Playing "Not to Bust" is "Not So Bad"

Most people with a certain level of experience at a casino will tell you that it is the game of blackjack that provides the player with the best set of odds to come away a winner.

Certain theories suggest that blackjack provides the player with just under a fifty percent chance of winning as long as that player employs the rules of basic strategy. What a lot of people tend to lose sight of are the reasons for why the house has that small edge over the player.

The answer is quite simplistic if given some thought. One of the main reasons as to why the casino holds a small edge over blackjack players is the mere fact that it is the player who is responsible for drawing cards before the dealer.

It is not uncommon for a player to bust on a hand of twelve through sixteen only to watch the dealer bust when it is their turn to pull cards. A number of people at this point tend to second guess themselves and wonder why they did not stand on their hand of fifteen or sixteen.

I am not suggesting that pulling a card on a hand of fifteen or sixteen is not the best strategy to winning at blackjack. In fact, it is my opinion that on a hand of twelve through sixteen the player gives themselves the best chance of winning by pulling a card if the dealer is showing a card anywhere from seven through ten.

However, a strategy of standing on fifteen or sixteen when the dealer is showing a high card cannot be deemed poor play as long as the player employing that strategy remains consistent with that strategy.

It is when the player using the “not-to-bust” strategy begins to play inconsistently that a shoe tends to work in favor of the casino. By standing on fifteen or sixteen against a dealer's high card, a player may not be able to win if the dealer pulls a ten or makes a hand.

However, the “not-to-bust” strategy at a minimum gives the player a chance to win the hand if the dealer happens to bust when it is their turn to pull cards. This strategy may not be an equalizer in terms of giving yourself the best odds to win but can allow for a few more winning hands where that player may have otherwise busted.

Take a look at the Blackjack section of my website for more tips and information.