Just wanted to give a big thanks to you Heather! I just found out today that a passed my audition that I had on Tuesday. I work at one of the biggest Indian casinos in California, I've been with them for a little over 5 years now, and decided to go out on a limb on study some of our different table games to apply to be a dealer. My audition was on Blackjack, Ultimate Texas Hold'Em, Mini Baccarat, and Pai Gow Poker, and they accepted me on my first attempt! I would not have been able to do this without watching all of yours and Michael Shackleford's videos over and over again for weeks on end. Thanks for what you are doing and continue the great work!!!!!!
Congrats on passing the audition! :) And thank you so much for those kind words, KS! If it's okay with you, I would love to use this as a testimonial. And if you ever have any questions or need anything, feel free to email me at Heather@Vegas-Aces.com
One of the most complete tutorials ever made on youtube, (And I've seen a lot of them). Being perfectly clear and direct, I can see why it could get monetized by 3rd parties. It's great, from the precise depiction of the steps to the progressive order of the rules and plays. This indeed covers most possible scenarios, such as the ones I meant to fathom. Thanks a lot for the video, tutorial channels should learn from this. Gorgeous croupier by the way. Pierced my heart!
This video really helped me understand BlackJack. My friend and I are in the process of making a 2D BlackJack game. Eventually we will convert it into a phone app. We are just tired of seeing all these BlackJack apps rigged so that the odds are in the dealers favor, just so they get more add revenue. We're trying to make a fair, yet realistic app that is not focused on adds. Thanks again, this really helped!
Thank you for this! My friends and started playing cards last night and I vaguely remembered the rules of blackjack, but I needed a crash course 'cause I couldn't remember how dealing worked. I went through four different videos before finding this one, which answered all of my questions!
Thanks for the video :) I'm going to a local casino in a few weeks for the first time and was looking for something that covered table etiquette and some strategy on how to bet. This helped a lot :) Thanks :)
I still love to watch your videos even 8 years later... Dayawanna mary me ? I'm joking, I do actually live in France. However, your videos are precious to me when building some pedagogy around gambling. Thank you !
I love this video! I am teaching my son to play blackjack because I think it will help his addition skills in a fun way. This is a clear explanation of the game!
+Dylan Gould +Maxwell Tucker +liamthislol +Just sayin +D St Because of your comments and interest, I made a Fallout video just for you guys! Here it is: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-4a7rHDO7rNA.html
This video was top notch & uniquely very thorough! It helped me so much in an assignment to learn computer coding by getting it to implement Blackjack rules. Thank you!
One question to ensure I didn't miss it (I will review as well): does dealer having Blackjack (two cards) beat 21 from a player (that didn't have it as a two-card Blackjack)?
I like that even though the video has almost a million views and was uploaded in 2013, you seem to be reading all the comments to this day as they are entered in and replying to all the ones that justify any sort of answer.
These are incredible helpful videos (just got done with your two part basics videos), I among with countless others appreciate your videos very much :)
Very clear and informative, but the real reason I watched this video is to learn blackjack and develop skill in counting card, and it's fun and challenging.
Great video. I should have watched this video before playing Blackjack in Las Vegas the first time. First time I went to Las Vegas and played Blackjack, I was warned by both the dealer and the pitboss when I didn't know that I wasn't allowed to touch the cards and I didn't know the signal to split so I tried to separate my 2 cards. The dealer warned me and then the pit boss asked the dealer what happened and she told him that I touched the card. Whenever I decide to play Blackjack now, I only play Blackjack on the "dealerless" (video) machines in Las Vegas even though the pay rate for a Blackjack isn't as good as on a dealer table. The reason I do this is that I find that the dealers are trying to or they are forced to deal the cards as fast as possible so they grab your bet before you've even had a chance to total the dealer's hand... and asking them to slow down makes them or the pitboss think that you are counting cards when you are just trying to total the dealer's card before he/she takes your bet.
5:15 Some Blackjack games will only allow you to split pairs. This means you cannot split: K-Q, K-J K-10, Q-J, Q-10 and/or J-10; and you may only split: 2-2, 3-3, 4-4, 5-5, 6-6, 7-7, 8-8, 9-9, 10-10, J-J Q-Q, K-K, and/or A-A. Some Blackjack games may let you play each hand as normal when you split aces, but others will only allow one card for each hand. Some Blackjack games will allow you to split up to three times (this means you have four hands), while others may only let you split twice (this means you have three hands).
