Has this ever happened to you? You spend hours, sometimes days memorizing the right playing strategy and correct odds for your favorite casino game and then your mind draws a blank when you're playing.
This scenario plays out day in and day out in casinos all across America. Novice players are especially prone to mental lapses due to the exciting and fast pace casino environment. It even happens at times to experienced players. So, if recalling facts is not your cup of tea, I've got help for you.
Doubling down on soft hands is always troublesome a playing situation. For example, how you would play ace-5 with the dealer showing a 4? How about ace-6 against a dealer's 5? My friend and fellow gambling writer Fred Renzey (author of Blackjack Bluebook) came up with 3 rules including a handy "Rule of Nine" to help you make the right play.
1. Against a dealer's deuce up-card, never soft double.
2. Against a dealer's 5 or 6 up-card, always double down ace-2 through ace-7 hands.
3. Against the dealer's 3 or 4 up-card, use the Rule of Nine, which is to add together the dealer's up-card (either 3 or 4) with your kicker (the card along with your ace). If the two add up to 9 or more, double down. If they're less, hit.
So, using the Rule of Nine how would you play the ace-5 against a dealer's 4 upcard? You should double down because 5 and 4 equals 9. But if you were dealt an ace-3 against the 4 you would hit (3 plus 4 equals 7).
The above three rules works for 17 out of 18 double down situations when you have ace-2 through ace-7 against dealer's 3 through 6 up-card. The only hand not covered is ace-4 against dealer 4 - you just have to learn to double down on that play.
Do you need an easy way to recall when to double down on hard 9, 10 or 11 hands (multiple deck game)? Try this rule. For a 10 or 11, subtract one and double down if the dealer's upcard is the result or less.
For example, if you have a 10, you should double down on dealer's 9 or less. If you have an 11, double on 10 or less. This rule doesn't work with a 9 but here's an easy way to associate when to double down. The basic strategy play calls for doubling 9 against a dealer's 3 through 6 upcard. If you associate the fact that 3 plus 6 equals 9 it my help you recall the correct play.
How about an easy way to remember when to stand on stiff hands? A stiff hand is a two-card hard hand that totals 12 through 16. A stiff card refers to the dealer's upcard when it's a 2 through 6 since it suggests the dealer potentially has a stiff hand. Therefore the association is as follows:
So, if you hold a 10-4 and the dealer shows a 6 you should stand (stiff against stiff). However if the dealer showed a 7 you would hit. This rule holds for all players stiff hands except the 12. Here you are slightly better off hitting the 12 when the dealer shows a 2 or 3 upcard (that's another play you just have to remember - hit 12 against 2 or 3).
Sometimes dealers make mistakes when they pay off a player's blackjack hand at 3 to 2 odds. If the error is in the casino's favor, the player is out the money unless he speaks up. Therefore an easy way to check if the dealer has paid you off properly is to remember your payoff should equal what you wager plus half that amount.
For example, if you wagered $20, your payoff should be $30 ($20 plus half of $20 equals $30). Likewise a $5 blackjack bet should be paid off at $7.50 ($5 plus half of $5 equals $7.50).