Martin J.

Silverthorne

The
Simplex Blackjack
Strategy!
A Powerful Strategy That Reveals Exactly
How to Exploit a "Flaw" in the Blackjack
Game to Make Thousands of Dollars, Safely
and Consistently!

SILVERTHORNE
PuBLICATIONS

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

COPYRIGHT 2006 by Silverthorne Publications Inc.

All rights reserved. Except for brief passages used in legitimate

reviews, no parts of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form
or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without the written
permission of the publisher.

Address all inquiries to the publisher:

Silverthorne Publications, Inc.
848 N. Rainbow Blvd., Suite 601
Las Vegas, Nevada 89107
United States of America
www.silverthornepublications.com

The material contained in this book is intended to inform and educate

the reader and in no way represents an inducement to gamble legally or
illegally.

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

2

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Editor's Notes
Foreword
Introduction
The Game of Blackjack
Playing Strategies
Simplex Playing Strategy
Betting Strategies
Simplex Betting Strategy
Playing on the Internet
How to Find an Internet Casino
Skilful Play
Casino Comps
Casino Etiquette
Money Strategies
Putting It All Together
Are You Ready to Make $9,674 by Next Tuesday?

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

4
7
11
20
26
35
61
79
95
103
109
124
139
144
151
159

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

3

EDITOR'S NOTES
I left the accounting profession many years ago and have
never turned back since I learned how to successful as a gambling
entrepreneur.
I say "gambling entrepreneur" because there is very little
"gamble" to what I do. I use a handful of carefully turned and
proven strategies to regularly take large sums of cash from both
land-based and now from Internet casinos.
What I do does not require an extraordinary memory.
It doesn't take a lot of specialized training.
It is not dependent on being in the right place at the right
time, like so many chances in life do.
What I do, and have taught to others, is apply a set of
learnable rules and strategies to certain select casino games and
then methodically and regularly beat them.
The net result of this approach is that my friends and
associates who use these same techniques have a source of income

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

4

that is surprisingly regular, consistent and even predictable. These

are none of the characteristics that most people have in mind when
they think of gambling or gamblers.
The Simplex Blackjack Strategy is a practical strategy that
anyone can use to win in casinos. It is not difficult to learn,
although you will do better if you practice a little before you risk
real money.
It is not theoretically perfect (I can't think of much that is).
It does not require a large bankroll.
And, it is used to win on a "hit and run" basis.
The name of the strategy "Simplex" is derived from
combing the words SIMple (which describes learning the strategy,
and comPLEX, which refers to the fact that the strategy performs
as well or better than more complex strategies.
This is a strategy that has been 100% proven to:
Win from $51.50 to $676.23 an hour playing day in and day out
in land-based casinos. We have absolute proof that anyone can
duplicate these results, hour after hour, day after day, week
after profitable week!
Pull in profits as high as $900 an hour off of Internet casinos
that really have few defenses against the power of this strategy!

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

5

 Win quickly time after time, game after game, using a powerful
"hit and run" approach that is so effective that even our most
successful players seldom spend over one to two hours a days
"working."
Create a predicable source of winnings that caused one of my
associates to refer to a casino as his "casino bank." Then, with a
smile he added, "They just keep the money for me until I go in
and make a withdrawal."
This is Not Just Another Card Counting System!
This strategy has nothing to do with card counting or card
tracking. Card counting has been around about forty years and is
no longer a reliable approach to winning at today's blackjack
games.
The card counting approach was originally developed for the
single deck, hand held blackjack games offered in the 1960's and
1970's.
Those games really don't exist anymore. Oh, you can still find
single deck blackjack games. But they usually offer poorer rules
for the players and the dealers shuffle the cards frequently.
With card counting, a card shuffle negates any advantage the
player might gain. In addition, using multiple decks of cards almost
eliminates any edge a card counter might develop.

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

6

Today, multiple decks are the norm. For example, most

Atlantic City casinos use eight decks of cards. In addition, many
casinos, such as the Indian casinos just a few miles from my house,
use continuous shuffling machines which replicate the results of
continuous shuffling.
Internet casinos shuffle the "virtual cards" after every hand. As
a practical matter, there is no way that you can use "Card
Counting" to gain any real edge at blackjack any more.
But the Simplex Blackjack Strategy has nothing to do with card
counting or any of the old blackjack playing techniques that have
mostly been neutralized by casino countermeasures.
Instead of being a "theoretical strategy" that might win under the
right conditions (like the card counting strategies), the Simplex
Strategy is a highly effective practical strategy that you can use to
win in any blackjack game.

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

7

FOREWORD
One thing I have learned about human nature is that I have
become very reluctant to give advice, whether solicited or
otherwise. This especially applies to advising people on how to
make or place wagers in casino games.
I can recall very clearly one Blackjack game in the Dunes,
on the Las Vegas Strip, when I was playing my favorite strategy
and doing moderately well. A rather attractive young woman was
sitting next to me and asking me how to play her different hands.
The dealer was obviously bored (it was almost shift change time)
and didn't react negatively to my assisting the young woman so I
helped her with her hands, showing her how to use Basic Strategy
at Blackjack.
While I continued to win slowly, but steadily, she seemed to
bust on every hand after taking my advice. I could almost read her
mind, "This guy doesn't seem to know what he's talking about, and
I am sure I could lose just as easily on my own."
Finally, I left her to her own devices and she began to win
with much greater alacrity than with my assistance.

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

8

I can recall yet another instance occurring at one of those

Las Vegas night functions. I was invited by a business
acquaintance who knew that I played Blackjack regularly and
invited me along to help him learn the game. You can probably
guess the outcome. Even though I was showing him the correct
play for each hand, he continued to lose hand after hand. Plus, he
was resenting my advice.
There are at least a couple of conclusions that can be drawn
from these experiences. First, anything can happen in the short
run, and those who expect to start winning fabulous amounts of
money in just a few hands have been watching too many movies.
It just doesn't work that way.
Perhaps more importantly, I learned to keep my mouth shut.
People, especially men, really don't want my advice or any one
else's when it comes to gambling.
Sometime after the Dunes experience, while playing at the
Four Queens in Vegas, another woman playing at the same table
asked my advice. I remember one instance where she stood on a
Soft 15 against a dealer's 8 up-card and won. She asked me if this
was the right play.
I told her, "If it works, do it!"
So, with this in mind, I will proceed to violate this principle
and advise you that Simplex Blackjack really does work. I have
known "Dr B." for some time, and the system described in this
book does work. Dr.B., in the tradition of some other gambling
writers, prefers not to use his own name. I don't blame him. Some

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

9

gambling writers who have had their photographs on the back book
jacket have found that their Blackjack play became extremely
difficult as they became recognized as gambling experts. The late
Ken Uston became a master of disguises to overcome this stigma.
As for myself, I will not share my secret with you as to how I play
without undue heat or who Dr. B. really is. But rest assured; I
have verified everything that is written in this book, and I will
attest that the Simplex approach is a sound money maker.
The Blackjack crowd seems be divided into three camps.
Those who couldn't care less about learning or applying any correct
strategies to the game constitute the vast majority of players.
These are the players in whose honor the casinos build new wings.
A second group of "Blackjack experts" spend all of their time on
computers devising more and more complex strategies to beat the
game. With these experts, the basic object of any blackjack
research has become forgotten in their quest for more and more
complex, and I might add increasingly unusable, approaches to
playing the game. The final group, of whom I am hopefully a
member and in whose ranks Dr. B. certainly belongs, believe that
the object of Blackjack research is to beat the game. This means
playing in real casinos - with slot machines going off in the
background, cocktail waitresses with cleavage from here to
Thursday plying you with drinks, with less than cordial pit bosses
scrutinizing your play, with players seated next to you with no
skills and a need to share their every thought - with the sounds of
casino life surrounding you.
This is my purpose in playing Blackjack. I want to
experience the real world and at the same time beat the casinos at

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

10

their own game. Dr. B. shares this enthusiasm for "real" blackjack,
and his strategy superbly meets the goals of those of us who play to
win with real money.
I am sure that this book will make you a better Blackjack
player and hopefully a winning one.

Martin J. Silverthorne

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

11

INTRODUCTION
Blackjack used to be a simple game. As card games go, it is
probably on par with gin rummy in terms of learning the rudiments
of the game. Ten-year olds can learn how to play the basic game in
about thirty minutes.
However, you would not believe that this is a simple game
if you have read any of the blackjack books published in the past
twenty-five years. This has been the era of "card counting," and
you would not recognize the game if you learned it in earlier and
simpler times.
Card counting is filled with myths and half truths, and the
public perception of how to go about card counting, as well as its
effectiveness, is little understood. A common belief held by many
of the uninitiated is that card counting is so powerful that fabulous
sums of money can be won in very short time periods. The recent
movie Rain Man demonstrated this myth when the Dustin
Hoffman character, suffering from autism, but possessing an
exceptional memory, proceeded to win thousands and thousands of
dollars in a couple of hours because he could remember cards.

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

12

This probably expresses the public perception of blackjack winners

and especially card counters. The card counter is a very unusual
person with extraordinary memory abilities, and with these talents,
a casino is virtually defenseless against the onslaught.
The reality is very different. First, a card counter does not
really have to have an extraordinary memory as hours of practice
are used to build up the skills needed to be successful at card
counting. Second, card counting is not nearly as effective against
the casinos as the public believes. Many times an expert card
counter will lose, and lose big! Consistent winnings are not
guaranteed even with expert card counting.
The difficulty in learning to be an effective card counter is
underestimated by people who at least understand the concept.
Understanding the concept and applying it in an effective and
expert manner with few errors are two very different things. The
concept can be explained in a few pages. However, the strategies
to use as a successful card counter will take many many pages to
explain, and the would-be card counter must learn them cold.
However, all this effort must be worthwhile for one to learn
a foolproof way to beat the casinos, right? Well, the sad news is
that card counting is not foolproof. I am not talking about errors
the player makes either. Card counting played without any errors
is still not a guarantee of winning at blackjack.
The principle of card counting is simply this: A player
tracking cards played can use a special playing strategy and betting
strategy to gain a mathematical advantage over the casino of from

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

13

one to two percent over the long term. Please note the use of the
words "long term." I seem to recall a statement made by the
economist Keynes that "in the long run, we are all dead."
That in a nutshell is the problem with playing for the long
term. We may die before the long term comes.
Card counting, then, is strictly a long term strategy, which if
played correctly, should provide a theoretical advantage over the
casino - if you live long enough to realize it!
Interested in playing blackjack for a weekend, or even two
or three days? Card counting probably won't help you win
because the time period played is too short for card counting to
provide any significant advantage.
Do any of the writers telling you about card counting bother
to tell you that it probably won't do you any good to learn the skills
unless you play long enough to reach the long term (however long
that is). Maybe in a footnote on page 273, between strategy charts
number 42 and 43.
Yet how do most of us play blackjack? One or two days at
a time? Or at the most, maybe three or four days? If we rely on
card counting for these blackjack sessions, we probably will not
win, or if we do, it may be in spite of card counting rather than
because of it.
Clearly, in order to win at blackjack as it is ordinarily
played, we need a short term strategy - one that can be applied for
an hour here and an hour there yet gain a real advantage for the

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

14

player. This is the purpose of the Simplex Blackjack Strategy - to

win in the real life short term intervals that exist in actual casino
play.
There are other differences between the long term and short
term schools of blackjack. The long run approach, which consists
mainly of card counters, relies on a complex basic strategy for
playing card hands which must be modified depending on the
count. Computer simulations are used to test and evaluate each
variation of card counting. And a large bankroll is required, as it is
only with a large bankroll that the card counter can hope to weather
the short term storms and emerge victorious in the long run.
For many of the long term card counting camp, the game of
blackjack has become almost irrelevant. Competing theories and
techniques are tested and retested on the computer, regardless of
their relevance to real life play. What matters is a theoretically
"correct" approach even if it is too complex to ever be used in a
casino.
If you are a theorist, you may want to stop here as I am
about to commit heresy. I believe that the most relevant approach
to blackjack is one that can be easily learned and used to win in the
short term, even if it is not theoretically perfect. This is the essence
of the Simplex approach. The name "Simplex" is a combination of
SIMple and comPLEX, indicating that the strategy is simple to
learn and use, yet is capable of handling complex situations.
The Simplex Blackjack Strategy is a practical strategy
which I use to win in casinos. It is not difficult to learn, although
you will need to spend some time with it. It is not theoretically

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

15

perfect. In fact, I will point out how it can be improved, and you
can be the judge as to whether the effort is worth the results. It
does not require a large bankroll. And it is used to win on a "hit
and run" basis. I don't like to play blackjack more than an hour and
a half at a time as I start to lose my "mental edge" if I play longer
than this at one stretch. Believe me, you will appreciate the short
session approach, especially when the winnings start building up.
My publisher, Martin Silverthorne insisted on testing the
Simplex Strategy on his computer before agreeing to publish this
book. To his surprise (but not mine), this strategy even beats the
card counting strategy in computer simulations. The reason I am
not surprised is that I have known and played next to counters for
years. I have tried counting myself, and my conclusion is that the
Simplex Strategy will beat the pants off card counting - anytime,
anywhere!
Best of all, Simplex is an easy-to-learn, real world strategy
that you can use to make money without dying of old age waiting
for the long term to arrive. I use it frequently, and I know that you
will be pleased with its results.
There are three valid approaches to beating the game of
blackjack. Card counting, or more properly card tracking, is the
one which has received most of the publicity. A second, and
probably more reliable method, is based on taking advantage of
player biased groups of cards and avoiding dealer biased groups of
cards. This technique may be called the "clump strategy," and it
relies on the fact that most shuffles are not thorough enough to
totally mix the cards, resulting in portions of the deck which favor

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

16

the player over the dealer. Martin Silverthorne's favorite strategy

for winning is based on exploiting these clumps of favorable
situations.
The third valid approach to winning uses a statistical
variation discovered in the distribution of blackjack wins and
losses. The Simplex Strategy uses this methodology to beat the
game.
Most other methods of blackjack play consist of betting
progressions, many requiring the player to increase his wager after
losses. I strongly recommend that you avoid most of the
progressions for blackjack, especially the ones requiring increased
wagers following losses.
As we have discussed, card counting is a long term strategy
which may or may not produce wins over the long run.
The card clumping approaches and the Simplex method are
to be used for short term blackjack play.
Simplex is an excellent system for both the player who only
plays on one or two weekends a year, or the player who plays
several days at a time, many times a year. It is short term strategy
which provides good results when played over the long term. For
what is the long term but the cumulative results of the short term?
The Simplex Strategy is divided into several parts. The first
concerns itself with Playing Strategies, or more simply," How do
we play our cards on each hand dealt to us?" Playing strategies,
sometimes called "Basic Strategies," have evolved into an

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

17

increasingly complex maze of rules and rule variations through the

years of blackjack research. As we shall see, Simplex will live up
to its name in its playing strategy in that the Simplex Playing
Strategy is both simple and effective.
After developing a Playing Strategy, we will consider the
Betting Strategy. While the Playing Strategy determines how we
play each hand, the Betting Strategy helps us determine how much
to bet on each hand and when to bet it. As you will see, much of
the power of the Simplex strategy lies in its ability to "forecast" the
best times to increase wagers. This timing is based on a statistical
variation discovered in the distribution of blackjack wins and
losses which tells us when the time is best to increase wagers and
when wagers should be reduced.
The Simplex Blackjack Strategy is rounded out with a
sound Money Strategy and the mental preparation needed to "pull
it all together." With the correct Money Strategy we shall see
exactly when to quit a session (whether winning or losing), how
much money we need to take to play, and how much we can expect
to win. We shall see examples of how we can fine tune our
bankroll and playing style, and we will know the amount of time
we intend to invest in blackjack to actually forecast our expected
winnings.
Mental preparation is the glue that holds it all together.
Hopefully your journey through the Simplex Strategy will
be as exciting for you as my experiences in playing the system
have been for me. Besides being a reliable winner, Simplex is also

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

18

relaxing and fun, and for me, there is no better combination than
winning money in the adult Disneyland atmosphere provided by
casinos.
Before getting into the specific Simplex strategies, I will review the
basic rules for playing blackjack. If you are an experienced player
you may want to skip the next chapter and go right into the
Simplex strategy.

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

19

THE GAME OF BLACKJACK

Blackjack is played with from one to eight decks of cards,
with one dealer, and with from one to seven players. Each of the
players can win or lose independently of the other players as the
players' sole objective is to beat the dealer.
There are two ways to beat the dealer. The player can have
a higher point total than the dealer, or the dealer can bust by having
a point total greater than 21.
There are also two ways a player can lose. If the point total
for the dealer's hand is greater than the player's hand, without either
hand exceeding 21, then the dealer wins. If the player's hand
exceeds 21 and the player "busts," then the dealer wins. Because
the players always play out their hands before the dealer plays his,
the player will lose a busted hand even if the dealer also goes bust.
This is the principle advantage the casino has over the players, for
even if both the player and the dealer bust, the dealer will always
win.

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

20

The game is played with 52 poker-sized cards per deck, and

the suits of cards are ignored. The numerical value of each card is
important: Twos through nines are counted at face value, all tens
and picture cards are valued at 10, and Aces are counted as either a
1 or an 11, at the option of the player.
Bets are paid off at even money. If a wager is $5.00 and it
wins, the payoff is $5.00. The only exceptions to this are
blackjacks, which are paid at 1.5 to 1 and insurance wagers, which
are paid off at 2 to 1.
Before a new game of blackjack begins, the dealer spreads
the cards across the table to ascertain that no cards have been
marked or are missing from the decks. The cards are shuffled, and
the dealer deals from left to right giving each player a total of two
cards. The player makes his wager before each round of cards are
dealt, so that the betting decision must be made before the player
sees any of his cards.
In games with one or two decks, the dealer will hold the
cards in his or her hand and deal the cards face down. In the
multiple deck games, which can have from four to eight decks, the
cards are dealt from a container called a "shoe" and are dealt face
up.
If the first two cards dealt the player total 21, the player has
a blackjack which is an immediate win unless the dealer also has a
blackjack, which is then a standoff called a "push." Blackjacks pay
1.5 to 1. With any two cards which total less than 21, the player
has a number of options for playing his hand.

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

21

The first decision the player must make is whether to

surrender or to take insurance, if these options present themselves.
These decisions will be discussed in more detail later.
The most common decision the player must make is
whether to accept only the two cards dealt, which is called
"standing," or to ask for more cards, called "hitting."
Doubling down and splitting pairs are the two final options
available to the player.
The doubling down decision occurs more frequently than
the option of splitting pairs. After receiving the first two cards, if
you believe that you will beat the dealer with just one more card
dealt, you are allowed to double your wager and draw only one
more card. Some casinos will allow you to double down on any
two cards, and others restrict this option to hands totaling 10 or 11.
If the first two cards dealt you are a pair, such as a 6-6, a 99, or a 10-Jack, then you have the option of splitting the pairs and
playing each card as a separate hand. All tens and face cards are
counted as tens, so that a 10-Jack or a Queen-King are counted as
pairs. To split a pair, you must make an additional wager equal to
your original wager for the second hand created by splitting the
original hand.
Players' hands are either dealt face up or face down,
depending on the number of decks of cards used and the rules of
the casino. Games with one or two decks are usually dealt face
down, and the games with four or more decks are dealt face up. It

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

22

really makes no difference to the player as it does not matter who

sees his hand.
While the players' hands will be either face up or face down,
the dealer's hand will always have only one card showing, called
the dealer's "up-card." The other dealer card will be face down and
is called the "hole-card."
Whenever the dealer's up-card is an Ace, the dealer will ask,
"Insurance, anyone?" If you believe that the dealer's hole-card is a
10, so that the dealer has a blackjack (10 + the Ace counted as 11),
you are allowed to make a side bet of up to one-half the amount of
your original wager, that the dealer has a blackjack. If the dealer
has a 10 valued card as his hole-card and therefore has a blackjack,
you will be paid 2 to 1 on your insurance wager, but lose your
original bet, unless you also have a blackjack and tie with the
dealer.
The final option available to the player is Surrender. Very
few casinos offer the option of surrender. If you are not satisfied
with your first two cards, you may announce "Surrender." The
dealer will then pick up your cards and take one-half of your bet,
the amount surrendered. This is the only instruction given
verbally in blackjack as all other decisions are communicated by
hand signals to the dealer. Occasionally, the player may have to
verbally clarify a decision such as doubling down on a pair of 5s to
make sure that the dealer understands that he is not splitting a pair,
but in general, hand signals are used in place of verbal ones.
To indicate that you want to stand with the cards dealt, you
simply wave your hand, palm down over your cards, signaling the

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

23

dealer "no more cards." To ask for another card, you will either
point at your cards or make a beckoning motion with your fingers.
In a face down game, where you will be holding the cards in your
hand, you will scrape the cards on the table felt to signal that you
want a hit. If you wish to stand in the face down game, simply
place your cards face down under your wager. If you have a
blackjack in the face down game, you will immediately place your
cards face up on the table so that the dealer can pay your blackjack.
In the face up game, the dealer will notice your blackjack and pay
you without any action on your part.
Doubling down and pair splitting are signaled by placing
additional wagers next to your original wager in the betting box in
the face up game; you will not touch the cards. In the face down
game, you will place your cards face up on the table and make an
additional wager to tell the dealer that you want to double or split
your hand.
While the player has several options for playing his hand,
the dealer must play by an unvarying set of rules. In Atlantic City
the rules are set by the New Jersey Casino Control Commission
and are the same in every New Jersey casino. The rules vary in
Nevada with Downtown Las Vegas casinos, the "Strip" casinos and
northern Nevada casinos forming the major groups having rule
variations. However, in Nevada the rules can vary from casino to
casino even in the same locale, and the best way to find out about
rule variations is to ask casino personnel.
After completing his deal to all players and giving
additional cards to those players who ask for them, the dealer will

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

24

complete his own hand. He will turn over his hole-card and
complete his hand in accordance with the rules established by the
casino.
Dealers will draw on any hand with a total of 16 or less and
stand on any hand totaling 17 to 21. If a dealer has a 16, he must
draw, even if this hand beats a player's hand. In New Jersey and on
the Las Vegas Strip, the dealer will stand on a soft 17, which is a
hand containing an Ace counted as 11 (Ace-6). In Downtown Las
Vegas and in Northern Nevada, the dealer will draw to a soft 17,
but will stand on a hard 17 (a hand containing no Aces counted as
11).
If the dealer breaks, all remaining players win. If the dealer
reaches a hand between 17 and 21, the dealer will collect bets from
players with lower hands and pay off at even money the players
with higher hands. Please note that a player drawing a total of 21
may not count this hand as a blackjack, as blackjacks only occur
with the first two cards dealt initially. Any players with the same
point totals as the dealer tie the dealer and neither win nor lose.
The basic information available to a player on how to play
each hand comes from the information conveyed from the
knowledge of his own hand and the exposed dealer up-card. Some
players may choose to ignore this information and play each hand
the same way regardless of the dealer's up-card. However,
considerable study has been made of the optimal ways in which to
play each hand using the information derived from seeing the

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

25

dealer's up-card and seeing the two player cards. The study and
analysis of the playing decisions to be made from this information
is termed "Playing Strategies."

