Betting Tips for a Blackjack Player
The best thing to sitting out poor deck conditions is to have as wide unit or bet spread between the table minimum and what your bankroll will allow as a maximum. Generally, a ten-unit spread is desired. For example, with a bankroll of $2,000, your maximum bet size would be $20 ($20 x $100 = $2,000) ideally. To achieve a ten-unit spread, your minimum bet would have to be $2 ($2 x $10 = $20). It should be obvious that if you were playing at a $5 minimum table, your unit spread would be four units (4 x $5 = $20). You must coordinate your bankroll with your betting so that your maximum bet is ten times the size of your minimum bet.
Once you have set your maximum bet, "Never" change it during that session. The practice of increasing one's bet constantly, especially on a losing streak, is referred to as "steaming. Steaming is usually accompanied by increased frustration and turning red in the face. If you look around the casino, you will find some poor sap who has lost his self-control and is steaming along to certain failure. Let us repeat this point for emphasis: Never exceed your maximum bet. This does not apply to splitting pairs or doubling down when you have made a maximum bet; naturally you must split and double as directed on your strategy. As your bankroll grows, you will change your betting level, in accordance with the Bankrolling Method described.
Betting Strategy Deck Condition Your Bet Is: Poor 1 Unit Neutral 5 Units Rich 10 Units
Avoid entering the game in the middle of a shuffle, unless you have been counting from the beginning. When you do not know the count, wait until the deck is reshuffled. This rule is even more applicable in the multiple-deck games.
After the reshuffle, don't always make your new bet only one unit. This system gives you an advantage at the beginning of a new deck in a favorable single-deck game (Las Vegas Strip). You can afford to bet more than one unit in this case.
Don't give away your betting level by making your first bet at a new table only one unit. If you start with a big bet, your other betting patterns will confuse the dealer. Most people start out with a small bet, to get the feel of things. Because you know that you have the edge with a complete deck, make a four to six-unit bet. It is easy to pull back your level later without raising any suspicion.
The house just loves progressive betting system players. Pretend to be one when you increase your bet. Mutter some phrase like "double-up and win" in a soft tone. This is typical behavior for the bad player, but it is something you will do when the deck changes from poor to rich.
If you won a small bet when the deck was poor, then it turned rich, mutter something like "let it ride" as you restack your chips. This move is also called parlaying a winner. You might mention the word "parlay" as you make this increased bet.