8 Blackjack Tips

Blackjack is one of the most popular card games in both online and brick-and-mortar casinos. It’s one of those games that involve more than sheer luck. Instead, it takes a combination of strategy and chance to succeed in blackjack. So, if you want to win more often, it’s important to know what you’re doing. With that said, these five tips will help you play smarter and make more confident decisions the next time you play.

Know Where to Play

Let’s start with a fundamental tip — always choose a reputable casino, whether you’re playing online or in person. That way, you’ll get fair chances of winning, secure payments, and an enjoyable blackjack experience. If you’re playing in person, this means you should do some online research on local casinos and go for the one with the best ratings and user reviews. If you’re playing online, you have thousands of platforms at your disposal. Even in the U.S. states without regulated online casinos, online platforms are legally available to all players (source: https://www.sportscasting.com/online-casinos/). Just make sure to choose sites that are well-reviewed and have clear terms and conditions.

Understand the basics of the game

Before moving on to more technical tips, it’s important to mention just how crucial it is to understand the core rules of blackjack. If you’re not a regular card game player, you may be familiar with blackjack, but not fully clear on how it actually works. So, before you head to your local casino or begin to play online, quickly read some basic guides on how the game works. You’ll learn all the fundamentals and become familiar with key terms like “hit”, “stand”, “split”, or “double down”. That way, you won’t have to guess what’s happening, and you’ll be able to focus on actually improving your game.

Stand on 12-16 Against Dealer’s 2-6

On to more practical strategies. One of the most important basics of Blackjack is knowing where to stand. If you’re holding a total of 12, this may not always look like an ideal scenario, but if the dealer is between 2 and 6, it’s your best option. Why? Well, with such low cards, the dealer is already in a low position and more likely to bust. If you hit in this situation, you could easily go over 21 and lose a hand you might’ve won by simply waiting out. The math says that standing in this scenario gives you better odds, and there’s no reason not to trust it.

Hit on 12-16 Against Dealer’s 7-Ace

This is the opposite scenario from the one above. If the deal has a strong upcard (7 through Ace), it means they’re on a good track to reaching a solid hand (likely 17 or higher). In this case, your 12-16 is considered a weak hand, and standing will usually lead to a loss. So, if you’re already behind, taking the risk is worth it. It’s better mathematically to hit because you have to improve your hand to have any real chance of beating the dealer. This may sometimes result in a bust, but at least you gave yourself a shot instead of just waiting for them to win.

Split Aces and Eights Every Time

This is where it gets extremely important to know the basics of the game. In blackjack, when you’re dealt two cards of the same value, you have the option to split them into two hands and play each of them separately. Knowing which pairs are the best to split is crucial for increasing your chances of winning. The rule of thumb is that aces and eights should always be split to give you better chances of hitting 21. Two 8s put you at 16, one of the worst hands you can have in the game, and splitting them increases your odds significantly. A pair of aces, on the other hand, is just too weak, and splitting them gives you two chances to build a winning total.

Learn How to Count Cards

This may not necessarily be easy, but if you often play Blackjack, learning how to count cards can be advantageous. It’s all about paying attention to the cards that have already been dealt and tracking the ratio of high to low cards remaining in the deck. This way, you’ll have an idea of whether the odds are in your favor. What’s more important, you’ll have something to work with when deciding on whether you want to stand or hit. While not foolproof, knowing how to count cards increases your chances of winning every time you sit at a blackjack table. The good news is that the web is full of places where you can get all the information you need for acquiring this skill. From YouTube videos to in-depth blog posts, finding a guide you can rely on shouldn’t be difficult.

Use Bonuses and Promotions to Your Advantage

If you’re playing online, you’ll notice that casinos often offer bonuses and promotional deals to new players and those who choose to stick around. This means you can get more funds than you initially deposit, or get some extra chips to play with. Whatever the type of bonus or promotional deal your casino is offering, you should look to make the most of it and give yourself more chances to win. This is again where playing in the best online casinos comes into play. The biggest and most popular platforms typically offer the best bonuses, meaning there are more rewards for you.

Know How to Manage Your Bankroll

Knowing how to manage money in everyday life is crucial, and the same principle applies when playing blackjack. If you lose all of it in the first few hands, no strategy can help you win. Therefore, it’s essential to set a budget before you start playing and stick to it. Decide how much you’re comfortable losing and make sure not to chase losses by betting more than you planned. Another good idea is to break your bankroll into smaller portions. That way, you won’t put everything on the line, and your sessions will last longer.

The post 8 Blackjack Tips appeared first on Our Culture.