A basic blackjack strategy is let the dealer bust. This means if the dealer has a break card showing and you need a hit that could break your hand, let it go and let the dealer hit in hopes that the dealer will bust. A break hand would be 12, 13, 14, 15 or 16. If the dealer is showing a 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 then let the card go if you have one of the break hands. It will not always work and you will see the perfect card for your hand make the dealer’s hand.

But this play is a mathematical play and not one of feelings. I saw a fellow hit 17 one night as he was convinced the dealer had a 20. He got a four and when the dealer showed, the four would have made the 16 she held. What makes the story even better is the third base player turned his hand up and told the other players he felt he had to hit his hand. When the dealer broke his hand, the dealer looked up at the cameras and asked, “You got that play”. The point is there is still room for feel and hunches in blackjack. But a good third baseman, the last player at the table, does let the dealer hit a break hand on most plays

Letting the dealer break is something that many blackjack players ignore and it can kill you if they are playing third base. Many players will not play at a table where they cannot have the third base seat. Or, if they do they have observed that the player in the seat has a good idea of playing break hands. If you are ever seated at a table where you have an idiot playing that is consistently hitting the dealers break card, get up and leave. This poor play can change the deck heavily in favor of the house. The house has the edge, why improve it by bad play

A super cold dealer should be given every opportunity to hit their hand. If they have a good hitting hand they get a bad card first and then the break card. If they have a break hand, they will break the hand. If you are lucky enough to play at this dealer’s table, be sure and make progressive or parlay bets. A cold dealer is hard to find. When you do, take advantage of it and bet more not less. Cold dealers happen to the casino, just as hot dealers do. Remember this is the reason that this table game like other table games is called gambling.

Another idea if you can, is play two or three hands at a time against a cold dealer. You need to push this opportunity for all it is worth. Dealers have been known to be cold their entire shift. The house will not like it, but the dealer will, as their tips will increase appreciatively.

Do not help the dealer by hitting break hands and double down any chance you get. Press your bets if you are winning three or four or more hands in a row. The pay off in this scenario is a happy player with lots of house chips. Make sure if you can that you control the last seat or there is a player there that is doing it right. Do not let a strange player get that seat. Play more hands or move to that seat if your present dealer is giving up chips like a chip making machine.