Knowledge of the Blackjack game (Cont.)

Respect the deuce but don't fear it.

For that matter, for purposes of my basic blackjack strategy, I have moved the 2 into the category of "too dangerous to double or split against." This will cause me to alter the age old basic strategy theory by calling for you to hit certain hands vs. that deuce, rather than double or split.

Don't worry, we'll get to that in due time, but just be aware that this will be one of the changes I warned you about. As we speak, I can see math personnel unbagging the feathers and heating up the "erl" on my front lawm, but don't worry, a lot of them will bum themselves in the process.

So, we've touched the first step of blackjack strategy, that is knowing which of the dealer's up cards are dangerous to our pocketbook and which give the edge in our favor. Knowing where the enemy is is not the whole battle, it is only letting us know that something has to be done.

Wrapping up this first chapter, let me give you a couple of blackjack gambling terms that I will use, to make explanations easier, as we go along.

1.    Dealer. I will henceforth refer to a dealer as her or she (I happen to be partial to women).
2.    Power Card: is strictly 9, 10, Jack, Queen, King, or Ace.
3.    Standing Hand: When dealer's up card is a 7 through Ace, meaning she could have a standing hand of 17 through blackjack, whereby she does not have to draw a card (dealer always stands with a 17 or better).
4.    Breaking Hand: When dealer's up card is a 2 through 6, meaning she probably has to take a hit. The exception is when she would have a 6 up and Ace in the hole for a soft 17. She will stand. But look out! The casinos are starting to hit their soft 17s. Don't play there!