Page 12 - Jackpot Magazine Tunica ~ March, 2026

PLAY TO WIN
Luck can be just as important as skill in ‘21’
“I’m looking over a four-leaf clover that I overlooked before. One leaf is sunshine the other is rain. Third is the roses that grow in the lane. No need explaining the one remaining is somebody I adore. I’m looking over a four leaf clover that I overlooked before.”
~ Mort Dixon and Harry M. Woods
The four-leaf clover, a rare mutation of the common three-leaf clove, or shamrock, that has four leaflets instead of three, is said to bring good luck. This belief dates back to at least the 17th century. The four-leaf clover also symbolizes faith, hope, love and luck, stemming from ancient beliefs and folklore where it was a charm against evil.
Clovers and shamrocks are often associated with Ireland
and the Irish holiday
of St. Patrick’s Day,
which happens to be this
month. Many casino
players carry with them
good luck charms —
coins, horseshoes, little
elephants and, yes,
even clovers. With St.
Patrick’s Day around the
corner and luck on our minds, we started thinking about situations where either luck or skill would be needed.
Gaming expert and writer Henry Tamburin, author of the “Ultimate Guide to Blackjack,” wrote a column in a past issue of Jackpot! about how to play difficult blackjack hands like a pro. While blackjack knowledge is definitely required to win these hands, we know a little luck can also come in handy. .
Standing on Soft 18 Against Dealer’s 10
“I never hit a good hand of 18,” Tamburin said, as that is the mantra
of most players who
believe 18 is a good
hand that should
never be messed with.
But the facts are this:
If you have a soft 18 against a dealer’s 10 and stand, you will lose more money than you win. When you hit, you also lose more than you win but you don’t lose quite as much as when you stand. So, hitting soft 18 is the correct play even when your soft 18 hand consists of three or more cards.
Not Splitting 8s Against a Dealer’s 9, 10 or Ace
“A 16 against a dealer’s 9, 10 or ace is a loser. Why compound my losses by splitting and betting more?”
Surprise! The right play is to split the 8s. Why? Because playing two hands with a starting count of 8 is much better than a single hand of 16. You are giving yourself two decent starting hands while breaking up a horrible 16. However, both of the split 8 hands will lose you
money in the long run.
Here’s the rub — your combined
losses will be less than what a single hand of 16 would lose in the long run. Yes, it’s sometimes difficult to think long term when you are staring at a pair of 8s against a dealer’s 10 with your 10 bucks on the layout. And yes, sometimes you’ll split and lose both split hands and then start second guessing yourself as to why you split in the first place. But listen up. The correct play, the one that will save you more money during your blackjack playing career, is to split the 8s against the 9, 10, and Ace. If you don’t have the
courage to make that play, you shouldn’t be playingblackjack.
Not Doubling 11 Against a Dealer’s 10
“Why would anyone want to double down against a strong dealer’s 10?” Most average players get queasy about doubling down, figuring the dealer has a10intheholeforapat20.Infact,the dealer’s chances of making that pat 20 are less than your chances of making a 20 or 21.
Here’s the bottom line: If you bet 10 bucks and hit your 11, you’ll win 56 percent of the time. If you double down instead, you’ll win only 54 percent of the time but for $20. So, what would you rather do? Win $10 56 percent of the time, or $20 54 percent of the time? The choice should be clear. You can’t afford not to double down on 11 against a dealer 10.
Standing on 16 Against a Dealer’s 7
“Yeah, I’ll hit my 16 against a 10, but I’ll be damned if I hit it against a dealer’s 7.” Most average blackjack players will hit 16 against a dealer’s 10 but not against a 7, because they are more intimidated facing the 10 than the 7.
Here’s the scoop. You have the same high risk of busting when you hit 16 regardless if the dealer shows a 7 or 10. So that’s a wash.
But what happens if you get lucky when you hit your 16 and draw a small card, say a deuce? Against the dealer’s 10 you are still a solid underdog. But against the dealer’s 7, your chances of winning are greater, because the dealer may very well have a 17, and your 18 will beat his 17. So never stand on 16 against a dealer’s 7.
Play To Win Again
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12 JACKPOT! MAGAZINE • March 2026
THE SOUTH’S LARGEST GUIDE TO GAMING & FUN • www.jackpotmagazine.com