Play Blackjack Like a Winner

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Knowing your limits

Before you cash in your money and make any bets at a blackjack or slot machine, be sure you know the rules and parameters of the game you’re about to play. Even popular standards, such as blackjack and video poker, may have weird variations or unusual rules. Avoid disrupting other players — and save yourself some embarrassment - by confirming that you’re playing the game you think you are before you join in. Just ask the dealer (while she’s shuffling is the best time) to give you a quick overview of the game. But most specialty or unusual games have their rules printed at the table, so you can typically read them before you play.
Always check the table limits - the betting minimums and maximums — before you sit down. Casinos usually print the limits on a small, colored placard on the table to keep you from inadvertently joining a high-limit game where you can’t afford even the minimum bet. Making a $5 bet only to have the dealer point out that you’re sitting at a $100-minimum table can be humiliating.