No casino game quite has as rich history or as much current popularity as blackjack. Almost no equipment is required to play the game, the games are quick, and the rules are oh-so-simple. Deceptively so.
Despite this, there are a couple of significant rules you need to know before you can play a blackjack game like a pro. Especially if you want to achieve the best possible outcome and make as much money as possible.
Here are 7 tips that’ll improve your game strategy and have you playing blackjack like a pro.
1. Limit Distractions
If you want to win a game of blackjack in your favorite brick-and-mortar venue or an online casino like Fanduel.com, the key to success is to limit distractions. What we mean is that you must stay focused and concentrate on the action to stay on top of your game.
Playing with a live dealer or in any Las Vegas casino is much different than playing in an online casino. This is because online casinos can be used anywhere and at any time, granting player’s a distraction-free experience — especially when they play from the comfort of their home.
If you become bored of the game and seek distraction elsewhere, it’s time to leave the table and try another game!
2. Set Realistic Financial Limits
Real blackjack professionals will have the skills to make a considerable amount of money in the casino. However, they still set budgets for themselves to stay in control.
You should never play a game of online blackjack or online casinos with unlimited money. The game is easy to play so you might be tempted to spend more money than you truly need to.
Make sure to set a strict budget and decide exactly how much you’d like to win, and how much you’re willing to lose, as this will ensure that you stay in control. It will also reduce the amount of control that the casino has over you.
3. Decline Insurance Bets
Insurance seems like a great thing, whether it’s for your car, family, or your home. But it’s nothing short of a statistically poor bet for more basic strategy players when blackjack is involved.
Some players may swear by taking insurance but, mathematically speaking, you shouldn’t take it! The negative value means that the more frequently you make an insurance bet, the more money you stand to lose in the long term.
This doesn’t apply to card counters which typically only take insurance when the count is positive, highlighting a much greater chance that the dealer might have a blackjack and a 10 down card.
4. Adjust Your Seat Position
Your position often determines the amount of control you have over the game. If you want to remain in control of the last card in online blackjack, you must sit at the last box. Doing so eliminates the chance of a less experienced player drawing the wrong card.
The card that may be drawn last will determine what the dealer ends up with. Depending on the variation of the blackjack game the casino uses, this will make it entirely possible for players to control blackjack.
If you don’t want to do this, you must sit at the last box. This will help you to make the most informed decisions. Or, you could sit in the middle.
5. Double Down
When you double down, you are doubling your bet in the middle of a hand in return for an extra card. Opting for this could massively increase your payout.
Doubling down is a simple yet effective blackjack strategy that allows you to make a second bet equal to your first. The dealer will then give you an additional card.
You should only double when the dealer has a relatively low card as the chances of you winning when the dealer has a high card are pretty low.
There are some circumstances where you will want to double down on a soft hand, like an Ace with a 5, 6, or 7. This is especially true if the dealer shows a 6, which means there is a much higher likelihood of the live dealer busting. By default, you will be victorious.
6. Drawing Cards
If the dealer is lucky and manages to draw a high card then the player has nothing to lose. But if the dealer was to draw a low card, any player will need to be far more cautious about the cards that they draw.
If you were to have low cards above 11, your best course of action would be to keep what you have and allow the dealer to draw the 10s. It will likely work out in your favor but you must also keep in mind that there are far more 10s in a single pack of cards than in any other card.
The key to drawing cards is knowing when to hit and when to stand. If the dealer shows a 5 or a 6, you can try standing and allowing the dealer to go over 21, or even bust.
7. Don’t Be Afraid To Surrender
Players may look at two-card hands and compare them against the dealer. If the chances of winning are particularly poor, they will often avoid surrender and remain in the game. However, this may work out to be a very bad decision in terms of the outcome for you.
This is why all players need to know when to surrender in a game of blackjack!
Every time you surrender you will lose about half of the amount that you wager. In these cases, it’s likely in your best interest to surrender — especially if your expected loss from remaining in the game until its end is over 50%.
Conclusion
We hope these 7 tips have helped you out! Playing like a pro is all about thoroughly understanding basic gaming strategies and remaining one step ahead of the dealer at all times. By doing this, you can employ statistically correct and objective decisions without feeling overwhelmed by your emotions!