Gaming Guru

Speed Count and Dealer Blackjacks

Hi Frank,

I hope everything is good with you. I don't know if you remember me, I was at the craps seminar in Las Vegas. I'm happy to report that I have had some success with the skill and have had the comments of "the luckiest guy at the table" and "pass him the dice" thrown at me from random rollers. I'm on my way to being a truly successful craps player. However, this e-mail pertains more to the Speed Count for blackjack.

I've read through Beat Blackjack Now: The Easiest Way to Get an Edge! I have practiced at home, and I am confident in what I have learned so far, but I do have a question.

When the dealer gets a blackjack, what happens to the count? I have been assuming that the count stays where it was before the hand was dealt because counting doesn't start until the hands are played, but I am a little unsure. To me, it makes more sense to adjust the count to where it would have been if the dealer did not flip over a blackjack, because when the dealer sweeps my hopefully minimum bet away it definitely counts against my stack. Again, I am unsure.

Thank you,
Abby

Dear Abby:

The BJ the dealer got is treated the same as any other hand by the dealer. He has two high cards. It will be a faster addition you have to do as the dealer turns over the player's cards, but you have to add up the low cards that are turned over and subtract the number of hands just like any other hand. So nothing changes as far as what to do. You treat that round like any other round doing your subtracting, then get the SC and put out your bet for the next round.

All the best in and out of the casinos!

Frank Scoblete