Looking at all this from even another angle, the same type of playing logic can be understood if you play live Blackjack, which I do on occasion. We know this game has been studied and analyzed more than any other. And we know that even by playing perfect basic strategy, the casino has a very slight edge over a computer. However, throw in advanced card counting and that slight advantage now swings in favor of the computer. But how many of you have tried counting cards – applying certain values to various cards – and have been truly successful? Of course once again, if a computer was doing it perfectly over time, the computer wins, but what about a human? It’s also a fact that you could play all day and through the night perfectly, and still be far behind by the time you quit. If you play constantly and forever, you may have a chance, but who does that? You also must be aware that there’s a good chance you’ll be spotted counting and asked to leave or worse – not be welcomed back. So the longer you count and play that way, your chance of being spotted and inviting problems goes up exponentially. I do not believe this is the proper strategy to teach the typical Blackjack player. I’ve seen so many players, myself included, have all the enjoyment of playing eliminated by trying to count, and the stoic looks on their faces confirms this. Your best bet? Hope for a lucky day.

Are you one of the folks that tries their very best to make the perfect play every single hand? Are you worried to the point that you have to reach into your pocket to pull out that optimal play card you bought from someone who knew what he was doing when he sold it to you? Nonsense! Play with your heart, and for God’s sake take chances. You just might find him on your side more often than not! It was just several months ago I was at the Flamingo Hilton in Laughlin playing dollar 8/5 Jacks or Better with a $5600 progressive royal at the River Bar. Now I can’t tell you how many times I’ve read that a $5600 royal is not nearly high enough for “professional video poker players” to waste their time on, because of some reason like you will be giving up $2.87 per hour or whatever since the game has a less than 100% return expectation. According to them, I should be embarrassed, because I am a professional gambler, and I am sitting at a bar full of patrons that are foolishly doing the same thing as me. I wondered, are they supposed to all be stupid or what? Turns out this group wasn’t. My session wasn’t going too well, and it came to a very annoying point where I kept on getting dealt one or two high cards, and holding them gave me nothing but a stomach ache. So I decided to abandon that “perfect play” strategy, as I do so very many times, and whenever I was dealt just one or two high cards I swept the deal for a better draw. After several times doing this, yes, a royal rolled out on the draw (the first and only time so far that’s ever happened to me), and they paid me $5600.