Who Controls a Game of Blackjack

by Henry Tamburin

Have you even wondered, 'who is in control' when you play blackjack in a casino? Is it you or the casino?

I know that most players sometimes feel the casino (a.k.a. the dealer) is controlling their destiny. I mean how many times can the same dealer draw that one and only card that beats your hand? But believe it or not, you have a great say in your destiny at the blackjack tables.

First, let's take a look at what the casino controls when you play blackjack then we'll look at what we, as players, can control.

The Rules
This is no trivial point. Casinos in most gaming jurisdictions in the country (except Atlantic City) are free to implement whatever rules they want at their blackjack tables. This includes the number of decks of cards, whether or not the dealer stands or hits on soft 17, whether or not surrender is offered or re-split of aces or multiple pair splits or double down after pair splitting, whether to pay 3 to 2 or worse 6 to 5 or even money for a player's blackjack, and so on.

Yes, the casinos can control how much of an edge they want to have in blackjack by picking and choosing the different playing options they allow at their tables. They even control how many cards to put into play by their policy on the placement of the cut card (which has a great effect on a card counter's edge).
They can make their blackjack games much tougher to beat for average players and skilled card counters by the way they structure their rules.

The Betting Spread
Another not so trivial point. Casinos dictate for the most part what minimum and maximum bets they'll allow at their tables. The maximum bet that is allowed in most casinos is far less than the casino's total bankroll. Therefore, the casino controls the odds of having a lucky player 'break the bank' by having a bankroll that far exceeds the maximum bets, they will allow at their blackjack tables. In fact the 'risk of ruin' for a casino is virtually nil because of the rather large spread they maintain between the maximum bet a player is allowed to wager and the casino's bankroll.

Easy Credit
Casinos make it easy for players to get access to betting money. Playing on credit is relatively easy to establish. Lose all your cash? No problem there are plenty of ATM and 'credit card to cash' machines conveniently located throughout a casino.

Exciting Atmosphere
The casinos engineer the environment in a casino to make it easy for a player to feel good about his losses. In this exciting, no holds barred, every thing is fast-and-fun casino atmosphere it's easy for a player to bet more, to spend more, and to lose more.

By now, you probably are thinking that the cards are stacked pretty much in the casino's favor when you play blackjack. But believe it or not, for the most part you have control over your destiny when you play blackjack and not the casino. Here's why:

Minimize the Casino's Edge
You control how much or how little the casino's edge is against you by your playing and betting skill level. Just by learning the basic playing strategy, which is a set of rules that tell you when to hit, stand, double down, pair split or surrender, you can reduce the casino's edge to less than 1%. If you are selective and only play in casinos that offer the best playing options (including the number of decks of cards), you can virtually eliminate the casino's edge. And if you learn to increase your betting level only when there is an excess of high value cards vs. low value cards in the remaining cards to be dealt (i.e. card counting), you can actually swing the edge in your favor.

Your Emotions
You can control your emotions in the casino and not do something stupid like increasing your betting levels to recoup your losses. Don't let the exciting atmosphere lull you into playing above your means. Go easy on the 'free drinks' and learn to accept your losses. Even the best blackjack players in the world can't win every session. You must stay focused on being in control and avoid the casino temptations that can quickly separate you from your money.

Credit
You control how much credit you want the casino to give you. If you can't handle the credit, don't get it. Don't bet more than you can afford just to get a comp (believe it or not, a lot of players have lost bundles playing longer and at higher betting levels just for the sake of a free meal). Play with money you can afford to lose should the worse happen and if you can't afford to bet big, don't! By all means, ask for your fair share of comps based on the betting level you feel comfortable with, but please don't play longer or bet higher just to get one.

Gambler's Ruin
You control the odds of losing your bankroll (Gambler's Ruin) by how much you bet in relation to your playing bankroll and your playing skill level. When a player overbets in relation to his or her bankroll, the results are predictable (i.e. Gambler's Ruin occurs). Even skillful, professional card counters take great pains not to overbet because even though they have the edge, they know that they could go days, weeks, and even months losing more money than they win at the blackjack tables. Never overbet and you'll be in control of 'Gambler's Ruin'.

When you think about it, blackjack players do have a lot of control over their destiny. More so then most other casino games because we get to make playing and betting decisions that directly affect how much we win or lose. Players who discipline themselves to play in blackjack games with the more favorable playing options using the basic playing strategy and a sound betting strategy will win a lot more money in their lifetime then the player who opts to play blackjack in 'any old casino' using a seat-of-the-pants playing and betting strategy. Like I said, you can either play 'in control' or let the casino control you. The choice is yours.

Henry Tamburin