Miffy wants to play....

[Miffed22001]

Ok so i know how to play blackjack, but beating it mat be a very different story.
I dont know how to play any others yet but i'll put some time into that.

Can anybody sort of like give me a good general strategy to blackjack and tips on bonus whoring at any certain site would be nice too.

Ive got enough money to learn, well just about

[PokerPatNEU]

BlackJack is completely masterable in about 3 minutes, you don't need money to learn. All you need is a table like the one found here http://wizardofodds.com/blackjack to tell you exactly what to do for every possible holding for a given dealer face-up card.

Basic strategy is that if dealer is holding a 2-6 and you are holding a 13 or higher, you always stand and let the dealer bust unless you cant possibly bust with 1 card (ie you have a total of 11 or less, or an ace in your hand). If he is holding a 7-10, you basically want to draw until you have at least 16 or 17 or you bust. Double down on all 11's, split all AA's and 88's. The chart tells you to do all that stuff, but if you memorize that little bit, then you won't need to spend extra time consulting the chart for every single hand.

[eeeee]

Ditto what PokerPat said. Perfect play online pushes your return to 99.6%, depoending on the room rules. It is the bonus that pushes you over. "Winning" play usually involves real life play and card counting under favorable conditions. Online, it is all about keeping it close to even so you can collect the bonus.

Wizard of Odds is THE playchart resource -- this guy is a math wiz and has corrected some long time assumptions about perfect play. There are specific charts for different casino software, though sometimes hard to find using his site navigation. Most other playcharts you will find on the internet are the Wiz's.

There's a hierarchy of easy-to-hard bonuses, usually defined by WR, or wagering requirements. Some people get worked up over "risk free" bonuses -- meaning you only play with casino dollars; I prefer a longer term approach - don't piss off the casino, take your chances like a man, and you can often take them more than once. Early on, avoid sticky bonuses, or those bonuses that stay in the casino -- profitable, but too swingy for the casual bonus hunter.

Miffed, are you UK? I only WISH is could hunt bonuses from the UK -- it is the fattest bonus hunting ground in the world. Can you get me a POBox over there?

[Miffed22001]

goota love the UK
a po box eh

so how much is that gona cost

[Eric]

BlackJack is completely masterable in about 3 minutes, you don't need money to learn. All you need is a table like the one found here http://wizardofodds.com/blackjack to tell you exactly what to do for every possible holding for a given dealer face-up card.

Maybe 3 minutes if you're playing online.

In a brick and mortar environment it is different. You look silly and hold things up if you use the card/table at the table so you have to memorize it and that takes some time(especially the part on splits, double down and soft hands (Ax)).

You have to do more than just memorize it, you have to know it like the back of your hand so that you can be talking to players at the table about what they did last weekend, put in your drink order and make basic strategy decisions all at around the same time. If you make 1 or 2 basic strategy mistakes per hour it really adds up in the long run. You have to know the chart perfectly.

You also have to learn when to go against what the dealer says(sometimes they encourage insurance and this is a sucker bet(unless you're card counting and you know the deck is rich in face cards)).