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The Counting Edge blackjack system has given you the basic tools you need to be a successful blackjack player and make money at the casino. As you advance in your skills you will learn new methods, but the information we have given you is something you will call upon again and again in your blackjack career.
We need to say something very important at this stage. Any blackjack system that you choose to use, including ours, is only effective if you use it the way it was intended to be used. If you take shortcuts and omit parts of the system, the system will not work. In short, a system is only as effective as you make it through hours of practice and play.
In this section we are going to sum up the basic concepts of the Counting Edge blackjack system by presenting a set of ten rules. If you follow these rules you will be using the system correctly and profits are sure to follow.
Always stick to basic strategy: The basic blackjack strategy chart we provided for you is the standard for decision making at the blackjack table. Do not deviate from it. You must memorize it until all of the decisions become second nature. In live blackjack play you must execute these decisions without a second thought. Forget about hunches. Following your hunches in blackjack will cause you to go broke. A smart, professional blackjack player does not deviate from basic strategy because he knows that these decisions will always be the correct ones to make.
Learn how to count cards: You must learn how to count cards to be a consistent winner in live blackjack. It is a skill, and like any skill it takes effort and practice to perfect. You cannot become an expert card counter after 30 minutes of practice. Practice every day for at least an hour if you can. You must sharpen your card counting skills at home before you try to count cards in live play. The casino environment you will face is much different than the one you will face in your kitchen or living room. The casino is loud and there are many distractions. Try to simulate these conditions at home by playing loud music or turning on the television. The goal is to be able to maintain the count despite all of the distractions around you.
Build a bankroll: If you do not have 50x the minimum table bet in bankroll money you are not ready to play live or online blackjack. Delay your trip to the blackjack table until you have enough money to play the game correctly. Think of yourself as an old west gunslinger. The Counting Edge blackjack system is your gun, but you can’t fire that gun without any bullets. Your bankroll is the bullet you need to shoot down the casino. The number one reason people fail at blackjack is lack of a proper bankroll. Read that last sentence again. Playing with an inadequate amount of money is the number one reason people lose. Once you start playing your goal should be to build your bankroll with your profits over time until you are playing with the house’s money.
Pick the right table: Not every blackjack table is a good table. When you walk into the casino do not automatically sit down at the first open seat you come to. Look for tables with no other players or only a few. Also, wait until a new shoe is being dealt before you sit down to play. In other words, sit down when the dealer is shuffling up the decks. Starting your play on a new shoe will give you deeper penetration into the deck and make your count more accurate. Do not choose a table with a minimum bet that is over your head. Some players get so excited to play blackjack that they will sit at any table where a seat is available. Don’t do this. If there is no seat available at a table that qualifies, wait. Be patient. The casino is not going anywhere.
Small ball your way to a profit: Using win/loss limits in blackjack is the best way to put money in your pocket. It will also help you to overcome greed. Do you want to become a millionaire by playing blackjack? That’s great, but you cannot win that million in one blackjack session. You must learn to take small wins and let them accumulate. You must also protect your bankroll like a lioness protects her cubs. Always do everything you can to limit your blackjack losses and preserve your bankroll when you are on a losing streak.
Losing happens, so get over it: You will have losing sessions throughout your blackjack career. Nothing can be done about that. What you can do is learn how to shake off a losing session and not go into a funk which will affect your playing abilities. Being a professional blackjack player is like being on a roller coaster. You will have highs and lows, but you must learn how to sit back and enjoy the ride. Don’t let one or two losing sessions force you to question your abilities and skills. When you start questioning yourself you will begin to change the system. This is a mistake. Stick to the plan, Stan!
Control your emotions: You always need to remain cool and calm at the blackjack table. Getting upset when the dealer wins a hand or when the player next to you splits a pair of tens will only cause you to make poor decisions. Being a professional blackjack player requires self-discipline and self-control. Some people have a hard time managing themselves effectively. You must learn how to do this if you want to make money at blackjack.
Don’t drink alcohol while you play: There is a time and a place for everything. Drinking alcohol at the blackjack table is a bad idea. The casino is more than happy to give you free drinks all night long in order to get you drunk. They know that when you have too much to drink you will play poorly and make bad decisions. They will also be more than happy to give you all of those drinks and then kick you out when you become drunk and obnoxious. Do you really think the casino gives you free drinks because they like you? Wake up and smell the coffee. Better yet, wake up and DRINK the coffee while you play blackjack.
Always tip the dealer when you win. If you do not tip the dealer after a winning session (you do not need to tip after each winning hand), sooner or later word will get around. The dealers will not like dealing to you and they will keep their eyes peeled for any signs that you are a card counter. Dealers are one casino employee you must always keep on your good side. It is no fun to play at a table with a sour dealer. Only greedy jerks do not tip the dealer when they win. Once your session is over, decide on a percentage of your winnings that you are willing to tip the dealer.”
Walk away a winner: This is perhaps the most important rule. You must learn how to walk away a winner. There are many players who are very good at blackjack but very bad at being able to leave with a profit. They stay at a table too long and wind up losing money over and over again. Pretty soon losing becomes a pattern for them. You need to make winning your blackjack pattern.
Thanks first of all for the great Website, really appreciate the preciseness and clarity of all info given. Question I have is when to tip? After all, winning is part of what we are here for 😉 and if I tip after each BlackJack I get, then that artificially keeps my winnings low (i might get to the -50 even though I shouldnt have)..
Thank you for a very good question! As you may have noticed in what we have written on this subject, we advise that you tip the dealer after every winning SESSION. That means when you have finished playing and are about to head to the cashier’s cage.
You do not need to tip the dealer after each winning hand, and certainly not after every blackjack. Now, sometimes the best thing to do is sort of spread it out if you are ahead in the session. In other words, give part of the tip to dealer as you play—but only if you expect to win the session. This is how the old school Las Vegas gamblers did it. Do it consistently and you will build a reputation as someone who tips.
Also, set an amount that you are willing to tip after a winning session. We would recommend starting with 5-10 %. In other words, if you profit $100 then toss the dealer a $5 or $10 chip as you leave. Trust us, dealers appreciate any tip, large or small.
hi there
there are many types of blackjack, like freebet, blackjack switch & 21 Spanish. which one you think is the best type to play & do you prefer to play the side bets or not?
Xomarox,
Thanks for being a Counting Edge visitor and for your question. As for us, we’ll take standard blackjack every time. If we can find a double deck game, even better. Variations of the game are fun but they aren’t necessarily designed for the serious counter that wants to net a big profit. The side bets are almost always crafted to increase the house edge while pulling in inexperienced players that like gambling to the tables. We like straight blackjack but variations can be fun when you are just playing casually and having a good time.
Good luck at the tables!