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

26

PLAYING STRATEGIES
Blackjack has become the most popular casino table game,
replacing craps as the number one choice for the majority of
gamblers. If you ever observe people playing blackjack, you will
notice that there are many more scowling faces than cheerful ones
and that the majority of players are losing.
Can you guess why most players are losing consistently? If
you guessed that the casinos are cheating or that the game just can't
be beaten, you are wrong. The reason that most players are losing
with such predictable regularity is that they have no idea what they
are doing. The number one failing of most blackjack players is that
they have no conception of the correct strategy to use in playing
their hands.
By playing hands, I mean making the best decisions for
each hand among the options offered to the player. These options
are hitting, standing, doubling down, splitting pairs, taking
insurance or surrendering a hand.

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

27

This is a real shame because the information on how to

correctly play blackjack hands has been around for almost thirty
years. If you have ever read another book on blackjack, you have
probably been exposed to a long section in the book with many
complex looking charts describing the Basic Strategy to be used
for blackjack.
I believe that most blackjack players are familiar with the
concept of a basic strategy to be used for playing their hands and
that the majority of them have not bothered to learn it because it is
too complicated!
Therefore, instead of using a correct playing strategy, most
players shrug their shoulders at its complexity and use their own
methods.
The most common strategy used for playing each hand is
the "Hunch Strategy." Variations of this strategy are the "WhatDo-You-Think?" approach and the "Coin-flipping Decision
Making System." All of these systems boil down to the same
thing. The player has no idea how to play each hand and hits,
stands or doubles depending on his mood, the atmosphere at the
table or on the comeliness of the cocktail waitress.
The worst offenders in this category are men (sorry guys).
Place an attractive female next to a male blackjack player, and he
will proceed to strut his stuff by making the worst possible
blackjack decisions to impress the female. I guess we all recall
James Bond who would plunk down his bet at roulette with typical
masculine indifference to the game and as likely as not win.

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

28

While this approach may work for James Bond, it is not a

very good one for blackjack. The average "Hunch Bettor"
probably gives the house an advantage of from 10% to 20%,
depending on how bad his play is.
A second, and seemingly more logical approach is to mimic
the dealer. The reasoning here is pretty straight forward. If it
works for the dealer, it must work for the player. At first glance,
this method seems to produce an even up game as the player's odds
must be the same as the dealer's, right?
Well, your odds and the dealer's are the same on the first
hand. However, you must always play your cards first, and you
will always lose to the dealer when you bust. The dealer will also
lose on busts, but only if the players have not busted first. In other
words, the player will lose all of his busts and the dealer will lose
only by busting after the player. In effect, you, the player, will
lose all ties when both you and the dealer's hands exceed 21. The
calculated house advantage over this method of play is about 5.5%
against the player.
After you have played blackjack a short time, you will be
sure to notice the number of times that you bust and the dealer also
busts but beats you because you busted first. Ah ha, you think, the
way to beat the dealer is to quit drawing cards to hands where you
can bust. From this you evolve the "Stand on Any Hand Less Than
12" system. The table below shows the probabilities of busting
when hitting different hand totals. Even with a total of 12, you will
bust when drawing additional cards - almost one third of the time.

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

29

This approach to playing blackjack will grind you down in a

hurry. While you will never bust and will win every time that the
dealer busts, you will never win enough of the time to beat the
dealer. With this "no bust" approach, the casino edge against you
is about 17%, very tough odds to overcome.

PROBABILITY OF BUSTING WITH DRAW

Hand Total
21
20
19
18
17
16
15
14
13
12
11 and lower

Risk of Busting
100%
92%
85%
77%
69%
62%
58%
56%
39%
31%
0%

The preferred playing strategy is the so-called Basic

Strategy developed originally by the mathematicians Baldwin,
Cantey, Maisel and McDermott in the early 1960s. Their work
was improved on by Edward Thorp and Julian Braun. Braun used
an IBM computer to analyze the correct playing strategy for every
combination of cards which can be dealt a player and a dealer.

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

30

In doing this type of analysis, the computer is the only way to go.
Imagine playing millions and millions of hands of blackjack and
recording and analyzing the results of every hand. But this is
exactly what Braun did.
These studies confirmed something that old time gamblers
had known for a long time, even if they applied this knowledge
imperfectly. The correct play for each hand is determined by the
dealer's up-card.
The worst possible up-cards for the dealer are 5s and 6s.
With these two up-cards the dealer will break about 43% and 42%
of the time, respectively. A 4 is almost as bad, with the dealer
breaking on 4s about 40% of the time. The next worst up-cards for
the dealer are 2s and 3s. With a 2, the dealer bust rate is 35% and
with a 3, 38%. With this information, and information developed
on every combination of dealer up-cards and player combinations,
a Basic Strategy was developed.
As we have seen, the worst up-cards for a dealer are the 2,
3, 4, 5 and 6, which form the basis for most "stiff" or busting
hands. With the dealer showing these cards as up-cards we want to
bet as much money as possible and we will be more aggressive in
the strategies which allow us to increase our wagers after we have
already seen our first two cards, doubling down and splitting pairs.
The best up-cards for the dealer are 9s, 10s and Aces. The
cards 7 and 8 tend to be neutral, neither offering an advantage to
nor being detrimental to the dealer.

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

31

You might be wondering why we can categorize these cards

this way. The easiest way to understand this is to think of the
dealer's hole-card as a 10-valued card. Because of the high number
of ten-valued cards in a deck of cards, it is correct to think of the
dealer's hand having a total of 10 higher than the up-card. Thus, a
dealer with a 6 exposed, will tend towards a total of 16. With a 2,
3, 4 or 5 as an up-card, the dealers totals will tend towards 12, 13,
14 and 15. All of these hands are potential busting hands for the
dealer because under the standard hitting and standing rules to
which the dealer must adhere, he must hit these hands.
With a 9, 10 or Ace showing as an up-card, a dealer is more
likely to have a "pat" hand, a hand where no further draws are
needed. For purposes of understanding the correct playing
strategy, it is useful to think of these dealer hands totaling 19, 20
and 21. These hands are strong playing hands, and against these
hands, we must be willing to draw cards to our own potential
busting hands (hands with totals of 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16) because
of the high probability that the dealer will beat us anyway!
With dealer up-cards of 7 and 8 our strategy is neither
aggressive nor conservative. We probably do not want to increase
our wagers by doubling down or splitting pairs, but we may not be
as likely to draw to our stiffs. With these cards showing we are in
a fairly "neutral" position versus the dealer. The correct playing
strategy is a way to make the best possible decision on how to play
each hand given the information we have that is, our own cards and
the dealer's up-card.
So far, this outline of the ground rules sounds reasonable.
We will get more money on the table when the dealer has a

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

32

potential stiff hand (shows a 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6), be forced to draw to

our own stiffs when the dealer shows a 9, 10 or Ace, and be in a
neutral position when the dealer shows a 7 or 8.
Correct playing strategies do not turn every hand dealt into
a possible winner. When you receive hands totaling 14, 15 or 16,
the probability is much greater that you will lose rather than win
this hand. What the correct playing strategy does is allow you to
make the best playing decision no matter what combination of
cards are dealt you and the dealer.
Many of the correct playing strategies will reduce the
expected loss on a hand rather than turn the hand into a winner.
Suppose you are dealt an A,7 versus a dealer up-card of 10. Your
options with this hand are to stand with a hand totaling 18, or to hit
the hand, knowing that because of the ten bias in blackjack, a
dealer showing a 10 will have a hand that gravitates towards a total
of 20. The correct strategy is to hit this hand. With a hit, the
probability of winning this hand is 43%. However, if you stand on
this hand, your chance of winning is only 41%. In this case, the
correct play causes you to lose less!
Now suppose that you hold the same A,7 but the dealer
shows a 6 as his up-card. With your hand totaling 18 and the
dealer's tending towards 16, the probability of winning is on your
side. In fact, by standing with this hand your win rate is 63%. So
what's the decision to make? Why not just stand with the hand?
Because this is one of those situations where you can turn a money
making hand into an even bigger money maker by increasing your
wager and doubling down.

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

33

If you double down, your win rate will decrease slightly,

from 63% to about 59.5%. However, the amount of your winnings
will increase. If your original wager was $1.00, then we can
compute your net win rate by subtracting the dealer win rate from
your win rate (.63 - .37) and compute a net win rate of .26 for this
wager. This means that with a $1.00 wager, you can expect to win
$.26 with this hand by standing. If you double down, your net win
rate is only .19 (.595 - .405). However, you will apply this net win
rate to a larger wager of $2.00. We see that your net win is $.38
(.19 X $2.00) for an increase in winnings of $.12 ($.38 - $.26). In
this situation, the correct playing strategy has helped you win more
in a winning situation.
There are 550 combinations of dealer up-cards and player
hands, and a correct strategy has been devised for each different
combination.
However, another factor must be considered before
formulating a basic playing strategy. This is the influence that rule
variations in the game of blackjack and the number of decks used
have on the correct playing strategy.
The number of decks used in a game primarily affect the
rules used for doubling down. In a single deck game, you will
double down more aggressively because mathematically you are
more likely to receive a high card than you are in a multi-deck
game.
The rules of the game affect both the doubling down and the
pair splitting decisions. For example, in Northern Nevada, the
casinos generally limit doubling down to the two initial cards

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

34

totaling 10 or 11 only. The correct playing strategy calls for

doubling on additional hands such as the hand with an A-7 as we
saw above, but this will not be allowed in casinos which restrict
doubling to only 10s and 11s.
The Atlantic City and Nevada rules also differ in whether
doubling is allowed after splitting pairs. In Atlantic City, a pair
which is split may not be resplit if another like card is received;
however, a split pair may be doubled. In Nevada, the general rule
is that a pair many be split up to four times, but that a split pair may
not be doubled. Because of these and other rule variations, a
slightly different playing strategy must be used.
So, if you are interested in learning the correct playing
strategy, you must learn one strategy for single deck games and
another one for multi-deck games. In addition, you must learn a
slightly different strategy depending on the rules adopted by the
casino where you are playing. And, these variations must
encompass 550 possible combinations of player and dealer cards!
Does this sound a little complicated?
The Simplex Playing Strategy considers that a Basic
Strategy including all of the variations occurring because of rule
variations and deck size is just too complicated for most players to
learn. The Simplex approach is to use a conservative playing
strategy which works for single as well as multi decks and with any
set of rule variations you are likely to encounter. As you will see,
using this approach produces a playing strategy which is very
effective and is very easy to learn and use.

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

35

SIMPLEX PLAYING
STRATEGY
We believe that it is all too easy to make critical playing
errors when trying to learn a complex playing strategy. It is easy to
make a mistake confusing one strategy for another under the
pressure of actual play in casinos or in moving from one casino to
another where rules may vary. Using only one strategy is the
logical thing to do since the difference in performance is so
slight that you will not notice any difference in short-term play.
The Simplex Playing Strategy tends to be conservative.
Where other strategies may call for splitting pairs, Simplex may
call for a "hit." Where doubling may be recommended with a
different strategy, Simplex may suggest a hit or standing. The
rationale behind this approach is simple. Every time you split a
pair or double down, you are risking more money on that particular
wager. By reducing the amount risked, you can't get hurt too
badly. However, the Simplex Playing Strategy will not neglect
those profitable opportunities for splitting pairs or doubling down.
It will only reduce the number of times that these decisions are
recommended.
The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

36

The Simplex Playing Strategy is presented in a step form.

Each aspect of the playing strategy can be learned separately. We
will cover hitting and standing, doubling down, and splitting pairs,
in that order. Learning the rules for hitting and standing will take
precedence over doubling, and doubling will come before splitting.
Insurance and Surrender rules will be presented as separate topics.
The majority of the player decisions in blackjack involve
hitting and standing. The decision of whether to hit or stand occurs
in 68% of all blackjack decisions and contributes 53% of the
player's advantage derived from using correct play. The table
below shows the frequency of each type of blackjack decision and
the relative effect making that decision has on your overall playing
effectiveness.

Frequency and Advantages of the

Simplex Playing Strategy
%Frequency
of Decisions

%Player Advantage
with Correct Play

HIT OR
STAND

68%

53%

DOUBLING

19%

37%

13%
100%

10%
100%

PAIR
SPLITTING

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

37

By learning only the correct strategy for hitting and

standing, you will have learned how to play 68% of the blackjack
decisions and have achieved 53% of the effectiveness possible
using the Simplex Playing Strategy. After learning the rules for
hitting and standing, you will next want to learn the strategy for
doubling. By adding the knowledge of correct doubling to your
knowledge of hitting and standing, you will be able to handle 87%
of all blackjack playing decisions (68% + 19%), and you will
increase your playing effectiveness to the 90% level (53% + 37%).
By adding the strategy for pair splitting, you will have knowledge
necessary to play 100% effectively at blackjack. Playing at the
100% level does not mean that your play will always be perfect; it
means that you will have mastered the correct strategy for playing
any hand which can be dealt you.
Learning the correct rules for hitting and standing is
obviously the place to start. Not only are these rules easy to learn,
but over two-thirds of the correct playing decisions entail knowing
when to hit or stand.
Hitting and standing decisions can be divided into three
different groupings of player hands: hand valued 11 or less, hands
valued 17-21 and hands valued 12-16. We will look at each in turn
to see how it affects our playing strategy.
Before making these decisions, we must consider whether
our hand contains an Ace. If after receiving our first two cards, our
hand does not have an Ace, then it is a hard hand. Hands like
8,10, 3,7 or 8,8 are all hard hands. If our hand contains an Ace
valued as "11," then it is a soft hand. Examples include A,9 A,3

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

38

and A,A. There are different playing strategies for hard hands and
soft hands. The strategy for soft hands is more flexible because of
the versatility of the Ace, being counted as either 1 or 11.
With hands totaling 11 or less, we will always hit (unless a
doubling or splitting option is more profitable). By hitting these
hands, we have no risk of busting, and we can substantially
improve our total. We will always hit, double or split when our
hand is 11 or less.
When our hard hands total 17-21 we will always stand. The
risk of busting makes a draw too risky with these hands. While the
17 and, to some extent, an 18 are weak totals, the risk of exceeding
21 is too great to draw to these hands. We will always stand when
our hand is 17 or greater, regardless of the dealer up-card.
With hard hands totaling 12-16 we will have the majority of
our decision making. With these hands, we have a great risk of
busting. If the dealer hand appears to be weak enough, we may
stand with these hands, reasoning that the likelihood of the dealer
busting exceeds our probability of being beaten with these totals.
If the dealer hand is strong, we will be forced to hit these hands,
hoping that we might beat the dealer (while recognizing that our
risk of busting is high).
The table below shows the correct decisions for hitting and
standing for hard totals.

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

39

Hitting and Standing

Hard Hands
1. Stand on any hand with a 12 or higher versus
a dealer hand of 2-6.
2. Hit on any hand with a total of less than 17
versus a dealer 7-A.
3. Stand on any hand of 17 or higher, regardless
of the dealer up-card.
4. Hit any hand with a total of 11 or less.

These rules are simple and can be learned in just a few

minutes. Using this hitting and standing strategy for hard hands,
you will always hit any hand (or double or split if appropriate) with
a total less than 12 as there is no single card which can cause this
hand to bust. Hitting can only improve the hand.
If your hand totals 17-21, you will always stand as the risk
of busting is too great to draw a card to these hands.
So, for hard hands, if the total of your cards is 12 or less, or
17 or greater, you may ignore the dealer up-card for making hitting
and standing decisions.
If your total is from 12-16, you must look at the dealer upcard to make the correct decision. If the dealer has a high card

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

40

from 7-A, you will hit. If the dealer shows a low card from 2-6,
you will stand.
Some of you may have noticed, if you are familiar with the
typical basic playing strategy for blackjack, that this strategy is
slightly different when the dealer shows a 2 or 3 as his up-card.
Most playing strategies call for the player to hit any total less than
13, so that rather than standing on a 12 versus a dealer 2 or 3, you
will hit. This strategy will improve the effectiveness of the
Simplex Playing Strategy very slightly. If you want to add this
strategy to the hitting and standing rules for hard hands, by all
means do so. However, you will be called on to make this decision
in only 1.2% of all playing decisions, and the advantage to you of
making this play is so slight that it is really not worth learning for
short term play. Ignoring this rule variation will help you eliminate
some of the clutter associated with learning the correct playing
strategy. Its use is strictly optional. The effectiveness of the
Simplex Playing Strategy will not be adversely impacted by
ignoring this rule.
Soft hands, defined as those hands containing an Ace
counted as 11, have different rules for hitting and standing. With a
soft hand totaling 17 or less, you will always hit because no single
card can bust these hands. Some players question the validity of
hitting a soft 17. After all, most dealers will stand on a soft 17, and
the correct play for hard hands is to stand on a total of 17.
The reason that you will always draw to a soft 17 is that 17
is not a very good total for standing. The best you can hope for
with a 17 is to tie the dealer if he doesn't bust, or hope that he busts.
The reason we stand on a hard 17 is not that it is a good total, as it

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

41

is a weak hand, but rather that with hard hands the risk of busting
with a draw exceeds the risk of losing by standing with a 17. With
soft 17s there is no risk of busting, so it makes sense to always hit
the hand.
With a dealer up-card of 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8, you will always
stand on any soft total of 18 or greater. If your hand is A,7 versus a
dealer 8, you will stand. As we shall see later, if the dealer was
showing a 3-6 as his up-card, we would double down on this hand.
If the dealer shows a high card of 9, 10 or Ace, you must
draw until your soft hand has a total of 19 or greater. If the dealer's
up-card is a 10, and we have an A,7, we must draw. In this case
with an up-card of 10, the dealer's hand will gravitate towards a
total of 20 because of the ten bias in blackjack. If we draw to a 19,
we will still lose to the dealer's 20. Why not continue to draw until
we reach a total of 20 or higher? We don't try to draw beyond a
total of a soft 19 because the risk of losing to a higher dealer total
of 20 or 21 is less than the risk of drawing to a lower total than 19.
In other words, if we have a soft 19, we are not very likely to
improve this total, and we had better keep what we have, even if it
might lose to the dealer.
These rules of hitting and standing with soft hands are
shown below.

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

42

Hitting and Standing

Soft Hands
1. Always hit any soft hand with a total of 17 or
less.
2. Stand on any soft hand with a total of 18 or
more versus a dealer 2-8.
3. Stand on any soft hand with a total of 19 or
more versus a dealer 9-A.

Another way of stating rules 2 and 3 is to always hit any

soft hand until at least an 18 is reached versus any dealer hand, and
a 19 is made if the dealer has a high card of 9, 10 or Ace.
It is important to keep in mind that a soft hand can change
into a hard hand after drawing a card. For example, if you hit an
A,6 and receive a 10 valued card, you now have a hand valued as
17 (A,6,10), with the Ace counted as 1. Since this hand is now
hard, you will use the rules for hard hands in making any additional
hit or stand decisions. Since a hard 17 is considered a pat hand,
you will now stand.

When you master these simple hitting and standing rules

you will have achieved 53% of your playing efficiency possible
with the Simplex Playing Strategy. If you don't learn anything else
about blackjack, learn the hitting and standing rules. You will play
better than most blackjack players, and you will be able to play at

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

43

only a slight disadvantage to the casino. If you are planning to rush

off to the casino in the next day or so and don't have time to learn
anything else, just learn these rules and the Simplex Money
Strategies, and you will have a very good chance of at least
breaking even in the game.
Because lists of rules are not the easiest form in which to
learn new information, the hitting and standing rules are
summarized in a table form which you will find is easier to learn.
It is strongly recommended that you learn the hitting and
standing rules before attempting to learn any additional rules of
playing strategy. However, you should try to learn all of the hitting
and standing rules as a group, as well as the additional playing
strategies which follow. Learning studies have shown that we
learn new concepts faster when we link a series of rules together
rather than trying to memorize each subset of the rules. If you will
spend a few minutes studying these rules and maybe writing them
down a couple of times, you will reinforce your memory and be
well on the way to learning correct hitting and standing strategy.

