Blackjack can be one of the most enjoyable and exhilarating of all casino games. On the other hand hand, it can be a game that leads to frustrations that other casino games are just unable to match. That’s because blackjack is a little unique when compared to the other games that you’ll come across. Yes, there is the need for a healthy dose of luck but blackjack also requires an element of skill and strategy. Especially when playing a soft 19 in Blackjack. Arguably, this is the most challenging and misplayed hand in the game.
The frustrations arise when players believe that they’re following strategy to the letter but their winning ways just don’t seem to be increasing. There are times when they find it hard to explain just what is going on. The truth is that sometimes there are slight errors being made and these simply need to be addressed to make a massive change.
We’re going to take a look at how casinos have made things tougher for players over the years (this is certainly part of those frustrations) and how players fought back. We’re then going to consider how players can increase their winning ways by avoiding three basic mistakes.
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The Ed Thorp effect
It was back in 1962 that Ed Thorp published his book “Beat the Dealer”. This book revolutionized the casino experience for blackjack players as it showed that, with just a little diligence, they could wipe the floor with the casino. Of course, casino owners were a little spooked by this and they made immediate changes to the rules, making them less player friendly.
The players made their feelings clear when it came to these overnight changes: they mainly boycotted the casinos. In fact, the casinos in Vegas saw customer numbers fall by as much as 90%. The changes that had been brought in left players feeling that casinos had simply gone too far and were no longer playing fair.
Operators were left with little choice other than to reverse these changes. What happened instead is that they reintroduced them at a much slower pace hoping that players wouldn’t realise. These changes would gradually erode the chances a player had but authors would work hard to update their material to overcome this.
The way in which casinos are making things that more difficult means that players need to sharpen their skills and take advantage of all that remains that’s positive. That means understanding how to play a soft 19.
Soft 19 in Blackjack – The most misplayed hand
When a player holds an ace and an eight they have a soft 19. Whether looking at newbies or professionals, this is one of the most misplayed hands that there is. The reason that this is such an issue is that it literally throws away a great opportunity. With casinos making it harder and harder all of the time, the last thing that players should be doing is missing out on a great chance that has been dealt to them.
The truth is that soft 19 in Blackjack is a very strong hand and any player should be pleased to see it in their hand. No matter what the dealers’ up card is, you can be sure that your soft 19 will be profitable when it’s played right. The hand is so strong that even players who get it wrong will still profit in the long run. However, we want our readers to be able to perform better than this. Rather than just getting lucky, we want you to understand soft 19 and how you can use it to maximise your winnings. You can do that by avoiding just three common mistakes. Let’s take a look at these now:
Ignoring the rules of play
The first thing to be aware of is that your soft 19 is impacted by the rules of the table. That’s because the rules of the table will dictate basic strategy. Ultimately, basic strategy underpins everything when it comes to blackjack players seeking an advantage so you need to understand the rules so that you know how to play according to this. As a basic example, if you’re playing a 2-deck game you need to know if the dealer will hit or stand on soft 17. That’s because this has a significant impact on what you do with your hand.
Let’s say that the dealer is showing a 6 and you hold soft 19. If the blackjack rules state that the dealer must hit on soft 17 then your next action should be to double. If, however, the rules state that the dealer must stand then you should also stand against the 6. Without knowledge of the rules, you won’t know the right move to make.
When the dealers’ upward is 2
While there are plenty of players who know how to use soft 19 to their advantage, there are just as many who come unstuck when faced with a dealers’ 2. Basic blackjack strategy is clear in that a player should stand on soft 19 in these circumstances.
However, if a player is also card counting then things are a little different. In this case, the player should double the hand at the point when the normalised number of high-to-low cards ratio per deck is over 7.5. While basic strategy is a must for all players, there needs to be an understanding of how this should play out when you’re also keeping track of the cards that have been dealt.
The dealer has a 5 or 6 upcard
This is another ace eight basic strategy hand that needs to be altered if you’re also keeping track of the cards that have been dealt. If the ratio of high to low cards goes over 2 per deck then the player should double the original bet.
Final thoughts on playing the Soft 19 in Blackjack
With casino rules changing, it’s vital that players do all that they can to improve their chances and fight back against bad rules. Mastering how to play soft 19 is just one step but it’s one that can bring real change to your game.
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