3) bRING enough cash TO THE GAME

Photo by artisteer

Bankrolls go up and down during play

Players need to come to the table with enough cash to weather the ups and downs of normal play.

This sounds like common sense, but players are always arriving at blackjack tables with $100 or $200 of “mad money.” They typically lose this quickly because, for example, with the 3:2 game’s typical $15 minimum bet, they can’t survive the game’s peaks and troughs.

Theoretically, this should not affect a player’s long-term results as wins and losses will average out over time even with an inadequate bankroll; however, this process is usually too frustrating for players to tolerate.

Use the “rule of 33” to estimate the bankroll you will need

The easy was to estimate the bankroll required for a typical 3-hour evening of blackjack play is to:

Multiply the average bet by 33

For example, at a $15-minimum bet table, the bankroll should be $495 ($15 x 33) to play for three hours without going broke.

The accuracy of the Rule-of-33 suffers for playing times that are longer and shorter than 3 hours.

This rule of thumb was derived from the popular 3% rule (no bet should be greater than 3% of the player’s bankroll) and from the statistical formula used to calculate maximum blackjack profits and loses.

use the table to the right If you need more precision

This table was developed using the statistical formula for calculating maximum loss with the following assumptions:

- 55 hands per hour

- 0.5% house edge

- 95% confidence

Don't make sucker bets

Learn Basic Strategy

Bring enough cash to the table

Leave the game with a profit

Don't hedge when you're losing

Don't make sucker bets Learn Basic Strategy Bring enough cash to the table Leave the game with a profit Don't hedge when you're losing