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

44

Hitting and Standing Rules

DEALER
MINIMUM
UP-CARD
TO STAND
================Hard Hands=================
2,3,4,5,6
7-Ace

Hard 12
Hard 17

================Soft Hands==================
9,10,A
2-8

Soft 19
Soft 18

===========================================

Writing these rules down on a small card that you carry

with you is an easy way to learn them. Whenever you have some
slack time during the day, you can study the card. If you do this,
you will find that you will probably master these rules in less than
an hour of actual study time, broken into two and three minute
concentration periods.
Now that you have mastered the Simplex Strategy for
hitting and standing, the next item of information is learning the
correct doubling rules.
Doubling down is a valuable player option in which a player
may double his wager in favorable situations. The only
disadvantage to the player is that when he doubles down, he may
receive only one additional card. Doubling down is an effective

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

45

strategy for the player in two situations. A player will double when
the dealer's hand is so weak and the dealer is so likely to bust that
the player wants to take advantage of the dealer's weakness and get
more money on the table to double his winnings.
Taking advantage of the dealer's weak hand as evidenced by
an up-card of 2-6 is the reason we will want to double on certain
soft hands such as A,6. In these cases, by doubling against the
potentially weakest hands of the dealer, we are hoping that the
dealer will bust against our doubled wager.
A player will also want to double when his hand is so strong
versus the dealer's hand that he is likely to win by beating the
dealer's point total. The player's hard totals of 10 and 11, and to a
lesser extent 9, will be doubled against weaker dealer up-cards as
the prospect of beating the dealer's point total is high. Thus a
player total of 11 will be doubled against a dealer up-card of 7, for
example. With an 11, the player's hand will tend towards 21 while
the dealer with a 7 showing will gravitate towards a 17.
An important concept to remember in doubling down is the
high probability of drawing a ten-valued card. We will double
very aggressively when our totals are 10 or 11 as by drawing a tenvalued card our totals will be 20 and 21. With a 9, we will double
less aggressively as our prospect of drawing to a total of 19 does
not give us as strong a hand as a 20 or 21.
We will never double on any hand of 12 or more as the
probability of busting the hand is too great.

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

46

The ten factor affects our doubling against the dealer stiffs.
We will double against the dealer up-cards of 4, 5 and 6 very
aggressively as we know that the dealer has over a 40% chance of
busting with these up-cards. We will double somewhat less
aggressively against the dealer up-cards of 2 and 3 as even though
these are potential busting hands for the dealer, he is less likely to
bust with these up-cards than with a 4, 5 or 6.
Potential hands for doubling consist of hard hands and soft
hands. The only hard hands which will be doubled are two-card
hands totaling 9, 10 or 11.
The strongest doubling hand is a hard hand totaling 11.
This hand will be doubled against every dealer up-card except an
Ace.
The next most powerful hand for doubling is a 10. A hard
10 will tend towards a 20-valued hand, a very powerful hand. We
will double against any dealer up-card less than a 10, that is,
against dealer up-cards of 2-9.
The weakest hard hand for doubling is a 9-valued hand.
This hand we will double only against the dealer stiffs of 3 to 6. It
is a close call whether we should double a 9 versus a dealer 2, but
we will limit our doubling to dealer stiffs of 3-6.
The doubling rules for hard hands are shown on the below.

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

47

Doubling Down
Hard Hands
1.
2.
3.
4.

Double an 11 versus a dealer 2-10.

Double a 10 versus a dealer 2-9.
Double a 9 versus a dealer 3-6.
Never double any other hard hands.

In contrast to doubling with the hard totals of 9, 10 and 11,

where we expect to beat the dealer's total, with soft hands, such as
A,6, we will double with the expectation of the dealer busting by
drawing to a stiff. We will double certain soft hands only against
the dealer up-cards of 3-6.
We will never double hands of A,9 or A,8 as these hands
total 20 and 19, two respectable hands in their own right. Our
prospect of winning with these hands is greater than the odds of
increasing our winnings by doubling. So we will leave these hands
alone.
The most doubling possibilities occur with hands of A,6 and
A,7. Because of the high probability of drawing a ten, these hands
will tend towards totals of 17 and 18. We will double these hands
against any dealer up-card of 3, 4, 5 or 6.
With soft hands of A,4 and A,5, we will double only against
the dealer up-cards of 4, 5 and 6.

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

48

Our weakest soft hands for doubling are A,2 and A,3. We
will double these hands only against the weakest dealer cards of 5
and 6.
The rules for soft doubling are shown below.
Doubling Down
Soft Hands
1.
2.
3.
4.

Stand on hands of A,8 and A,9.

Double on A,6 and A,7 versus a dealer 3-6.
Double on A,4 and A,5 versus a dealer 4-6.
Double on A,2 and A,3 versus a dealer 5-6.

Here are some tricks to help you remember the hard and
soft doubling rules.
With a hard total of 10 or 11, you will double if the dealer
up-card is at least one less than your hand. If you have a 10, the
dealer card must not be greater than one less than 10, or 9 for you
to double. With an 11, you will double versus a dealer's 10 or less.
With a hard 9, you will double against a dealer's 3-6.
Remember that their sum is 9.
For doubling on soft hands, you will remember a pattern.
The lower your cards, the fewer dealer cards you will double
against. For the lowest totals of A,2 and A,3 you will only double
down on 5 and 6. With hands of A,4 and A,5 you will add a card
and double on 4, 5 and 6. With the highest totals of A,6 and A,7

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

49

you will add still one more card and double versus a 3, 4, 5 or 6.
You will never double on any hand 19 or higher. Remember
"nineteen, high enough."
These rules, summarized in the following chart, you will
find are fairly easy to learn.
Doubling Down Rules
DEALER UP-CARD
DOUBLE DOWN ON
===============================================
2-10
Hard 11
2-9
Hard 10
3-6
Hard 9
3-6
A7, A6
4-6
A5, A4
5-6
A3, A2
===============================================
Congratulations! When you have learned the information
presented so far you have almost learned enough of the Simplex
Playing Strategy to play even with the house. If you have learned
the correct hitting, standing and doubling rules, you have reached
90% of your playing efficiency. The last set of rules to complete
the playing strategy rules are the rules for splitting pairs.
For some reason, learning the rules for pair splitting is the
most difficult for players. You will encounter the opportunity to
split pairs on only 13% of your hands. Thus, one problem with
learning these rules is lack of practice. Another problem is that the
pair splitting rules don't seem to fall into patterns as easily as the

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

50

hitting, standing and doubling rules, and are therefore more

difficult to learn.
Splitting pairs is advantageous to the player for two reasons.
It offers the option of turning weak hands into stronger ones. It is
always advantageous to split an 8,8 as a total of 16 is the worst
possible hand for a player to have. So the 8,8 is always split as two
hands with starting totals of 8 each have the possibility of
becoming two hands of 18 each, which are more playable.
Another weak hand we will always split is an A,A. With
this hand, we have a total of 12, a potential busting hand.
However, with two hands of Aces, we have the possibility of
drawing to 21 on each hand.
Besides improving weak hands, a player will also split pairs
to exploit a dealer's weakness when he has a stiff up-card. A hand
of 6,6 will be split against dealer's up-cards of 3-6. A hard total of
12 is not a very favorable hand, and neither are two hands starting
with cards of 6 each. However, against the dealer's weakest upcards, it makes sense to split the 6s as the dealer's high probability
of busting makes this a winning move for the player.
Some pairs will never be split. We will never split hands of
10,10, 5,5 and 4,4 regardless of the dealer up-card. In each of these
situations, the card total is powerful enough that we have more to
lose by splitting than we are likely to gain. A 10,10 totals 20 which
is a high hand. A 5,5 totaling 10 is an excellent starting hand, and
we will want to double on it versus a dealer 2-9. A 4,4 may lead to
a total of 18, a respectable total, while split 4s are likely to end up
as two 14s, terrible hands for the player.

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

51

As mentioned earlier, we will always split 8,8 and A,A.

Casinos impose one more rule with split Aces. Each Ace may
have only one additional card drawn to it. Most casinos will not
allow Aces to be resplit if another Ace is drawn to a split pair.
We will split 9,9 versus a dealer 2-6 and a dealer 8-9. We
will not split a pair of 9s against a dealer 7, as the dealer hand will
tend towards 17 which we have beat with a 9,9 totaling 18. We
will split against the dealer stiffs of 2-6 for obvious reasons: In
these cases we want to get more money bet with the dealer
showing his weakest potential hands. We split against the dealer's
8 because the split 9s will have a tendency to become two hands
totaling 19 each, beating the probable dealer total of 18. With a
dealer showing a 9 we are probably beaten if we stand with a total
of 18. However, by splitting our pair of 9s, our possibility of
drawing to 19 on each hand is great enough that we will split the
hand hoping to at least tie the dealer.
If our hand is 7,7 we will split if the dealer shows a 2-7. We
split against the dealer stiffs of 2-6 because we want to take
advantage of the dealer busting. Versus a 7 we want to split to at
least tie the dealer. Standing on a 14 will most likely be a loser
against a dealer's hand gravitating towards a 17, and turning our
split 7s into two possible hands of 17 gives us a chance of tying the
dealer.
A hand of 6,6 will be split against a dealer's 3-6. With this
move, we are hoping to exploit the dealer's weakest up-cards.
The final hands we consider candidates for splitting are the
hands of 2,2 and 3,3. We will split these hands when the dealer's

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

52

up-card is 4-7. By splitting against the dealer cards of 4, 5, and 6,

we are again trying to take advantage of the dealer's weak position.
The split against the 7 may seen a little strange as, at first glance,
the dealer would seem to have us beat if he draws to a pat hand of
17. However, computer studies have shown that this is the correct
play as the likelihood of drawing to an 18 or better with a split 2 or
3 is greater than the possibility of winning if we don't split the
hands.
The rules for splitting pairs are shown below.
Splitting Pairs
1. Never split a 4,4, 5,5 or 10,10.
2. Always split an 8,8 and A,A.
3. Split 9,9 versus a dealer 2-6 and 8-9. Do not
split versus a dealer 7.
4. Split 7,7 versus a dealer 2-7.
5. Split 6,6 versus a dealer 3-6.
6. Split 3,3 and 2,2 versus a dealer 4-7.

The most important pair splitting rules to learn are

rules 1 and 2. If you only learn never to split a 4,4, 5,5 or 10,10
and to always split A,A and 8,8, your play will be just fine. The
other splitting opportunities occur fairly infrequently and do
not offer the player as much advantage as the doubling rules.
Pair splitting rules can be remembered in groups. You will
split 2s and 3s versus 4-7. Think of counting, 2 3 4, then 7, split 2
and 3 versus 4 to 7. For splitting 9s, think of a pair of 9s splits fine

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

53

against 2 to 9, except 7. To remember how to split 6s think of 6 x

6 = 36, split 6s against a 3-6. For pairs of 7s, remember pair of 7s,
2 to 7. Some these associations may seen a little silly, but word
associations do work. I still remember learning the colors of the
spectrum in the seventh grade. My teacher taught us to think of
Roy G. Biv, which triggers the colors of red, orange, yellow, green,
blue, indigo and violet even as I write this. Try my associations or
make up your own, and you'll be able to master the pair splitting
rules in a very short time period.
The table following summarizes the pair splitting rules in
tabular form. As you have done with the hitting and standing rules
and the doubling rules, you should make a small card which you
can carry in your pocket with these rules on them and practice
studying them at odd times of the day.
At this point we have covered nearly all of the Simplex
Playing Strategy. To wrap it up we need to consider two other
playing options, Insurance and Surrender.

Pair Splitting Rules

===============================================
DEALER UP-CARD
SPLIT PAIR
All
AA 88
2-9 except 7
99
2-7
77
3-6
66
4-7
22 33
===============================================

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

54

Insurance is offered in virtually every blackjack game as

taking insurance favors the casino by 8%. In other words, every
time you take insurance, you are at a disadvantage to the house of
about 8%. The solution? Never take insurance. The only valid
reason for ever taking insurance is when the deck is rich in 10s, and
the dealer possibly has a 10 as his hole-card, while showing an Ace
as the up-card. Then, you will take insurance against the dealer's
blackjack. Since we are not counting cards, there is no reason to
ever take insurance, and we will consider it a "sucker bet."
Surrender is very seldom offered. Unlike insurance which
favors the casino, the option of surrendering favors the player, so
you can see why it is not as popular with the casinos.
Surrender, when offered, gives the player the chance to
surrender one-half of his wager after he has been dealt his first two
cards, and the dealer has checked his cards to ascertain that he does
not have a blackjack. If the dealer has a blackjack, the player will
not have the option of surrendering. In the early days of Atlantic
City play, the casinos offered the option of early surrender, where
a player could surrender even if the dealer showed a ten-valued
card or an Ace as his up-card and had a possible blackjack, so long
as the player surrendered before the dealer checked for a blackjack.
Early surrender is hardly ever encountered because it is too
favorable an option for the player. Conventional surrender, which
allows for surrender only when the dealer does not have a
blackjack, is also rare. It occasionally crops up so that you should
at least be familiar with how to use this option to your advantage.

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

55

The Simplex rule for surrender is simple. Surrender any

hand totaling 16 versus a dealer up-card of 9, 10 or Ace. If the 16
consists of an 8,8, you will split it rather than surrender. Hands of
9,7 or 10,6 will be surrendered versus a dealer 9, 10 or Ace. If
your hand is a soft hand (A,5) you will not surrender it.
Rule for Surrender
If the dealer shows an up-card of 9, 10 or A,
surrender if you have a 16 except for soft hands
or a pair (8,8).
You should be able to add the insurance and surrender rules
to your repertoire without too much difficulty. At this point, you
still may be a little confused as some of the rules for hitting and
standing, doubling and pair splitting require making decisions
where one hand could offer several options. For example, if you
are dealt a 5,5, you will have to consider the options of hitting the
hand (always hit hands totaling 11 or less), splitting the pair (after
all, 5,5 is a pair) or doubling down (double down on a hand totaling
10 versus a dealer hand of 2-9). The correct option is to double
down if the dealer shows an up-card less than 10, or to hit if he
shows a 10 or Ace, but you may be questioning how to apply all of
these rules in a quick, yet correct manner.
The best way to make these decisions is to think of them in
a logical order. The chart which follows shows how this decision
making flows with each blackjack hand.

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

56

BLACKJACK DECISION MAKING

Compare your hand with the dealer's up-card.
Is Surrender indicated?
Do you have a pair? Should it be split?
Should this hand be doubled?
Do you hit or stand with this hand?

Your first consideration with any hand is to compare your

hand with the dealer's up-card. If surrender is available, and you
have a hard 16, but not an 8,8, and the dealer shows a high card of
9, 10 or Ace, then you will surrender.
You will next check to see if you have a pair. Pairs
consisting of Aces, 9s, 8s, 7s, 6s, 3s and 2s require that you
consider the pair splitting options. With pairs of Aces and 8s you
will always split, with pairs of 4s, 5s and 10s you will never split,
and with pairs of 9s, 8s, 7s, 6s, 3s and 2s, you will consider the
dealer up-card to make the correct decision.
If you do not have a pair, or if you have a pair of 5s, you
will consider the doubling down option. With hard hands of 9, 10
or 11, you must consider doubling down against a variety of dealer
up-cards and these card totals will offer most of the doubling
opportunities. If your hand contains an Ace, this should trigger
your thinking of a possible doubling down situation.

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

57

If surrender is not an option, your hand does not consist of a

pair and no doubling option are available, then you will use the
hitting and standing rules. You might notice that the order of
making decisions is in the exact reverse of the order in which these
rules were presented.
With split pairs, you will play each hand as if it is an
original hand, except that the Nevada casinos typically restrict your
ability to double on split pairs, and Atlantic City rules restrict
resplitting split pairs.
The easiest way to learn all of these skills to correctly use
the Simplex Playing Strategy is to learn them one step at a time.
First, you will write down on a small card that you can carry with
you each set of playing strategies, as we have suggested earlier.
You will have three cards covering: hitting and standing, doubling,
and pair splitting. You should only tackle one set of rules at a time
and not move on to the next set until you have learned the previous
one. For the reasons we have discussed, you should learn them in
the order presented in this book. After studying these cards, you
are ready to move on to practicing with cards.
When I practice the Simplex Playing Strategy, I usually use
four decks of cards, thoroughly shuffled. The use of four decks,
rather than a single deck more closely replicates the actual playing
conditions in casinos and reduces the amount of time that you have
to spend shuffling.
The first drill you should try is to place one card face-up in
front of you. This will be the dealer's up-card. Now flip over two
cards at a time, representing the player's cards. Make the correct

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

58

play each time you deal a new player hand, but do not play the
dealer hand. Continue this drill until you feel proficient against
this particular up-card, then change up-cards and continue the drill.
It is not necessary to go through the entire four decks for each upcard, just deal enough hands per up-card until you feel comfortable
with the decisions for that up-card.
After you have practiced against one dealer up-card at a
time, you will move on to dealing three cards at a time, with one
up-card and two player cards. Practice this drill until you can make
every decision called on without hesitation.
When you are practicing these drills you may peek at the
correct decision if you aren't sure. Each time you have to check for
the correct decision, repeat the rule for the play mentally.
The next step after practicing without playing out the
dealer's hand is to simulate a real game. Here you may want to
invite your spouse or a friend to join you. Your job now is to make
the correct play for each hand dealt. If you want to use playing
chips, go ahead. It makes practice more interesting.
After you have reached the point of making the correct
playing decisions without referring to your crib sheets, you will
want to play more than one hand at a time. Try playing two hands
and then three hands at once. When you are able to play three hand
simultaneously without making any errors, you are ready to use the
playing strategy in a casino.
With the Simplex Playing Strategy mastered, you will play
very close to even with the casino. In a single deck game with

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

59

surrender offered, you will have a slight advantage over the casino.
In the more common multiple deck game without surrender
offered, you will play at about a one-half of one percent
disadvantage to the casino. This is better than the best wagers in
craps or baccarat and for all practical purposes an "even up" game
for short term play.
The following chart summarizes the Simplex Playing
Strategy. You may want to make a copy of this page and carry it
with you when you play blackjack. If you do, make sure that you
keep it out of sight when you play and just refer to it when you are
not at the table.

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

60

SUMMARY OF SIMPLEX PLAYING STRATEGY

===============================================
Hitting and Standing Rules
DEALER
MINIMUM
UP-CARD
TO STAND
====================Hard Hands=================
2-6
Hard 12
7-A
Hard 17
====================Soft Hands==================
9-A
Soft 19
2-8
Soft 18
===============================================
Doubling Down Rules
DEALER
DOUBLE
UP-CARD
DOWN ON
2-10
Hard 11
2-9
Hard 10
3-6
Hard 9
3-6
A7 A6
4-6
A5 A4
5-6
A3 A2
=================================================
Pair Splitting Rules
DEALER
SPLIT
UP-CARD
PAIR ON
All
AA 88
2-9 except 7
99
2-7
77
3-6
66
4-7
22 33
===============================================
Surrender
DEALER UP-CARD
SURRENDER
9-A
16 except split 8 8
===============================================
Insurance
NEVER
===============================================

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

61

BETTING STRATEGIES
While the Simplex Playing Strategy shows you how to play
each hand, a betting strategy tells you how much should wager on
the hand. Developing a winning betting strategy is the key to
turning a successful playing strategy into a winning strategy.
A betting strategy is a method of determining how much
should be wagered for each blackjack play. There are as many
betting strategies around as there are different types of people
playing blackjack.
Many people base their wagers strictly on their particular
mode or inclination. If they feel lucky, they wager more. Or, they
may increase the size of their wagers in order to recoup losses.
The most popular betting strategy is the hunch method. Its
popularity is based on its ease of use. If you think it is time to
increase your wager, you do so. If it feels right to reduce your
wager, then that is your strategy. With the Simplex Playing
Strategy you can use the hunch betting method and not get hurt too
badly. Using the playing strategy correctly, you should come close
to breaking even in your play. Therefore, unless you are unlucky

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

62

enough to only lose your largest wagers, you will play about even
with the casino.
If you like to play blackjack, enjoy the ambience of casinos,
and would like a strategy to play for long periods of time with little
risk to your bankroll, you should plan to use the Simplex Playing
Strategy and to make flat bets. "Flat betting" means betting the
same amount each hand, regardless of whether you are winning or
losing. If this strategy interests you, you may skip the rest of this
chapter and read Money Strategies. Using a flat betting method
and good money strategies, you will be able to play blackjack
without much fear of losses, and you may be able to come out a
winner. If you plan on playing on a Mississippi showboat, in
Deadwood, South Dakota or in one of the Colorado gambling
towns, all of which limit wagers to a maximum of $5.00, then you
should use this approach.
If you are "out for blood" and playing even or winning
small amounts does not whet your appetite, then you must learn a
different betting strategy.
Blackjack is different from craps and roulette because cards
are used in the game. Baccarat and blackjack share the same
characteristics in that the odds favoring the house or the player
change throughout the game because of the changing composition
of the remaining cards.
Many betting strategies try to determine the bet size based
on the changing composition of the cards. Card counting, and
playing into favorable card clumps are two strategies using this
approach.

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

63

Other techniques utilize gaining an edge over the casino

because of the mechanics of the game. Shuffle-Tracking and holecard play fall into this category.
Betting progressions ignore changes in the composition of
cards and provide for betting strategies based on the player's wins
and losses.
The Simplex Betting Strategy is unique in that it uses a
statistical variation in the distribution of wins and losses to develop
a winning strategy. It has characteristics of the progression
strategies and the strategies using information derived from the
composition of cards.
Since there is a long history of card counting, and it is
recognized as a valid betting strategy, I will give you some
information about card counting. Once you are familiar with the
concept, you will understand the problems with using this
technique.
In a deck of cards there are high cards, low cards and
neutral cards. A point value is assigned to each group of cards, and
a card counter keeps a running total in his head as the cards are
dealt out, based on the "count value" assigned each card.
In the most popular count system, the High-Low PointCount System, low cards are 2 to 6, neutral cards are 7 to 9, and
high cards are 10s, picture cards and Aces.
Cards of 2-6 are assigned a value of +1, 7s, 8s and 9s are
assigned no value, and 10s and Aces are assigned a value of -1.

