless you are a robot, in which case you would be keeping track of each and every card. Humans, on the other hand, have limitations. For shoe dealt games, all card counting systems perform within a tenth of a percent (or … Continue reading What is the best card counting system?
- Isn’t card counting illegal? - By Michael Dalton No! It’s no more illegal than using your brain to add up how much money you have in your wallet. But that doesn’t mean they won’t kick you out for trying! In most casinos in this country casino management has the right to bar players for any reason they want. Most casinos … Continue reading Isn’t card counting illegal?
- How much money can I expect to win if I count cards? - By Michael Dalton To be perfectly honest, you stand a fair chance of losing money in this game! It all depends on your skill level, bankroll, the level of risk you are willing to take, and the quality of games you play. Assuming you balance all of these factors, the theoretical long-run advantage a skilled … Continue reading How much money can I expect to win if I count cards?
- If blackjack is really “beatable”…? - … then why aren’t you out there making millions of dollars instead of writing about it? By Michael Dalton The fact that a game is beatable does not imply that someone can get rich at it. If you look at blackjack as an investment opportunity you have three factors to consider – Knowledge and skill, … Continue reading If blackjack is really “beatable”…?
- Are single-deck games better than multi-deck games? - By Michael Dalton WARNING: This article assumes blackjacks pay 3 to 2. Most, if not all, single deck blackjack games currently offered pay only 6 to 5 on a natural. This makes the game unplayable. For more information check the Numbers of 21 section. Yes… and no! A multi-deck game has an inherent 0.5% … Continue reading Are single-deck games better than multi-deck games?
- How fast can you count down a single deck of playing cards? - Several years ago on bjrnet.com a poll was conducted. Several questions were asked. Here is question 8 of the archived bjrnet.com poll: If you are a card-counter… how fast can you count down a single deck of playing cards?
- Have you played blackjack for real money in an online Internet casino? - Several years ago on bjrnet.com a poll was conducted. Several questions were asked. Here is question 7 of the archived bjrnet.com poll: Have you played blackjack for real money in an online Internet casino?
- Where can the best money-making blackjack opportunities be found today? - Several years ago on bjrnet.com a poll was conducted. Several questions were asked. Here is question 5 of the archived bjrnet.com poll: Where can the best money-making blackjack opportunities be found today?
- At the present time over your lifetime, are you ahead financially playing blackjack? - Several years ago on bjrnet.com a poll was conducted. Several questions were asked. Here is question 5 of the archived bjrnet.com poll: At the present time over your lifetime, are you ahead financially playing blackjack?
- Should casinos be allowed to bar card counters? - Several years ago on bjrnet.com a poll was conducted. Several questions were asked. Here is question 4 of the archived bjrnet.com poll: Should casinos be allowed to bar card counters?
- Who has the biggest blackjack book collection? - I’ve been collecting blackjack books since the early 1980s. It’s pretty intensive but I am sure it is not the largest. If your collection is larger I would love to hear your comments. I recently did some organizing in my office and found a few duplicate books – which you can check out on the … Continue reading Who has the biggest blackjack book collection?
- What is the worst play in blackjack? - By Michael Dalton Ignoring abnormal plays such as hitting a 19 or 20 or standing on Ace-Ace, the worst play, expectation wise, is standing on 8,8 versus 7, rather than splitting them! You will lose about 70 cents on the dollar each time you make this play. If you stick to basic strategy you won’t … Continue reading What is the worst play in blackjack?
- When would I ever want to take insurance (or even money)? - By Michael Dalton A basic strategy player should never take insurance. Only a card counter knows when this bet is profitable. If you are dealt a blackjack and the dealer shows an “Ace” simply reply “No, I’ll take my chances!”, when you are asked if you would like “even money”. You are better off winning … Continue reading When would I ever want to take insurance (or even money)?
- Do other players affect your long term expectation? - By Michael Dalton No! You should ignore how other players play. Simply put, a bad player’s action will “help” you just as often as “hurt” you in this game. There is nothing mysterious about this at all! Every serious player will eventually come to this conclusion. A fellow player who hits his stiff when the … Continue reading Do other players affect your long term expectation?
- What is meant by the term “Las Vegas rules”? - By Michael Dalton This term was often used as the standard to compare one blackjack game with another. Las Vegas rules used to refer to games that were typical of Downtown Las Vegas – double down allowed on any initial two cards, dealer hits soft-17, re-splits and insurance allowed. Las Vegas rules also implied that … Continue reading What is meant by the term “Las Vegas rules”?
- XML Sitemap added - The URL to the Blackjack Review Network sitemap index file is: https://www.blackjackreview.com/wp/sitemap_index.xml This post is for the benefit of Google, Bing and other search engines.
- Does blackjack have the “best” odds for the player? - By Michael Dalton Yes! Actually, it depends on the rules of the game and the skill of the player. A single deck game with Las Vegas Strip (LVS) rules and double after splitting (DAS) allowed actually gives the player a 0.1% advantage. This assumes, of course, that the player uses the “correct” basic strategy. You … Continue reading Does blackjack have the “best” odds for the player?
- Have you been restricted for card counting? - Have you ever had your blackjack play “restricted” by casino officials due to card counting? Several years ago on bjrnet.com a poll was conducted. Several questions were asked. Here is question 3 of the archived bjrnet.com poll: Have you ever had your blackjack play “restricted” by casino officials due to card counting? Please select the … Continue reading Have you been restricted for card counting?
- What has been your most profitable casino game? - Several years ago on bjrnet.com a poll was conducted. Several questions were asked. Here is question 2 of the archived bjrnet.com poll: What has been your most profitable casino game? Comments?
- What counting system do you use? - Several years ago on bjrnet.com a poll was conducted. Several questions were asked. Here is question 1 of the archived bjrnet.com poll: What counting system do you use? Comments?