Yeah, well, you wouldn't WANT to split a 10 and a king. That's kind of like being disappointed if the casino doesn't let you double down on blackjack. Or if they stop you from gambling when you're drunk out of your mind. Technically if the truecount is over 4 and you're up against a 6, or it's over 5 and you're against a 5, or it's over 6 and you're against a 4, you would split 10s, but I don't do it anyway, it's not VERY beneficial and it increases the standard deviation of the outcome at the WORST possible time i.e. when the count is super high and you're already betting a lot.
I have been watching instructional Blackjack videos all day, and this is without a doubt the most educational. Very informative. Well done! Shame it doesn't have more views. Can't wait to try this in Vegas next week! ~Thanks
CESAR DM Thanks! :) And if you need more information on how to deal blackjack -- www.vegas-aces.com/Root/dealers/pages/blackjack/how-to-deal-blackjack/01-how-to-deal-blackjack.html
I appreciate that you gave a full explanation... Thank you so much... I love playing Blackjack... Not everyone gives a total Tutorial... Can you also a give a lesson of Blackjack about other versions? Like: Super fun 21; Lucky Ladies; Blackjack switch; Spanish 21; Double exposure Blackjack; Royal Match?
During the "Staying" portion I agree with a lot that was said. However if you have a soft 17 or a soft 18 and the dealer shows a 9, 10 or ace, then the odds favor hitting. Other than that you should stand.
Thank You SOOOO much for the awesome video you produced that is so cutting edge and meticulous. I may dare say I have watched it for over 8 times...and paused and watched it over again. Simply because of other distraction...but, I have subscribed to watch other fun videos and also bookmarked your website too. Anxiously waiting on the launch of your new website still under construction.
Thanks! I appreciate the compliment! :) If you have any questions, feel free to email me at Heather@Vegas-Aces.com And the website should be done soon! I have a few more sections left to work on and then it's done. Take care
I just left a table playing blackjack feeling this way because I didn't know that the hand signals were so important. I didn't know the purpose of the cameras, I knew they were there but I didn't realize how pivotal of a role they play. Lots of good info thanks again.
I made a decision to stop tipping dealers after I stopped and realized that every single "mistake" I ever observed them do was in the house's favor. They never accidentally pay on a push, they just swipe my bet away. (And a few times I didn't even know my exact bet amount so I'm not sure in the end that my money was recovered, since what, can I actually rely on the HONESTY of the security looking through the cameras?) Too much to be a coincidence. It made me realize the dealer is NOT your friend. The dealer is part of the enemy. Remember, they are an employee, and as such, they probably are looking to further their career, they want to be promoted to pit boss. And if they're trying to advance their career, they may be looking to see you lose your money, and want to get the favor of their employer.
great video vegas aces, I can tell you put a lot of work into making thease videos on blackjack and you really no your stuff, your vides on blackjack are my favourite on you tube great job,
Thank you for great job, easy to understand, good cards view, so watched with pleasure. Should be perfect one for the beginners. And the lady voice nice and calm :)
Great video. I've never played a card's table in any casino, and my first time in Vegas is coming up in July. Going to try a hand or two... unless I get some kind of freaky winning streak! Should be fun! This video is great!
Here is a good Blackjack tip: If you receive a pair of fives or a pair of tens never split them. With a pair of tens you have 20, so it is best to always stand. With a pair of fives its always best to double down, unless the dealer shows an ace or ten. If the dealer shows an ace or ten, it is best to just hit. On the flip side, you should ALWAYS split a pair of aces and a pair of eights. With eights each hand could be as high as 19. With, Aces each hand could as high as 21.
For those who do not know why the card is dealt sideways on a double down, this helps the dealer know which person doubled down. It also indicates that the card you receive is the only one you get for that hand.
Great video and great responses to the questions here. Thanks! Here's my question: At the end of the video you advise to stay at a table where you are winning because a dealer is going to give away money for the rest of their shift, and to leave a table where you are losing a lot. Do you mean that in a superstitious way? Or is there something I don't know about how a dealer will effect a game? The only time I'd leave a table for fear of a losing streak is if I was counting and noticed that all the tens got dumped early on, or it got crowded and slowed the game down. Otherwise, odds are odds, right?