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

64

Starting with zero, you will add +1 for each low card you
see, subtract -1 for each high card that is dealt, and ignore the
neutral cards.
When the count is positive, there are more high cards left in
the shoe to be dealt. If the count is negative, there are more low
cards remaining to be dealt.
A shoe with more high cards favors the player (as a player
is more likely to receive a blackjack, for example), and a shoe with
more low cards favors the dealer (as the dealer will break less often
and win more stiff hands). The count gives the player a
mathematical representation of his chances of winning or losing the
next hand. If the count is high, his chances of winning are better,
and he will raise his wager. If the deck is neutral, he will wager a
neutral amount. If the count is low, he will wager a lower amount.
Essentially, the player will wager more when he has an advantage
and risk less when the advantage is the casino's.
There have been more research projects on this approach to
playing blackjack than any other. Much of this research has been
done by college professors who seldom if ever have seen the inside
of a casino. Arguments went on for years as to the merits of the
various point-count systems and values to be assigned to each
card. Points and counterpoints were made as to which cards should
be included in the count. Some factions maintained that Aces
could be ignored since an Ace will benefit the dealer as much as
the player. Others proffered that Aces were so special that a
separate side count should be kept of Aces.

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

65

Increasingly complex count systems were devised. For

example, the High-Low system is a level one system as the only
values assigned are -1, 0 and +1. A level two system would assign
a 2 value to certain cards, and so on, all the way up to level four
systems assigning values from zero to four for different cards.
What each of these factions ignored was the complexity of putting
their system to use in real world play and the biases introduced to
their systems because of the methods used to develop them.
The battle of the point systems was really a battle of one set
of computer generated results against another. The only practical
way of testing and measuring the efficiency of card counting
systems is on a computer, and these researchers ignored an
important item in the development of these different strategies. All
computer simulations are based on totally random shuffles,
while randomly shuffled decks are seldom encountered in
casino play.
The effect of this oversight is significant. Because dealers
do not shuffle the cards enough times to even approximate a
random shuffle, many times card counting is providing misleading
information which may devastate your bankroll!
Let's assume that you are using a card count and tracking
the cards as they are dealt. Your count becomes positive, and you
raise your bet. Unfortunately, you lose the hand. More and more
low valued cards are dealt, and you continue to raise your bets as
the count is going higher (indicating that the proportion of 10valued cards and Aces is increasing). You are losing hand after
hand, wagering larger and larger amounts. Finally, you make your
last wager as this is all that remains of your bankroll. You draw a

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

66

10,8 and stand against a dealer's 6 showing. You are thinking that
finally the cards will turn your way. The dealer turns over a 10, for
a hand of 16. You've got him beat you reason, for he must break
with all of the high cards remaining undealt. The dealer draws a 4
for a total of 20. You leave the table on somewhat wobbly legs and
wonder how the dealer could win with the count sky high in your
favor and so much money wagered on those last losing hands.
This scenario points out two of the biggest detriments to
card counting. First, it doesn't always work, because the cards
have clumped into high and low valued clumps of cards. By
playing in a low valued clump, you have increased your wagers
hand after hand expecting the higher valued cards to show, and
they never did.
A second problem of card counting is also illustrated. You
must have a very large bankroll if you plan on winning using a card
counting approach.
Card counting, at its best, is very much a long-term
proposition. By this I mean that in theory, at least, card counting
will win if enough hands are played for a long enough period of
time. Here, we are talking long-term in the statistical sense. If you
played blackjack for a week, without interruption, a month,
nonstop, or even for six months straight, you would not have
reached the long-term.
With these considerations, card counting falls into the
category of a "grind" approach and is not very useful for short-term
blackjack playing. In order to be successful as a card counter, you
must have tremendous patience in addition to a sizable bankroll.

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

67

The actual number of persons who make a living with card

counting in 1992 is indeed small. I suspect that there are no more
than a couple of hundred card counters who have managed to
support themselves longer than a year with card counting.
I recently read an article by a blackjack expert who sells his
card counting system for a mere $100 and claims that it is possible
to make $500 a day with it. He admits that he hardly ever plays
blackjack, and when he does, he is strictly a $5 bettor. However,
he will defend his approach to the game against all comers because
his computer "proves" that his system works.
I will concede that when only single decks are used, and the
dealer deals almost to the end of the deck before shuffling, card
counting can be extremely effective. However, these conditions
just do not exist in blackjack any more, or are so rare, that when
employed by a casino, other countermeasures are used, such as
shuffling every time a player increases his wager. When a dealer
shuffles every time the player increases his wager, the benefit of
card counting is totally negated.
As a practical way of winning, card counting is limited in its
effectiveness because of the way blackjack is played in the 1990s,
is difficult to learn, almost impossible to execute with the degree of
accuracy needed to operate effectively, and requires an impossibly
high bankroll to have a chance of working.
A variation of card counting, which is probably the most
difficult blackjack strategy ever conceived is called shuffletracking. With shuffle-tracking you must keep a card count and

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

68

attempt to track clumps of cards which have either a large number

of ten-valued cards (which are valuable to the player) or clumps
with a large number of low-valued cards (which help the dealer).
The idea with shuffle-tracking is to keep a count of cards as
they are dealt. At the end of each deck dealt from a multiple deck,
you will use a chip to mark the count (paper and pencil is strictly
verboten at a blackjack table). By positioning your chips in certain
ways you can "record" the count at the approximate end of each
deck. For example, if you have been counting cards and you
estimate that about one deck has been dealt, and your count is a +8,
meaning that 8 more low cards had been dealt than high cards, you
would move a chip to a position signifying a low count for this
deck. You would continue to record the counts for each deck as it
is dealt.
Now for the next part of your plan to work, the dealer must
cooperate. For example, in a six deck game, the dealer may divide
the cards into six stacks of approximately one deck each. If the
dealer picks off a deck which you have "recorded," then you know
the relative contents of this deck. Assume that the dealer picks up
a deck containing 12 extra high-valued cards. If you are able to
track this deck into the next round of play, you know that when
cards are being dealt from this deck a very favorable situation
exists for the player. You will increase the size of your wagers
when this deck is being dealt.
Likewise, if you track a deck with low-valued cards into the
next round of play, you know that this deck is unfavorable for the
player.

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

69

To use shuffle-tracking as a winning strategy, you will

increase the size of your wagers when a deck of high-valued cards
is being dealt and wager minimum amounts when a deck of lowvalued cards is dealt.
Ideally to use shuffle-tracking, you want to control the
placement of the cut card, when the dealer offers the players the
option of cutting the newly shuffled stack of cards. This can be
accomplished by playing in face-to-face games with the dealer or
by having several accomplices play at the same table, so that the
designated "counter" can signal where the cut card should be
placed. Of course, it is not always possible to control the cut of the
stack of cards.
Another problem arises in that not all dealers shuffle in such
a way that clumps of decks can be tracked. Some dealers pick up
larger or smaller amounts in shuffling than the one deck stacks
with recorded counts. The ideal shuffle is for a dealer to break a
six deck stack (assuming six decks are used) into two three deck
piles and shuffle them one time picking up about one-half deck in
each hand when shuffling. If the stack is shuffled more than one
time, then tracking becomes extremely difficult.
While shuffle-tracking is a viable winning strategy, so long
as conditions exist allowing for tracking of decks after a shuffle, it
does not fit the criteria of a simple, effective and easy to learn
strategy, and it is not recommended.
Playing into favorable clumps of cards is a more viable
strategy for using groups of high or low valued cards to your
advantage. The Silverthorne Blackjack Strategy, published by

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

70

Silverthorne Publications, uses this approach to winning. With this

strategy a mechanical method is used to increase wagers during
player favorable clumps of cards and to reduce wagers, or to
change tables in the face of card clumps favoring the dealer.
Because it is mechanical, no card counting is required, and it is a
very effective winning strategy.
Betting progressions are another type of betting strategy.
Here the composition of the cards is ignored, and a predetermined
series of bets are made, regardless of the way that the cards are
running.
Many betting progressions call for the player to increase his
wager after losing bets. I have found that these types of
progressions are dangerous in blackjack because long losing
streaks occur all too frequently. You are cautioned to be wary of
any blackjack betting strategy which calls for you to increase your
wagers after losing bets. Examples of this type of strategy are the
Martingale types of progressions, where the player will "double
up" after a losing wager with the expectation that when he
eventually wins a hand, the win will pay for all of the previous
losses. Because of the rules of blackjack, losing streaks are longer
than winning streaks, and any type of progression calling for
increased wagers following losses will wipe out your bankroll in
short order.
The only "safe way" to use progressions in blackjack is to
increase your wagers during a winning streak, but not too steeply.
There is nothing sadder than to win three hands in a row, but lose
the forth one and have nothing to show for your trouble. If you try

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

71

to double your wager after each win, this is exactly where you may
end up.
Hole-card play has received a tremendous amount of
attention in the 1980s, and I would be remiss if I didn't at least
discuss this technique.
Hole-card play is simply a technique for finding out the
dealer's hole-card or hidden card and then adjusting your strategy
according. This can be done in several ways, the easiest of which
is to find a dealer who inadvertently exposes the hole-card.
You will recall that the only time the dealer looks at the
hole-card is when the exposed card is a ten-valued card or an Ace.
The purpose of peeking at the hole-card is to determine if the
dealer has a blackjack.
Some dealers will expose the hole-card to a player,
especially one sitting directly to the dealer's left in the first base
position at the table. This can happen if the dealer lifts the card a
little too high so that the player can see it.
If this situation occurs, by all means take advantage of it.
Let's say for example that you are sitting with a stiff total of 14,15
or 16 and the dealer shows a 10 as the up-card (exposed card).
Normally, the Simplex Playing Strategy will call for you to hit the
stiff, even though the probability of busting is high. But, what if
you saw the dealer's hole-card, and the dealer had a stiff? With a
hole-card of 2 to 6, the dealer's hand would total 12 to 16, and you
could decide to stand and wait for the dealer to draw with a strong
possibility of breaking. If the dealer was clumsy or careless

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

72

enough to do this every time he or she peeked at a hole-card, you

would gain a significant advantage over the house, probably in the
range of 4-5%.
Unfortunately, this type of dealer is a rare exception. Many
casinos have changed the rules to the European style of play,
forbidding the dealer to check the hole-card until all player hands
have been played. This virtually eliminates the possibility of a
player seeing a hole-card.
Another technique for reading hole-cards is to watch for
"dealer tells."
Some dealers will subconsciously signal the hole-card
through body mannerisms called tells. For example, let's say that
you have been playing at a table for some time and have developed
a certain amount of rapport with the dealer. In our modern
mercenary age, this means that you have been tipping the dealer
regularly as well as engaging in pleasurable conversation. The
dealer may reach a point where he wants you to win. This is a very
natural human reaction. If the dealer likes you and recognizes that
when you win they win (in the form of tips), then the dealer will be
rooting for you.
The dealer may start sending you body signals after he or
she checks the hole-card. If the dealer has a pat hand, and you
have a stiff, the dealer may lean a little closer to you indicating that
you should hit. If the dealer has a stiff and is likely to bust, the
dealer may lean slightly away from you telling you "no more
cards."

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

73

A common tell is when the dealer peeks twice at the holecard. Why? Because the 4 looks a lot like an Ace when it is only
partially exposed under another card, and the second peek is
required so that the dealer can ascertain that it really is a 4 under
there and not an Ace. If the dealer peeks twice at hole-cards, you
should play the dealer's hand as a stiff hand and stand on your own
stiff hand. If you have a soft hand or a hand totaling 9, 10 or 11,
you will double down.
Another legal method for hole-card play is called "reading
the warps." This method is described in Stanford Wong's Winning
Without Counting.
The idea of reading warps is that 10-valued cards and Aces
tend to bend a little in the middle when the dealer lifts them to
check the hole-card. After a number of hands the cards will
develop a visible warp, and you are supposed to be able to observe
this.
As a practical strategy, the value of warps in nonexistent. It
doesn't work in hand held games because the cards are changed
frequently enough that readable warps never develop. It isn't
usable in multi-deck games (where the cards are dealt face up) as it
is just not possible to read any warps with any accuracy. In short,
it is a worthless strategy.
In addition to these legal ways of trying to read the dealer's
hole-card, there are a number of illegal ways. Front loading is a
quasi-legal way of hole-card reading. To front load, the player will
slide down in his chair until his eyes are level with the table and

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

74

attempt to see the hole-card when the dealer slides it under the upcard.
Spooking is definitely illegal and is definitely not
recommended. A "spook" acting in consort with a player will
stand behind the blackjack table across the pit and attempt to
glimpse the hole-card. The spook will signal the player the value
of the hole-card.
The ultimate method of hole-card cheating is for the player
to form a partnership with the dealer. The dealer will signal the
player the value of the hole-card in exchange for a share of the
profits. My advice is never to get involved in any schemes
involving collusion with the dealer. Serving prison time is too
great a risk to become entangled in these kinds of schemes.
We have reviewed card counting, shuffle-tracking, holecard play, playing into favorable clumps of cards, and betting
progressions. Card counting is difficult to learn and use and is
unreliable. Shuffle-tracking is impractical except in rare instances
when the dealer cooperates by shuffling "correctly," and hole-card
play is pretty much a hit and miss proposition. Betting
progressions, if followed blindly, and especially those calling for
increasing wagers after loses, can be disastrous for your bankroll.
Playing into favorable clumps of cards can work very well
especially when a good system is devised to take advantage of
player favorable clumps and to avoid dealer biased clumps.
When I was researching playing strategies, I employed a
computer to test variations of playing strategies. The Simplex
Playing Strategy is a product of this research, as well as my

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

75

experience using it in casinos. As happens so many times with

projects of this nature, I ended up in a different place than I had
originally intended. In researching playing strategies, using
literally millions of computer simulated hands of blackjack, I
discovered some interesting patterns and variations in patterns in
the distribution of wins and losses in blackjack.
You first should realize that because of the nature of
blackjack, the house is going to win more individual hands than the
player, even if the player is playing perfect Simplex Playing
Strategy. For every 100 hands of blackjack played, you should
expect to win about 47.5 hands, with the casino winning about 52.5
hands. With correct pair splitting and doubling, the actual
difference in money will be close to even because you will wager
more when it is advantageous to you, and the wins will be for
higher amounts.
Blackjack is a streaky game, and long strings of losses can
be expected to occur more frequently than long strings of wins. In
simulating millions of hands of blackjack, I uncovered a situation
that is unique in the blackjack game. While the above statistics of
about 47.5 hands won per 100 will not change, I found that you are
statistically more likely to win the wager following a winning bet
than the expected average of 47.5 wins.
The table below shows the average number of wins and
losses of wagers made following a single winning wager.

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

76

Wagers Following a Single Winning Wager

Second Bets Lost
Second Bets Won

51.5%
48.5%
100.0%

You will notice that the win rate of 48.5% is higher than the
average expected number of hands won of 47.5%. This should tell
you something. If we are just about breaking even by winning 47.5
hands per hundred played, then the higher win rates of wagers
following a win should produce positive results.
The percentage of 48.5% hands won needs to be adjusted
for the effects of hands which pay off at higher amounts, such as
blackjacks and doubled hands. If we make this adjustment, we
show the following amounts of dollars won per hand.
Dollars Won on Wager Following a Win
$ Lost on Second Wager
$ Won on Second Wager

.4904
.5096
1.0000

If we round these numbers, we have losses on the second

wager following a win of about 49%, and wins on the wager of
about 51%. This can be a significant advantage to the player
knowing how to take advantage of it. With flat betting, this
knowledge is of no advantage to us. The dollars won per hundred
bets will be the same as the win rate of 47.5, adjusted for the player
advantages of blackjack paying 1.5 to 1, doubling and pair

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

77

splitting, for an adjusted win rate of close to .50. With this win
rate, we can expect to break even playing blackjack.
What if instead of flat betting, we increased our wagers at
the time that it is advantageous and reduced our wagers during less
favorable situations? This is exactly analogous to what a card
counter does, except now we have a bit of knowledge that the card
counter does not have. We know that our probability of winning a
wager following a single wager win is greater than our overall
average of winning. We will want to increase the size of our
wager for the bet following a single win. This is the essence of
the Simplex Betting Strategy. Using this strategy correctly, and I
will show you exactly how to do this, and using the Simplex
Playing Strategy, will produce a winning system that is easy to use
and need take a back seat to no other blackjack system!

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

78

SIMPLEX BETTING
STRATEGY
The essence of the Simplex Betting Strategy is: take
advantage of the player favorable wager available on the bet
following a winning wager.
Since the player is favored to win on the second wager after
a win, it would seem to make sense to make as large a wager as
possible on this wager. Or does it?
While the player has an advantage on this wager, which I
call the "Bump" since the amount wagered will be bumped up for
this bet, it does not make sense to wager the farm on this bet. Even
though the player has a higher chance of winning rather than losing
the bet, the advantage is only a slight one, and a string of losses
where the Bump wager has been increased by too large an amount
can wipe out the player's bankroll.
Even though, theoretically, we want to get as much money bet
on the Bump bet as possible, reality dictates that we moderate this
strategy and wager an amount that is large enough to help us
significantly because of the advantage of the wager, but not so

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

79

large that our bankroll requirement becomes inordinately large. In

other words, we will have to stay within reasonable limits when
bumping up our wagers.
Another question arises in putting this knowledge to
practical and most advantageous use. And that is the question of
how to take advantage of winning streaks. We know that winning
streaks are less common than losing streaks in blackjack; however,
we want to take advantage of one when it happens.
Our problem then is to find the optimum amount to wager
for the Bump bet and to decide on how much, if any, we should
increase our wagers when we encounter a winning streak.
And, we must accomplish these objectives within the
confines of minimum and maximum wagers permitted by casinos
at their blackjack tables, and within the limits of realistic bankroll
amounts to be used for applying the strategy.
When this strategy was being developed, these questions
were tested by using computer simulated blackjack hands. With
the computer, we can decide on a particular betting strategy and
program the computer to play thousands (or millions) of hands
using this strategy. Then we can review the results.
This was the approach used to develop the Simplex Betting
Strategy. After going through numerous computer tests and retests,
an optimum strategy was developed. It was then tested in real
blackjack games in casinos.

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

80

In general, testing of betting strategies incorporating the

concepts of raising the amount wagered for the bet following a
single win (the Bump wager) and pursuing winning streaks of two
or more consecutive wins showed that the optimal amounts for the
bump wagers were in the range of 10 to 25 times the basic wager.
Testing showed that attempting to take advantage of a
winning streak should be confined to a maximum of eight
consecutive wins, and that the amount wagered for the third and
fourth consecutive wagers should be significantly less than the
amount wagered on the Bump wager, but could be larger than the
basic wager. If we are fortunate enough to win four wagers in a
row, then we may start increasing our fifth and sixth wagers;
however, the seventh and final eight wager in a string of wins
should be reduced.
After millions of simulations and extensive testing in
casinos, the optimal betting series was determined to be one in
which wagers are made in the following proportions, with the first
wager being the basic wager and the second wager being the
amount bet for the wager following a single win: 2 40 4 8 16 32 16
16.
To use this betting series, we would find a blackjack table
with a $2 minimum wager. Our basic wager at this table is $2. We
will wager $2 so long as our wagers are losing ones and continue at
this base level until we have a winning wager. Our next wager,
following the winning wager will be the Bump wager, and we will
increase our bet to $40. If this wager loses, we will revert to our
basic wager of $2. However, if the Bump wager wins, then our
next wager will be for $4. If this wager loses, we will drop back to

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

81

making basic wagers of $2 and wait for the next winning wager to
bump up our wager again. If the third wager of $4 wins, we
recognize that we are in a winning streak and our next wager will
be for $8. We will continue to wager in this manner.
This is a very easy series to follow. So long as we are
winning, we will move up to the next wager in the series. As soon
as we lose, the series is over, and we will revert back to the basic
wager.
The table below shows six different betting series which
may be used, ranging from basic wagers of $2 to as high as $25.

SIMPLEX BETTING SERIES

#

TOTAL

40

16

32

16

16

134

100

10

20

40

80

40

40

335

10

200

20

40

80

160

80

80

670

15

300

30

60

120

240

120

120

1005

20

400

40

80

160

320

160

160

1340

25

500

50

100

200

400

200

200

1675

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

82

The top row in this table shows the wager number which
corresponds to a particular wager. The column on the left shows
the betting series, with "B" representing the Basic series using $2
as its base bet. The final column shows the total amount wagered
in each betting series.
This table helps a player tailor his playing style to the
casino's minimum bet requirement at the blackjack tables and the
player's bankroll. Obviously, the Basic Betting Series can not be
used at tables with $5 minimum wagers. These series are designed
such that a successful winning player can move up to a higher
series as his bankroll increases. In a few pages, we will show you
just how to do this.
The Simplex Betting Strategy performs very well. The
Table Win-Loss Amounts with Simplex Betting shows the
results of testing this strategy. The amounts shown in the table are
based on sessions of 500 hands each. A session of 500 hands will
take a little over 8 hours playing time in a casino, with an average
number of hands of 60-65 per hour. While each amount in the
table is for 500 hands, many sessions of 500 hands each were
played to derive these amounts. For example, we see that the
Average Net Winnings using the Basic Betting Series (2 40 4 8 16
32 16 16) is $284. This is the average result of playing 500 hands
with the Basic Betting Series with many 500 hand sessions
averaged to calculate this amount.
The results in this table show us what we can expect if we
play an average of 500 hands using a particular betting series, and
we do not stop playing until we have completed 500 hands. We

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

83

recognize that this is not a realistic way to play blackjack, and that
losses can be reduced by setting limits, and wins can be maximized
by stopping when we are ahead.
Thus, the results for playing 500 hands using the Basic
Betting Series tells us that we can expect to win an average of $284
at the end of 500 hands, that our average maximum win occurring
at some point during the session will be $572, and that the
maximum loss during the session will be $270.

