7 x 3 AND Jack + Ace = 21

In school I had perfected my times table long ago.  But at home, mastering the art of Blackjack was taking a little longer than reading off a list of numbers I’d learned of by heart.  There were a lot of factors.  But, I was getting it.  I’d already learnt what it meant to double down, hit and stand.  Now I had to learn the other plays and then the circumstances in which to play them. But as Daniel had said to me, “It’s all systematic kid.  Step by step, play by play – and before you know it, you’re counting cards!”  I couldn’t wait to start counting cards – I’d actually started practising in my spare time (like I had any).

In terms of other plays.  Well, you just had to remember when to play them.  That was all that really mattered.  At least that’s what Daniel taught me: “Ya gotta remember when to play what kid, that’s what’s important.”  I learnt most of what I know from Daniel, that’s because my Dad was usually dealing.  It was okay though.  Daniel was a mean player.  And after watching him, and him teaching me – I started to think that what I saw when he played that first night wasn’t just luck.

“Now there are a number of different plays, son.  You can surrender.  This isn’t the most common decision made in Blackjack, but it can be a very handy one.  Now depending on the table’s rules, you can surrender early or late.  To surrender early means that you can surrender before your big ol’ Dad there checks his cards and offer up half your bet, but this table doesn’t offer early surrender so you needn’t worry about that.  Take note though, early surrender offers a healthy advantage to players like me and you and that’s why casinos don’t usually offer it.”

“So what do they offer, Daniel?”

“Great question my boy,” he said looking at me with one of his beatific smiles. “Well, then the casinos (in all their wisdom) let you surrender late – like this casino does, ask your Dad.”  I looked at my Dad and he nodded – I turned back to Daniel but he’d already started talking: “If a casino offers a late surrender, they will only allow players to surrender if the dealer (that would be your Dad) is holding a Blackjack.  A surrender can really help you lose money, son, but if you surrender each play, how much will you lose?”

I thought for a bit, “50% of what you wager?”  I tried to sound as convinced as possible but I knew I still sounded like I was framing a question.

“Correct!” It was my Dad shrieking across the room.  Daniel glared at him.  “We’re working John.  Now.  Stanton,” he looked at me, “if you were to lose 75% of the time and win only 25% of the time, what would your net loss be?”  He looked at me expectantly.  If there was one thing my friend Stewart at school taught me, it was that you shouldn’t let the grown-ups have high expectations of you, otherwise you’ll have to live up to them – and that is exactly what I had to do after I’d answered that question.  Daniel looked at me expectantly, and I could feel my Father’s gaze across the room.  I could feel the cogs turning: so, assuming I was winning at 1:1 odds, my 25% would become 50%.  I felt rather confident about this so I looked at Daniel and said, “Well, if I’m winning 25% of what I play at 1:1 odds that means in total I’ll win 25%, which means I’ll have 50%.  If I lose 75% of the time, that means I’ll lose 75% of my money which means I’ll be left with 50% of what I came with.  So, the moral of the story,” I could feel my Dad nodding in the background – I ignored him, “the more of the story is, surrendering can be a great move but, use it wisely.”

I was shaking from the nerves.  The whole room had stopped playing to listen to my little soliloquy, when finally my Dad cracked and burst into applause, “My maths genius!”  Daniel beamed and pat me on the back and the whole room started clapping.  By the time it dissipated, I think everyone had accepted me as one of the men.  My Dad poured me half a whiskey tumbler of beer and told me to enjoy slowly and not to tell my Mother.  I felt like I’d finally come home.  Like I finally fitted in.

Daniel told me about splitting, “Right kid, you know how to hit and stand and surrender and double down.  Remember that one?”  He winked.  “So the next thing you need to learn about is splitting.  Like doubling down, you can only do it on the first move.  If you get cards that have the same value, you can split them into two separate hands.  You can double down on either of the split hands – this is called ‘double after split’.  Most casinos will allow you to split again if you get another set of pairs – this can be done up to three times, giving you four separate hands with four separate bets.  Are you following kid?”

“Yeah, I am.  When is it a good idea to split though?  Do you always split?”

“Well, I’d never recommend splitting 10s or any 10-valued cards – hold on to the 20; chances are it’ll do you well.  Splitting Aces is a very strong player move and, because of that the casino will only allow you to hit once on each Ace. Remember what you said about 10-valued cards being the most common?  But, because of this you will not collect 3:2 odds on a Blackjack.  Sometimes a casino will let you resplit Aces.”

“But, Daniel why is it worth splitting Aces?  Isn’t it worth it just to hold out for the 3:2 odd then?”

“No, son.  Remember what you said: 10s and 10-valued cards are the most common.  You always split Aces.”

“But, what if the dealer shows an Ace?”

“Great question boy!”  He pats me on the back.  “I was coming to that.  If a dealer shows an Ace, he’ll offer the player insurance (which is usually limited to half the original bet.  If the dealer has Blackjack, your insurance bet will pay at odds of 2:1.  But, you’ll lose your original bet.”

“What if I have Blackjack?”  I took a sip of my beer, it tasted awful, but I loved it all the same.

“You catch me every time, kid.  Then you don’t lose your bet and your insurance wins 2:1.  But, if the dealer does not have Blackjack, you lose your insurance bet and have original bet to play with.  It’s a tricky situation.  Insurance is only really a safe play if you can count cards, kid.”

“I can count cards.”

“Not like that, Stan.  But, one day.  Maybe sooner than you think.  We gotta lot of ground to cover.  You’re really gonna have to know your way around a casino.  But, you’ll get there.  I have faith.”  He gave me a hug.  Later my Dad said he thought it was the first and last he gave after his wife Gloria died.  Well, until Dad was on his death bed.  Daniel loved me and my Father so very much.  He leaned back and said, “Right! Even money, and then bedtime!  It’s almost eleven o’clock!  What do you say Johnny?”

“That’s what I like to see, Danny!  Keeping my boy in check!” Dad hollered across the room.

Daniel turned to me, “Even money will be offered to you when you are holding a Blackjack and the dealer has an Ace up.  It’s a kind of insurance – just state you want ‘even money’ and you are guaranteed a profit even if the dealer has Blackjack.  But, remember you’ll be giving up those 2:1 odds.  Now.  Scoot.  Say goodnight to your Dad.  Bed!”

“Daniel?  But, how do I know when to double down or split or hit or stand or anything?  When’s the best time?”  I was talking as fast as I could ‘cause I didn’t want to get into trouble.

“I was gonna save this until tomorrow but, take this,” he handed me a tattered piece of paper, “look at it tomorrow in your breaks. Now. Go. To. Bed.”

I ran and quickly hugged my Dad goodnight and said goodnight to everyone else.  I went to Daniel last.  I shook his hand, “Thanks Daniel,” and then I leaned close to his ear and whispered, “what is it?”  He laughed quietly and under his breath he said, “a strategy. Now go!”

I fell asleep with Daniel’s tattered piece of paper in my hands.  After the talking to I received from my mother I was too scared to unfold it, but all night I dreamt of adventures in my Dad’s casino.  And I couldn’t wait for first break, when my lessons in strategy would begin.