• What is Blackjack?
  Blackjack is one of the most popular casino card games in the world. Much of Blackjack's popularity is due to the mix of chance with elements of skill.
  
  
• I’ve never played Blackjack before. How should I get started?
  The first step, obviously, is to learn the games. Therefore you need to go read all our beginners’ lessons. Then, when you feel you know the basic rules, you should practice at our tables by downloading our software and registering. You can download and register at the home page.
  
  
• How long should it take me to learn before I can start playing?
  It depends on your effort to learn, but basically you need to read the beginners section and familiarize yourself with the basic rules and strategy. So, we are talking about a couple hours at the most.
  
  
• How can I practice what I learned?
  Download our free LuckyAceCasino Software from the link at the home page. Select a game by clicking the appropriate tab on the Software Lobby, choose a table, and click Join Table. Then take a seat and a registration form will appear on your screen. Fill out the registration form and you're all set. You'll literally be playing within minutes.
  
  
• Can I play for play chips?
  Yes, you can play with playmoney games running under the tab Play Money Games in the lobby.
  
  
• Can I use the chips in my LuckyAceCasino account to play Blackjack games?
  Yes, Blackjack uses the same wallet you have for casino.
  
  
• Do I need to download separate software to play Blackjack?
  No. Blackjack is provided in the same application in which you play casino. You don't need to download any new software. If you don't yet have the software on your computer, download it here.
  
  
• Can I use my LuckyAceCasino username to play Blackjack?
  Yes you need to have only one account to play Blackjack as well poker on our system.
  
  
• How many decks are in the shoe?
  Decks are not fixed they are set by the game administrator. You can get the full details about the game settings in the application lobby.
  
  
• How far through the shoe does the deal go before the decks are shuffled again?
  All cards will be shuffled before each hand.
  
  
• Does Blackjack have the "best" odds for the player?
  Yes! Actually, it depends on the rules of the game and the skill of the player. A single deck game with Las Vegas Strip rules and double after splitting allowed actually gives the player a +0.1% advantage. This assumes, of course, that the player uses the "correct" basic strategy.
  
  
• What is meant by the term "Las Vegas rules"?
  This term is often used to compare games with one another. It refers to a game that is typical of Downtown Las Vegas - double down allowed on any initial two cards, dealer hits soft-17, resplits and insurance allowed. Las Vegas "Strip" rules improve the player's odds slightly requiring the dealer to stand on all 17s.
  
  
• Do other players affect your long term expectation?
  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.
  
  
• What is the worst common play in Blackjack?
  Ignoring abnormal plays such as hitting a 19 or 20 the worst play, expectation wise, is standing on 88 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 have to worry about questions like this!
  
  
• Are single-deck games better than multi-deck games?
  Yes and No! A multi-deck game has an inherent 0.5% - 0.6% disadvantage over a single deck game with the same rules. Much of this difference is due to the effect of removal of cards (i.e., removing one card in single deck has a big effect, whereas its removal in a shoe game is negligible). On the other hand, it is much easier to find good rules and conditions in shoe games. The bottom line is that although single- and double-deck games are inherently better than shoe games they are also easier to manipulate in the casino's behalf.
  
  
• How much money can I expect to win if I count cards?
  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 card counter can obtain is between 0.5% and 1.5%. This is not to say a player can not have a greater advantage on any individual bet or circumstance, however, in the long run a player can expect to win about 1% of the total sum of his "action". Therefore, if your average bet is about $25 and you play 75 hands an hour you might expect to make about $19 an hour. But be forewarned... your mileage will vary!
  
  
• Isn't card counting illegal?
  No! It's no more illegal than using your brain to add up how much money you have left in your wallet!
  
  
• What is the "best" card counting system?
  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 so) of each other. For single deck games, a balanced multi-level count with an ace side-count can show a significant theoretical improvement over unbalanced and single-level counts, however, the player runs the risk of mental fatigue and errors. The bottom line for most players is that "simple is best!".
  
  
• What are the top play variations that yield the greatest gain for card counters?
  The top play variations are knowing when to take insurance and stand on 16 versus a dealer's 10. 
  
  
• What are the most important factors in evaluating a Blackjack game?
  The answer to this question is three-fold. If you are a card counter you should be looking for games with the best penetration. A basic strategy player's ideal game is single deck with the best rules and options available. If you are a gambler you will be better off playing in casinos with liberal comp policies, full single deck games, slow dealers, and the least number of player options available.
  
  
• What are the "best" Blackjack books ever written?
  Some of the best books on the subject were written years ago. Edward Thorp's “Beat the Dealer” is the book that started it all and, although outdated, is still a must read. Peter Griffin's “Theory of Blackjack” explains the mathematics of the game. Other Blackjack books that we highly recommend include those by Ian Andersen, Julian Braun, Bryce Carlson, Richard Canfield, Carlson Chambliss, Steve Forte, Lance Humble, Mason Malmuth, Ken Uston, Lawrence Revere, Donald Schlesinger, Arnold Snyder, Ralph Stricker, Stanford Wong, and Bill Zender.
  
  
• I want to learn how to win at Blackjack. What should I do first?
  Read and study all the books mentioned above. Learn basic strategy perfectly. Keep your bets small when you practice in the casino. Be wary of any advice that promises greater than a 1.5% overall advantage. Stay away from progressive betting and money management systems. Subscribe to one or more good Blackjack newsletters.   Be patient.... it's going to take some time! Be disciplined... it may cost you some money!
  
  
• What is the "secret" to winning?
  Winning at Blackjack requires the ability to take advantage of situations. This ability involves balancing the three factors mentioned earlier: Knowledge and skill, Bankroll, and Risk. The ultimate secret, however, is a life-long dedication to the game.

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