WIN-LOSS AMOUNTS WITH SIMPLEX BETTING

SERIES

AVERAGE
NET
WINNINGS

AVERAGE
MAXIMUM
WIN

AVERAGE
MAXIMUM
LOSS

Basic

$284

$572

$(270)

723

1441

(484)

1081

2419

(1656)

3262

4943

(1939)

3120

5854

(2300)

2115

6728

(2515)

Of course, this is not necessarily the way we will want to

play. You will notice that the wins and losses are not proportional
to the amounts wagered in each betting series. Comparing Betting
Series 3 and 4 we can see that the Average Net Winnings for Series
4 is smaller than Series 3. And Series 5 is even smaller than Series
3 or 4. This occurred because we have arbitrarily stopped at 500

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

84

hands. This table reports the results of playing an average of 500

hands, win or lose. As often happens with tests of this type,
significant variations can, and will, occur reporting results when
we impose an arbitrary cut-off point.

In the real world, we don't normally sit and play 500 hands
of blackjack and then compute our results after the 500th hand.
Instead, we play until realistic win or loss targets are reached, and
then we take a break, go for a walk, take a nap, go to a show, or
otherwise remove ourselves from the blackjack action.
The table, Target Wins and Losses, shows what we can
expect when we quit after reaching realistic wins, or after suffering
the maximum losses we are willing to accept.
You will notice that the target wins are larger than the
Average Net Winnings shown in the previous table. This happens
because we will not wait until our winnings dissipate before
quitting a blackjack session. Let's say that we are up $500 using
the Basic Betting Series. We have a number of losses and notice
that our chips are down to $440. This is probably a good time to
quit. The target win for the Basic Betting Series is $429, and we
are not too far from the target.
Conversely, we may have suffered a number of losses, and
we notice that in fact we have lost over $200. Our loss is
approaching the stop loss amount of $216, and we should think
about quitting.

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

85

The Target Wins and Losses Table shows realistic

amounts of wins and losses for a blackjack session, matched with
the betting series used.

TARGET WINS AND LOSSES

SERIES

TARGET
WIN

STOP LOSS

Basic

$429

$(216)

1072

(540)

2145

(1080)

3218

(1620)

4290

(2160)

5363

(2700)

You will notice that the ratio of Target Wins to Stop Losses
is about 2:1. Simply stated, this means that during an average
session of blackjack, we will expect to win about twice as much as
we expect to lose. Another way of saying this is that our wins
should be twice as large as our losses.
In reviewing any blackjack system, we must ask how long
the system takes to win a targeted amount of money. If it takes two
days to win $100, then we might question the efficiency of the
system.

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

86

Combining the Simplex Playing Strategy and Simplex

Betting Strategy produces respectable wins per hour. If you are
looking for a short-term way to make money at blackjack with a
high return for your time invested, you need look no further.
The table, Average Wins Per Hour, shows what you can
expect to win using the Simplex Strategy. We can see that the
average win per hour using the Basic Betting Series is $51.50 per
hour. If we are betting using the Series 3 Series, our expected win
is $386.31 per hour. The Average Wins Per Hour table shows us
the amount we can expect to win per hour with 60 blackjack hands
dealt per hour. If the table is crowded, and there are a number of
inexperienced players at the table, there may be fewer than 60
hands dealt per hour. If we are playing head up with the dealer, or
with only one or two other experienced players, then there may be
more than 60 hands dealt per hour, with higher expected winnings.

AVERAGE WINS PER HOUR

SERIES

AVERAGE
WIN PER
HOUR

MAXIMUM
BET IN
SERIES

Basic

$ 51.50

$ 40.00

128.69

100.00

257.50

200.00

386.31

300.00

515.00

400.00

676.23

500.00

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

87

In short term playing sessions, your averages will not be the

same as the amounts shown in the Average Wins Per Hour table.
The table amounts are based on millions of hands of blackjack, and
significant variations can and will occur over the short run. If you
use the Basic Betting Strategy, play for an hour, and win $200, this
does not mean that you can expect to win $200 an hour using this
betting series. Conversely, if you lose $200 in an hour of play, the
same conclusions will apply. These averages should apply to your
play if you play enough blackjack sessions and follow the Simplex
Strategy correctly. For short term sessions, you will need to use
our money strategies to control losses when they occur, and to
maximize winnings when you are winning.
An important consideration in any gambling endeavor is the
amount of money you need to be successful, commonly called the
"bankroll." The Table, Simplex Bankroll Requirements, shows
the bankroll needed to use the standard Simplex Betting Series.
The bankroll needed for a session is the amount of money
recommended that you bring with you to the table. In the case of
the Basic Betting Series, this is $240. The Short-Trip Bankroll is
the total amount of money you need for a short visit to the casino
of from one to three days, where you expect to play blackjack
several hours each day. For the Basic Series this is $720.
The Long-Trip Bankroll is the bankroll requirement for an
extended stay, of four days or longer, with intensive blackjack
play. Using the Basic Betting Series, you will need a bankroll of
$1,200 for extended play.

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

88

SIMPLEX BANKROLL REQUIREMENTS

SIMPLEX
BETTING
SERIES

SINGLE
SESSION
BANKROLL

SHORT-TRIP
BANKROLL

LONG-TRIP
BANKROLL

Basic

$ 240

$ 720

$ 1200

600

1800

3000

1200

3600

6000

1800

5400

9000

2400

7200

12000

3000

9000

15000

With these bankroll amounts, you will have a high

probability of winning using the Simplex Strategy. I recognize that
for many players these amounts may seem high. If you can't find a
$2 table, you may be forced to play on tables with $5 minimum
wagers. This requires at least a $600 session bankroll and a $1,800
trip bankroll for a short trip. Faced with this situation, many
players will be tempted to cut corners and play at a $5 table with an
inadequate bankroll. This is not the best procedure to use, and it
will impair your chances of winning.
Fortunately, there is an easier way to fit a smaller bankroll
to use at the higher minimum wager tables. This is to use a
different Simplex Betting Series. The original Simplex Betting

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

89

Series, which we have discussed to this point, is based on using a

multiplier of 20 to 1 for computing the Bump wager as compared
to the basic wager. This is at the higher end of the acceptable
range for Simplex Betting Series. If we use the lower end ratio of
10 to 1, then the amount of money required to successfully use the
Simplex Strategy is reduced.
The Table, Reduced Simplex Betting Series, shows the
betting series to be used for Simplex Betting using the lowest
Bump bet ratio of 10 to 1.

REDUCED SIMPLEX BETTING SERIES

#

TOTAL

20

12

24

12

12

94

50

10

20

30

60

30

30

235

10

100

20

40

60

120

60

60

470

15

150

30

60

90

180

90

90

705

20

200

40

80

120

240

120

120

940

25

250

50

100

150

300

150

150

1175

Using the Reduced Simplex bets, the bankroll requirements

are cut in half. The table, Reduced Bankroll Requirements,
shows the bankroll needed using the Reduced Betting Series.

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

90

REDUCED BANKROLL REQUIREMENTS

SERIES

SESSION
BANKROLL

SHORT-TRIP
BANKROLL

LONG-TRIP
BANKROLL

Basic

$ 120

$ 360

$ 600

300

900

1500

600

1800

3000

900

2700

4500

1200

3600

6000

1500

4500

7500

Playing with a reduced bankroll will produce lower wins

per hour. These wins will be proportionally lower than the amount
the bankroll was reduced, because some of the advantage of the
bump wager is reduced when the amount wagered on the bump bet
is lowered. Thus using a Simplex Betting Series with a bump bet
ratio of 10:1 will produce winnings per hour that are less than onehalf of the hourly winnings generated using a bump bet with a
ration of 20:1, as the advantage gained on the bump wager is
reduced by a greater amount than the reduction in the bump bet
size.
Nonetheless, because of bankroll considerations, many
players will want to use a reduced simplex betting series. If you do
this, your goal should be to build a large enough bankroll to
graduate to the 20:1 full Simplex Betting Series.

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

91

A reasonable question to consider at this point is what to do

when a pair splitting or doubling opportunity occurs on the bump
bet. The answer is that you should double or split in accordance
with the Simplex Playing Strategy regardless of the amount
wagered. Bump wagers, just because they are larger, should be
treated no differently than any other wager when a splitting or
doubling decision is called for.
In using the Simplex Strategy I will sometimes temper
splitting or doubling on the bump wager with bankroll
considerations. If your bankroll is depleted, you may decide to
pass on a pair splitting or doubling decision if the gain on the play
is marginal, and you are concerned with the size of your bankroll.
Doubling on hard hands is always a strong decision in favor
of the player; therefore, you should not hesitate to double on a 9,
10 or 11, versus the appropriate dealer up-cards. Soft doubling is
not as strong a play for the player, and you may decide to stand on
an A-7 versus a dealer 6 when the amount you have wagered is
sizable, even though the correct strategy is to double in this
situation.
With pair splitting, it is always extremely advantageous to
the player to split pairs of Aces and 8s. The other pair splitting
strategies are less advantageous to the player and may be ignored if
your wager is very large in relation to your remaining bankroll, and
you wish to be more conservative.
Another decision to make on bump wagers is resplitting
pairs and doubling on split pairs. Nevada casinos usually allow

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

92

split pairs to be resplit, while Atlantic City play allows for doubling
on split pairs.
Here I use the same guidelines for doubling and pair
splitting discussed above. For example, I will always resplit a pair
of Aces if house play allows this. Let's say that you are using the
Simplex Betting Series #1, requiring a $5 minimum wager and a
bump wager of $100. You are dealt an A A. You should spit this
pair even if you are concerned about the size of the wager. You are
dealt a 9 on the first split hand, for an A 9, and another Ace on the
second split hand, for an A A. You should resplit the A A as this
play is so advantageous that it would be foolish not to take
advantage of it, even though this decision will entail a total wager
of $300 on this hand.
Assume instead that you split a pair of 6s against a dealer 6,
with $100 as your original wager. You now have $200 on the
table, and you are dealt another 6 to your split hand. You very well
may decide not to resplit the hand, as splitting 6s only gives you a
slight advantage. You may decide that this advantage is not great
enough to outweigh the risk of having $300 riding on this play.
I am not suggesting that you always change strategies when
you have a large amount wagered. The essence of the Simplex
Strategy, and the one that makes it a winning one, is to play
consistently and not to use hunch play or other strategy varying
techniques when playing. The statistics which I have presented in
this chapter are based on using correct consistent playing and
betting strategies. I have only mentioned these exceptions because
there may be a few occasions, when, in the interest of conserving

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

93

your bankroll, you may want to deviate from the Simplex Playing
Strategy. These guidelines are presented for this purpose only.
If you find that you are shying away from making the
correct playing decisions on large wagers, you should consider
using a betting series requiring a lesser bankroll or using a reduced
betting series. Either of these options are preferable to deviating
from the correct playing strategy.
You can design your own Simplex betting series within the
ratios of the bump wagers of from 10:1 to 25:1. For example, you
could develop a betting series using a 15:1 ratio (we have presented
betting series with 10:1 and 20:1 ratios). Just make sure that any
betting series you design is proportionate to the series used with a
20:1 ratio of 2 40 4 8 16 32 16 16.

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

94

PLAYING ON THE INTERNET

Fueled by the explosive growth of the Internet and by a
general acceptance of gambling as a legitimate form of
entertainment, online gambling is growing at a torrid rate.
There are now over 3,000 online casinos with software
provided by at least 40 suppliers.
Games offered on the Internet range from traditional games
like video poker and slot machines, to poker, keno, bingo and other
games. Here is a list of games offered by just one online casino:
baccarat, blackjack, craps, pachinko, the dragon spirit pachinko,
victory poker, Caribbean poker, free ride poker, pai gow poker, red
dog, roulette, sic bo, slots, gold rush slots, magic hat sportsbook,
video poker, deuces wild video poker, jacks or better video poker,
joker wild video poker, king of decks, war and battle royal.
Because of the uncertain legal status of Internet gaming in
the U.S., virtually all online casinos that accept wagers are located
outside of the United States.

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

95

As of December 12, 2003, only Nevada has legalized online

gambling. New Jersey is trying to legalize Internet gambling, while
California, Oregon and Iowa are seeking an outright ban.
As an individual, there is little risk of prosecution because
of gambling on the Internet as the thrust of prosecutorial power is
invariably directed at online casino operators, credit card providers
and software providers.
Technologically, many of the casinos are very similar, as
there are a relative handful of large software developers who
dominate the industry. Each casino using software from the same
developer will have a similar appearance to other casinos using the
software.
Generally, online gaming sites are one of three types, based
on the type of technology used to provide their games.
Many online casinos require that you first download their
software before you can play their games. This first category of
"downloadable software" has to be first transferred from the host
computer to your own computer via downloading and then it must
be installed in order to function. Usually these programs are free.
The online gambling sites offering this type of software can be
good places to start your play as, once installed, the programs offer
great graphics, sound, animation, and of course, the chance to play
for free.
The second type of software used by online casinos is
JAVA software which does not require downloading. JAVA

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

96

software allows programs to create little programs known as

applets that are embedded directly into a web document. When
online casinos use JAVA, the programs run right on your web
browser.

I am not a fan of casinos using JAVA. With a JAVA

casino, you have to load the software every time you play;
whereas, with downloaded software, you can began playing almost
instantly once the software has been installed on your computer. I
have also had incidences when the JAVA software will freeze my
browser. In such a situation, you may not be sure whether your last
bet was accepted or not. As a minimum, it is very disruptive to
have to start a game over. And, not knowing where you stand is
not a lot of fun either. It is sort of like someone turning off all the
lights in a land-based casino, and when the lights come back on,
you are not really sure if you still have all of your casino chips.
The third type of software found uses HTML code which is
the standard language used to create web pages. Sites using

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

97

HTML are fast to play, but they often have cheesy graphics and no
sound or animation.
Perhaps the biggest fear most people have is the fear of
being cheated out of their money by the next big "scam" and they
don't want to be one of these people.
All sorts of government agencies and personnel are
anxiously hoping that the prosecution of online gambling will be
their ticket to the big time.
Guess what? It is not likely that any of these folks are going
to find major problems with online casinos cheating people. Are
there any crooked casinos online? I am sure there are. There are
not very many, but since there are a few rotten apples in every
industry, there are bound to be some in the online gaming group.
Almost all online casinos use random number generators to
create their gaming results. This is part of the software package
used by the casino and most of these programs are encrypted,
effectively
locking out the casino's ability to modify the programming. This is
designed to reduce the risk of any unscrupulous operator changing
pay out ratios or otherwise seeking to gain an additional edge over
the players.
The software programs all record bets and results as well as
the time they occurred. In other words, every thing you did online
can later be reconstructed if necessary. This is designed to
safeguard both the players and casinos as an "audit trail" is created
which can be referred to in the event of an unresolved dispute.

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

98

Of special importance to those who are afraid to use their

credit cards on the Internet is that fact that most online casinos
don't get your credit card number. Third party processors who
forward the money to the casino's account handle the monetary
transfer. If you complain about a casino's fairness, you will most
likely be given a refund, resulting in a chargeback against the
casino. This is one of the reasons online gaming is so safe. To
stop a charge against your credit card, send a letter to your credit
card company. They will nearly always take your side in a
dispute with an online company and refund your money.
If you are interested in playing online let me give you some
pointers:
1. Select on online casino that gives you several ways to reach its
personnel. As a minimum, I would look for a toll free number
that is promptly answered by a responsive human being. A
simple phone call can be a way to eliminate any unresponsive
casinos before you deposit a nickel with them. If the casino's
employees don't offer you good service before you become a
player, you sure don't want to risk any money with them.
2. Check to see if the casino is licensed. The book Beat the
Internet Casinos by Silverthorne Publications has complete
information on how to check licensing.
(See http://www.silverthornepublications.com/InternetGold/.) When you
call the casino (see item 1 above), you can ask where they are
licensed, how long they have been in business and the name
that will appear on your credit card statement if you make a
deposit there.

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

99

3. Before you play, you should try out the casino's software by
playing for free. If the software is of the downloadable variety,
you will have to invest some time downloading and installing
the software. If you have any problems downloading and
installing the software, call the casino's technical support
department. If the casino can't help you, it's "So sorry Charlie,
no techie support, no playie."
4. Before you play, decide how much money you are willing to
risk. I suggest you buy in for $100 to $200 and get a feel for
the game by making small wagers.
5. Before you start playing, decide how long you will sit in front
of your computer playing. Time spent in an Internet casino can
fly by very quickly. You must also set a stop loss before you
start playing. I suggest a stop loss equal to 50% of your buyin. If you buy in for $100 and lose $50, that playing session is
over. Make sure that you stick with this, even if you hit your
stop loss in five minutes. If you are just dying to continue
playing, log off from the casino and play in the "fun mode"
where you won't be risking any more money.
6. Many online casinos offer better odds than land-based casinos.
Because it costs much less to construct a virtual casino, and its
overhead is but a pittance compared to that of a land-based
casino, you may find that an online casino can offer you
everything but a free drink. Specifically, many Internet casinos
offer sizable bonuses for signing up. Playing at a casino
offering a sign-up bonus can be very lucrative if you know
how to go about it.

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

100

7. When you win, expect to wait up to two weeks for your

winnings. I have had some casinos take up to a month to send
me winnings. The money for payouts comes from offshore
banks that seem to operate on "island time." Once you
understand this, you can calm down, as I have never had a
casino refuse to pay me a legitimate win. It just takes them
more time. When you call the casino before you play, I
suggested you get the name that the credit card charge will
appear under. The charges and credits you will receive for
winnings hardly ever appear in the casino's name, and if you
don't know the name of the bank card processor, you may be in
for a difficult time figuring who has paid and who hasn't,
especially if you gamble at several online joints.
8. The backend software that runs the games should be supplied
by a major software developer. Some of these software
companies are United Gaming, Starnet, Microgaming,
Cryptologic, Boss Media, Real Time Gaming and
GamblingSoftware.com.
9. Make sure that the site is a member of the Interactive Gaming
Council. The sites that are members follow a strict code of
conduct as a condition of membership.
10. Avoid casinos which appear on numerous online "blacklists."
There are substantial Internet resources you can use to
investigate an online casino before you play. Beat the Internet
Casinos gives you complete information on how to do this, as
well as a complete system on how to play and win.

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

101

Are you interested in playing craps on the Internet? You can

actually do very well if you pick your casinos well. If you pick the
right casino, which also happens to pay a 10% or greater bonus just
for playing, you can gain a substantial edge over the casino.
However, you must know how to play in such a manner that the
casino personal will consider that you have "earned" the bonus and
will not try to interfere with your right to withdraw the bonus. As
you can well imagine, online casinos offering bonuses to players
are not interested in attracting players who sign up just to get the
bonus and then try to withdraw it with very little play. There is a
way to do this that will keep the casino happy and will still give
you a large edge over the casinos.
Online blackjack play can be very lucrative. The Online
Gambling Toolkit focuses on beating the game of blackjack. See
http://www.silverthornepublications.com/OnlineGamblingToolkit/

If you want to play roulette in the online casinos, you can

easily make $1,000 a day without leaving your home. If your
nearest land-based casino is some distance away, you may very
well consider playing on the Internet.
_________
In my opinion, online gambling is here to stay. While I
have played many more games in land-based casinos using the
Simplex Blackjack Strategy than in online ones, my results playing
online have been outstanding. Because the heart of Simplex
Blackjack Strategy is an assumption of randomness, is it quite

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

102

likely that this system will work even better against virtual casinos
using randomly generated results than against real casinos. My
own experiences seem to indicate that trends in one direction or the
other seem to be longer in real casinos than in virtual ones, and if
this is true, it will tend to work in favor of the Simplex Blackjack
Strategy.
I personally love online gambling. I love its accessibility
and its efficiency. About the only drawback to playing online is
the long wait to withdraw funds. You may want to give it a try.

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

103

HOW TO FIND AN INTENET

CASINO
Each player has his own preferences when it comes to
choosing a casino. Some players are Bonus Hunters, jumping
from casino to casino looking for the newest and best bonuses.
Some slot-machine junkies want the casino with the best slot
payouts. While others are just looking for some entertainment,
multi-player capability, or certain games. Here, I'll tell you the
major differences between online casinos, and what you should
know before you download and deposit.

Software: first and foremost, you want to play at a casino with

decent software. Software includes graphics, speed of play, rules,
and more. See our report "The Ten Best Online Casinos" for
specific recommendations. All of the casinos listed in this report
use software that is fair, reliable, and virus-free.

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

104

Speed of play is also important to many gamblers. Some

software slows play by dealing cards slower than others. Some
newer software vendors even have an 'Automatic Mode' on some
games, where the software will bet and play hands very fast
based on your preferences.
Different software providers have different betting
increments and rules on table games. For instance, some software
only allows betting in increments of $2, up to $20, then $10
increments thereon. If you use a betting strategy, beware of
software that restricts bet increments.

Payouts: Payout percentages indicate how much money the

casino gives back to players every month. For example, If a
casino received $1000 in deposits last month and their payout is
97%, they kept $30 of that $1000, or 3%. Usually, the higher the
payout, the better the odds are for the player. Casinos often break
down their payouts into total payout, table game payout, poker
payout, and slot payout. Some even disclose payouts for the more
popular games. If you exclusively play table games at casinos,
you should always check the table payout before you play to
determine your odds. A great bonus can be easily offset by a poor
payout.