Matthew McClure Thanks! That's more of a superstitious thing. It's not scientific and the dealers have no say in how the cards are going. It's just that after so many years of dealing, this is what I've noticed. And sometimes the winning streak lasts the entire shift and sometimes it lasts for an hour until the dealer goes on break. It's strange. I'm just saying, if you're on a streak, go with it. As soon as it turns bad, take your winnings and leave happy. lol :) I think the way you do it is good too. (In a mathematically speaking, common sense sorta way) ;)
I've only heard of one occasion of this, but there is a house rule called 5 Card Charlie. This means you automatically win if your hand contains five cards that are less than 22.
I have been studying the video and have two observations: 1. At the 1:30 mark it shows how to pay for checks (chips). At 17:17 it shows the same action for tipping the dealer. How does the casino camera know the difference (intention of the customer)? 2. At the 3:34 mark it shows the hand gesture for staying where the hand is positioned over the bet. But at 8:00 it states to never place the hand over the bet when performing hand gestures.
+shyman99 Question #1 - The cameras know based on the action the dealer completes, plus the dealer is supposed to inform the floorman what's going on. So if the player gives the dealer $100, then the dealer sets up the cash and cheques the correct way and calls out to the floor, "Change $100". The floor sees the action, approves it and the dealer sends it on it's way. If the player gives the dealer $5, then the dealer has to go through the same actions as change, but this time they have to notify the floor that the $5 is a tip. The floor approves it and the dealer places a $5 cheque in their toke box. Because the floor needs to approve these actions, if the camera ever calls down wondering what's going on, the floor should be able to fill him in on the details. Question #2 - That was a bad camera angle on my part. If I moved the camera to the side and up a bit more, you would see that his hand didn't cover the cheques. When I started this I had no clue how to make a website or film videos and I had to teach myself these things by making a lot of mistakes and learning from them.
+Vegas Aces Thanks for all of the replies. Your explanation above about the dealer calling out "Change $20" (in my case) tells me I did something a little embarrassing. When she did that I thought she was asking me to confirm that was what I wanted. So I answered her not knowing she was just informing the floorman. LOL
5:05 Doubling on a 12 may be a good move for a card counter. There is nothing illegal about card counting because you are just using your brain (you are not cheating by card counting). However casinos can ask you to leave if they feel your play is to strong, so I wouldn't do it all the time, just maybe once per shoe.
Each Blackjack hand is independent event. Whether you lost the previous hand or won the previous hand, this will NOT determine whether or not you win or lose. Even if had a run of wins or losses, it does not mean you will win or loose the next hand.
I played Blackjack on the cruise ship casino and I did very good. I was so lucky. By the way, the other Blackjack players are not angry. They're alright. They tell me to say "Good hands." so, I did.
If the Dealer has an Ace or a 10 up card then the first thing they will do is check to see if they have a blackjack. (There is usually a small mirror on the table that they will use or the Dealer will check the cards by hand.) If the Dealer has a blackjack then they will automatically flip it up and the player's blackjack will push. If the Dealer does not have a blackjack then they will pay the Player's blackjack.
Normally the player can double down for less if they are playing on a 6 deck or 8 deck shoe. Every casino is different so some casinos may allow doubling down for less while other casinos may not. Ask your dealer whether they allow it on your table or not.
A lot of the house edge is caused by the fact that the dealer is last person to act. What this means is, if both the player and dealer bust, the player loses. The hand is not a push.
Okay, so I assume the odds always favor the dealer or this game would not exist. So I am trying to determine the advantages the dealer has over the player that makes the dealer in a better position to win. Oh, and btw, you are a great teacher and I wish you were my dealer when I visit my first casino in about 16 hours. :)
+shyman99 Thank you for the kind words. :) Yes, the house has the advantage and that's why the casino makes so much money. And yes, many people have spent a lot of time trying to figure that out. Hence all of the systems and strategies out there. Find what works for you and use that.
so funny as soon as I learned to play blackjack the veryfist time I went to the casino and found a five dollar chip, a deck of cards and 3 dollars that very night lol. maybe I should just go for a treasure hunt on weekends. I kept all that but other nights I've found 2 phones, glasses and the slot attendants card but turned those into lost and found.
