Wager Mage
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Should you take even money in blackjack?

Unless you're a card counter and know that more than a third of the remaining cards are 10s or face cards, don't take even money. That “sure thing” costs you money in the long run.

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The “Even Money” Option in Blackjack

By John Grochowski on Thursday August 12, 2010

In blackjack, if the dealer has an Ace face up when you’re dealt a blackjack, the dealer will ask if you want “even money.” If you wager $10, you’ll win $10 even if the dealer also has a blackjack. “The only sure thing in the house,” I’ve had dozens of dealers tell me. It’s a form of insurance, which is really a bet that the dealer has a blackjack. You’re offered insurance whenever the dealer has an Ace up. That allows you to make a wager half the size of your original wager. If the dealer has a 10-value card face down, your insurance bet pays 2-1. The arithmetic works out so that if you have blackjack and make an insurance bet, you win an amount equal to your original bet regardless of the dealer’s final hand. If you bet $10 plus a $5 insurance bet and the dealer has blackjack to tie your blackjack, your original bet just pushes, but you win $10 on the 2-1 payoff on insurance. If the dealer doesn’t have blackjack, your original bet wins $15 on the 3-2 payoff on blackjack, but your insurance bet loses $5, leaving a net gain of, yes, $10.

The casino offers “even money” as short-hand, speeding the process.

But to get that sure thing, you have to pass up a 3-2 payoff if the dealer doesn’t have a 10-value card face down, and he has a 10-value less than 31 percent of the time. If the dealer doesn’t tie you, you SHOULD win $15 on that $10 bet. Unless you’re a card counter and know that more than a third of the remaining cards are 10s or face cards, don’t take even money. That “sure thing” costs you money in the long run.

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How do you become a soft person?

Try hard to be more gentle. Be patient. It takes time to build trust. Practice being as gentle as you want to be, and continually evaluate your actions. ... Do not expect anyone to forgive you. If people do forgive you for past violence, do not expect them to forget. You cannot change the past, but you can shape the future.

This article was co-authored by Sarah Schewitz, PsyD . Sarah Schewitz, Psy.D. is a licensed clinical psychologist by the California Board of Psychology with over 10 years of experience. She received her Psy.D. from the Florida Institute of Technology in 2011. She is the founder of Couples Learn, an online psychology practice helping couples and individuals improve and change their patterns in love and relationships. This article has been viewed 193,583 times.

Article Summary

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To be a more gentle person, try to touch and speak to your loved ones without using too much force so they feel safe. For example, try to hug them closely enough that they can feel your warmth, but not so tightly that they can’t breathe. Take care to respect other people’s personal space, and if someone asks you to stop touching them, stop right away. If your own stress is making it difficult to be calm and kind when you talk to people, take time to de-stress each day by going for a walk, meditating, or anything that lets you forget your troubles for a while and calm down. This will allow you to be more patient with your friends and loved ones. It may be difficult to change your aggressive behavior, but consistent practice will lead you to form gentle habits, so be patient with yourself and don’t stop trying to improve. For more advice from our Mental Health co-author, like how to rebuild trust in someone you’ve hurt, keep reading!

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