Match Bonuses: match bonuses are the reason why many people
are attracted to online gambling from the get-go. Casinos will
match deposits in order to entice players to download their
software and make a deposit. A casino with a bonus of "150%

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

105

match bonus up $50" means that they'll give you an additional

150% of your deposit free, up to $150. So if you deposit $100,
the casino will give you a bonus of $150, allowing you to start
playing with a balance of $250!
Players should beware of some restrictions of these match
bonuses, though. Of course it wouldn't be fair to get a $150
bonus and then simply cash out, so the casino will require you to
bet a certain amount of money first. This wagering requirement is
usually a multiple of your deposit and bonus amount. Using the
previous example, if the wagering requirement is 15x bonus &
deposit, you have to wager 15 x $250, or $3,750 before you can
cash out. This helps keep the bonuses fair, and gives players
enough opportunity to win. All bets that you place count against
the wagering requirement, but some casinos exclude bets in
certain games. Many casinos don't count bets on craps, roulette,
and baccarat toward the wagering requirement, but some leave
out even more. Make sure to check the details before playing.

Free Money Bonuses: A lot of casinos will give away 'Free

Money Bonuses' to try to attract players and introduce new
people to gambling. These free money bonuses really are free
money, and are a great way to get started gambling with no risk,
and still feel the thrill of gambling with real money. Most Free
Money Bonuses come with a catch, though -- you usually have to
deposit a minimum amount before you can cash out.

Customer Support: Customer support at most casinos is cutting

edge, and all of the casinos listed on in our report "The Ten Best

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

106

Online Casinos" have support reps available 24 hours a day, 7

days a week.. Almost every major online casino offers 24/7 tollfree customer support, and you should use it! Online gambling
support reps are friendly and available to help. If you have a
question, ask!
Games: Online casino games are fun, and it's great to be able to
play a wide variety of games in one casino. Most casinos offer a
great variety of games, but you'll find all of the standard casino
games in nearly every casino. If you specifically want to play
video keno, you may have to look a little harder than if you were
interested in playing blackjack or slots. In rating dozens of
casinos I found that casinos that offer 50+ games are roughly
equivalent to casinos that offer 25+ games. The only difference is
the bragging rights. The medium sized casinos have all the major
table, poker, video poker, and slot games. The bigger casinos
have all the same games, plus slight variations of them.

Deposit Options: Some casinos don't accept credit cards

anymore because of a high rate of fraud, so it's important to
choose a casino with secure and quick alternative deposit
options. To gamble online, you'll need an 'Electronic Cash'
account like Neteller or FirePay. Most casinos take these two
major ones, and they provide decent customer service. We have
just completed another Free Report "Alternative Casino Banking
Methods." This report will give you the complete details on the
major alternatives to using your credit card.

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

107

Withdrawal Options: When you win big, you want a fast and
easy way to withdraw your money. Most withdrawal transactions
are done manually by the casino manager, so they tend to take
some time. Don't be surprised if your withdrawal takes a few
days ... or even weeks. Casino managers must perform due
diligence to make sure that there is no fraud involved, such as
multiple registrations to obtain more bonuses and that you have
met the playthrough requirement, etc. Most casinos will return
money to your Neteller or Firepay account, or will send you a
check in the mail.

Comp Programs: Most online casinos have formed comp

programs to rival the traditional brick and mortar casinos that
keep players coming back. 'Comp' stands for Complementary,
and that means free! Most casinos offer money back while some
go so far as to raffle off cruises or offer plane tickets. The
majority redeem betting points for cash. For instance, Roulette
yields 3 points per $1 bet, and the redemption ratio is 100 points
per dollar. Every $33 dollars you bet playing craps you will get
$1 back.

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

108

SKILFUL PLAY
There are a variety of games and playing situations
available. Each player has his own preferences. Some prefer
single deck games while others like the multi-deck games. Some
players like to play at full tables; others prefer to play one on one.
The way the games are dealt can affect the player's expectation
sometimes more than rule variations. I will run through a number
of these issues, giving you the pros and cons and telling you the
options which are best for the Simplex Blackjack player.
Single, Double or Multiple Decks
As a general rule, the fewer the decks used, the better it is for the
player, unless the rules are changed. Single deck games are
popular with many players who think they know how to count
cards because they have heard that single decks are easier to beat.
While single and double deck games offer slightly higher
advantages to card counters, many times the advantages are only
theoretical as the house counters these slight mathematical
advantages with less liberal rules, earlier shuffles, and greater heat
for players making larger wagers.

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

109

I prefer the multi-deck games for a number of reasons. The

first and most important reason is that the constant reshuffling
tends to render the Simplex Blackjack betting progression fairly
ineffective in the single and double deck games as there are not
enough rounds dealt between shuffles to really use it effectively.
For the Simplex Blackjack player, the decision of whether
to play hand held or shoe dealt games is easy. Always go with the
shoe.
A question arises as to what to do when you are in the
middle of a betting series and the dealer shuffles. If I have been
winning at the table, I will tend to leave my bet alone and continue
my current betting series.
Also, by leaving the betting series up when I am in a
winning streak, I may be in a good position to continue to take
advantage of a player favorable game. In addition, by sometimes
keeping my bet sizes at the same level and reducing them at other
times, I will look exactly like a gambler playing from hunches or
superstitions rather than a skilled player.

Playing Alone or With Others

Playing alone has its advantages. By playing one-on-one against
the dealer, I can get in more hands per hour. I also don't have to
worry about some other player commenting on my play because I
drew some card instead of standing, or stood instead of hitting, or
otherwise offended him. I also avoid obnoxious players by playing
alone.

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

110

The other side of the coin is that I am more visible when I

play heads up with a dealer. My play is more likely to attract
casino surveillance, especially when I am playing with black chips.
Is there a compromise? Yes there is. Bring a companion
with you, preferably one of the opposite sex, who can act as your
accomplice or cohort in your mission to relieve the casino of some
of its stash.
The perfect gambit is for a fun loving couple to sit down
and play a little blackjack, especially if they are friendly to the
dealer and floor personnel.
It is not necessary that your partner know the Simplex
Blackjack Strategy. I recommend that he or she at least learn the
basic playing strategy. If your partner only learns this strategy, he
or she should make small wagers. On the other hand, becoming a
skilled Simplex Blackjack player can substantially increase your
earnings as well as your partner's. If you are married, your spouse
is much more likely to become an enthusiastic supporter of your
gambling activities if he or she is involved. If you are a single
man, I can think of worse ploys than to invite an attractive female
companion for a trip to Las Vegas. Women love conspiracies,
and if you let her in on your little secret that you beat the casinos
and ask her to act as your co-conspirator, who knows what might
transpire.
If I don't have a playing partner, my next preference is to
play at a table with one or two other persons. Another player or
two is enough to provide some cover for my level of skill without
my having to tolerate crowded playing conditions.

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

111

The number of players at the table will definitely affect the

number of hands you play per hour. The table below shows how
the hands played per hour will vary with the number of players.

Number of Players at
the Table

Average number of
Hands per Hour

55

65

75

90

110

150

230

Casino Heat
If you bet with nickel and quarter chips, you will not
encounter a great deal of casino heat unless you are playing in a
sawdust joint where every dollar lost causes the pit boss to grimace
and run for his ulcer medication.
Once you move up to black chip play, look out. From the moment
the dealer barks out, "Checks play" to announce your hundred
dollar or larger wager, until you depart, you will be observed much
more than the smaller bettors.

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

112

From the casino's viewpoint, this makes perfect sense.

They can lose more to one black chip player than to twenty red
chip players. So, if you decide to play at this level, you will have
to become accustomed to more than average attention.
However, you will able to sense when you are getting more
than normal surveillance. A group of executives standing back and
talking to each other in hushed voices while glancing your
direction is usually a bad sign.
Many dealers have been instructed by their bosses to shuffle
up whenever a player jumps his bet by more than three or four
hundred percent. If you are using a larger betting series geared for
green and black chip play, don't be surprised if the dealer shuffles
every time you increase your wager to a certain level. If you find a
casino which routinely does this, my advice is to take your
business elsewhere.
The good news is that using the Simplex Blackjack betting
strategy, you will not encounter much heat. Your wagers will
change at different times dependent on how well your betting is
doing. The dealer may even ask you about your betting system.
You can explain that you usually increase your bets gradually
when you are winning, but sometimes you will raise them after
losses to try to recoup a little. This is perfectly true as the Simplex
Blackjack betting strategy incorporates these features. More
important though is that counters don't use betting progressions;
therefore, when you play this way, it is less likely that you will be
labeled a counter and therefor perceived as a threat.

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

113

Tipping
If you don't like to tip, most international play will suit you
fine. Most casinos in Asia, Europe and Commonwealth countries
like England, Australia and New Zealand forbid tipping the
dealers.
In the U.S. you really have no choice but to tip. Many
counters refuse to tip, arguing that tips come right off their bottom
line. I can't argue with the logic, but I will question the results of a
no-tipping policy.
I personally have a great deal of respect for most casino
personnel and especially dealers. I enjoy tipping them in exchange
for good service and once it is established that I am a "George"
(slang for a good tipper), the level of service increases appreciably.
When I tip, I never just give the dealer the tip. I only tip by
making bets for the dealer. I tip by adding the dealer's tip to the top
of my own wager, making the dealer a partner for the bet. If we
win the bet and the count is still high, I will leave the dealer wager
up and give her the payoff. I want her to become involved in my
betting. By tipping the dealer more when I am in a winning streak,
I will have a better opportunity to ask for another deal near the
cutoff point and get another round of cards dealt before the shuffle.
This can work two ways. If I have been struggling to win a
game, I would just as soon get a shuffle. I can signal the dealer by
not tipping and saying something like, "I don't feel very lucky, so I
am not going to bet for you right now. Maybe after the next
shuffle I'll feel better."

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

114

Some dealers will respond to tipping and become your silent

partners. Many casinos now require that all blackjack dealers on a
shift pool their tips, but I have not found that this rule has really
reduced my ability to influence dealers. Roughly three out of four
dealers will respond positively to the tip partnership concept. The
key to pulling this off is to do it in a natural way. If you have not
said two words to a dealer or made any eye contact and then you
throw out a tip expecting the dealer to help you, don't be surprised
if the dealer is unresponsive. Start by making eye contact and
small talk. Most dealers are interested in where you are from, what
you do for a living, what you think of their casino and so forth.
Talking to a dealer is not the time to share your complaints about
their casino. I always find something positive to say about the
casino and the dealer.
Once you have established some rapport, it is much easier
to pull off the tip partnership concept. If you have done your job,
tipping will feel almost like one friend helping another, which is
exactly what you want.
Some dealers don't react positively to your attempts at
conversation. If you get an unfriendly, uncooperative dealer, just
change tables. Another advantage of multi-deck play is that you
will generally have a good selection of dealers you can chose from.

Act Like a Gambler

If you are black chip player, you ought to look like a black
chip player. Casino personnel have preconceived notions of what
counters look like usually based on previous experiences.
Many card counters come from academic backgrounds and dress

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

115

the part casual to the point of being sloppy. I know that many
rich people also dress casually, but you need to dress like you can
afford the kind of money you are betting. Wear sharp casual attire
for daytime use and a sports coat or suit for the evenings. Some
expensive looking jewelry is also helpful. I know a lot of wealthy
people don't dress this way to gamble, but they don't have a
winning gambling system they are using to reduce the casino's
bankroll either.
When you first sit down to play, cash in for less than the
required session amount. If you are a black chip player, buy in for
$1,500 or $2,000, and if you need additional chips, either sign a
marker or pull the cash from your pocket to continue to play. This
is the way most gamblers play.
Act natural. If you never engage in conversation, you do
not look like a casual player out to have a good time. From the
pit's perspective, you may look like someone up to no good, and
you will be watched more carefully. The easiest way to act natural
is to be with a person of the opposite sex. Couples are the least
suspicious players from the casino's perspective. I would wager
that 95% of card counters are males who play alone, and playing as
a couple will deter much of any potential casino heat.
Play like a loser. If you are in a prolonged winning streak,
don't rub it in the casino's face by continuing to play at the same
table. If you do, make sure that you consistently make the kinds of
moves which will throw the pit off. Insure all of your blackjacks.
Leave large wagers up after a shuffle. Occasionally make erratic
plays which vary from basic strategy. But your best ploy is not to
overstay your welcome, especially if you are winning a bundle.

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

116

If you have a nice win and a floorman comments on it, you

can casually mention that you dropped a bundle at craps last night
and you still are not even close to even. But don't do this if you
never play craps. Make your story plausible.

Hide Chips
As a winning player, you will want to look for ways to
disguise the amount you are winning. The easiest way to do this is
to pocket chips.
This is harder to accomplish if you are playing alone, and is
easiest to accomplish if you have a playing partner.
How to Survive and Prosper as a Professional Gambler,
published by Silverthorne Publications, has some excellent
suggestions on chip hiding routines. With a female accomplice, it
is easy to slip chips to her and let her hide them in her purse.
Sometimes my wife carries a shopping bag with her, which is a
great place to stash chips and offers additional cover to help us
look just like a happy pair of typical tourists.
If you are a black chip player, you are better off hiding
green chips, as the bosses are more concerned with watching your
stack of black chips. If you commonly wager $500 or more, then
you can get away with hiding $100 chips, but don't try to stash the
$500 chips as the bosses may catch on.

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

117

Play for Cash or on Credit?

There are many advantages to establishing credit with
several casinos. Once you have established credit, it is there
anytime you want to use it. You don't have to carry cash, arrange
for wire transfers or try to talk casinos into cashing checks. You
generally will not be able to even cash a cashier's check in a casino
until it has been verified. If you show up on a Saturday hoping to
cash a cashier's check, you will be out of luck until your bank
reopens on Monday and can verify the check.
Another advantage to establishing credit is that when you
use casino credit, you get to sign markers at the table, and you will
look like a gambler, since most gamblers who play with black
chips have casino credit lines.
I'll let you in on a dirty secret. Casinos are not in the
business of loaning money to gamblers, at least not now. If you
have a bad gambling habit and a weak bank account, your local
friendly loan shark is more likely to accommodate you than your
not-so-friendly casino.
When you establish a credit line, the casino is agreeing to
advance you no more than the average balance in your checking
account for the last six months.
Your creditworthiness has nothing to do with getting casino
credit. These guys don't care whether you are employed, just filed
for bankruptcy or are dodging your other creditors. Casino credit
is based on how much bread you keep in your checking account.

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

118

Do you feel a little better about the high rollers signing the
markers? They are signing magnetically coded checks which can
be run through their checking accounts. Normally markers are not
handled this way, as the casino prefers to be paid by check, but if
necessary, the casino markers can and will be deposited by the
casino, and will be presented for payment at your bank just like any
other check you have written.
If you are a black chip player, casino credit is almost
mandatory unless you want to carry a large amount of cash with
you, which I don't recommend. If you know where you will be
playing, you can arrange to have cash deposited with the casino
cashier and sign markers against your own front money on deposit
with the casino.
The fascinating book, Gamble for Free by Martin J.
Silverthorne, is most informative on how to get and use casino
credit.

Rated Players
Once you start playing with green or black chips, you are
going to be asked by a floorman if you want to be rated. Many
card counters resent the intrusion of a floorman and answer
evasively or even negatively. This is a big mistake. By rating your
play, the casino is evaluating your ability to receive comps or
freebies from the casino. Comps can really add to your bottom line
and can be very profitable once you learn to play the comp game.
Another reason to become rated is that being rated and receiving
comps from the casino is what gamblers normally do. And you
want to look just like another gambler.

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

119

Even if you are a low to mid-range player and want to get

full RFB, which stands for Room, Food and Beverages comped,
there are many casinos which will accommodate you.
Gamble for Free presents a complete system for getting the
maximum amount of comps out of your casino. Using casino
comps, you can travel just about anywhere and get full VIP
treatment. Many casinos will even pay your airfare. But you have
to know how to work the system to maximize these benefits. I
suggest that you learn how to get the maximum amount of comps
and let a casino pay for all of your gambling excursions.
As a Simplex Blackjack player, you are in the perfect
position to get and benefit from comps. No matter what your level
of play, you can increase your enjoyment and profits by availing
yourself of casino comps.

Finding the Best Table

I generally avoid single and double deck games because of
more frequent shuffling. In addition, you may find that the rules
are more restrictive. Doubling may be allowed only on hands
totaling 10 or 11, and you may not be allowed to double after
splitting. This leaves us with multi-decks. Most of our testing was
done against six-deck games. Streaks may also be more prevalent
in multi-deck games because of inadequate shuffling. I have seen
tables and dealers lose in streaks lasting several hours at some sixdeck games.

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

120

Another advantage of only playing at multi-deck tables is

that there are many more tables to choose from than single or
double deck games. Here are some indicators you can look for to
help you find the best tables.
1. Look for a table with the lowest minimum bet, the fewest
players, with a slow-dealing, young, friendly female dealer. I can
feel the hackles rising from the feminists in my audience. I am not
being a male chauvinist pig in making this recommendation. My
own experiences show that I have done the worst playing against
old rough looking male dealers who look like they have been
dealing for at least thirty years and haven't enjoyed the last twenty
of it. Next worst, are older female types, although I have had
mixed results here. It really depends on the dealer's demeanor.
Smiling face and a sunny disposition, okay. Grumpy or
disinterested manner, stay away. Continuing from bad to best, I
would pick young male dealers next. They tend towards being
macho and cocky, but this can be used to your advantage. Because
they are so seemingly self assured, as long as you don't challenge
their egos, you can get a good game. But the best dealers are
young female dealers, preferably of the pleasant looking variety.
Studies have shown, and it has been proven mathematically, that
the combination of low minimum wagers, fewer players and (gulp)
a young female dealer will give you the best chance of winning.
This holds true whether you are a male or female player.
2. Check the dealer's chip rack and the stacks of chips in front of
any players. If the dealers' rack is low, this is good because it
means the players have been winning. If the players have large
stacks of chips in front of them, this will help confirm that this has
been a winning table for players. If the dealer's rack is full of

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

121

chips, this isn't a good sign unless the table just got a fill. The
floorman won't let a table run out of chips, so when it drops to a
certain level, he will call for more chips to "fill" the table. You can
ask the dealer if he just received a fill.
3. Do the players around the table seem to be winning? Two or
three players sitting at the table with only four or five chips in front
of them is not a good sign. What you want to see is a player or two
with a few stacks of chips in front of them. This is a fairly good
indicator that they have been winning.
4. How often is the dealer busting? Does the dealer continue to
draw to good hands even when he has bust cards showing? You
can't expect a dealer to bust every time when he has a 5 or 6
showing, but if he continuously draws to a 20 or 21, watch out! A
good part of your winnings will come from dealer busts. If he is
not doing it, you probably won't win.
5. Ask the dealer if he is hot or cold. He won't mind telling you.
He may not tell you the truth, but if he says he is hot, don't play
there. He may have been beating players regularly. You don't
want to become another casualty.
6. If you sit down and lose the first three hands, get up! This is
why we use the Conservative Starting Rules. My experience has
been that if you lose the first three or four hands, your chances of
winning a game are severely diminished. Why risk it? If the
dealer beats you three hands in a row, he is probably to hot to beat.

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

122

Learn to Play Another Casino Game

I highly recommend that you learn to play at least one other
table game besides blackjack. My number one choice of the game
to learn is craps.
Craps is still a favorite game of many high rollers. There is
no other game in the casino where fortunes can be won or lost as
quickly as in craps. Yet many of the bets on the craps table offer
some of the lowest odds in the casino. Pass Line and Don't Pass
wagers only give the house an advantage of 1.41% and 1.40%,
respectively. Odds wagers give the house no edge whatsoever.
Craps is an excellent game for employing hit and run
tactics. If you have been playing blackjack and are tired of
concentrating on the cards, craps may give you just the break you
need. You can stretch your aching legs, as players customarily
stand around the table rather than sitting like blackjack players.
You can yell, mumble, make many exciting wagers, and in general,
look like a degenerate gambler.
This can't hurt your reputation with the casino. Because
craps gives the casino a slight edge on some wagers and an
enormous edge on others (watch out for the bets in the center of the
table called proposition bets), counters normally don't play the
game. By mixing a little craps play in with your blackjack games,
you will look more and more like another gambler to the casino
bosses.
You may be surprised how well you do at craps. On a
typical casino visit, I usually make more money playing craps than

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

123

I do playing blackjack. Silverthorne Publications is the premier

publisher for winning craps systems. You can check out some of
their fine publications in a listing at the back of this book or by
checking their web site at www.casinogamblersbookcase.com.
If your casinos offer roulette, you may want to learn to play
the game. Your best chance of winning at roulette is at a wheel
with a single zero. Single zero wheels with the en prison rule are
the standard game in international casinos with house odds of only
1.38%, about the same as the line wagers in craps.
If you play on American double zero wheels, you will be
bucking house odds of 5.26%. This is a harder game to beat.
You can play roulette for relaxation, but even when I relax I enjoy
winning money. I use an intriguing roulette system which wins
over 90% of the time and throws off nice winnings even against the
American wheels. It is described in Target Roulette, published by
Silverthorne Publications.

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

124

Casino Comps
Whether you chose to become a rated player at the casino
table games, join a slot club or both, once you get into the system,
you can start getting your share of comps. There are a number of
tried and proven ways to multiply the number of comps you get.
Here are some pointers.
Chose a primary casino and then play there.
A basic premise of the whole comp system is to reward
loyal players. Casinos offer comps to lure new players to their
casino and to make sure that their current customers remain their
customers. If you think you have it tough trying to use the comp
system to your advantage, just think what the casinos are up
against with new competition springing up every day.
If you are a whale, you can ignore my advice. Just plan on
either bringing or setting up a credit line of $100,000 or larger, and
wherever you decide to land will be glad to comp you. If you are

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

125

in the million dollar plus range, the casino will not only comp you,
but anyone else you chose to bring with you. They'll even charter
a 737 and fly in as many of your friends as you want to bring
along.

