10 value of intimidation

There are a few intimidating sights in the gambling world. Staring down someone else’s full house. A jam-packed craps table all looking at you with the dice in your hands. The 9 p.m. line at the dessert buffet. When talking about blackjack, though, the one that comes to mind for me is a dealer’s up card with a value of 10.

See, the Ace isn’t so bad for some reason. You can’t do anything about a blackjack on the deal. But the 10 leaves so many possibilities, ones that are multiplied when you find out what your hand is. With that 10, I never feel comfortable. There are those times where you just know you’re going to lose when you have to hit. Even if you escape without busting, you still feel like you’re going down, and if you’re got a good gut feeling, you’re often right. One of the nasty sinking feelings about playing blackjack.

The strategy chart can be your friend and your enemy here. Statistically, you follow what it tells you. But deep down, every blackjack player has that urge to hit when he or she isn’t supposed to. It’s OK, you can admit it…we know.

Even with an 11 in my hand, the only amount you’re supposed to double against a 10, I don’t feel comfortable. You stand on 17 or on A-8, A-9, A-10. Well, the last two are obvious, and I think once anyone gets to 19, they’re good to go taking their chances against that face card. But a 17? You going to listen to the chart or your gut if you’re staring down a 10 and there are no low cards showing up to that point?

That’s what I thought.