If you are not quite in this range, then it will pay to find a
primary casino and reward it with your patronage. A player with
as little as $1,000 can get RFB treatment in some of the downtown
casinos in Las Vegas. A player with a $2,500 bankroll will have
an even greater choice of hotel casinos. Move up to the $5,000 to
$10,000 range, and a whole other batch of casinos become
available.
But, in order to get noticed and adequately comped with a
bankroll from $1,000 to $10,000, you have to be willing to reward
a casino with your playing time.

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

126

A friend of mine visits Las Vegas about ten times a year.

He usually takes $5,000 to $10,000 and manages to lose between
\half and three quarters of it per trip. I won't comment on his
approach to gambling. Quite frankly, it stinks. Anyway, the
subject is comps.
Believe it or not, he doesn't get any. He stays at a different
casino every trip. I think he believes the constant changes might
improve his luck. This is not necessarily bad, if he would play at
the casino where he stays. He invariably changes casinos every
hour or two and ends up playing in ten to twelve different
establishments over the course of two or three days.
Because of the size of his buy-ins, he is constantly asked if
he wants to be rated. He always declines. He confesses that he
doesn't want the casinos to know how much he is losing. I think
that he is trying to kid himself about his losses.
I have explained the comp system to him. As long as he is
losing, he might as well have the casinos kick in $750 to $1,000
per trip. This money is there for the asking if he would only pick a
primary casino and give it a reasonable amount of play.
I can't convince him to change his ways. But, maybe I can
influence you.
There are many other benefits to playing more in a primary
casino. The first benefit is the application of the old saw, "If you
scratch my back, I'll scratch yours."

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

127

The casino will accelerate the rewards offered you the more
you play. Some casinos formalize this process and actually
accelerate the comps to slot club members as their total number of
points increases. Many casinos offer more and more free rooms
and entertainment the more you patronize them.
The key to maximizing your benefits from this whole
process is to find a casino that matches your needs and then start
playing there. If you have picked correctly, your loyalty will be
well rewarded.

Join a slot club and/or get a VIP card.

The start of getting comps is to be into the casino comp
system. If you bet $25,000 a hand, the host will find you. If you
bet $5 to $25 a pop, you have to get the casino's attention. And
the easiest way to do this is with a little piece of plastic which
looks just like a credit card.

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

128

Once you have a card, getting comped will become part of

your routine. The first thing you will do as a machine player is to
insert your club card in the card reader.
When you sit down at a craps, blackjack or roulette table
you will present your VIP card when you buy in.
Your card will go down with your cash at the roulette table
when you lay five hundred in front of the dealer and tell him,
"Chips please."

Get to know your casino host.

The casino host or the slot host will be your key to getting
the most comps in most casinos.
If you are a member of the casino's slot club, you will get
nearly all of your comps by asking the casino slot host. Many
times comps for food, rooms, shows and merchandise are built
right into the slot club payoffs. If you have just joined a slot club,
try giving them some play for an hour or two and then asking the
slot host for a buffet comp.
My experience with comps from playing slots or video
poker is that the slot hosts are much more likely to be generous
with comps than the personnel at the slot club booths. If you want
brochures on the slot clubs or general information on the slot club,
talk to the clerks at the booth. If you want a particular comp, ask
the slot host.

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

129

Casino hosts, catering to the table game players, are at the

top of the casino pecking order for granting comps. Their top
priority is to cultivate new customers and to keep the current
customers happy.
The casino hostesses are the persons working for VIP
Services who help you check in, arrange your limo service, make
dinner and show reservations and so forth.
The hostesses will handle most of your scheduling and
reservation needs. The casino hosts are the people you need to
talk to to arrange RFB and airfare reimbursement.
You can meet a casino host a number of ways. One way is
to call a casino before coming and ask to speak to a host. This is a
good way to ask about the casino's comp policy and to tell the host
that you are interested in playing there.
If you are playing with front money, you should meet your
host after depositing your money with the cage but before you
begin play.
If you are a cash player and make a large enough buy-in,
you may have a chance to meet a host when the casino sets you up
with a VIP card.
After you have played in a casino, you can make
reservations through the casino host. Making a reservation
through a host who knows you is a good way to get a room even if
the front desk claims that no rooms are available. Casinos always

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

130

reserve a block of rooms for their best customers, and a casino

host can get you a room when a reservation clerk can't.
I recommend taking a little time to develop a relationship
with a host. Part of developing a relationship is consistency. If
you make one casino your primary casino and visit several times a
year, it will be easier to become known to a host than if he only
sees you every other year.
If you are using a casino credit line, the host will introduce
himself to you. With front money or cash, you will want to make
a point of meeting the host.
Treat your host with respect and nurture the relationship.
He can shower you with all kinds of freebies, including gifts, food,
a free room and VIP treatment. And he is paid to do this. For
your part, you have to convince your host that your action is
sufficient to justify the comps you want. And being a nice person
won't hurt either.
Be a nice person.
Or have I said that? You can get enormous leverage out of
maintaining friendly relationships with the people who work in
casinos.
Start with the dealers and cocktail waitresses. These people
have a couple of the hardest jobs in the casino and are at the
bottom of the casino hierarchy. A smile and a reasonable tipping
policy will do wonders to get these folks on your side. I believe

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

131

that creating a positive atmosphere starts with how you act

towards the casino personnel. A positive atmosphere is conducive
to winning as well as to getting your fair share of comps.
You might look at it this way. If you are a grump, the
dealer will probably reciprocate. This is contagious behavior, and
soon the whole table will act the same way. The pit personnel not
only will not be impressed with your play, they probably will be
put off by the whole scene at your table. Not only will your rating
likely suffer, you won't have nearly as much fun.
You can't always control how dealers and other customers
act. If I join a table where no one is talking, and the dealer barely
grunts when spoken to, I will make my departure very quickly.
Usually a few cheerful words followed by a toke for the dealer
will turn the atmosphere around. However, if this fails, you can't
be faulted for not trying. Life is too short to play under miserable
conditions. It is always better to change tables than to continue
to play with an out of sorts crew and crabby complaining
customers. Under these conditions, you should just leave.
Visit the casino at off times.
I nearly always schedule my casino trips for the middle of
the week. I will typically arrive on a Monday afternoon and stay
until Thursday afternoon. The benefits of visiting during the week
are many. If there are any drawbacks to avoiding the weekend
crowds, I haven't found them.

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

132

I don't like waiting and I hate lines. By timing my visits to

the middle of the week, I can usually walk into any coffee shop,
make reservations for a gourmet restaurant just about any time I
chose and get show tickets to the shows I want to see.
If you want to really reduce the size of the crowds, travel in
the middle of the week during off season. Las Vegas is slower
during the middle of summer when it is hot and in the late fall and
early winter when it's colder. The slowest time in Vegas is usually
between Thanksgiving and Christmas. But watch out for
conventions. The Comdex is usually in town in November. Then
it's impossible to get a room (unless you are a rated player or
belong to a slot club).
If you like to visit Atlantic City, try visiting during the
middle of the week in the dead of winter. You'll not only avoid
the larger crowds, but you'll find that the minimum wagers on
many tables have been reduced.
Visiting during an off time is also an excellent way to get
noticed for purposes of getting rated and getting your comp career
off to a roaring start.
With fewer players to contend with, a host or a floorman is
easier to meet and to visit with. Also, during slow times, casinos
tend to be more generous with comps. After all, they are more
likely to have a slew of vacant rooms just waiting to be given
away to qualified players on a Wednesday night in December.

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

133

Ask for comps.

If you play $10,000 a hand at baccarat, you do not have to

ask for comps. The casino will shower you with them. If you are
like the rest of us wagering anywhere from $5 to several hundred a
hand, you need to ask for comps.

Slot players have the more systematic approach as the card

readers on the machines are tied into a centralized computer
system, and comps are based on points. If you are a slots or video
poker player, getting a comp is pretty straight forward with this
system.

Table game players have to deal more with people. And

unless you are a whale, a boss will almost never offer you a comp
unless you have just won big in a smaller casino which watches
every loss. Facing a player who might walk out with their money
in hand, some casinos will start throwing comps at the player. But
most of the time, even rated players can play and play and never
be offered a comp unless they ask for it.
My advice? Always ask for the comp. I have given you
several examples of how to do it.

Maximize your comps.

Anyone who follows the steps I have described can get comps.
Your first step is to pick your primary casino and give it most of
your business. Before you pick your casino you want to make

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

134

sure that the casino has a reasonable comp policy and that it has
beatable games. You should also like the casino as you will be
receiving a lot of invitations there once you get into their comp
system.

After picking your primary casino, you need to join its slot
club and get a VIP card. I usually do both. Some casinos, like Rio
in Las Vegas, combine rating slot, video poker and table players
on one card. Others track machine and table action separately.
However, it usually pays to join the slot club, even if you are
mostly a table game player.

In many ways, slot club players have an advantage over the

table game players. Their rating is automatic, they don't have to
get the attention of some boss. By joining the slot club, they start
receiving mailing from the casino. I have received offers of free
rooms from casinos where I had never played a slot machine, but
had joined their slot club.

If you are just establishing your rating and want to get a

room on a crowded weekend, your slot club membership can be
invaluable. After the reservation clerk tells you there are no rooms
available, tell her you are a member of the slot club or ask to speak
to a slot host. Chances are, the casino will find a room for you.

Getting to know the casino personal is critical. The more the

casino personnel know and like you, the more comps are likely to
flow your way. This is even true for slot players with their

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

135

automated rating system. A slot host can easily "bump up" your
comp from a buffet for two to a coffee shop comp for two, even if
your rating is not quite there.

With table players, interacting with the pit personnel is

critical. A boss can make or break you in terms of your rating. If
your average wager is $25, your goal is to be rated as at least a $50
to $75 player. It is not enough to increase your wagers when the
boss is looking, you need to be a nice person.

Playing with front money gives the casino a real shot at

beating you. When you deposit the money in the cage, the casino
knows that they have a shot at winning all of your front money. If
you are willing to risk $10,000, this will open the door to full RFB
at most establishments.

When you play with front money, be sure to put it all in

play. If you deposit $10,000, draw markers for the full ten grand.
This doesn't mean you should lose the money. If you look like a
loser and the casino sees that you have put all of your front money
into play, your rating will increase.

Remember to look like a loser. You can save your

bragging for when you get home. Appear to lose, but lose
gracefully. Dealers and bosses hear players gripe about losing
every day. Look like a loser but don't complain.

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

136

If you run into a fantastic winning streak, don't worry about

disguising the fact that you are a winner. The bosses will know
that you are winning. If you try to hide enough chips to turn a big
win into a loss, they'll know. When you have a big win, act like a
winner. Go ahead and tip a little more. If you are playing craps,
shouting is not out of line. I have had some of my best comps
come out of big wins as casinos hate to see winners walk out the
door with their money.

________

Once you know how to play the comps game, you will be
able to milk the casinos for every dime your action entitles you to.
I have given you some pointers on how to get a quarter's worth of
comps for a dime's worth of action.

When you combine getting the maximum number of comps

with the Maximum Advantage Roulette Strategy, you are in the
best position to maximize your profits from casino gambling.

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

137

If you at least break even, then the comps you receive

constitute a profit for your play. If you are able to win money at
the casino games, then your profit will be even greater.

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

138

CASINO ETIQUETTE
If you know how to dine in a fine restaurant without
making a scene, or automatically open doors for others and say
thanks when someone holds open a door for you, you will
probably not have any trouble knowing how to conduct yourself
in a casino. I normally don't think much about etiquette until I
see some jerk raising hell with a dealer about his losses, or
chewing out a cocktail waitress for taking too long with an order.
Then I have to wonder how the concept of manners has escaped
him completely.
I said him, because boorish, obnoxious behavior nearly
always comes from males, with very few females managing to
become the perfect asses that males seem to delight in being.
Casinos seem to attract a higher than normal number of
persons with a need to blow off at some unfortunate casino
employee. The times I have somehow gotten in the middle of
these disputes, I nearly always take the side of the dealer or
floorman, especially if a male patron is unjustifiably berating a
female employee for no reason other than he has poor control

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

139

over his gambling, managed to lose much more than that should
have, and is now looking for a scape goat.
For most persons who visit casinos, etiquette is simply a
matter of common courtesy. It's okay to get a little wild in a
casino. These are supposed to be places of fun, and drinking a
little too much may be part of the entertainment. But for a
successful Maximum Advantage Roulette player, the rules are
not quite the same. The casino is your place of employment and
drinking should be limited. It goes without saying, courteous
behavior should be practiced at all times.
At all casino table games, the rules of etiquette are pretty
simple. Treat the dealers and other players with respect and
avoid being loud, pushy or belligerent. If you get into a
disagreement with a dealer, stay calm and be gracious even if the
dealer really is wrong. It does not make sense to win an
argument over a single payoff and create an enemy for life.
Whatever the problem is, you don't want to be cast as the bad guy
- by the casino employees or by other players.
Here are some specific tips that apply to the roulette game.
1. To enter a game, find an empty spot or seat around the layout
and put your money on the table for the dealer to exchange
for chips. Make sure the dealer knows your intentions. Do
not place your money anywhere on the layout where bets are
made as it could be misconstrued as a wager. If you want to
play with casino chips rather than the special colored chips
used at roulette, ask the dealer for the chips. The best time to

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

140

facilitate this exchange of cash for chips is right after the

dealer has paid off all of the winning bets from the previous
spin.
2. Once you have received your chips and the dealer has
removed the marker from the table, you can make your
wager. Be sure to observe the previous decision so that you
know which pattern to chose for beginning the game.
3. You can make a wager when the ball and wheel are spinning
until the dealer announces, "No more bets."
4. When the ball drops into a numbered slot, the dealer will
place a marker on top of the winning number on the layout.
The losing bets will be cleared away immediately. The
winning bets are paid last. Please keep your hands away from
your wager until the dealer has either removed a losing bet or
paid you for a winning bet.
5. When you have finished playing, you can ask the dealer to
color you up before leaving the table. If you are playing with
the special colored roulette chips, you must exchange the
chips for casino chips before departing as the colored chips
have no stated value at any other table.
6. Watch your own bets at all times. Outside bets are easy to
track as you handle the bets yourself and place them directly
in front of you.

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

141

7. Don't force your way into a crowded table. It there isn't room
for you to reach the table and make your wagers, perhaps you
don't belong there.
8. Don't slow down the game by constantly asking the dealer
basic questions about how the game is played or how bets are
made. There are hundreds of books on how to play roulette
including this one. You should learn the correct payoffs for
the bets you will be making.
9. Try to be discrete about your wins and losses. No one really
cares to know how much you are willing, and it doesn't do
you any good to advertise that you are a consistent winner.
10. While playing, conduct yourself courteously at all times. If you
drink, refrain from overdoing it and never get drunk. You will
need to stay alert to correctly make the wagers required by the
Maximum Advantage Roulette Strategy, and contrary to the
opinion of some drunks, alcohol does not make you think
clearer.
11. Toke the dealers. Dealers call tips "tokes" as in a token of
appreciation. Many players don't realize that dealers are not
paid much more than minimum wage. Roulette dealers try very
hard to please the public. Most dealers want the players to win
and have a good time. They know that if the players enjoy
themselves and win, they will get toked. I always toke the
dealers. If I win more I will toke them more, but even if I lose,
I will make several bets for the dealer. This is not only the right

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

142

thing to do but will pay you off in spades if you do it

consistently. Even floor personnel know who the tippers are,
and my experience has been that if you tip, you will be more
than repaid by hard working dealers, who will watch out for
your bets and by casino complementaries, controlled by and
large by pit personnel who rate your play.

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

143

MONEY STRATEGIES
Before you rush right out and start using the Simplex
Strategy, you've got to think about money.
Most gamblers have very little conception of what a
gambling bankroll is or how to manage it. Most trips to casinos are
scheduled as vacations, or in conjunction with some other event
such as a business conference, and the would-be gambler will grab
whatever money happens to be available as his "bankroll."
Records are never kept of gambling wins and losses, and the player
really has no idea how much has been lost. In many cases the
gambler doesn't want to know, for if he had to face the hard cold
facts, recognition of his lack of gambling prowess would be
unavoidable.
This approach is the wrong way to go about becoming a
consistent winner. Most people think that there is some "magic"
way to winning and that with this secret all that is necessary is to
join the action and become a big winner. Others, of the more
cynical persuasion, believe that it is not possible to beat any casino

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

144

game, so why worry about bankrolls. Just take what you can
scrape up at the moment, have a good time, and when the money is
gone, chalk it up to experience.
I hope that you have recognized at this point that the
Simplex Strategy is a powerful winning strategy. However, if it is
applied in a haphazard manner without adequate controls to
prevent losses, it will probably be a disappointment.
The starting point for any successful gambling endeavor is
to bring an adequate bankroll. Notice that I did not say a large
bankroll. It is not necessary to risk large sums of money to become
a successful Simplex winner; however, it is necessary to bring at
least adequate funds for the system to work.
Let's first discuss what a bankroll is not. It is not next
month's rent or mortgage payment. It is not money advanced on
credit cards. It is not the down payment needed on a new car. And
it is not casino credit.
A bankroll is cash set aside specifically for the purpose
of using the Simplex Blackjack Strategy! It is a separate fund of
cash that is not needed for living expenses, much like an
investment in any speculative venture. It is money that you can
afford to lose, although, if you follow the our recommendations,
you will probably not lose it. But you must be prepared for the
possibility that your bankroll could be lost, and its loss must not
adversely affect your life style.
I recommend that you start with a small bankroll and use
winnings to build your bankroll to a larger amount.

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

145

I have given you guidelines for the size bankroll needed in

the chapter Simplex Betting Strategy. You must gear the size of
your bankroll to the version of the Simplex Betting Strategy you
will use. You also must consider the locale where you will play
and the minimum wagers required at the blackjack tables. If you
have a bankroll for a $2 minimum game, but only $5 games are
available, then you will not have an adequate amount to play.
If you are playing at a $5 minimum table, using the standard
Simplex Betting Series with a bump bet ratio of 20:1, then you will
need a bankroll of $1,800 for a short trip. If you decide to use the
Reduced Simplex Betting Series, then a $900 bankroll will be
adequate.
Before beginning casino play, you will divide your trip
bankroll into three parts if you plan on a short trip, or five parts if
you are planning a longer stay and have brought the larger bankroll
needed for a long trip. If you are a $5 bettor using the standard
betting series, you will bring $600 to the table, which is one-third
of your bankroll. This is your session bankroll.
When you are playing, you must be aware of the status of
your bankroll throughout the game. This is easily accomplished if
you keep your chips segregated by denomination so that you can
tell at a glance the approximate amount that you are ahead or
behind. When the dealer shuffles, count your bankroll. You will
have an accurate count of your wins and losses.
At all times, your play will be governed by the target win
and stop loss amounts for the series you are using. Using the series

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

146

1 betting series (5 100 10 20 40 80 40 40), your target win is

$1,072, and your stop loss is $540. Hitting either amount is a
trigger to immediately call the session over and to leave the table.
There is an additional stop loss provision when you first
begin playing at a table. If you lose all three of your first three
bump bet wagers, you will quit. This effectively limits your
exposure at a new table to about half of your session bankroll.
You will quit a session when you have won your target
win, hit your target loss, or lost the first three bump bets. There is
still another trigger for quitting. If you have played longer than
two hours, you should quit. Fatigue is a great leveler in casino
gambling, and you must not play when you are tired.
When you take a break from a session, the first thing you
will do is to record the results of the session. You will carry a
notebook for this purpose, and you will record the results of every
gambling session. The information you will want to record for
each session is:
Date Played
Casino
Approximate time played
Betting Series Used
Session Bankroll
Amount Won or (Lost)
Explanation for stopping
Comments

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

147

Each item of information can be set up as a column heading

so that you can easily add the Amount Won or Lost to determine
exactly your position on each trip. You will use the Explanation
for Stopping column to record the reason for stopping a sessions,
such as "hit target win" or "played 2 hours."
You will find that this information is invaluable in fine
tuning your play.
After entering this information in your notebook after a
playing session, you will take a break. The best bet for a break is
to remove yourself from the casino for at least an hour. You can
catch a bar show, or go for a walk, or take a short nap.
If disaster strikes and you lose your entire bankroll, you
should never borrow on your credit card or use other monies to
continue gambling. One purpose of having a defined bankroll is to
prevent you from ever using other money for gambling. If you
have lost your bankroll, then your gambling is over for this trip.
You should also set win goals for each trip. If your bankroll
is $1,800 and you have set a win goal of $1,800, then you should
quit when your target win is reached. I have known of many many
gamblers who just couldn't quit when they were ahead. The
Simplex Strategy is a powerful winning strategy; however, part of
its effectiveness is using these controls to limit losses and to walk
away with winnings.
With the Simplex Strategy you can also build your bankroll.
Use your own devices to build your initial minimum bankroll, but

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

148

after you have done this, you can use winnings from Simplex to
increase your bankroll at an accelerated rate!
To accelerate the growth of your bankroll, you will increase
the size of the Simplex Betting Series used as your bankroll grows.
The Table Escalation Plan for Increasing the Bankroll shows a
method for increasing the size of the betting series as your
winnings accumulate.

ESCALATION PLAN FOR INCREASING THE

BANKROLL
SERIES
(20:1
RATIO)

WIN/H
R

SHORTTRIP
BANKROLL

TARGET
BANKROLL

TARGET
WIN

HOURS
TO
MOVE
UP

Basic

$51.50

$720

$1800

$1080

35

128.69

1800

3600

1800

14

257.50

3600

5400

1800

386.31

5400

7200

1800

4.6

515.00

7200

9000

1800

3.5

676.23

9000

TOTAL HOURS

64.1

The column SERIES shows the betting series being used.

WIN/HR shows the average winnings per hour for each betting
series. SHORT-TRIP BANKROLL shows the bankroll
requirements for each betting series for a short trip. TARGET
BANKROLL is the amount of bankroll needed to move up to the

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

149

next higher betting series. The TARGET WIN is the amount of

winnings needed to bring the bankroll up to the level needed for
the next higher betting series. HOURS TO MOVE UP shows the
average amount of playing time needed to win the TARGET WIN
and to have the needed bankroll to start using the next higher
betting series.
Using a stair-step approach is the recommended way to
gradually increase your winnings. If you are using the Basic
Betting Series, it will take (on the average) about 35 hours of
blackjack play to win $1,080. This is the TARGET WIN needed
to increase your bankroll to the level needed to increase your
wagers to Betting Series #1. Only 14 average hours are needed to
move from Betting Series 1 to 2. In 7 more hours it is possible to
move from 2 to 3, and only a total of 8.1 hours are required on the
average to move from Betting Series 3 to Series 5. The total
playing time needed to accomplish this is about 64 hours.
At the Series 5 level, your minimum wager will be $25, and
it will be possible to generate hourly winnings of almost $700 an
hour. At this level of play, the casino will comp virtually all costs,
including the room, meals, shows and even airfare. If this sounds
appealing to you, or if just the idea of winning $700 an hour has
enough appeal, it is certainly a worthwhile goal to plan on
escalating your bankroll until you reach the green and black chip
playing level.
I want to cover one more possibility for playing with a
smaller bankroll. As we saw in the last chapter, it is possible to use
a reduced betting strategy to lower the bankroll requirements.
Another solution is to raise the basic bet so that a lower level series

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

150

can be played at a table with a higher minimum wager. Assume

that you have picked the Basic Reduced Simplex Betting Series of
2 20 4 8 12 24 12 12, which requires a session bankroll of $120
and a short-trip bankroll of $360. Let's further assume that only $5
minimum tables are available for play. If we stick with the strict
Simplex rules, then we must have a table session bankroll of at
least $300, and a short-trip bankroll of $900 to play at a $5
minimum table.
However, we can modify the Basic Reduced Simplex
Betting Series slightly by increasing the first wager to $5 so that we
can use the series at a $5 minimum table. Our series for play at the
$5 table now becomes 5 20 4 8 12 24 12 12, and this series will
produce satisfactory results, even though we have reduced our ratio
of the bump wager to the basic wager to only 4:1. Our results will
still be satisfactory because the remainder of the series has been
left intact; therefore, when we have a winning streak, our wins will
still be respectable.
We now have all of the ingredients to put the Simplex
Blackjack Strategy to work. Let's see how to do this.

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

151

PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER

The key to winning with the Simplex Blackjack Strategy is
to practice it at home until you have it down perfectly. Therefore,
you make your mistakes at home and not in the casino. In addition
to knowing the strategy, you will need to practice good player
control techniques when you are in a casino so that all of your
practice is not swept aside in the heat of battle.
First you need to learn the Simplex Playing Strategy well
enough that you can make the correct playing decisions over 98%
of the time. In other words, you will need to know how to apply
the playing strategy almost perfectly.
The best way to learn playing strategy is to learn it a step at
a time as we suggested earlier. Write down each step of the
strategy on a small card which you can carry with you. Look at the
card frequently, whenever you have a few idle moments during the
day. After each step in playing strategy has been learned, you
should make another card for the next step and continue this
process until the entire playing strategy has been learned.

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

152

You may wish to write down the memory tricks we showed

you for learning the correct plays for soft doubling and pair
splitting, the two areas of playing strategy which are hardest to
learn for most people.
At each step in learning playing strategy, feel free to
practice with cards. At this stage, we recommend that you don't try
to play out each hand, but simply make the correct hitting and
standing, doubling and pair splitting decisions. If surrender is
offered in the jurisdiction where you will play, you will also want
to learn the surrender rules.
After you have the Simplex Playing Strategy down cold,
you should start practicing using a Simplex Betting Strategy. To
make your practice more realistic, you should use the betting series
that you will use in actual play. If you use chips, so much the
better. If your spouse or a friend wants to join you, it will increase
the realism.
After playing a number of hands using both playing and
betting strategies, you should start recording the results of your
home sessions. You will want to set target win goals and stop
losses the same as you will in a casino and stick to these limits.
There is a two fold benefit to simulating actual play. First,
you are obviously practicing and gaining experience and
knowledge. Equally important, if you use realistic target wins and
stop losses and record your results, you will reinforce these
concepts so that you will actually feel guilty if you violate these
principles in a casino. This is important, because the distractions
in a casino are much greater than when practicing at home.

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

153

After mastering the play of the game, you will need to turn
your attention to building your bankroll. Building your bankroll
may take some time, but you must follow this important step.
Planning your trip is another essential step to winning at
blackjack. Practicing playing and betting strategies are part of this
planning as well as planning and building your bankroll. However,
I believe that you should go even further and develop a written
plan for your casino play.
Business people develop business plans all the time, yet
gamblers rely almost exclusively on lady luck, hunches, moods and
the "action of the moment." If you approach blackjack in this way,
it won't matter whether you use the Simplex Blackjack Strategy,
card counting or just plain reckless betting. The outcome will
probably be the same. You will probably lose.
If you really want to be a winner, you need to devote some
time to planning, just like you would with any business venture.
The first and obvious step is to know the Simplex Strategy
well enough that you can correctly use it, regardless of the
distractions. If you can play correct strategy and track the correct
wagers in the betting series with the television on or while carrying
on a conversation with one or more people, and not miss a beat in
applying the correct strategy, you may be ready for casino play.
Many people will read this book, practice the strategies a
couple of hours, visit a casino, and not have the slightest idea of the
correct plays to make in the casino. They will rationalize this by

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

154

saying that they only made a few mistakes anyway, and what does
it matter because they lost just like they always do.
Mental attitude may account for 90% of the stuff needed to
become a winner, and part of this attitude is to have a complete
winning strategy perfected so that you will actually feel guilty if
you depart from using your winning strategy. To reach this
stage, it is necessary to practice until blackjack play becomes so
easy that you can do it correctly even with considerable distractions
and not forget your game plan.
Developing a written game plan will become part of your
winning strategy. Below is presented an outline of your game plan
for winning at blackjack. Every item should be described in
writing before you visit a casino. After you have completed this
plan, you will feel a real sense of satisfaction, and you will be well
equipped to beat the casinos.
1. After learning the correct playing strategy make a set of
cards that you can carry with you summarizing the playing
strategy. Cards created:_________________________.
2. Decide on the betting strategy to use when playing. Betting
Strategy to use:___________________________________.
3. Put together the correct bankroll needed for the betting
strategy and the length of the trip. The Bankroll
is:_________________________.
4. Determine the Session Bankroll to be used. The session
bankroll is:____________________________.

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

155

5. Set the Target Win amount per session. The Target Win
amount is:______________________________.
6. Decide on the Stop Loss to use for each session. The Stop
Loss is:_________________________.
7. Schedule dates and playing hours for the trip.
Date of trip:
Location:
Daily planner: Day___________ Hours to
Play___________
Day___________ Hours to Play___________
Day___________ Hours to Play___________

8. Set the targeted win amount for the trip (use estimated
hours of play and estimated win amounts per hour to set
target). The Targeted Trip Win
is:____________________________.
9. Maximum time to play per session:______________.
10. Set up a notebook for tracking the results of each
blackjack session. Notebook set
up:__________________________.

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

156

11. Schedule list of things to do (you can do this based on your

knowledge of yourself and your own past behavior):
_____Take breaks every two hours or so. Schedule of
activities during breaks:________________________________
_____Control alcohol consumption. Schedule of cocktail
times:________________________________________________

______Casinos to play in:__________________________

_____________________________________________________
_____Dealer tipping policy:________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____Scheduled shows or other
events:_______________________________________________
_______________________________
_____Game plan if Target Win hit early or if stopped
out of play:____________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
______________________________

If you follow all of these steps and execute your game plan
correctly, you will feel very good about your approach to
blackjack, and you definitely will be head and shoulders above the

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

157

crowd. Just remember to take it easy. Blackjack games are going

twenty four hours a day, 365 days a year, and you will do much
better if you don't push too hard to become an instant millionaire
blackjack player.
I have found that even with all of the planning that you are
not able to psychologically assess the success of a casino trip until
you are heading back home. Make sure that you are counting your
winnings while you make this trip. There is no better feeling than
putting together a comprehensive game plan, executing it, and
having it work as planned.
I wish you the best in your blackjack play.

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

158

Are You Ready

to Win $9,674
by Next Tuesday?
Would you like an easy and relaxing way to make an additional
$5,000 to $10,000 next week?
Can it be that casino gambling can really be turned into a reliable
profit maker? Stay with me for a couple of minutes and I'll reveal
some information that may be the most profitable you ever hear!
Just imagine that you had a perfected money making method that
had the following characteristics:
It was easy to learn and just as easy to use.
You could use it just a few hours a month and make large
amounts of money with very low risk.
You don't have to set up a business, hire employees, buy
inventory or call on any of your friends. In fact, no one
needs to know the source of your new-found wealth.

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

159

 You could completely try out the strategy with No Risk!

Each of my proven money makers is 100% guaranteed by
the company called "America's Most Respected Source of
Gaming Information."
You could learn a proven money making method so
quickly that you really could Win $9,674 by next
Tuesday!
I have spent over ten years reviewing hundreds of systems
searching for a handful of proven strategies that really do win
consistently at casino gambling.
I have personally used each of these proven jewels with great
success. Each of my unique strategies has been through a battery
of tests and is proven to work. This is no unproven theory here!
I have played each strategy in both land-based and in
Internet casinos with great results!
My inner circle of carefully selected associates have also
tried the strategy and every change or observation they
made has been carefully taken into consideration in my
quest for perfection. The result is a perfected, proven way
you can use to make fabulous amounts of money in a
controlled, low-risk manner.
Each of my "selected systems" has been subjected to
rigorous tests and is absolutely proven to work!
Each strategy has been tested, modified and retested until
it meets my unqualified approval!
The few strategies that have survived this critical scientifically
based approach are truly powerful and reliable. They are
profitable, easy-to-learn and can be used with very little money.
So, what does this mean for me, you are thinking? Please read
on. I have some information that will just really astound you

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

160

Here's a Proven Way That Will Net You

$1,373.53 a Day!
Would you like to get rid of your money problems once and for
all? If winning $1,373.53 or more a day will help you, then I
have the perfect solution for you.
And, because of the power of the Internet, you can have this
valuable information in your hands five minutes from now!
Power Blackjack is a new, 100% fail-safe system for beating any
blackjack game. It doesn't rely on card counting or on any
approach you have seen before. It has been tested in both landbased casinos and online casinos. It has been played against
single deck, four-deck and monster eight-deck games.
The result? It wins so consistently that it has been called "the
most reliable blackjack strategy ever created."
There is simply nothing else like it. Even making the smallest
wagers, you will make at least $154 an hour playing blackjack.
And this is while playing at a slow table with several other
players. At a faster table with slightly higher bets, you can easily
clear $770 an hour! On the Internet, you can easily win $500 an
hour relaxing at your computer with a cocktail in
hand.
One of my associates said, "This is the closest thing to a magic
bullet ever created. It is the ultimate reliable way to consistently
win at blackjack."
Here's what others say about this strategy -

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

161

"I recently received your manual. What an outstanding

system! This system wins like crazy!
G. Miller - Los Angeles, California
"Everything you said was true. I have won over $7,000 in the
past two weeks."
Gene J. - Park Forest, Illinois

Isn't it time you changed your life and learned a 100%

guaranteed strategy that can offer you the freedom that no job or
business ever can?
Follow the link below to find out how you can use this system to
win a fortune. I am so sure that it will work for you that I will
give you a valuable Free Report just for visiting my site. This
report, "How to Make $10,000 a Week Using the Power
Blackjack Strategy," can be in your hands three minutes from
now. Just click here for complete information on how you can
have this amazing blackjack strategy in your hands almost
immediately!

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

162

Learn How to Play and Beat the Internet

Casinos!
This may be your best chance to end your money problems
forever!
"The new game in town is beating the Internet casinos, with
daily winnings of $500, $1,000 or even $2,000!"

"This is the easiest and the best money making strategy I

have ever seen. I 'work' about two to three hours a day on my
computer and bring in over $9,000 every week. Fantastic!"
George A., Concord, California

How would you like to make $5,000 a week?

What if I told you there is a guaranteed way to make at least
$5,000 a week without ever leaving home? I have discovered an
amazing proven way to make a fortune off Internet casinos. Now
you can use this proven strategy to make $500 or more an hour
from your living room chair
Would you like to set your own hours, and regularly win $500 or
more an hour? It sounds incredible doesn't it? Do you need a way
to make $5,000 or more every week? What if I told you that you
can do this spending about two hours a day on your computer?
You'd probably think I was crazy.
Let me tell you a little more about this amazing way to make
money. This is not like any of the flaky "make money at home"
scams like envelope stuffing or mail order businesses. You won't
have to bother your family and friends like most MLM marketing
strategies recommend. In fact, you won't have to tell anyone
about your new source of "instant money."

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

163

When you play online, the way I will show you, you will have a
100% proven fail-safe way to make just about any amount of
money you want.
Would you like to pay cash for your next car? I just bought a new
GMC Yukon XL and paid cash. My home mortgage is paid off.
But best of all, I have complete peace of mind knowing that I can
make another $500 or more every time I am willing to spend an
hour on my computer. I know you will feel as good as I do once
you know this ultimate secret of winning!
This is the best way I know to use your home computer and your
Internet connection to start making huge amounts of money
every day!
The Internet winning system is one of the best of the best. It has
been called the "ultimate stay-at-home winning strategy." In just
a few moments you'll see why.

Because of a "Flaw" You Can Play at an

Advantage Over the Casinos!
Using a "flaw" in the payback structure of many Internet casinos,
it is possible to play at an advantage over these online casinos.
Once you know about this flaw and how to exploit it, you will be
able to start winning more money than you ever imagined.
This is the ultimate moneymaker for persons who want to make
money without even leaving home. Heck, I sometimes play in
my bathrobe. This is the new explosive way to make money that
is just unstoppable!
Let me tell you a little more about this proven way of winning . .
.
It is a great system for beginners as well as pros. Using
powerful step-by-step methods, you will learn exactly
how to beat the Internet casinos.

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

164

 This strategy is perfect for those who don't want to risk

much money. You can start out with a couple of hundred
dollars and rapidly build your bankroll from your
winnings.
The strategy is based on "quick-win" principles. This
means you won't have to play very long to lock up a win.
In most cases, you can play and win in less than thirty
minutes. This gives you a dramatic edge in quickly
building your winnings.
The main reason this strategy is so consistent is that you
are always favored to win when you use it.
On the surface, playing against anonymous persons over the
Internet sounds way too risky. However, using special "risk
reduction" rules have made this one of the safest ways to make
money I have ever seen.
Here's what a few users say about this strategy . . .

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

165

"You have changed my life. I have been trying for years to

find a dependable way to make money at home and this is it!
Thank you for your excellent strategy!
Gary S., Elkhart, Indiana
"I have been more successful playing in the online casinos
than I ever believed possible. My winnings are very steady. I
don't know if you have thought of it, but this is the perfect
home business."
Tim C., Layton, Utah
"This is just a short note to let you know that your Internet
methods are the best I have ever seen. I am now a consistent
winner and I have never had as much fun playing in a
casino."
Thomas B., La Porte, Texas
"Just like you, I questioned even playing in an online casino.
However, by following your suggestions I have had hardly
any problems and I always collect my winnings quickly. Your
guide to beating the Internet casinos is priceless!
Marion N., Honolulu, Hawaii

Get Started Instantly!

The success of others using the "Beat the Internet Casinos"
strategy can be repeated. Anyone who wants to can do as well.
Just follow the link below, and five minutes from now you will
have this information in your hands in the form of an instantly
downloadable electronic-book.

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

166

"It should be obvious that the Beat the Internet Casinos Strategy
is a high-powered and very effective proven way to get rich off
the Internet casinos."
So click here now to grab this information!

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

167

Power Craps! Myth or Miracle?

Are you open minded enough to learn a specialized proven
method that can give you a lifetime income on your terms?
Can this revolutionary new way of playing hold the secret to
abundant wealth?
People using this strategy are certainly growing wealthier by
the minute. In fact, our studies show that even make small
wagers, it is possible to average making $294 an hour!

"I really can't believe that you came up with this. What an
amazing way to beat the casinos. This is the strategy I have
looked for and couldn't ever find. Thanks."
Jim A. - Carlsbad, California

Imagine what you could do if you knew exactly how to win $294
an hour any time you felt like it? How much would this
information be worth to you? How drastically would your life
improve by putting this information to work once a week or even
once a month?

"This strategy is wonderful. My son and I like to play craps,

and this is the best way we have ever seen to win and just
keep on winning. Last weekend we won $2,800 using this
strategy. Thanks for a great system."
Kenneth S., Broomfield, Colorado

Power Craps is a breakthrough way of playing that you can use

to beat any craps game. It is not a hot or cold table system. It
does not rely on elaborate hedging strategies, which do nothing
to reduce the house advantage. It is a unique, perfected way that

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

168

relies on the randomness in any craps game to produce the most

consistent winning results you will ever experience. Here's why .
..
Most gambling strategies rely on catching and following trends.
This is true whether the game is craps, blackjack or roulette.
And, every trend-following system will eventually break down
and lose. That's why these types of strategies should be labeled
"hazardous to your financial health."
Power Craps is a specifically designed strategy that ignores
"perceived trends" in craps and automatically focuses on inherent
randomness. While this sounds very complicated, the actual
strategy is easy to learn and apply.
In fact, it takes no experience at all to put this strategy to work.
Even if you have never been inside a casino, much less played
craps, our manual gives you complete step-by-step instructions
that are easy to follow.
I want you to think what this information can mean to you. This
strategy has been thoroughly tested in both land-based and
Internet casinos. It works in any craps game, anywhere it is
offered. There is no question that it is absolutely foolproof. And,
it comes with an Iron-Clad Guarantee to back this up!
You are invited to take this opportunity to change your life. Isn't
it time you learned a 100% guaranteed system that will offer you
the freedom that no job or business ever can?
Previously, only a trusted few had access to and were able to
benefit from the amazing Power Craps Strategy. Now, for a
limited time, you can too!
Follow the link below to find out how you can use this
documented system to win a fortune. I am so sure that it will
work for you that I will give you a Valuable Free Report just for
visiting my site. "How to Make $10,000 a Week Using the Power

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

169

Craps Strategy" can be in your hands three minutes from now.

Just Click Here and you'll have this information in your hands
almost instantly!

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

170

THE SECRET OF "PATTERN

SELECTION" CAN MAKE YOU RICH!
This Powerful Strategy Turns the Tables on Casinos! $5 Bettors
Win Over $140 an Hour and $25 Bettors Win an Incredible $800
an Hour!
"This strategy has been called the 'best method ever created to
beat the casinos' Once you learn it, you will be able to develop
an unending stream of consistent winnings you can count on.
And, because of its unique approach to winning, there's not a
thing the casinos can do about it!"
I want to share with you an extraordinary way of making money
off the casinos. This explosive method of winning actually
breaks down the house edge in casino table games. When you
use this amazing strategy, money just flows your way! But
there's more.

"Your strategy has changed my life. I lost my job six months

ago and I was going crazy sending out resumes and only
getting an interview once in a while. Since I started using
your Neural Strategy in the online casinos, my attitude has
improved 1,000%! Now, instead of feeling bad about not
going to work I am winning money every day sitting at home
in front of my computer. My average winnings for the past
two weeks are $673 a day. Not bad for someone who is
unemployed."
Dan H. - Greensboro, North Carolina

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

171

If you are tired of having the casinos eat your lunch, I want
to share with you my "ultimate weapon" for creaming the
casinos!
It is so extraordinary that it literally overcomes the house
advantages in all casino games offering even-money bets.
When you use it, you will gain an unfair advantage over such
casino games as craps, roulette and baccarat. Click here to
learn more about the amazing Neural Strategy!
I know that one or more of these tested and proven strategies will
work for you. I am so sure you will win that I will offer an
unconditional guarantee with each strategy. No one else dares to
do that.

IRONCLAD GUARANTEE
IN WRITING
I unconditionally guarantee each strategy to perform
exactly as described in this letter. You can order any
manual risk-free, even if you are simply curious. If for
any reason (or no reason), you decide this information
isn't right for you, just email me at any time within 60
days, and I'll buy it back from you for every penny you
paid.
That's 2 FULL months to put this information to the
test - all of the risk is on me!

Now, the only way you can lose is by missing out on this chance
to set up a "lifetime of consistent earnings."

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

172

My gambling associates think I'm certifiably nuts to offer these

systems at any price. No one ever offers such an incredible
guarantee for any gambling strategy, because no one else has the
confidence and certainty of offering only the best proven
strategies.
I urge you to act quickly. These super strategies will not be
available long at these "rock bottom prices." In fact, I may
have to withdraw these systems completely because of casino
pressure.
I suggest you order at once. You can try out any strategy for 2
FULL months, and if for any reason you are not delighted, please
tell me and I will refund every cent you paid. But please keep the
valuable bonuses I will send you just for looking at one of my
"chosen strategies."
So what are you waiting for? It's time to make your dreams
come true. Just follow a link below and you can have a
powerful proven winning strategy in your hands in less than
five minutes.
Power Blackjack Strategy
Beat the Internet Casinos
Power Craps Strategy
The Neural Strategy

The Simplex Blackjack Strategy

2006 Silverthorne Publications Inc.

173